Designing Flyers for a Mobile Car Washing Business

When designing Flyers for a mobile car wash business it pays to consider the quote; Keep It Simple Stupid! There are a few other things to consider as well. Your phone number should be at the top and bold. The Flyers should be on card stock paper. The Flyers should be a bright color but not fluorescent.

The shape and size of the flier should be a unique area. For instance it should not be a half sheet of paper or a whole sheet of paper. A third of a sheet of paper might be better or something less than a quarter sheet of paper.

You should be careful when pricing because some people have extra dirty cars and if you put on your flier that a vacuum is three dollars or five dollars then you might find yourself vacuuming out the back of a minivan of a customer that has three small children and two Irish setters which has not been vacuumed for three years. And don't laugh it has happened to me.
Tip! Revisit your business plan and update it to reflect recent changes. 2.

You might also be surprised how long the shelf life of these fliers can last. We have seen flyers come back three or four years after we handed them out. People put them under their desk or in a drawer or in the glove box and then they find them. If you're not careful with your pricing you may be very sorry that you're washing someone's car for only five dollars, which was an introductory offer five years ago. Please consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Repeat Business And How To Get It

It has long been acknowledged that it is easier and cheaper to get more business from your existing customers than it is to get any business from somebody who has never done business with you.

Your customers already know you and their business is more profitable for you because there is no advertising cost involved.

A referral system, upselling and backend selling are all worth trying if you wish to increase the income you get from your customers. They can be used for marketing online or offline and they cost little or nothing to put into practice.

It is a good idea to instigate a system of getting referrals from satisfied customers. The referral system can generate a lot of profitable sales which are relatively easy to get. A customer survey can be used to gain referrals and it can be sent out by post, email, fax or put it up on a web page.

Suggested questions could include:

What did you most like about our product or our service?

What could we do to improve our product or service for you?
Tip! Entrepreneurship skill: So many people want to start their own business and are researching anything to do with entrepreneurship.

Do you know anyone who would want our products or services?

The first questions focus on the benefits you provide and your customer is more likely to give you referrals when they think about those benefits.

Answers to the first question can often be used as a testimonial if your customer agrees. The second question could give you a warning of a problem which needs to be addressd.
Tip! Bad business ethics: This must have seen a jump during the highly publicized Enron scandal.

Upselling can be achieved when your customer is buying from you. You do not have to wait until you have made a sale to increase the income you get from a customer. While you are collecting the ordering information from your customer, offer them an opportunity to purchase a better quality product or service or add another item to the order. You could offer them a special price which is only available if the customer buys it straight away. Customers are often willing to accept an attractive offer especially when they think they are getting a bargain. Upselling offers can even be included on your web site.

Many businesses make a lot of their profit from backend sales or selling other related products or services to customers who have previously bought goods or services from them. After a person has bought from you once, it is relatively easy for them to buy again. To succeed with this approach, it is a good idea to look for companies who deal with goods or services which compliment yours. You can offer their products to your customers as long as you arrange to take part of the profit.
Tip! Write down on their business card the day you have agreed to call and let them see you do this. This shows that you are serious and the chances are you're likely to do it.

An Internet search can reveal several affiliate programs which offer goods or services similar to your product. All you need to do is tell your customers about the product and that you endorse the product. The owner of the affiliate program does the rest and pays you a commission for selling the product.

By using a referral system, upselling and backend selling, you should be able to get more business from your existing customers and generate more profitable sales without paying costly advertising premiums.

Martin Print, based in Australia, have helped more than 2000 clients grow their businesses by generating more sales through creative print & design. More info: http://www.martinprint.com.au

Advertising: Relationships vs Business Decisions

Successful businesses know the importance of building and maintaining good working relationships, whether it is with partners, employees, business or trade organizations, the government, media representatives, vendors, consumers, or the community at large. A business must carefully balance the benefits of these interpersonal relationships and should never allow these relationships to blind their judgment especially when it relates to what is in the best interest of the business's continued success and growth

Buying advertising media based on interpersonal relationships is a common mistake made by many small businesses. This strategy throws the business's strategic marketing plan into the winds of chance in exchange for the warm and fuzzy feelings that come with doing business among friends. However, when the smoke clears the business has made costly advertising expenditures with little or no results and the long term negative effects may not readily be seen. Simply, the marketing / advertising expenditures have been made, the budget may or may not be busted, and the results may be none to little measurable penetration into the business's target demographic market segment.

