Ad Ideas for July: Small Businesses

Who Isn’t Advertising With You?

Not all small businesses feel they can afford advertising, especially the consistent campaigns needed to build awareness and catch consumers when they are in the market for a particular product or service. And if you are raking in the sales, trying to help these small guys might not seem worth your time. However, if you come up with options to present a more affordable way for these small ad budget businesses to get regular exposure and see results, it might be worth your time after all.

Ad/Promotion Ideas

• Repeating sig ads—sell on a topic that can keep repeating regularly, like a services guide, coupon/deal page, summer treats and “outsourced” time savers (aka, things people don’t have time to do themselves). Goal is to sell the small ad once, but keep it running.
• “Publicity” ads—pick a business type where you know there is a decent amount of competition/options and pitch a regular “column” where they commit to so many issues. Then each business takes turns writing an article promoting that type of business in general or their own business even (you make up the rules) and then all the participating businesses get their info listed at the bottom. E.g., one chiropractor writes about the benefits they provide for people with migraines, and then the bottom lists places that can help relive migraines with chiropractic adjustments. Like a sig ad, but more about the “article” and a business listing.
• Multiple vendor ads—again pick a topic, like piano lessons, and make one larger regularly occurring ad promoting piano lessons and then have all the businesses going in on the ad listed.
• Co-op ads—businesses that may feel their budget is too small can increase it with the help of co-op advertising. Brand names in categories such as home improvement, automotive and even jewelry often provide co-op funds to help local retailers promote their products.

Businesses to Contact:

• Small in-home businesses are a good place to start thinking outside your regular target list. This includes things like music lesson teachers, alternative health practioners, child care providers, artists, handymen (and women), and other service providers
• Everyone else not already advertising that could benefit from your media’s audience