How to sell yearbook ads? PLEASE HELP ASAP!!! 10 PTS BA!!!?

Question

Hello (:

Okay, here is the deal.. I'm on my school's YB staff.. I have to sell 250 ads.. Our school is brand new (3rd year) and we have no alum. There are about 4-5 other schools around us that already have a lot of the businesses around school committed to but ads from them.. so how do I manage to sell 250??

PLEASE HELP!!

Answer 1

Start out with a letter to pretty much every business in the school district.

Follow those up with a phone call.  Talk to the owner and ask if they got the letter. Then set up an appointment to meet with them. Don't try to sell them an ad over the phone.  I know it is easier to talk to strangers over the phone, but likewise it is easier for them to tell you they are not interested over the phone.  Get an appointment to meet with them. Assure them it will just take a few minutes of their time.

On appointment day be on time, dress sharp, be prepared and be friendly.  For the most part sales are about the customer liking the seller and less about the product they are selling.  Your best pitch is the business displaying their community support through the yearbook.  Tell them they will be a good corporate neighbor to their fellow businessmen.

Don't take no for an answer.  Start out selling them a higher end larger ad and work down in price.  Follow these guidelines and you should do ok.

Answer 2

How much are your ads?

Answer 3

Try businesses that would have an interest in your school's prom.

Tuxedo Shops

Dress Shops

Hair Salons

Restaurants

That sort of thing.

Answer 4

I'm the editor on my school's staff, and what I did was I got a school directory and sent contracts and letters to all of the seniors asking their parents if they wanted a senior ad. It worked!

Answer 5

I am the yearbook advisor at my school and I have found selling ads to be very challenging.  One suggestion may be to sell parent or friend ads.  I'm not sure what company you go through but Jostens sets up this service for us.  You could send out ad samples to the the parents of the graduating class.  I have found that going to the businesses directly will get better results than sending letters.  Using a phone book you will be able to get a through listing of all the business in your area.  Split the list up with the other yearbook members and sell sell sell.  Also, you may want to keep in mind individual realitors in your area.  A simple e-mail will probably do the trick!