Is buying media from a friend in the business always bad? No, however in order to choose the most effective media channels a business must first consider the audience or customer it is trying to reach. Developing a strong sense of the target demographics' buying and shopping patterns, interests and hobbies, entertainment and media choices for example will lend itself a tremendous benefit to making informed media buying choices. Once the advertising business has developed a strong sense of what media channels may prove to be the most effective it should try each a little at a time carefully tracking the results of each. Once this is complete the business will be able to make an educated decision on where to invest its marketing dollars, prioritizing expenditures into the mediums that have proven results for the business.
Tip! Clarify personal goals for the future. Many business owners lose sight of these as they get immersed in the day-to-day running of the business.

It is true that strong interpersonal relationships skills and the ability to develop and maintain good working relationships with a variety of people, businesses, and other organizations are imperative in today's business environments. However, the importance of a well designed and implemented strategic marketing plan can not be understated and is paramount to the business's development and longevity never taking second seat to friendship.

Amy Dube has over 16 years of sales experience and currently works in advertising for a major publishing company.For more free Articles and Marketing Tips go to http://adube.info

How To Advertise Your Internet Business and Drive Traffic and Sales for Pennies

We have all seen advertisements promising targeted traffic and massive sales, but most of these are scams and rarely do they produce the traffic and sales that are promised. Even Pay Per Click (PPC) advertising on search engines like Google and Yahoo have gotten so expensive for good keywords that the costs now greatly outweigh any profits you could make with your internet business. On average it costs $20 - $100 per item sold through Google. This is no way to make money and will actually cost your internet business more than it is worth. As advertising and other costs continue to rise due to the poor management of our economy by President George Bush, it has become more important to find alternative ways of driving traffic and sales to your internet business. Here are some great underground or free marketing methods that are proven to drive targeted traffic and sales:

1. Use your car or truck to advertise your company or services. This will add additional exposure and branding to your internet business, company or product. Thousands of potential customers will see this and if you use big letters, like in your back window, the possibilities and results are endless. Lots of research by big companies like Mary Kay and Avon has been done into self marketing and branding on vehicles. This is why both Avon and Mary Kay offer rear window branding stickers to their associates - it works great and increases sales very cheaply (very cost effective). All you have to pay is for a one time sticker creation (about $40) and they will last for years and continuously drive traffic and sales. Simplicity is key here, for the best results for your online or internet business, only use a few eye catching words and a web address or phone number. Catchy web addresses have the best follow through traffic and sales as determined by numerous customer acquisition and internet business research firms. Do not use small stickers, bumper stickers, etc… as no one really notices or pays attention to these.

2. Buy a ink stamp with your website or contact info attached (around $25). Every piece of mail that your put your hands on should have your service, product, or website on it. It's a numbers game. The more people that see your name or website address, the more sales you will make. By the way, many people other than the intended recipient will notice the stamped website address for your internet or online business.

3. Get some bumper stickers made up with your internet business or product name and website on them. Make sure they stand out and can easily be read. Then give them out at local fairs and events. Niche targeted events work best at sending targeted traffic and sales. Send them to your happiest customers (most will be glad to display your bumper sticker for you). Pens with your internet business imprinted on them work great as free giveaways at fairs and events. You can get embossed pens for as little as $.10 each and they work great. Remember, free is the key - anything you can give away free that you can put your internet business name on and will provide a benefit or usefulness will result in increased traffic and sales! Many Walmarts will allow local businesses to display their services and brochures and giveaway free items (be sure to contact the management first and tell them it is for your internet business).
Tip! Must be applicable to everyone When a company implements its small business plans in this manner, the plans become the living blueprint for all of its daily activities. The plans are not meant to sit in a nicely bound folder on a shelf somewhere.

