Advantages and Disadvantages to a Few Advertising Mediums

In our bustling consumer society, we are absolutely surrounded by advertising--some effective and helpful, others superfluous and obstructive.But what business owners want to know is what types of advertising can really tap into their market base without crossing into the realm of propaganda or worse, obnoxiousness?

As we all know, there are countless ways to reach an audience.Let's go over some advantages and disadvantages of a few of them.

First, we have the inevitable advertising method that arose with the advent of cars and highways: the billboard.Depending on the location, renting a billboard for advertisements may either be very cost effective or extremely expensive.In the heart of Los Angeles, it may cost you up to ten thousand dollars a month, while in a rural location or a small town, it may be as little as three-hundred dollars a month.

The main reason why advertisers choose to use billboards is because they are huge and eye-catching.It is very hard for passersby to miss a huge, brightly colored sign.They are particularly advantageous on long stretches of open highway, where there is little else to look at!

Furthermore, there are now electronic billboards which are able to shift between advertisements.This has been a great technological advancement for advertising on billboards, making them more brightly lit and striking.

However, a billboard can say little, as any important information must be written in large enough print to be read from afar.This means that meaning is often conveyed through pictures, which also help to keep the advertisement interesting.But the more "artwork," that is included, the more costly the billboard becomes.

Another very large ad comes in the form of pre-movie showing commercials which are featured before the upcoming movie trailers.Like billboards, they have the advantage of being difficult to miss, as they are directly in front of potential consumers.

But one major disadvantage is that as movie-goers shuffle into the theatre, get settled, or get up again because they realize they really do want popcorn, it is unlikely that many people will absorb and remember anything advertised.Before a movie begins, many people are also unlikely to fix their attention to the screen.

On a smaller scale, a common method used for local advertising is the distribution of printed fliers.They are cheap and require no maintenance after they leave your hands.But the issue with this is that they so often get discarded.
One way to rectify this problem is to place a flier in hallways or public restrooms, with tear-off contact information for any interested parties.This wastes significantly less paper, which saves you money in the long run.

Another popular route is that of the advertising refrigerator magnet.Even in mass production, they end up being fairly reasonably priced, but do be mindful that if they are discarded, it would cost you more than a simple sheet of paper.Also, they take longer to produce, so if you are in dire need of an immediate advertisement, this may not be the solution for you.

But the great advantage is that many people do end up saving magnets due to their sheer usefulness.Even if they do not act upon the advertisement right away, they will have plenty of time to see it on their refrigerator day after day, and constant exposure is a great tactic in advertising.

About the Author

If you are interested in ordering a customized advertising magnet for your business, be sure to check out American Printing & Promotions (http://postcardmagnet.

com/), the leaders in professional but cost-effective magnet making.Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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• E-Book Marketing: Best Information about any Question
• Easy Money for Teens: Or Is It?
• Book Marketing: The Benefits of Giving Your Book Away

Have a New Business Idea: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself

Starting your own business is no small task.The amount of effort, time, and money that goes into such an endeavor can be overwhelming at best.So the primary concern for most entrepreneurs looking to start their own business is: Is this even an opportunity worth pursuing?If that question has been weighing on your mind, here are 5 questions to ask yourself:

1.

Do I Love This Idea?If you are interested in opening your own business simply for the money, then chances are you will never get your business off the ground.The process of opening your own business is so time-consuming and difficult that you would better be doing something you love, something that fascinates you to no end.The whole point of entrepreneurship is the opportunity to do whatever it is that you want to do, so choose to do something you love.

2.Is Someone Else Interested?Lets face it, you can start a business focused on something you love, but you are not going to get very far unless someone else loves it too.Even in the earliest stages of growing your business, you need to find someone who is willing to pay you for your product or service.That is the only way you will be able to keep sinking money into your business.Ask your customer(s) for feedback on what you are doing right and what you could be doing better.

3.Does It Cost Too Much?Chances are that you are not independently wealthy, so make sure you do not put too many of your precious few funds into starting up your business.Choose something that does not involve exorbitant start-up costs.If start-up costs require too much of your money, you will probably bail out before you reach profitability.If your business does require large amounts of start-up money, try beginning with a smaller endeavour or a related service to help you save money before you make any larger investment.

4.Am I Different?You are not going to get very far if you are selling the same product as your competitor at the same price and in the same way.You need to find something distinctive that will set you apart from everyone else in your market.Is your product unique?Do you provide an extra service that your competitor does not provide?If you are the new kid on the block, it is going to be difficult for you to compete only on price.You have to find something more substantial that makes you stand out and convince potential customers that they can not live without whatever it is that you have to offer.

5.Can I Do This By Myself?Do you know how to create a business website?Do you know how to create a business budget?If you do not know how to do the simplest of business-building tasks, then you are not ready to start your own business.There is hope, however.You can always enlist the help of others who have expertise in the areas where you are green, if you have the funds available.But your best bet is to teach yourself everything you need to know about owning and running own your business before you start.

Just look at all the restaurants that fold almost as soon as they have opened.Many folks are under the impression that running a restaurant is a snap, but they do not understand all the complexities involved.Make sure you know exactly what to expect of yourself and your business before diving in headfirst.

Starting your own business is an exciting prospect, especially if you have a business idea that you are just crazy about.But make sure you are ready before you jump right in.Find out if others are interested in what you are offering, make sure you have the necessary funds to start your business, and prepare yourself as much as possible for this huge undertaking.Most of all, enjoy the wonder of being your own boss and running your own company.There is nothing like it!

About the Author

Seomul Evans is a SEO expert with a leading SEO Marketing company specializing in Video Search Engines and a contributor of marketing articles

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• How to Avoid Costly Mistakes When Building Websites
• Use Public Speaking to Convert Your Non-Fiction Book Into a Best-Seller
• Recession Data On The Value of Marketing Through Economic Downturn