Need To Make Extra Money

And your advertising flyer - and your marketing in general - will be stronger for it, avoid these seven common mistakes. After 30 years I have found that nearly every small business ad flyer contains the same mistakes and missed opportunities. Of advertising flyers for small businesses, if not thousands, i have reviewed hundreds. I probably don't have to, then again. I have not seen your advertising flyer, admittedly.

Advertising flyer mistake #1: A Blah Headline (Your Company's Name)

Get over it! It is but that's life, well. Sounds cruel? They're not even interested in what you do. Your potential customers aren't interested in your name. It needs to SELL. Your flyer is an ad, remember.

Because it addresses their needs, hit them with a headline they can't ignore, so. Prospective customers are interested in their own needs and wants.

Instead of:

Sheri's Pet Grooming

Try: Smelly Pet Stinking Up The House?

Or:

We Treat Your Cat Like The Royalty They Are!

Or:

Man's Best Friend Deserves Something Special!

" Use your headline to immediately answer their question: "What's in it for me, then? Figure out what's important to your potential customers. You get the idea.

Advertising flyer mistake #2: Not Solving A Problem!

Show - how those benefits prevent or solve problems for your potential customer, better, tell - or, also. Or pain, or hassle, benefit that addresses a problem, customer-oriented, each feature or service should be attached to a clear, although your ad flyer copy should include your key features or services.

Emphasize in your flyer the problems and solutions that set you apart from your competition. Identify benefits about your product or service that make a difference to your potential customers. Learn what their problems are. Listen to them. Talk to them. Put yourself in your customer's shoes. That could stem from not using your product or service, both real and potential, think about all the problems.

Advertising flyer mistake #3: Be A Friend!

Am I comfortable doing business with you? Do you understand my problems? Are you trustworthy? Are you knowledgeable? One key thing your potential customer needs and wants is to feel good about you. People buy from people they like.

Help them understand who you are and who they will be doing business with (hopefully). Your personal commitment, your values, your qualifications, that's why I recommend that you have an "I" section - a section where you talk about yourself. The more likely they are to do so, the more comfortable someone feels about buying from you.

Advertising flyer mistake #4: Going Quietly Into The Night!

Proven closers: here are three basic, Create a "call to action", " Instead. Call 555-5555, this is the typical close to a flyer: "for more information.

And works especially well for one-time purchases or regularly purchased items, this closer is effective at getting immediate action. And receive $10 off, * Buy before (DATE).

"Free" is a very powerful word. It also works "free" into your flyer. This closer offers an incentive for fast action. FREE with your purchase, and get (VALUE-ADDED PRODUCT/SERVICE), * Act before (DATE)!

The more powerful this closer becomes, note the more believable the reason for the limit. This closer attaches a negative consequence to any delay or hesitation. * Purchase before (DATE) to take advantage of our slow-season!

Advertising flyer mistake #5: Forgetting There Are Two Sides!

Just make sure your second side doesn't compete with your main message side. For twice the opportunity to make a sale, distribute a two-sided flyer, so! Is distribution, in time or money or both, the larger expense. The printing or photocopying is but a small part of the overall expense, with an advertising flyer.

The second side could be used for:

* A comprehensive list of your services

* A map with driving and parking directions

* Customer testimonials

* Relevant tips or advice

* Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Or enhance the message on the main side, expand upon, use the second side to support.

Advertising flyer mistake #6: One Good Shot!

Your prospective customers need to see the your ads over and over. It is a rule of thumb among marketing professionals that you need to reach people at least eight times before they really notice you. One-time advertising efforts are seldom effective.

Keep track of which flyer drives the most business. Change the headline. Change the color of the paper you use. Mix the message up a bit! I recommend that you plan to hit each household at least eight times with an ad flyer. Plan a series of distributions as part of your strategy, so.

And libraries often offer public bulletin boards, stores, schools, community centers. Combine door-to-door distribution with posting in public areas where allowed, at the very least. So you reach those homes through a variety of media channels, combine your flyers with other localized advertising, if possible.

Advertising flyer mistake #7: Flyers Gone Astray!

You should keep two objectives in mind when targeting neighborhoods for your flyer distribution.

Concentrate your ad distribution within and around your existing clusters of clients. * It's much more cost-effective for you to have clients in convenient clusters instead of scattered all over town.

The added advantage to walking your "territory" house-by-house will be giving you a better understanding for what services or mix of services you should offer. An advertising flyer for a landscaper is largely wasted if it's delivered to residents of an apartment building. * Reaching the right people within the target area is also critical.

Learn to use them well and you will create customers while saving yourself time and money. Promotional flyers are one tool in the small business' marketing arsenal.