Advise needed, please help

[Asteeleleith]

Hi All

i have a bit of a conudrum, i have just recorded a who batch of stuff for my business. CBT training videos
Basically people what the tutorials on their PCs and follow through as they learn.

The problem i have is getting the product out there. I have very limited funds now for advertising.
I have considered giving away samples to charity shops and libraries. But as someone said people who visit charity shops are skint anyway. Please who go to libraries have too much computer training to choose from.

I am going to call the Uk business advise centre today, but i thought i would throw the dilema out to you guys.

It is worth nothing that i am developing more courses now which will run on DVD player. Also the courses themselves are presented in DVD boxes with labels on them. Which i also designed.
I as with anyone else do not like the logo, but as i have more funds coming in i will certainly revamp that also.


Any advise greatfully appreciated.

before you say it, yes i know the website is shoddy, there is nothing left in the pot to re vamp it :-(

Many thanks

Al

[hdowling]

Hi,

The first thing to say about marketing is ideally it should cost you nothing. There are lots of things you can do without spending a penny - the trick is to know who your customers are, so:

- who are your customers?
- why would they buy this service?
- what would make them buy it now (as opposed to last week, last year etc)?
- where would they go to find your service (if they were already looking for it)?

You really need to put yourself in your customers shoes and say if I was looking for this service, what type of things would I do? If you'd do them, chances are that your customers would do them too.

I know your funds are tight at the moment, but I do have a product called 50 ideas to promote your business, based on knowing who your customers are. It's just £99 for this and is specifically tailored to your business. All the ideas in it are free or cost very little to do.

Let me know if you're interested in this.

Best regards
Helen Dowling
Exceptional Thinking
www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk

[clairemackaness]

Hi Allanna,

I like your idea, but feel you have stumbled on a well filled niche. I work for the learning and skills council and as you know we run Profit From learning which offers all of these skills and more completely free of charge. With our TV campaign 'Get rid of your gremlins’ we are attracting record numbers of learners. Sadly for you all avenues of free marketing I would normally suggest such as libraries colleges etc are already offering your product FREE. Perhaps you could market them at pre-schools or to mums at schools who are looking to up skill and return to work. I do wish you the best of luck as a fellow UKBF member but I think you may find it harder than you think. By the way, I'm not complaining but I'd change the opening title on your home page. If LSC Marketing & Communications found you on google they could have your guts for garters. Don’t worry though your secrets safe with me!!

Good luck

Claire

[Asteeleleith]

hi claire

thank you for advising me of the above.

And thank you for the offer of marketing advise, but i have various avenues i am chasing up at the moment.

Not to worry about the slogan, this is to be changed within the next few weeks. :-)


Al

[Mark Pocock]

Hi

here's what I would do:

I would write an ad.

I would go to my local newspaper and tell them you only want them to run your ad WHEN they need to fill space up at the last minute.
They have your ad there already approved and your payment details on hand.

You should get at least half price advertising.

On to your ad:

You are targetting people who want to be computer profficient.

You are not going to use institutional advertising. You are going to write a response driven ad.

So Here's what you say in your ad.

Pre-head "Attention computer learners...

(you're instantly targetting the people you want to get in front of)

Sample headline

"If you want to be totally proficient with all aspects of a computer
then here's a fool proof and guaranteed way that'll take you by the hand, leading you step-by-step so You can become an expert...virtually overnight

(now I'm not saying this is the best headline. and it probably needs some worlk fiddling with it.

Then

In no time at all you'll be creating files, blah,blah and this is all guaranteed

Then tell your story.

Give me lots of reasons why copy.

Give me an offer i can't refuse

A guarantee.

some bonuses - perhaps full support
Create some urgency-
Tell em you've onbly got 19 videos. Or so many bonuses. Otr whatever. put the fear of god into them that'll they'll miss out on the bargain of the century.


or do you have a database?

Of prevoius buyers you can send a sales letter to.

hope this helps mark


.

[Asteeleleith]

Hi Mark

That is an interesting concept, thanks i will take a look into that.

I am putting together a newsletter for the business as well.
It will contain
Hot tips
intersting websites
Perhaps software reviews
IT News
Latest products
etc.

Anyone interested in recieving a copy, Just pm me your email.
If will be monthly to start with, and of course FRee

Al

[sjbeale]

Al

Why not try business networking and promote your product face to face to people. Why not do a demo to a business networking group.

If you want a recommendation from someone who will do your website and not charge a lot check out www.websites1st.com.

[diamond786]

Hi id like more info on your product. I have also had experience in direct marketing.

[directmarketingadvice]

I have also had experience in direct marketing.

I'd guess that, if he hasn't figured out a way to market it in the last 2 and a half years, he's probably moved onto something else.

... but I could be wrong. :D

Steve