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Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => SR Forum Archives => The Basement FUD Forum Archive => Topic started by: Peter Etheredge on April 14, 2010, 02:53:13 PM

Title: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Peter Etheredge on April 14, 2010, 02:53:13 PM
So we're looking at maybe doing a mailing of some sort and I was wondering what campaigns have worked or haven't worked for the rest of you.

Currently we're looking at either mailing a regular old letter to churches talking about the 700Mhz issue or perhaps doing a newsletter with articles written by us (including the 700Mhz thing) highlighting not only our installations but also our production work.  Perhaps also a page of items we sell such as cables, cases, etc...  This would be sent to churches (addressed to the same music or tech directors that the letter would be) and schools, park districts, etc.  It would hopefully become a quarterly thing.

The worry is that with this sort of investment we're afraid that lots of our money will literally just be tossed into the trash so obviously we want the most effective route.

Do either of these sound good?  Would any sort of mailer just be a waste?  What are your own experiences?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Jeff Babcock on April 14, 2010, 04:54:43 PM
The challenge with mail to organizations is ensuring that the mail gets into the proper hands (someone who will not only read the material but have the ability to make decisions on the subject).  You might consider calling some organizations ahead of time to ensure that you have appropriate contacts for them.  The 700MHz issue is an important one, however it is a challenge to produce materials to attract attention to this when clients are already so saturated with excessive marketing.

Best of luck.
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Kristian Johnsen on April 14, 2010, 06:11:27 PM
Peter Etheredge wrote on Wed, 14 April 2010 20:53

Your most successful advertising campaigns?


In short:  Doing the gigs to a high standard and making clients happy.

My conclusion has been that it's very hard to advertise in such a manner that the people you want to read the ad actually see it:

- Trade rags for sound people are basically read by your competition, no point there.
- Local paper, by the time you reach who you want you have spent a bunch of money on reaching a zillion people who are uninterested.
- Trade rags for hotel/restaurant people:  Wine guy gets the wine rag, food guy gets the food supplies rag, manager gets the travel and living rag, etc.  Hard to reach the actual people you need.
- Internet.  You ned to be there, but by the time you get somone to look you up there you usually have already made a verbal/phone sales pitch to them.
- Billboards:  Same as local paper.

The only trade rag I can think of that might make sense to advertise in are the ones that sell sporting supplies etc to local coaches, volunteer sports team managers, etc.  Maybe some of them are looking for somthing for their kick-offs, etc and they typically don't know of anybody beforehand.

If you do weddings you could always leave some cards at a wedding supplies store, if they permit.


The good news is that the typical client has friends in the same business and don't mind sharing "their guy" (typically thinking bars, restaurants, hotels, convention centers, etc here).  Also, employees in these businesses typically change jobs often and often bring "their guy" with them.  See my first sentence Smile

Best of luck - spend wisely! Smile
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Peter Etheredge on April 14, 2010, 06:47:19 PM
Kristian Johnsen wrote on Wed, 14 April 2010 17:11

Peter Etheredge wrote on Wed, 14 April 2010 20:53

Your most successful advertising campaigns?
In short:  Doing the gigs to a high standard and making clients happy.


I'm proud to say that I feel as if we are already doing this and it really does pay off.

Thanks for the input!
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Gus Housen on April 14, 2010, 07:44:15 PM
Having a decent web page has been best, but when it comes down to it "cold calling" Is a better way than mailers. Mailers only work with fairs and festivals and you should still only expect a 1-2% return. I have found out getting out and networking with local service organizations, hoteliers, and venues pays off the best. We are working on a "muffin/Donut basket" go direct to the venue drop off a basket with some muffins ( if its a agent scotch works better) and a flyer or newsletter and follow up with a call.
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Art Welter on April 14, 2010, 07:54:52 PM
Over the course of twelve years of mailing out hundreds of nicely done, quite expensive brochures to people I had not actually contacted by telephone or in person, I had zero results that could be attributed to them.

The brochures were a help if an actual contact had been made, though I was using print before the internet was in wide use.

I think it more likely phone contact followed by web information would get better results than mailing.

Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Caleb Dick on April 14, 2010, 10:59:55 PM
Networking.  

As a potential client, would you rather communicate with someone via:
In person
Phone
Internet - web site and email
Radio and/or TV
Flier
Yellow pages
Other (logos on apparel and trucks, business cards, etc)

I see more long-term work come from relationships and word of mouth than anything.  Everything else is good to keep your name in front of potential clients, but usually past experience or even past experience of a trusted source is the deciding factor.  

Advertisements as most of us know them seem to work better for consumer products/services.  For professionals, emphasizing service, capabilities, and better-than-planned events without stress and hassle is more important.  I have been told a lot that people hire their friends, aka those they trust.  On the sales side - genuine, long-term relationships are the 95% that seals the deal after the 5% of marketing/advertising.

Caleb  
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Charlie Zureki on April 15, 2010, 06:38:35 AM
Gus Housen wrote on Wed, 14 April 2010 18:44

Having a decent web page has been best, but when it comes down to it "cold calling" Is a better way than mailers. Mailers only work with fairs and festivals and you should still only expect a 1-2% return. I have found out getting out and networking with local service organizations, hoteliers, and venues pays off the best. We are working on a "muffin/Donut basket" go direct to the venue drop off a basket with some muffins ( if its a agent scotch works better) and a flyer or newsletter and follow up with a call.


How about a Scotch and Muffin basket for multi-layer marketing? Very Happy

Where "Cheers" really means something...
Hammer
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: James Feenstra on April 15, 2010, 07:41:07 AM
Charlie Zureki wrote on Thu, 15 April 2010 06:38

Gus Housen wrote on Wed, 14 April 2010 18:44

Having a decent web page has been best, but when it comes down to it "cold calling" Is a better way than mailers. Mailers only work with fairs and festivals and you should still only expect a 1-2% return. I have found out getting out and networking with local service organizations, hoteliers, and venues pays off the best. We are working on a "muffin/Donut basket" go direct to the venue drop off a basket with some muffins ( if its a agent scotch works better) and a flyer or newsletter and follow up with a call.
How about a Scotch and Muffin basket for multi-layer marketing? Very Happy
sounds like a good breakfast to me!
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Gus Housen on April 15, 2010, 07:19:54 PM
The marketing becomes really affective about an hour into the bottle of scotch.
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Jamin Lynch on April 15, 2010, 07:43:36 PM
Most people don't consider you to be a real "pro" unless you have a nice web site.
Title: Re: Your most successful advertising campaigns?
Post by: Bennett Prescott on April 16, 2010, 03:19:38 PM
I can happily say that 100% of my work is due in some way to the LAB, or referrals after working gigs I got off the LAB.