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Thread ID: 91994	2008-07-25 03:49:00	Marketing Plan	pctek (84)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
692018	2008-07-26 08:35:00	Talking about gossip (well not really) word of mouth is the best advertisement you can ever get (which you already identified pctek) and in a service based industry that will only come with time and exposure. So in broad-brush terms it sounds like you are providing 'peace of mind' to local people who don't know what they are doing, at a fair (to you) price. If people want to quibble with your price then they are reminded that 'you get what you pay for' and you will take your business elsewhere. If past behaviour is anything to go by, locals will be suspicious of newcomers (which you will be for the next 10 years) unless a) you blow them away with your expertise without being a know-it-all*, or b) other locals recommend you. This has been touched on before and the social network / referrals is the best form of new customers - you need to sell to them because they will come to you. *I saw this great little flyer come through the front door - it was a small pamphlet entitled '31 things you need to know about Windows'. It gave you just enough information to let you sort out some things (like basic speed improvements) and a few of the recommendations were 'teasers' which would require the support of the pamphlet provider if you didn't know what you were doing. But like any other pamphlet, I was asked by the home owner 'do I need to keep this?'. So how to get the attention of potential customers? That is the $64 question. What grabs your attention? Andrew	andrew93 (249)
692019	2008-07-26 09:16:00	If you want business cards, that are really good quality, look at click business cards, the NZ one. I had some done by them and they look really professional (full colour with a matt plastic coating) and were much cheaper than NZ printers. They also only took 2 days to get done. support local then get your cards done somewhere else. nice	plod (107)
692020	2008-07-26 20:45:00	3) A book worth reading is 'The 22 immutable laws of marketing' (or is it 20?) by Al Ries and Jack Trout. Your library may have it. Invercargill Library doesn't have that one, but they do have: "The power of simplicity : a management guide to cutting through the nonsense and doing things right / Author: Trout, Jack. Date: c1999." And it's in the library at the moment. Might be worth a look.	R.M. (561)
692021	2008-07-26 22:23:00	My suggestion would be to contact your local Chamber of Commerce (do they have them down there :D ). One marketing company up here offered a 1 hours free marketing consultation which, ok, was a ploy to get business, but it means you get to talk to a 'marketing person' with no obligation. This was what I did and I remember the discussion we had about business cards. "Its all about how the person feels about doing business with you when they view your business card". Excuse me. A business card is a business card but according to overpaid (oops) marketing people that is not the case. There is some emotional formula depending on your target market which only marketing people can interpret for you. Its how your business card feels when potential customers handle it which is why Japanese have embossed business cards. Yes, books are good especially when they are free from your library. Of course, I am a geek at the best of times, and a Linux geek at that, so the best advice is to get professional advice (got any marketing mates :) )	dolby digital (5073)
692022	2008-07-27 03:17:00	support local then get your cards done somewhere else. nice All companies do it, at least the profitable ones, they subcontract out to cheap options. Look at vodafone, who subcontracts out their support to Egypt, Icebreaker, who makes their NZ designed clothes in China. Apple, who make their computers and ipods in china, [insert most successful companies here]. I would have used a local business to print my cards, and I gave local companies a chance, however the prices they quoted me was 8 times higher than I could get them printed by Click, for exactly the same thing, and I would have to wait a few weeks, as they were 'so busy at the moment for small jobs'. 2 days wait and a fraction of the price with superior service wins on all counts. PLus it was done in Australia, so it is the next best thing to being local.	robbyp (2751)
692023	2008-07-27 21:41:00	I have cards thanks. Magnetic ones. Printed in NZ. Thats just more advertising.	pctek (84)
692024	2008-07-27 23:55:00	PCTek You seem very hard to please. Whatever we suggest is either advertising, or is not good enough ! I have been marketing for years, with no formal qualifications, and I find that every business type is different. So what works for Vodaphone may not work for you.	Digby (677)
692025	2008-07-28 00:32:00	Well I'm not explaining very well then. Its PR more than anything. Not advertising as such. I've done all that. Like a way of getting out to people not that I exist - but what I am like a s a business, how good I am, not on my say so either.	pctek (84)
692026	2008-07-28 00:59:00	Business cards should not be thought of as advertising. A well designed business card can speak volumes about a business. Having a business card printed on a thick card stock with a matt print and having as little type as possible (contact number, address name and company name) can present yourself as a very serious and solid company to whoever receives the card. Wear a smart polo shirt with your company logo embroidered on the top right of the shirt or on a fleece for cold days. You may think of these things as advertising as individuals but it's known as marketing when it all comes together. But seriously, a well designed business card is so important when you want people to understand that you can offer an impressive service. That and a brilliantly designed logo.	Jams (1051)
692027	2008-07-28 01:30:00	Well I'm not explaining very well then. Its PR more than anything. Not advertising as such. I've done all that. Like a way of getting out to people not that I exist - but what I am like a s a business, how good I am, not on my say so either. Cold calling/telemarketing yourself is good and can be very effective. But make sure you do the calling yourself, rather than usng one of these telemarketing companies that call from India or Egypt, as they can do more harm for your business than good.	robbyp (2751)
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