4. Donate some money in your internet business name and then use a press release to cover it. Have a professional write the press release for you and watch the resultant traffic and sales. People feel for those less fortunate and if you help them and use a well crafted press release you can get more traffic and sales then with hundreds of thousands of dollars of pay per click advertising on Google and Yahoo. You can also give your time or help in other ways if you have limited resources. A well written press release can literally pull your internet business out of the proverbial Google sandbox and put it on the map.

There are some great ideas for free or low cost advertising for your online or internet business that are sure to give you a boost in targeted traffic and sales. If you like free tips and ideas like this that will make you smarter, improve your bottom line, make you wealthier and happier, please visit and bookmark the link below).
Tip! Write a tip booklet that is related to your business. Make a deal with an offline store where they giveaway your tip booklet to their shoppers with each purchase.

David Maillie is Cornell Alumni and award winning writer and researcher. For more great free info, tips and ideas like this please visit the award winning and nationally top rated blog: http://www.bestbraindrain.com

10 Easiest Ways to Advertise your Arts/Crafts Business

1) CREATE A WEBSITE This will act as a Portfolio and lists all the items you created and want to sell. Make it detailed and list the pricing information for those interested in purchasing. You can even add a shopping cart and get fancy with features you'd like to present to your audience like an "about" page for example. Add shipping information, and a section for those who would like to buy in bulk like wholesalers or buyers. If you do not know the first thing about how to create a website, there are a lot of ways you could get someone to make one for you or find online companies that give a package for your site including hosting, domain name and so forth.

Here are some links to website creators: http://www.web.com/ http://www.very-visible.com/our-pricing.html

Or check out our 1 page website deal which is quick, cheap, referenced through our network, and gets advertised to buyers across the globe: http://www.marmarsgifts.com/websiteassistance.asp

PRO: Will always be referenced. Easy place to find your art/crafts. Easy place for others to shop for your art/crafts and you to make money. CON: Time taken to make one, mechanism for advertising required unless it's included in the package.

2) MAKE A CATALOG Create your own using software or get assistance from the US Postal Service. You can then have this catalog get mailed all over your area. The USPS website has a lot of good information and helpful tools with prices on how you can get this started. Visit them here: http://www.usps.com
Tip! B2B and B2C marketing tool: Business owners are always looking for ways to market their businesses. That's one of the reasons that books such as 'Guerrilla Marketing' are so popular.

PRO: Will get to people's hands. Forced way to get customers CON: Can become costly.

3) CREATE BUSINESS CARDS You may not know it, but this is the one tool that has stayed with people for very long periods of time. Ever look in your wallet credit card section? Notice your business cards you've picked up and kept with you. Well, the very same way you can stick to people with this approach. Pass these or stick these around anywhere you see fit. Parties, Shows, Friends, Family, School, Bulletins, Shows/Exhibits, and Stores. You can make them yourself by using Microsoft Word and picking up a set of blank sheets to print at your local office supply store; eg. Staples, Office Max, Office Depot.

PRO: Fast, Cheap to get customers CON: Creating them takes a little time

4) CREATE YOUR OWN EBAY STORE Do you have a few items? Want to try it out and see who's interested? eBay is the largest and most traffic driven site people go to find stuff. I mean, you can find anything in there. If you don't have the time to create a website or find other ways to advertise and are willing to pay a percentage for each of your items that does sell, then eBay is a place to start. Then when you find people buying and business starts looking good, you can open an eBay store or direct them to your website. http://www.ebay.com
Tip! Base your business on how you can add value to your customers. You'd be surprised how your business it will grow by suiting the needs of your 'ideal' client AND looking after them each and every time.

PRO: Can list items and bring lots of traffic to your site CON: % Deducted on each sale you make

5) FIND A LOCAL CONSIGNMENT SHOP TO SELL YOUR ITEMS You will need to make a photo album with your products or take some samples to see if they will sell them for you. Most will do this if they do not already have something similar in stock. You need to find out how their rates work so you can make some kind of decent profit. Be cautious as some may take more than you are willing to get paid for.

