Craigslist/marketing help
- Thread starter Dace
- Start date
The YardFarmers
Power Conserver
I know our church lends/rents out the kitchen. You're probably really watching expenses- maybe you could trade renting the kitchen for presenting to one of their groups or part of your presentation could be making the snacks/lunch for their meeting.
I love your ingenuity to find a niche to make money; we're trying to do various things as well. Right now I'm delivering newspapers to try to get our SS business started.
With prayers, YardFarmer Julie
I love your ingenuity to find a niche to make money; we're trying to do various things as well. Right now I'm delivering newspapers to try to get our SS business started.
With prayers, YardFarmer Julie
freemotion
Food Guru
It is really about relationship marketing....people need to check you out before leaving their kids in your home. So word of mouth is critical here. Two things along these lines:
Offer special rates when kids sign up in trio's. Make it significant, because even if you barely break even, you will get that word-of-mouth thing going. You will get those kids back, too, if you offer different classes for the same age groups so they can come back for another class.
Find groups that you can speak in front of, and come equiped with flyers with photos and testimonials, from both the kids and the parents. If you could get a couple of minutes of video of the class and testimonials, you could show it, and put it up on youtube and e-mail out links to it.
Flyers are more effective if you are handing them out so people meet you. Have some with you always, and be alert in stores and such for parents and kids and go up and offer a flyer.
People love coupons. I use Vistaprint to make up coupons in postcard size and business card size. Cheap and professional, and you can put expiration dates on them by leaving a space to handwrite it in, or you can order address labels that coordinate and put expiration dates on the back with the labels. I would write: Limit one. Expires: Then I would leave it blank and handwrite the date with a black ultra fine point Sharpie.
Collect mailing and e-mail addresses everywhere you go, everywhere you get a chance to speak. Bring sign-up sheets to pass around, with something written at the top such as, "Would you like to receive notification of upcoming classes, coupons, and special offers?" Then have columns for name, address, and/or e-mail address.
If you have a local paper or weekly ad flyer that also has articles, consider submitting a series of short articles WITH PICTURES, with the agreement that you will be able to put your website address or other contact info in your signature line or short bio. Many of these papers are struggling and will be happy to publish your articles that they don't have to pay you for. Just don't get suckered into placing a print ad. They aren't that effective for this type of thing, imo. People need to meet you, and an article does that.
Just some quick thoughts...
Offer special rates when kids sign up in trio's. Make it significant, because even if you barely break even, you will get that word-of-mouth thing going. You will get those kids back, too, if you offer different classes for the same age groups so they can come back for another class.
Find groups that you can speak in front of, and come equiped with flyers with photos and testimonials, from both the kids and the parents. If you could get a couple of minutes of video of the class and testimonials, you could show it, and put it up on youtube and e-mail out links to it.
Flyers are more effective if you are handing them out so people meet you. Have some with you always, and be alert in stores and such for parents and kids and go up and offer a flyer.
People love coupons. I use Vistaprint to make up coupons in postcard size and business card size. Cheap and professional, and you can put expiration dates on them by leaving a space to handwrite it in, or you can order address labels that coordinate and put expiration dates on the back with the labels. I would write: Limit one. Expires: Then I would leave it blank and handwrite the date with a black ultra fine point Sharpie.
Collect mailing and e-mail addresses everywhere you go, everywhere you get a chance to speak. Bring sign-up sheets to pass around, with something written at the top such as, "Would you like to receive notification of upcoming classes, coupons, and special offers?" Then have columns for name, address, and/or e-mail address.
If you have a local paper or weekly ad flyer that also has articles, consider submitting a series of short articles WITH PICTURES, with the agreement that you will be able to put your website address or other contact info in your signature line or short bio. Many of these papers are struggling and will be happy to publish your articles that they don't have to pay you for. Just don't get suckered into placing a print ad. They aren't that effective for this type of thing, imo. People need to meet you, and an article does that.
Just some quick thoughts...
FarmerDenise
Out to pasture
Your ad reminded me of an upscale toy store/catalog company I used to work for. Which led me to think, if you could leave a well made flyer in upscale toy stores, you might drum up some clientelle from the younger crowd.
We had no problem selling very expensive toys, craft kits and a kids recipe club. The more expensive items were usually purchased by grandparents! So I would think this would be a good target group also.
We had no problem selling very expensive toys, craft kits and a kids recipe club. The more expensive items were usually purchased by grandparents! So I would think this would be a good target group also.
