I operate a contractor-based, in-home tutoring business. I am already advertising in a local parenting magazine and with the Yellow Pages. I also have a website.

I'm considering buying a poster (a smaller billboard on a Highway) in the area. The poster I can get is on a very high traffic highway in a city in which many of my parents/clients live.

The poster would be $1,500/month. This would tap pretty much the rest of my advertising budget for a month or two. As consumers, do you think this is worth the money? Would a poster legitimize a business to you and raise your interest? Or do you think I should focus on ads in magazines and a flyer campaign in doctors' offices, dentists' offices, etc.?

For that amount of money, I would tap into radio first.

5 Responses

1. AdamSteffens.com Says:
   November 18th, 2008 at 9:22 am

   For that amount of money, I would tap into radio first.
   References :

2. jenwinlee Says:
   November 18th, 2008 at 9:41 am

   I agree with the previous posting. Radio would be better than a billboard for $1500 a month. But even better than both of those would be "specialty items" (magnets, pens, rulers) with your info printed on it to hand out at community events. Or you could try a "back to school" direct mailing to households with kids in your tutoring age range.
   References :
   Non-profit ad exec for 10 years

3. acb29 Says:
   November 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am

   I would use that money in a more targeted way… radio is good but also fairly expensive. Personally I think that's too much to dump into one media , especially if the returns are unknown.

   Here's how would break down that budget….

   $200 – on-line , Google Adwords.
   $500 – targeted post-card mail campaign (see http://www.quantummail.com)
   $remainder ( radio and or print)

   good luck!
   References :

4. Charlie on the T Says:
   November 18th, 2008 at 10:24 am

   The billboard sounds okay if you can negotiate the price and it brings results, but the only way to tell for sure is results.

   Stay in the newspaper I'd say (although the parenting magazine may be full of them already?) as it will ONLY reach people immediately in the market, though it reaches lots of them and well. This is myopic in a general newspaper but it can keep you afloat too.

   I'd drop the Yellow Pages at once if I were you. That's where people go when they don't know where to start.
   References :

5. allen l Says:
   November 18th, 2008 at 11:03 am

   I don't think so. You will get more business advertising through direct mail, post cards and classified ads. For the amount you are spending on billboards. A good book for you would be "Guerilla Marketing".

   http://mpoweryourself.com/advertising/index.html
   References :

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