PRO: Sure way people will see or feel your products CON: Percentage taken for each sale

6) PUT YOUR STUFF IN ARTS/CRAFTS SHOWS Register and put up a booth with your items on display for everyone to see. It's almost like your own mini store. And, everyone who comes to visit is looking for arts/crafts.
Tip! Make sure your business look is congruent. Have a business name that explains what you do so you're customers are buying or dealing from you rather than trying to figure out what you do.

PRO: Lot of interested people and definite sales CON: Fee to be in show

7) ADVERTISE TO ONLINE ARTS/CRAFT SHOWS Most people who know how to use a computer these days like to shop online. If they don't buy anything, they will look. And there is so much to choose from. They can be more successful if they find a place that is specific to what they are looking for. For example, if one is looking for household gifts, they will search for home gifts or something of the sort. So if you advertise in Arts/Crafts Shows Online, then you are giving those interested in arts/crafts a way to find you. You can place an ad in free sites and ones that have a fee. Be aware of the free ones since they can sell your email to other vendors. Paid advertising provides more services and incentives to keep you as a customer. We offer membership for $2.99 a month in which you place your ad for buyers across the globe, international, in state and local, to bulletins, blogs, zines, wholesalers, shops, search engines and webrings. In addition to other services, free advice, and royalty free. http://www.marmarsgifts.com You can also try: http://www.craftsfaironline.com and http://artsandcraftsfair.com/
Tip! Develop a plan of where you wish for you AND your business to be this time next year. You will need to think about such things as a basic marketing plan to so you know what marketing you need to do to achieve that outcome.

PRO: Allows others to advertise for you while you just keep doing what you love without paying % for each item you sell CON: Choosing plan to fit your needs.

8) CALL STORE BUYERS Often times buyers for stores are looking for new things they are not sure how to find. Taking the initial step for them may save them time and they can appreciate your contact. This is a type of solicitation, so not all buyers may be willing to listen, but with a little patience, you may find success from this approach. And Big success with that!

PRO: If your items are wanted - they will be bought in bulk - and if they sell you could make it big! CON: patience & solicitation
Tip! Sexy business woman: If this works for your site, great! Many men use the internet to search for pictures of women. Variations of this could include 'nude business girls' or 'naked business women.

9) MAKE A BANNER ONLINE Banners are annoying, but they do a great job to grab your attention. Not only that, but they are "visual" information. The human eye first sees, then interprets or analyzes. Therefore, it is a method of saying "Hey! Look at me!" You can make this yourself or have someone or a tool make it for you. It can be advertised for a price or free based on how you take the approach. If you choose to pay for it to be advertised, then beware of the fees, never select pay per click...since these are not sure ways you will make a sale, just a way others can get money from you. The best way is to trade with others wanting the same, like a banner exchange. Search for "banner exchange" and you'll be amazed at what you will find.
Tip! Write a tip booklet that is related to your business. Make a deal with an offline store where they giveaway your tip booklet to their shoppers with each purchase.

PRO: Catches attention of viewers & brings them to your site CON: Need to make one & decide whether to pay or use exchange method

10) MAKE YOUR CAR YOUR FRIEND If you drive, most likely you will stop and in front of you will be another car and its rear end. You've got nothing better to do for the next 2 minutes then stare at that bumper in front of you or check out the rear display. Well, then so does the next guy who is behind you and so forth. Why not make it worth the effort and advertise your arts/crafts with a personalized bumper sticker or magnet on your car leading them to your website or an email? Give them a few words to think about and something they'll remember, and be sure they'll pay your site a visit! You can find places that will make these for you usually at a sign shop or bumper sticker store.
Tip! Entrepreneurship skill: So many people want to start their own business and are researching anything to do with entrepreneurship.

PRO: Brings traffic - people will see your advertising with no choice if they are near your car CON: Make sure it's short and sweet and easy to read at a distance.

Artist, Engineer, and Entrepreneur, Marmar has worked with sellers and buyers in the Arts / Crafts industry and opened her own business to help Artists and Crafters "get noticed". http://www.marmarsgifts.com