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[sarguy]

Just tossing this out for Kelly to run with...how 'bout those ads that are posted above the urinals and in bathroom stalls? Captive audience there...

And the local movie theater has local ads that  run before the movies. Often the two are connected...plant an idea on the screen...finish when people use the restroom after the movie.

[Keith Miller]

Both are ridiculously expensive. Think about what it takes to effectively turn your advertising dollars into revenue.

A good rule of thumb is "I spend $1 to make $2" I don't want to just break even.

It may be different other places, but the local theater wanted between 3K and 6K per month to have a stand alone slide on the screen before movies. Then they want you to lock in the price for 3-6 months.

Now, what's my business? Martial Arts school. How can I effectively turn $6,000 of advertising into 12K worth of revenue? Or better yet 36K of advertising dollors into 72K? I can't. Selling motorcycles? Roofing houses? Sealing driveways or selling mortgages? Sure, no problem. But you'll be lucky to break even with martial arts....very lucky.

[Kelly Knight]

Sarguy,

Great idea! I have explored this, but not to a deep extent, truthfully. Keith nailed it right on the head, in my experience. The return is too tenuous in comparison to the cost.

I've also been approached about advertising in grocery carts, rotating signage near grocery checkouts and also on the back of grocery receipts.

I feel that they all similar issues (and billboards and other similar forms of advertising). No bang for the buck.

Here's a suggestion (and it's what I say to any advertising salesman that calls me or comes through my door): I say, "Fine. Do you believe in your service? Give me a month for free. If I get ONE student out of it, I will happily pay!" Without fail, they stop talking and leave or hang up without a goodbye. It's ridiculous. The day I find the salesman that doesn't turn and run, I'll have found advertising gold!

I do believe that sometimes, these kinds of advertising methods can have a return. If you can figure out a way to do it that is acceptable to you financially, it might be worth a try! If you do, please come back here and give us all a report!

Thanks, Sarguy and Keith. Good thoughts and worth kicking around!

Kelly Knight

PS I think it might be worth pursuing that advertising on movie screens idea. Especially with the current state of failure that most movie houses are in. It could be cheaper than days past, but, then, they are slowly going out of business due to lack of business...sheesh!

AND...I think the yellow pages fall into the same category as the above methods these days. No bang for the buck, it's not worth in investing in a big ad. Just a simple line listing. Maybe bold, maybe list your URL. Nothing more than name, addy and phone otherwise. Ha! Stick that in your pipe and smoke it!

[sarguy]

The movie ads I could see being pretty spendy (although the local ones aren't really top-notch. I erroneously assumed they were relatively cheap). But the urinal ads?

Is it the racket that "owns" the ad space over the john that would make such a thing so darn costly, versus laminating a few flyers and asking to tack them up in the bathrooms of a few gyms or restaurants?

I'll take Mr. Miller's word at it being spendy, and yeah it does seem pretty tenuous.

I was reminded of this while sitting on the crapper (three grand a semester for tuition, plus income tax? Damn straight I'm gonna use the plumbing. I paid for it!) at school and realizing that I couldn't not read the "how to flush w/ our environmentally friendly water-saver handle" placard. Just...couldn't...look...away. The hospital posts all mandatory memos and notices in the bathrooms for this reason, too.

[Hock]

Well you might find a "target rich" location without already, official "toilet ads" and ask them about it. IF you can find such a target rich place?

If mom-and-pop, local movie houses are in trouble, maybe they might offer good rates, but common, chain ones? I'll bet the rates are just KILLERS!

I think a good frame of mind is that all these things are situational and you don't know until you ask.

Hock