How to get local exposure

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M

mark_s

Free Member
Dec 21, 2008
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  • #1
    Set up a small local business about 4 or 5 months ago. I think in the new year I'm really gonna go for it with getting the business known. I'll be sending out about 40,000 leaflets in the local paper, some of the businesses are also sending out their flyers. Also might put a small ad in the local paper for a month. I was wondering what a good way to try and get the paper to do a small story / featurew about my business would be.

    I'm open for any suggestions on how to get as much exposure as possible, preferably with minimum budget.

    Not sure if it makes a difference what the business is but in short we deliver food from restaurants that dont usually deliver take out. Plus we plan on listing take away menu's similar to how just eat does. I also supply drivers to take aways who don't want the hassle of doing it themselves. Being a new business i want to get as many local businesses on board plus advertising the service to the masses.
     
    V

    Vaheed Akhtar

    Free Member
    Jul 25, 2009
    124
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  • #2
    mark_s said:
    Set up a small local business about 4 or 5 months ago. I think in the new year I'm really gonna go for it with getting the business known. I'll be sending out about 40,000 leaflets in the local paper, some of the businesses are also sending out their flyers. Also might put a small ad in the local paper for a month. I was wondering what a good way to try and get the paper to do a small story / featurew about my business would be.

    I'm open for any suggestions on how to get as much exposure as possible, preferably with minimum budget.

    Not sure if it makes a difference what the business is but in short we deliver food from restaurants that dont usually deliver take out. Plus we plan on listing take away menu's similar to how just eat does. I also supply drivers to take aways who don't want the hassle of doing it themselves. Being a new business i want to get as many local businesses on board plus advertising the service to the masses.
    Click to expand...

    Hi there.

    In terms of exposure in the local rag - They're only ever interested if you're doing something different or helping your local area in some way or another. Think about what you do that is different to other competitors/business. ie - are you environmentally friendly? what are your future plans - taking on more staff, for example?
     
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    M

    mark_s

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    Dec 21, 2008
    264
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  • #3
    There is no one local doing what we do. Nationally there are probably quite a few companies doing some of the things we do but I don't think there will be many if any at all that provide all the services we plan on putting in place over the next few months so locally we are certainly unique. In reference to doing something for the local community this is something i was thinking i'd have to do, maybe a sponsored something or other. I was gonna go out feeding local homeless but we dont have any.

    If its a sponsored something then i've got to ge it sorted quick as i want the feature in the paper no later than the end of jan. Also and I know this isn't going to ne easy I don't really want to get my name in the paper so much, just the business name and what we do is more than enough
     
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    Vaheed Akhtar

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    Jul 25, 2009
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  • #4
    mark_s said:
    There is no one local doing what we do. Nationally there are probably quite a few companies doing some of the things we do but I don't think there will be many if any at all that provide all the services we plan on putting in place over the next few months so locally we are certainly unique. In reference to doing something for the local community this is something i was thinking i'd have to do, maybe a sponsored something or other. I was gonna go out feeding local homeless but we dont have any.

    If its a sponsored something then i've got to ge it sorted quick as i want the feature in the paper no later than the end of jan. Also and I know this isn't going to ne easy I don't really want to get my name in the paper so much, just the business name and what we do is more than enough
    Click to expand...


    Where sponsorships are involved - be very careful in your choice, as some of them can become a burden, especially when just starting up. I made the mistake of sponsoring a local football team once. Never again.

    The idea of feeding homeless is a very noble one - but to do it to gain business exposure may not go down to well with some people. It's just the type of PC world we live in now, unfortunately.
     
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    M

    mark_s

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    Dec 21, 2008
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  • #7
    Vaheed Akhtar said:
    Sounds good. This will also give you a chance to speak to local people and sell your services to them. What is it that you do, if you don't mind me asking. :)
    Click to expand...

    Please see my first post for a short description as to what we do. I've already got a fb page with 2700 friends, this is the only advertising we've done and have about 20 customers a weekend which isn't a bad start and at least shows there is some market for what we do. So far the service seems to have gone down well and its quite surprising how many people have heard about my little business.
     
