Proven Low-cost Marketing Strategies When You Own A Dollar Store

One of the biggest challenges facing everyone who wishes to own a dollar store is exactly how to build store sales without going broke in the process. While there are many fairly costly options, few low-cost options seem like they would be worth the time and expense to implement. After all, what good does it do to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on advertising and marketing if the results dont grow dollar store profits beyond the costs involved? Well there are some proven ultra-low cost marketing options that do get results. If youd like to know more, then read on. In this article I present 5 proven low-cost marketing strategies when you own a dollar store.

Strategy #1 Join a local business group. If you own a dollar store youll discover networking with other local business owners and managers can provide rewards beyond your wildest dreams. Sure it takes time to attend meetings and you must be willing to mingle and get to know others, but the results can be remarkable. Join only one group to start. As you become familiar with that groups participants you might add another business group to the mix.

Strategy #2 Establish a marketing exchange with local businesses. Get out there and meet your neighboring business owners. Once again a little time is required. However as you introduce yourself and exchange business cards youll soon meet others who also desire to build their businesses. Work out an exchange where each business helps the other by providing flyers or other promotional materials. Youll gain new shoppers, sales and dollar store profits.

Strategy #3 Turn you employees into sign-holders during slow times. One of the biggest challenges for those who own a dollar store is staffing at the right levels. Why not add a marketing activity so employees can help you build sales and dollar store profits during slow times? Have an inexpensive sign made for your business and let an employee hold that sign so it can be seen by passing traffic. Youll quickly have a store filled with first-time shoppers. Be sure to check local ordinances to make sure this can be done in your locality before you start.

Strategy #4 Establish discount programs for near-by churches. This idea costs little more than time unless the churches choose to take advantage of the discount offer. For churches with food closets and other aid for those in-need, now is a time for most when theres huge demand and fewer contributions. Churches will likely be looking for grocery items and everyday consumables first. Imagine the traffic when your generosity is announced during a service.

Strategy #5 Add upcoming sale inserts into t-shirt bags used to package all sales. Save your advertising dollars by publicizing upcoming events on inserts you place in bags customers receive with their purchases. While some advertising and promotion is still advisable, this strategy can reduce your total cost and will still generate the traffic, sales and dollar store profits you seek when you own a dollar store.

To your dollar store success!

Breaking News Advertising is Dead!

Don’t agree?

Please ask your wife, husband or significant other-in other words, the nearest typical consumer-to answer the following 7 questions:

1.Does viewing pop-up ads on your computer curl your toes in orgasmic delight? Yes or No?
2.Does a mailbox filled with junk mail cause your palms to itch and sweat with nervous anticipation? Yes or No?
3.Do you suffer from outbursts of violent anger when a TV commercial is interrupted by a TV movie? Yes or No?
4.Do you prance around the parking lot with ecstatic abandon whenever you find a flyer on your car’s windshield? Yes or No?
5.Does keeping a phone next to your soup spoon on your dinner table (for fear of missing the next telemarketer’s call) help your digestion? Yes or No?
6.Do you drink pots of black coffee at 10 pm so you can stay awake to watch 30-minute infomercials at 4 am? Yes or No?
7.Do you drool at the thought of spending $300 on an iPhone just so you can see interactive ads on its big, cool screen? Yes or No?

Have I made my point? Yes or No?

Advertising is dead. If you’re a marketer… save your money.

Consumers have been over-advertised to and over-sold.

Unless you’re conducting a white sale, fire sale or going out of business sale-and halving or quartering your prices-advertising won’t get you a bang, a whimper or a nickel for your buck. Not anymore.

The only ads that still earn their keep are those in newspapers and on supermarket windows that read:

Big SALE Buy 1 Can of Campbell Soup for 89 Cents and Get a 2nd Can-FREE! Supplies limited! (or something like that)

Beyond that, the first reaction most consumers have when viewing any other type ad is not to believe anything it says.

