Best Ways of Advertising?

Question

My brother opened a roofing and siding business last year and was doing sub-contracting and has now decided to just go with his own business stuff this year. I am trying to figure out what the best way of advertising is for very inexpensive. I have done all the free stuff on the web, opened a web site, and am currently looking into the newspaper stuff. We have road and yard signs. The main thing I am wondering about is a press release. I read somewhere online that is a good idea for advertising. He just got Certified as a Master Shingler, will be getting his builders license this month, and like I said before he opened his business last year but this year he is on his own, and is going to go from a DBA to an LLC. Can he write a press release for free advertising? And if so what should it include? Also does anyone else have any creative ideas for advertising for a small Roofing and Siding Company in south-eastern Michigan (let stress the importantace of FREE or very cheap advertising)

Answer 1

I build a roofing business in England some years ago from nothing to over $2 million a year in turnover. I started by printing flyers A5 size and paying some kids to go to all the houses in my local town and put them into the letterboxes. I started getting local work and from there it moved on with referrals. You could print them yourself on your computer and spend a weekend with your brother placing them in letterboxes. That would be free.

Answer 2

Guess i can help him with online marketing tips.If your brother happen to have a website,then he should promote it the right way.I know that your brother did not found much success with his previous marketing campaign.I think the main reason for that to happen,because the method he used.Here's my way of doing online marketing.

Hope your brother will succeed

1)Article Marketing

Really a powerful method in getting audience. Write a good article based on your niche topic and submit it in article directories. Just go to google or yahoo and search for "free article directories". It will suggest you a host of directories that you can easily submit your writings. When people surf in that certain directory, they might stumble into your article and you got all the fame needed to be successful in Internet Marketing.

2)Blogging

This method is just like the article writing. You write what you want but good contents for your audience in blogs. The better you got, the more audience you get. You can also submit the same contents that you wrote in blogs in article directories. You get instant viewers if your article is in top 10 within your niche

3)Offer free stuffs

It's always good to get free stuffs. Everyone likes it.So offer some free stuffs such as e-books or software for your audience. You will get a good, loyal and repeating audience. If you are looking for FREE e-books to market it in your site, check out this link.

www.abc-netmarketing.blogspot.... provides a host of e-books on internet marketing. The e-books will be updated weekly. So hurry up and get your best one soon.

4)E-mail Marketing

It's as easy as ABC. Just promote your site to all your online contacts using e-mail.Write a good email that will attract your audience. If you got the contents right and able to convince your contacts , you are on your way to success.

5)SEO-Search Engine Optimization

Check out

www.ezinerticles.com for HOT tips on s****.>
6)You Tube Videos

Use free videos from you tube and paste the links in your site. People like video tutorials better than articles or e-books.

7)Google Adsense

I strongly suggest you to visit www.abc-netmarketing.blogspot.... and learn about google adsense.If it's not the best, atleast one of the best income generator for your websites. Visit the link and watch the video tutorials for FREE.

8)Forums

Just google for any forums on your niche topic.Join a few and start getting active by exchanging or giving tips to others.

9)Newsgroup

It works well just like email marketing.Just join yahoo groups that's related to your niche.Join as many as you can.Look for the highest amount of members.Write a good headline that will attract people to read your contents

Answer 3

If you want free advertising for your small business these are the tools:-use free traffic exchanges

         -social networking sites

         -social bookmarking sites

         -forums

         -blog directories

         -online ads. etc.

         -submitting your site link to search engines such as Google,yahoo,msn,alexa etc.

http://poseidonprofit.blogspot.com

Answer 4

Write articles about your website or ideas.

Submit your website for users to review, free!

Submit your Business to Famous Business, free

Go to Famous Pages

http://famouspages.info

Answer 5

The best way is to integrate your marketing communications program...Overlap your ads to provide maximum exposure to the most peoiple in your target areas...yoiur ads should say the phone # and website...the website, "As seen in (publication name)"...etc.

Pennysavers are great...watch the zones and ad sizes...try to run an insane special for 'X' amount of sq foot...free gutters with every full 30 yr roof...etc. BUT, make it something he can afford. They will provide free artwork and try NOT to bury the ad...maybe a detached mailing label...slip sheet. Or testing it run a (10 week minimum) ad in the service guide in the back. Inserts are also greeat and you can do B&W for between 35-50 per 1000 CPM (Cost per thousand)...some minimums apply.

Newspaper is a true rip off in most areas

Radio is good, but for the roofing business...only during very specific times of year

TV...NO WAY...not for several years out.

Run a contest on his website

Knock on doors (seriously)

Word of mouth (WOM) is always the best

Send out holiday cards to customers

Ask your dealer representative (ASK!!!) about Co-Op dollars for advertising and how it works. Try to deal direct with the manufacturer if you can...target companies that give Co-Op dollars...you can possibly increase you advertising dollars by 100% (after reimbursement)

Sub contract by targeting GC's

ALWAYS place a yardfront sign when working at a property for the duration of the job...include a "Information tube" off the side and keep some fliers in it.

The list goes on...I hope this helps.