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    Alba Transcription

    Free Member
    Dec 6, 2009
    99
    29
    Scotland
  • #11
    mark_s said:
    There is no one local doing what we do. Nationally there are probably quite a few companies doing some of the things we do but I don't think there will be many if any at all that provide all the services we plan on putting in place over the next few months so locally we are certainly unique. In reference to doing something for the local community this is something i was thinking i'd have to do, maybe a sponsored something or other. I was gonna go out feeding local homeless but we dont have any.

    If its a sponsored something then i've got to ge it sorted quick as i want the feature in the paper no later than the end of jan. Also and I know this isn't going to ne easy I don't really want to get my name in the paper so much, just the business name and what we do is more than enough
    Click to expand...

    Re my bolded part, do you really believe that is right? Have you actually looked? :mad:
     
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    InPrintImaging

    Free Member
    Nov 15, 2010
    379
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    Merseyside
  • #14
    Alba Transcription said:
    InPrintImaging,

    The fact somewhere is known as a well-off area does not negate its ability to have a homeless population.
    Click to expand...

    Very true, however as someone from the wider area, that particular place doesn't seem to have a major homeless problem (or at least if there is a problem, it's not visible). The big cities Liverpool, Manchester, Preston maybe, but Southport doesn't appear at least to have an issue with it.
     
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    M

    mark_s

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    Dec 21, 2008
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  • #15
    A few years ago there were a few homeless but as has been mentioned there do not seem to be any currently. Of course there will probably be some people who are down on their luck, seen begging for a few quid to buy some alcohol but i think wherever you go this will be the same. Years ago I was in the situation of having no where to live so I appreciate what it is like when you are trying to find somewhere to sleep at night where you feel 'safe'. Not a position I ever want to be in again but i know how easily you can go from having everything to nothing.... wow that all got a bit deep, all i cn say to sum up is appreciate what you have because it can all be taken away in just one phone call!
     
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    Z

    zanygame

  • #20
    Sorry if you've already thought of this, but why don't you approach some local restaurants and get them onboard, could they share the cost of your leaflet distribution if you mention their names on your list of services.
    They might even be willing to have some advertising in their establishments.

    " Love our food, but want to eat at home?
    CALL **************
    and get our wonderful food delivered to your door"
     
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    M

    mark_s

    Free Member
    Dec 21, 2008
    264
    14
  • #22
    zanygame said:
    Sorry if you've already thought of this, but why don't you approach some local restaurants and get them onboard, could they share the cost of your leaflet distribution if you mention their names on your list of services.
    They might even be willing to have some advertising in their establishments.

    " Love our food, but want to eat at home?
    CALL **************
    and get our wonderful food delivered to your door"
    Click to expand...

    We do have a few restaurants onboard already and hopefully I'll get the others i want over the next week. Most of the ones we pick up from didn't do take out till i spoke to them and I've been quite surprised how easy it has been to get places involved. I've had leaflets designed similar to what you suggested to leave in the restaurants so this side of it should be covered. The restaurants plan on sending out their own menu's so while it wont save me money on my own flyers it will get us more work as the restaurants only use us for deliveries.

    On a different subject; i dont know if its just me but does anyone else write 'we' and 'us' when writing things or speaking to clients when refering to your business. I think i do this to make the business seem bigger than it is. I do have a couple of part time staff but still see the business as just me.
     
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    O

    outventor

    Free Member
    Jul 7, 2011
    14
    1
  • #23
    Here is my own advertising options list.

    Radio. Expensive.
    Newspapers. Poor readership numbers?
    Leaflets. Cheap option.
    Buses. Expensive.
    Advertising boards. Might work if you find good spots.
    Mobile advertising. Buy a big van, paint it bright + big lettering. My alternative to advertising on buses.
    Search engines. Possibly good if you know how to play the game.
     
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    Z

    zanygame

  • #24
    We use We.
    But we are a bit bigger, having said that I think I always used we. (The royal we) I remember when we were small, just me and my mate. Some American film studio got interested in us. A guy called and asked if some of my people could meet up with some of his people to bat around ideas. "Oh definitely" I said, thinking, What people!
    I certainly didn't tell him there was only me and a mate.
     
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