If you are taking the advertising/promotion route on your own initiative, you should be aware that advertising is an across-the-board task; requiring some knowledge, experience and creative skills. These help you determine what type of advertising theme and message will be most effective in finding clients for your balloon twisting service!
1. Planning your economic and effective advertising
The first factor for you is crafting a message to consumers about your balloon twisting business emphasizing its positive and appealing aspects and mitigating any perceived negative issues. Before that, keep in mind that if you are not aware of your specific market and how you fit into it, then it will not be possible to construct a consumer-influencing message. In other words, what is your customer looking for and how can you help them?
Furthermore, where do your customers look for this type of message? Until you have some idea about where you're going, you have no means of getting there! Also, be aware that certain advertising practices may technically be within the law, but are not ethically or generally acceptable, so don't risk your reputation by using them.
2. Direct advertising
The methods associated with the term “direct advertising” are varied, but generally include contacting prospective clients by telephone, emailing, and texting. Before adopting any of these concepts, take a look in the mirror! You know your service market, or should do, and the type of person who is likely to be involved in it; your potential clients. Therefore, it is likely that if a particular means of sales approach is annoying to you, personally, and then it is likely to have the same effect on your prospective clients.
This again could revolve around your particular approach and the message content. It is not advisable in a specialized business such as a balloon twisting service, to alienate or inconvenience other people. They may be valuable referees. If you decide on a direct approach, for example by telephone, then be upfront from the start. This is a great opportunity for them, but be fair, reasonable and honest in every respect. If they are not interested, they will be more inclined to give the contact details of someone who is!
3. Public advertising media
There are a significant number of inexpensive advertising sources available in printed matter. From various community newsletters, weekly and monthly newspapers, magazines, and notice boards, which all have their own particular readership. It is generally recognized that where responses are required, the best responses are obtained from those adverts which offer an inspiring, motivational benefit to the reader. It should be contained in a direct message of about 15 words, includes your business name, and takes between 4 to 8 seconds to read!
With this type of advertising, it must impact on the reader by being quick, simple and most importantly, to the point. Structure the message with care regarding the vocabulary and language you use, and crucially, know your target audience. An example of this is not to use any words or grammar that would not be found in any newspaper your particular target group would read.
4. Find the difference
Being different today is usually an immediate appeal in our lifestyles and before buying into anything new, most consumers must believe there is something new or different in your balloon twisting service. There are a variety of ways to achieve this perception of being new and original, with some more exciting than others. Among them are discounts, best price, which, although not the most original of ideas could be a starting point. However, when related to your balloon twisting service, it may not be a reliable foundation for establishing a high integrity, sustainable business.
The words “Best Value” have the potential to be developed in many and varied forms to meet your clients' expectations. They can also be used to express a big, not to be missed business opportunity that can be extended into an innovative long-lasting venture. For a specialized product or service, this new and original offer approach, concentrating on the best value, has the potential to develop high-quality sustainable business relationships.
5. Online advertising
Last, but by no means least, is possibly the greatest opportunity for your balloon twisting service to become noticed; however, it's going to take considerable thought and online research. From free online global advertising to articles, exchange links, among many others, you have the potential to extend your service worldwide. The first obvious and critical promotional tool for you is a website, without which you will basically be wasting your time.
There are various online sources which quickly and efficiently teach you to create your own website, free of charge; even to the extent of giving you a free sub-domain. From this foundation, you can communicate via other online media, attracting attention back to this focal point for the follow-up!