Alright, so here's the follow up to my earlier thread about the marketing plunge we took in late August. Sorry it didn't come sooner.

Here's a link for reference: http://www.small-business-forum.com/...ead.php?t=2292

The issue came out on Oct. 26, and today is Nov. 23, so we've got about a month running time. Anyways, I learned a big lesson.

The responce is more of an eye-opener than anything else. I was hoping to use this company as a means to an ends but looks like I'll need to find another route.

The results are as follows:

Inquiries: 2
New customers: 0

So in the end, this plan was a ****. I lost a fair amount of money and a great amount of time. Oh well. What doesn't kill me will only make me stronger.

One thing is for sure though: this is only a temporary setback.

Take care guys,

Jason-

I feel ya, Jason. I've bought overpriced ads for my other site in a national magazine and in targeted newsletters and had minimal success, yet I can post a message in a discussion group where potential customers hang out and get 200 new visitors and a few orders the same day -- for free.

What is your business? You didn't include a link.


Diane

The business writer who helps people grow their small business
http://www.BouncePublishing.com

Diane:

www.vantageperformance.com

Jason-

Thanks for the update Jason.

Sam Burnette

Yeah, i remember your last post about this. Sad to hear it didn't help much. Only 2 new inquiries? Maybe it's time to look at different products, READ: other than automotive products.

You need more pictures of products. Even though we can assume that those looking know what you're talking about, some people buy on impulse and looks of products.

Well... that's my $0.02

__________________
I want out of the rat race so I can provide for my siblings and future family. Please help?

RED

At least ya know. What are you going to try next?

Real Estate and Oil investments.

According to the media kit, a total audience of 189,000 (Based on 2.58 readers per copy). The numbers I cared about were the actual numbers sold, not RPC:

Subscribers: 57,000
Newstand: 16,000

As of June, 2004.

From our experience, it takes businesses several months (3-6) to figure out what ad / marketing campaign works for them. We get many customers asking us, if I purchase a list from you how many customers will i get. Lists (as with mag marketing) is very simular. You have to test out your ad several times and be willing to change things around.

You really never know what ads will work and what wont unless you have the ability to try several.

What seems to be the norm for most of our customers is they create several ads and display them in multiple outlets with promo codes. Then they are able to track what works and what does not. This goes the same with mag marketing and direct response on TV.

PuraVida

What about rethinking your business model?

You could drop ship your product.
Start a program where others can sell your product as well. This is more than an affiliate link, the (client? customer?) would have his own web site, when an order is taken they would then order the product from you. You would then send the product to the end customer. You could charge the client for the hosting of the web site to sell your products. Since you are selling wholesale, you could authorize your customers to sell the product at a markup. To keep from undercutting your clients, you could require a business license to verify they are legitimate. Details would need to be worked out.

I agree that you need more pictures on your site. A program like osCommerce would allow you to manage the inventory and also lets you display the MSRP or other price, and below that, your price. Install the Easy Populate contribution and you can upload an excel spreadshhet to update the information. Other osContributions could help. I believe there is a Require Approval contribution that requires your approval before registering, and a contribution that requires a member be logged in before seeing the price. Combine these two and you can display your products, but only members could see the prices.

Instead of a large ad once, consider a classifed ad in several magazines every month. You could even run different ads in the same magazine to see which one gets a better response. Instead of running an ad selling auto parts, you would be selling a business opportunity selling auto parts.

Just some late evening rambling. Good luck with your business.

Regards,

Jason
E-Commerce For Everyone
http://databuilders.net