- Thread starter
- #15
Dace
Revolution in Progress
Excellent ideas people!
I am going to sit down after the kids are in school and make an action list off of your ideas
Thank you!
UGH...was because I tried over and over to add a link and I couldn't make it work!
I am going to sit down after the kids are in school and make an action list off of your ideas
Thank you!UGH...was because I tried over and over to add a link and I couldn't make it work!
TanksHill
Super Self-Sufficient
I like the idea of the marketing to the girl/boy scout troops. Maybe a discounted rate if several sign up.
Dace did you dh do your web site? It looks great.
gina
Dace did you dh do your web site? It looks great.
gina
modern_pioneer
Mountain Man
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I think free and ginas ideas are great.
When I went to visit your site, I didn't want to go past the second page. I wanted to see the info positioned there for me to review/look at. I was interested in learning how to cook ( mind frame as a client ) but couldn't be bothered as a more static page would allow me to review the info. at once.
I don't know if this has been mentioned, styles of cooking and menus are a plus!!! Also offering a class that has some interesting dishes like korean BBQ. Its simple, fun, and very good. Or series of types of food!
One of my businesses is client driven, meaning I will be glad to make an item that they want. If I get a request for it again in the next few months, I place it on my site to sell. As morbid as it might be, I will be introducing pet grave markers in the near future. People all kinds for their pets, and when they die some want to bury them and place a marker on their grave.
The reason I mention that last paragraph, because although my ideas might in my head be good, you have something better to work with, culture. So depending on your neck of the woods (different cultures a lot/lack there of) might power your business.
I might not understand your business or your question, as you asked, so if nothing I said is practical just ignore me.
When I went to visit your site, I didn't want to go past the second page. I wanted to see the info positioned there for me to review/look at. I was interested in learning how to cook ( mind frame as a client ) but couldn't be bothered as a more static page would allow me to review the info. at once.
I don't know if this has been mentioned, styles of cooking and menus are a plus!!! Also offering a class that has some interesting dishes like korean BBQ. Its simple, fun, and very good. Or series of types of food!
One of my businesses is client driven, meaning I will be glad to make an item that they want. If I get a request for it again in the next few months, I place it on my site to sell. As morbid as it might be, I will be introducing pet grave markers in the near future. People all kinds for their pets, and when they die some want to bury them and place a marker on their grave.
The reason I mention that last paragraph, because although my ideas might in my head be good, you have something better to work with, culture. So depending on your neck of the woods (different cultures a lot/lack there of) might power your business.
I might not understand your business or your question, as you asked, so if nothing I said is practical just ignore me.
- Thread starter
- #18
Dace
Revolution in Progress
G- Yeah my Hubby made it
MP, I think you have great suggestions....on my regular web site I do have menus listed, but you are right I should add some to the site I showed you all.
I have advertised specialty classes but have not gotten much response to that so I am focusing on kids....even when money is tight people still will pay for thier kids to be involved in some sort of enrichment program!
MP, I think you have great suggestions....on my regular web site I do have menus listed, but you are right I should add some to the site I showed you all.
I have advertised specialty classes but have not gotten much response to that so I am focusing on kids....even when money is tight people still will pay for thier kids to be involved in some sort of enrichment program!
big brown horse
Hoof In Mouth
Even just to have them out of their hair for a bit.Dace said:G- Yeah my Hubby made it
MP, I think you have great suggestions....on my regular web site I do have menus listed, but you are right I should add some to the site I showed you all.
I have advertised specialty classes but have not gotten much response to that so I am focusing on kids....even when money is tight people still will pay for thier kids to be involved in some sort of enrichment program!
I wish you lived closer!!My child is very um, exuberant in the kitchen, so when she stirs anything it goes everywhere! She is making at least one meal per day in the kitchen now and even though she cleans up after herself, I find crumbs etc. in the strangest places.
- Thread starter
- #20
Dace
Revolution in Progress
Oh my, Sally I have stories to tell!
I have one child (student) who is a walking disaster. No matter how I try to steer her in the right direction, she knows best. I hate to say that I am a bit relieved that she is not signing up this session!
She is also a me me me girl. She wants her hands in everything and has a hard time sharing the fun :/
Edited to add....it really is glorified babysitting!
I have one child (student) who is a walking disaster. No matter how I try to steer her in the right direction, she knows best. I hate to say that I am a bit relieved that she is not signing up this session!
She is also a me me me girl. She wants her hands in everything and has a hard time sharing the fun :/
Edited to add....it really is glorified babysitting!
