Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Rather than asking business owners to place ads on billboards I urge you to connect with business owners to buy print advertising in some kind of newsletter that you'll distribute IN your shopping village.

Here's why:

Although you may have billboards and may think they're splendid ways to generate revenue, most billboards have little to no return on investment for the businesses who's names are splashed across them. When was the last time YOU made a note of a name or a phone number on a billboard in order to do business WITH a specific business? I'll wager you've never done this. Most people haven't.

But people DO pay attention to coupons and discount offers in printed newsletters and newspapers. So, your best bet is probably to circulate printed material to households within a certain area around your shopping village. In your newsletter you entice the store owners who are renting from you to place ads that in turn will attract people to their place of business so that those people will spend money. You could include renter's ads in your newsletter as part of their rent (or add it to the rent as a premium offer).

Make each ad in the piece relevant to specific buyers through the offer of a compelling set of reasons to come and shop there.

As for ads being posted online, you also need a website for your shopping village and those ads also need to be on that site in some way or other. Likewise using Facebook for your village. On your village Facebook page you include compelling offers and coupons in exchange for an e-mail address and with which you then follow up on a regular basis by driving people BACK to your website (and to your blog) and it's through your blog and e-mails that you deliver the best offer value for your shoppers.

Good luck.

THANKS -- I am putting your response to good use !!! I have several artist wanting me to help them out-- (this can take up some of the empty spaces I have)
I'm all about "Helping others--Help themselves"

Thanks for your reply also
Seeing a sign is called "Power Of Suggestion"
If that sign grabs some ones attention
( with over Several Thousand individuals passing by every day) there's the Targeted Audience
and the Advertisers Benefit.

You're missing the point: even if there were several hundred thousand people passing your advertising every day, those people are NOT a targeted audience.

Furthermore, unless there is a powerful call to action on each ad to drive an action and until a percentage of those people who may then take action convert into actual buyers there is NO benefit to the advertiser of running an ad.

Added to this, unless each advertiser asks each customer how they heard about the retailer, they'll never know what drove those shoppers to buy.

Thanks again I truly UNDERSTAND your point-- This is why-monster-red bull--ect.. place an add ad at sporting events--(power of suggestion) this is why the plumber also places his ad-- you may not need him today but when you do and see him in the phone book-- who are you going to call-- Which also makes his sign a power of suggestion. It's a potiential benefit of the advertiser-- To have advertisement out there to target-- the potiential buyer. I would like to know who I need to contact --like a advertisement broker--?-- that has several clients wanting to get their names out there in public-- I already have advertisements for local Businesses.
Again Thanks for the reply

Thanks for your reply also-- yes you are correct -- Mr. Bloomer & Mr Goodman have given me excellent advice on ways to advertise-- -- all I'm trying to say is I have space available -- looking for the creative ad--that will attract the tourist attention-- (With out causing a wreck) Have you seen the signs with the cows on it -- Or just the word God--I'm not trying to grow my business - its growing with out ads. I'm just trying to help - others help themselves. I agree with you Yes alot of the billboards are an eye sore,boring & cost way to much money - But when you see green claw marks you relate it to monster , because they have put heir image out there. ALSO I wouldn't be where I am at with out sponsorship & Donations eighther. Example: 30 ACRES of gravel "DONATED " to me (thousands of dollars worth)-Because I'm helping others to help themselves -- In return they have received an advertising value __I BELIEVE_ (And so do they) that is greater then money they would of spent in your traditional advertising media- And all it is- is a temporary 4'x8' sign- on a major hwy.
That has the company's name ---you rock---along with a big rock-
I did not buy my place I built it -- not wanting being a smart ass - but my ego is fine. Futhermore ; My Question has gotten blown out of porportion-- Sorry -- Its My fault for not making myself clearer to begin with -- but site wouldn't allow me to post ad space available. It had to be in a form of a question I guess--I should of said who would like to place a creative sign on my empty space. Also I don't have time to blog-or tweet ..I ask you you how many of these do you actually pay attention to-- they are also an eye sore,boring & cost to much. However I do have a twitter account , web page & facebook for business. Because now days its an important part of business--
Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world
--Indeed its the only thing that has.