And if they have no need, desire or knowledge of you, your product or your service, their second reaction is to play basketball. Their arm and hand muscles reflexively contract, causing them to roll up your ad into a tight little ball and shoot for the nearest basket.

Beware the Consumer’s Anti-Ad Third Eye

Because the consumer has become so desensitized to advertisements in general, if you don’t shove your ad, sales letter or flyer directly and firmly into their hands-they won’t even notice it.

It’s as if they’ve developed an anti-ad third eye that instinctively alerts them to an ad’s presence and then immediately shoot’s a signal to the brain-instructing their other two eyes not to see it.

For example…

How often, when surfing the web, have you run across a web page with a bright red, 40-word, one-sentence headline, ending with an exclamation mark or two or three?

Unless you’re searching for that particular web page, the average information-seeking web-surfer will immediately recognize that site as an ad, and click away-without even reading two words of it.

The same thing happens when reading the newspaper, or driving past a billboard on the highway…consumers simply refuse to look at the ads.

So What’s a Marketer to Do?

Advertorialize!

Huh? I’ll explain…

The success of the internet has proven one thing above all else. Human beings, which includes consumers, are addicted to information.

Google, the internet version of a library card catalog, exists, thrives, dominates and will eventually own the world, because consumers are in a constant, never-ending search for more and more information.

And why do consumers want ever more information that will convince, compel and persuade them to a certain point of view?

So they can make the most efficient, prudent and intelligent choice about whatever it is they want to own, possess, consume or BUY.

Yes, BUY.

Though consumers hate to be sold; they still love, nevertheless, to BUY.

And their decision to buy is most effectively influenced when they are provided with information that supports, confirms and increases their already resident desire to BUY!

Enter the Advertorial

The advertorial is an ad disguised as an editorial. A cunning wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s roughly 80% useful, compelling and persuasive information and 20% sales pitch.

It will never mention the name of the product, its features or benefits in the headline. Because that would be too obvious-it would scream ad and will immediately activate the consumer’s anti-ad third eye.

Instead, in a newspaper, in a direct mail promotion, or on the internet the advertorial will attract attention and readership by merely dangling the tantalizing promise of free actionable and profitable information… if the reader will only continue to read on.

An advertorial headline won’t scream: LOSE 10LBS OF FAT IN 10 DAYS OR YOUR MONEY BACK!!

Instead, the advertorial headline will read: John Hopkins Research PhD discovers active ingredient in ice cream that causes rapid weight loss.

Then the advertorial will proceed to show and prove, in pseudo-journalistic fashion, the What, Why, Who, Where and When of how the product or service does precisely what the consumer wants and needs.

The advertorial delivers valuable, documented information that relentlessly leads the reader to the inevitable conclusion that the solution to their problem or need is… whatever it is you’re selling.

It doesn’t look, taste or smell like an ad, and the consumer’s anti-ad third eye will never see it coming.

Try it… you’ll like it.

Lesley Mason Is An Exceptional Advertising Expert With Mason Picture Company In Sydney

Advertising is a marketing concept that entails the creation of specific mass media content designed to drive consumer behavior into taking action regarding a particular product or service. Advertising is also defined as one-way marketing of persuasive information syndicated through various mass media communication channels with the purpose of promoting ideas, services, or goods. It is said that being creative without strategy is art while being creative with strategy is called advertising.

Lesley Mason is a seasoned marketing and business management professional with a remarkable experience across all tiers of the video production, advertising, and communications realm. Driven by her passion for marketing, as well as her innate tenacity and intellectual curiosity, she joined The Mason Picture Company in 2011 as General Manager. In her current leadership capacity, Lesley Mason focuses primarily on client and supplier management, along with new business development. With 15 years of marketing experience across research, automotive, and consumer goods, she continues to accrue value-adding expertise and become an established advertising professional. For more information about Lesley Mason, please visit www.lesleymason.info.

