Thinking outside the box

Clear Shine

Clear Shine

New member
I am always looking for ways to market and BRAND my company. Of course, the least amount you can spend for the most exposure is the name of the game, hence the term ROI (Return on Investment). I would like to hear some of the ways you guys can think of marketing or branding your company for pennies if not free. For example, Craigslist has a good ROI because little or no cost goes into the ad. Say what you want to about it weather or not it works for you (I choose not to use it anymore because of the clientelle you get from it (price shoppers and low ballers) and the spamming that comes from it also).

I will start it off with 2 forms of innovative cheap branding. First would be parades. Usually they are low cost to get in (if they let businesses in) and put together some lights and little kids waving, and you have got yourself a cheap way to get you and your company name out to thousands. I entered our truck and trailer this year into my local Christmas parade. Cost me $55 and some lights to go around my trailer and put in some of my cute little nephews waving to the 3,000 people, and while I was driving the truck with the window down, I heard my company name said 15 times (just from what I heard). Am I going to get any jobs off of it? Probably not, but WHEN they do and WHEN they go to search for a company, they will have name recognition with my company.

The second form of branding is free. Do you have bad weather where you live? School and business closings? Where does everyone look......tv and tv station website for the most up-to-date closing. Guess whos company name is being looked at for free by Thousands and Thousands of people today? MINE..... It is scrolling right now across the tv and internet for free. We are closed tomorrow and tuesday for the weather. Again, am I going to get any calls off of it, I'm sure no, but its branding for free....

What's some of your inexpensive branding or marketing ideas?
 
Good luck with that...anything that gets the name out there is great, but I sure hope you are not relying on either of those for generating business.

My thoughts only....take ith agrain of salt.

Parade - people are there for their kids and the parade - doubt they will remember who was in it - I doesn;t sound like you have kids......I do and I can say that your attention is likely NOT on who has a float, but rather hearding kids.

Tuning in for weather updates - your scrolling name is not what they are looking for, they are looking for their county or school.

Not trying to be negative - this would be more in line with TOMA. Which I am sure is your plan anyway.
 
Mike K use to do the TV thing

I agree with Mike V

I say is you have to SPEND money to make money. Cheap things are fine if they don't actually tarnish your company, but you also have to have some good marketing in there..
I have a very good name and get a lot of referral work, but I constantly market my business to new and old customers...constantly I can't ever see me stopping as long as my company is open for business
 
Clear Shine said:
I am always looking for ways to market and BRAND my company. Of course, the least amount you can spend for the most exposure is the name of the game, hence the term ROI (Return on Investment). I would like to hear some of the ways you guys can think of marketing or branding your company for pennies if not free. For example, Craigslist has a good ROI because little or no cost goes into the ad. Say what you want to about it weather or not it works for you (I choose not to use it anymore because of the clientelle you get from it (price shoppers and low ballers) and the spamming that comes from it also).

I will start it off with 2 forms of innovative cheap branding. First would be parades. Usually they are low cost to get in (if they let businesses in) and put together some lights and little kids waving, and you have got yourself a cheap way to get you and your company name out to thousands. I entered our truck and trailer this year into my local Christmas parade. Cost me $55 and some lights to go around my trailer and put in some of my cute little nephews waving to the 3,000 people, and while I was driving the truck with the window down, I heard my company name said 15 times (just from what I heard). Am I going to get any jobs off of it? Probably not, but WHEN they do and WHEN they go to search for a company, they will have name recognition with my company.

The second form of branding is free. Do you have bad weather where you live? School and business closings? Where does everyone look......tv and tv station website for the most up-to-date closing. Guess whos company name is being looked at for free by Thousands and Thousands of people today? MINE..... It is scrolling right now across the tv and internet for free. We are closed tomorrow and tuesday for the weather. Again, am I going to get any calls off of it, I'm sure no, but its branding for free....

What's some of your inexpensive branding or marketing ideas?
Click to expand...

I was asked my BEst ROI the other nite...ME!!! LOL:yeah:

Seriolusly listen to the Video I'm making on this Subject.
 
ROI is a misnomer! I have a hard time assigning a percentage to any given campaign because they all work together....there are numerous books out there that talk about how many times it takes for a customer to recognize your business.

Ron is correct.....people buy from people they like and trust.

As far as residential....residential customers also buy from people they like and trust. It is simple to gain that trust even on the residential level, it all goes back to my posting on TOMA and what wrong says at the end of the video on the repetition and consistency of your message.
 
Ron,

I just looked at your marketing post on you tube. Very interesting points you bring up. Residential branding is tough, but like you said, Charity events and buildiung a referral program is key to finding success.
 
Mike V said:
Good luck with that...anything that gets the name out there is great, but I sure hope you are not relying on either of those for generating business.

My thoughts only....take ith agrain of salt.

Parade - people are there for their kids and the parade - doubt they will remember who was in it - I doesn;t sound like you have kids......I do and I can say that your attention is likely NOT on who has a float, but rather hearding kids.

Tuning in for weather updates - your scrolling name is not what they are looking for, they are looking for their county or school.

Not trying to be negative - this would be more in line with TOMA. Which I am sure is your plan anyway.
Click to expand...


Mike, I by no means meant this as a replacement for advertising, i was just talking about cheap ways for branding. I think we have spent close to 10k this past year in marketing....everything from tv to billboards and newspaper inserts....
 
Another great video Ron, Thanks.

Definately some great things to think about.
 
Clear Shine said:
Mike, I by no means meant this as a replacement for advertising, i was just talking about cheap ways for branding. I think we have spent close to 10k this past year in marketing....everything from tv to billboards and newspaper inserts....
Click to expand...

Then find your top three producers and invest the money there.

Marketing is almost like stocks

You have a divers portfolio until you see the real producers. Talk to a day trader some time. Once a stock drops below a certain return percent its pulled and the money is put into one that performs better.

For us DM and CC work best. That's where we spend out time and money.
 
Ok, maybe I need to back up and punt..... I was trying to start a thread on very low cost or free "thinking outside the box" ways to Brand your company. I wasnt seeking ROI advice or ways to market, although what everyone says has been right on the money.

This threads intention was to share ways that are "outside of the box" free or very inexpensive ways that you have found to brand your company, not high cost/high yield marketing.....I guess I shouldnt have put marketing anywhere in the title because my intention was more along the branding lines....Mainly ways of branding that WILL NOT get you direct sales, but keeps your name out there to the public.....
 
Clear Shine said:
Ok, maybe I need to back up and punt..... I was trying to start a thread on very low cost or free "thinking outside the box" ways to Brand your company. I wasnt seeking ROI advice or ways to market, although what everyone says has been right on the money.

This threads intention was to share ways that are "outside of the box" free or very inexpensive ways that you have found to brand your company, not high cost/high yield marketing.....I guess I shouldnt have put marketing anywhere in the title because my intention was more along the branding lines....Mainly ways of branding that WILL NOT get you direct sales, but keeps your name out there to the public.....
Click to expand...

Thats the Idea, then they are familiar and when ready will buy from you!!:bow-down:
 
This is our 20th year Ron and still learning every day! Its been interesting watching changes in this business over the years but our companies core is still the same. 8 more years and we will be ready to sell the whole business. My next venture will be an Ice cream stand. Just happy kids smiling and enjoying themselves.
 
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