Advertising

[dave4129]

We are starting a new on-line auction site and has we haven't done this before are after some advertising tips please......we are planning leaflet drops and then going
onto local press advertising and prob the metro newspaper.... and when we make money on local radio.... but has anyone got any other ideas they have tried please.... we would appreciate any help ....

 

[Ben Palmer-Wilson]

Make sure you consider carefully where you advertise. There's really no point wasting time advertising your business in places where a response rate is going to be virtually zero.

For example, your auction site. Is it an ebay kind of auction site? or more a Antiques Roadshow kind of auction site? The difference is huge (and obvious). If it's the latter, there's no point advertising in student zones and the like, since most will not be interested and will also not have the cash to afford antiques.

I'd like to hear more about your website, and then I can give you more advice. Sounds like you've got a good thing going, and I'll be happy to help where I can.



Ben.

 

[dave4129]

Hi Ben

Our web site is an online market place and auction site ... we have taken ideas from ebay and other such web sites and made a few changes we think for the better... we are not trying to get ebays custombers away from ebay but to put on our site as well ... any help would be great ...

dave

 

[Ben Palmer-Wilson]

I see.

So yes, it's more of a marketplace business. Do you have a target market? Any particular age range you want to sell to?

Most of the time, if you start out with too broad a market, you'll fall flat on your face. You can open up the market slowly, but start small. Consider who you're going to advertise to, and thus, where you're going to advertise.

Also, what is your USP? What makes you different from everybody else? Or is it that you've simply found a gap in the market?

Also, tell me a little about how you got started and why. Background info would help greatly.



Ben.

 

[tony84]

Possibly facebook - how many people who are in work go on fb and ebay while theyre on their lunch.

Students are due back in September (to manchester), get advertising to them. Give them a discount valid until october - they might find books or daft things for their houses. Or want to sell their books for more beer money.

 

[dave4129]

cheers tony all info is great.... ben we are not trying to take on ebay or to take anyone away from selling on ebay... just the opposit we recomend any of our potential custombers stay on ebay but try us also as we will be free for a few months in order to build up our site then only charge £10 per month for 100 items listed at anyone time ... and anyone can list for free 2 items at anyone time... we intend to start of advertising in and around manchester getting out to speak to as many businesses as we can .... we have plenty of ideas going forward but we want to take it slowly ...... we should be ready by the end of the month.....
dave

 

[MojoPromotions]

Hi Dave,
We hardly believe that promotional products are the great idea to attract (not attack ) your customers. Feel free to contact us and ask for our advise!

 

[Attollo]

Hi Dave,

I have posted a thread shortly after you posting this one, asking for advice on selling the advertising space on my platform / marketplace.

My platform will be targeted to a niche market and will not have the auction theme.

I am new to these forums but if you wanted to pm me, perhaps we can discuss your project further and see if there is any common ground that can benefit us both?

Dan

 

[FrancisC]

Hi Dave,

Re leaflet drops, we have 2 Direct Mail suppliers who would be happy to send over info re what they can offer. Let me know if you need further help.

Cheers,

Francis

 

[cheochi]

In business first impression can count for a lot,so for shops and other businesses looking to attract customers it is vital that they make the right choice for the type, look and style of sign they use. The choice of sign will vary according to the type of business using it. If the business is one that isn't really looking to attract passing trade then a simple straight forward design should be all that is required.