Prior to her work with the Motion Picture Company, Lesley Mason performed at an extraordinary level in a full suite of roles with Hasbro, a branded play company with a world class portfolio that features Transformers, Monopoly, Play-Doh, and many more. She progressed from her initial role as Marketing Coordinator for the Asia Pacific market to her last core role as Pacific Product Manager responsible for Girls Toys. Lesley Mason launched her career with Valvoline Australia as Marketing Coordinator, a position that allowed her to hone her marketing skills in the challenging automotive industry. Throughout her entire career, she has always exhibited extraordinary commitment to excellence in all aspects of communications, public relations, brand management, and marketing management. For more information about Lesley Mason, please visit www.lesleymason.info.

Established in 1994 by Kilner Mason, an award-winning Australian producer and director, the Motion Picture Company provides cost effective campaigns employing a unique blend of video production and creative advertising consultancy. Furthermore, The Mason Picture Company also specializes in comprehensive line of creative writing, development, art direction and media placement services. The company is well known for their complete television production services that cover all aspects of shooting, editing, and imaging. The Mason Picture Company or MPC additionally delivers unsurpassed experience, cost effectiveness, cutting edge equipment, expertise, and excellence proven across a diversity of brand advertising and public information campaigns. To learn more about the Mason Picture Company, please visit www.masonpicturecompany.com.

Lesley Mason features an inspiring professional journey revealing a track record of success and achievement. She also fosters a solid academic foundation that enhanced her extraordinary performance in the highly competitive marketing arena. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree of Commerce in Marketing with the University of Western Sydney and advanced her training with an MBA in Business Administration, Electronic Commerce, and Marketing, which she received from Charles Sturt University. Lesley Mason also maintains professional memberships with relevant groups and associations in her field, such as the Australian Institute of Management and the Film and TV Professionals. Furthermore, she earned inclusion into the 2013 Edition of the Stanford Who’s Who Black Book for having demonstrated outstanding achievement in the video production and advertising industry. For more information about Lesley Mason, please visit www.lesleymason.info.

Future Trends In Outdoor Digital Advertising

Thanks to the advancements and developments in our technologies, advertisers and marketers can create better advertising techniques and strategies wherein they have dozens of new opportunities and possibilities for reaching and communicating with the consumers better. Outdoor digital advertising provides advertisers with one of the most targeted and powerful ways of reaching consumers. It is able to extend the reach of TV and can serve as a middle media that drives consumers to a website or motivate mobile download, e- browsing, e- commerce and permission marketing. One of the benefits of this medium is that Digital Media such as LCD or plasma even Digital Bus Advertising are located where people shop, wait or travel wherein it can present the message to a targeted audience at a particular location and time.

Worldwide outdoor digital advertising will grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 15.2 percent from 2011 2016 thus making it the third fastest growing media around the world for the next five years. Outdoor digital advertising will be able to drive the strong growth rate for other out of home advertising, such as billboards, and advertising in general. Revenues for outdoor digital advertising is also expected to double from $2.6 billion to $5.2 billion between the year 2011 and 2016 while out of home advertising revenues will increase by 46.8 percent from $28.3 billion in 2011 to $38.6 billion by the year 2016. Outdoor digital advertising revenues are also growing fastest in Asian countries. The increase of traditional out of home advertising such as billboards can be attributed to the proliferation of new advertising surfaces on the sides of buildings as well as more sophisticate management of Subway Advertising.

Advertisers, marketers and advertising agencies can achieve their branding, merchandising and awareness goals through outdoor digital advertising. 4.2 million Digital media will be installed by 2012 and 5.2 million by 2013 and 6.3 million by 2014 in North America alone.

Outdoor digital advertising also ranked highest among consumers who considered advertising interesting and attention grabbing. 53 percent think that digital media is interesting while 63 percent think its attention grabbing. These digital displays can also be found in a broad range of venues such as shopping malls, grocery stores, gas stations, movie theaters, airports, hospitals, offices, restaurants, clubs, elevators, and transit systems. Outdoor digital advertising spending also ranked 8 among all media segments which shows how much it matters to a lot of advertisers and marketers.

