Know-How Exchange : Advertising/PR

Get contact information for every person that shows up. Giveaways and drawing are good ways to do this. It not only helps develop a possible client list to mail or email, but you can also take pictures of the winners to put in the local paper and and such.

Specials so that they can set appointments for future bookings,
referral inducements.

Food is always good, nothing major. Get a radio station to do a spot to bring people in. they will often do it cheap and give stuff away while they are at it.

Family portrait specials would be good. Or graduation specials since it is coming up really fast.

also the newspaper will often cover your grand opening so don't miss out on that.

Try running a most beautiful baby contest, or something get the mothers to bring in their kids, take some shots, and then offer them to them at a special rate.

Hope that gives you some ideas

For TV you would need to call up a local station or morning news program. But you are likely only to get a minute or two worth of coverage.


Radio will give you broad casting for an hour, half a day or sometimes even an entire day. Since it usually has some cost you can work with them. Also since you are on a budget try and barter with them. Sometimes you can get deals if combine a remote with advertising.

Same thing with newspapers. You might be able to get an entire write up in the business or people section.

Another thing that is probably hot right now, would be child safety programs. You could contact the police department to come in and do fingerprinting and give out safe kids info and you could offer a free picture of the child to add to the info. A lot of times its the same as a passport photo.