Outdoor digital advertising is becoming a more powerful medium because it gets proven branding, merchandising and call to action results. Its location is also an added advantage along with its measurability. It can provide demographic targeting and better time placement plus its cheaper than other mediums. There is an ease of flight planning and purchase plus a growing inventory if networks, locations and displays – which provides better advertising opportunities. It can also be used along with other digital marketing channels and it is able to effectively capture the consumers attention. Expect the future of outdoor digital advertising to be bright and vibrant.

Sharon Slams Hayden Anew Over Billboard Ad

Megastar Sharon Cuneta did not mince words on Sunday when she addressed anew an issue involving her controversial Marie France billboard ad. Cuneta noted that it doesnt make sense that Marie France would put up a billboard with her altered photos and risk ruining both their reputations and credibility. She said they are not stupid to do that.

You come out with a billboard like that and then you see this girl on TV shows like The Buzz or Star Power every week, tapos iba yong itsura. Parang ang laki laki ko naman sa Star Power tapos sa billboard sobrang liit ko, sino po bang mag-mumukhang tanga doon, di ba? the megastar said, referring to a singing competition shes currently hosting.

Napakalayo ba ng itsura ko doon sa after picture dito sa nakikita ninyo sa TV?

According to Cuneta, she is picky when it comes to accepting endorsements and that when she endorses a product or service, I have to believe in it. She said she would never deceive the public. She said endorsers are also made to sign something [because] there has to be truth in advertising.

She also pointed out that all her photos were done by noted photographer Raymond Isaac, who is known for his ability and honesty.

Walang dinaya doon. Bakit? Kasi po its a series of billboard na lalabas over the coming several months, yong progress ng weight loss kohanggang you reach the ideal weight para makita na its working and its gradual, she said.

I can assure you, and God is my witness, those pictures are not altered to make me look thinner than I was at that time, she added.

She said she is not surprised that her detractors are making up these controversies. Lets just say, puwedeng competitor, puwede din na isang tao with an ax to grindMahirap magsalita kasi ayokong pumatol sa isang hindi kapatol patol.

Sharon vs Hayden

Cuneta recently lambasted former celebrity doctor Hayden Kho after he allegedly took a swipe at her billboard on Twitter. Kho is the boyfriend of Dr. Vicki Belo, owner of the Belo Medical Clinic. The target of her fury was this statement made by Kho last January 28: Theres a billboard ad in EDSA developed by advertisers who think consumer are stupid. Guess.

The megastar believes that Kho was referring to her controversial Marie France billboard. Kho has already made a denial that he was referring to Cunetas billboard. Kho said Cunetas statement was quite a wounding tirade from someone I respect. Ironic, really. Very ironic.

Despite the denial, Kho is not yet off the hook as far as the megastar is concerned.

On Sunday, Cuneta said she got a piece of information saying that Kho, the central figure in the 2009 sex video scandal, was referring to the billboard of Joel Cruz of Aficionado Perfumes that came out in July 2010. She wondered though why it took Kho 7 months to react to Cruzs billboard.

She also noted Khos timing. She said he made that post when rumors about plans to remove her billboard along EDSA began to circulate. Cuneta also countered, I dont understand. Whats ironic is that he respects me and that I have to treat him like this? I dont treat people in a bad way unlessI know how to protect myself. There are times na kailangang tahimik ka lang pero there are times na you have to stand and fight for yourself.

During the interview, she also brought up the 2009 sex video scandal. Her daughter, KC Concepcion, was dragged into the scandal.

If he respects me so much, bakit nadamay ang anak ko? Cuneta said. I think that time lagi niyang tinetext ang anak ko. I never said anything kasi alam ko ang totooalthough nakakainis ma-associate sa ganoong issue ang isang bata na alam mong pinalaki mo ng ubod ng disente.

She also noted that it was so convenient for Kho not to name the billboard he was referring to, so that later on he could easily issue a denial when confronted.

Nonetheless, she thanked all her detractors because people are now talking about her billboard because of them. Effective na effective ang endorsement. Parang nataranta kayong lahat ng bonggang-bonga.

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