Advertising

[Adam]

Ive just crawled through some of the previous posts on this, and was wondering what people found help them best in advertising.

Our main issue is our target customer is of the older generation and not neccisarily going to have the internet, we are almost relying on the sons and daughters to be on the internet and looking for there parents.

what other methods do people here use to advertise there sites?

thanks,

Adam

[Gillf]

Hi Adam,

As our demographics are a bit different it is tricky to advise. But why don't you check out Saga they specialise in marketing to the over 50's (I am almost certain that they have a magazine). http://www.saga.co.uk/

Also you might consider Web Windows. http://www.webwindows.co.uk/ They are the company behind the small webshot ads in the Sunday and Saturday newspaper supplements. A wider age range of reader than the Saga magazine but a huge volume. We do use web windows and drop an ad in every few months. For us the Guardian and Observer are best... my guess is the Telegraph would be better for you as it has an older readership.

Also why not have a look at the websites already out there that are aimed at the older person and see if they take advertising.

I think also you might find some blogs/forums that are discussing issues of interest to older people and it might be worth posting a comment or contacting them about advertising.

All that said I think you will find that there are quite a few silver surfers as well and they are only set to increase as todays computer savy population ages.... so don't give up on some of them finding you in the listings and keep working to increase your site rank.

Cheers
Gill
Lingerie Online (http://www.loves-lingerie.co.uk)

[Neil]

Gill

Sorry me again.

Just wondered how you monitored the webwindows ads and do they really work.

I keep getting emails offering 'late-space'

Regards

Neil

[mikepayn]

Gill

Sorry me again.

Just wondered how you monitored the webwindows ads and do they really work.

I keep getting emails offering 'late-space'

Regards

Neil

Hi Neil, We use webwindows occasionally too. We always offer a 10% off voucher so you can track them by that code (ie stel10 for Sunday Telegraph). Also we can roughly work out how many visit us by using our name as the referring search (rather than searches for a particular item).
I must say that, for us, penny for penny it is not a very cost effective method of advertising. The ads cost around £300 and we have never yet received £300 worth of orders per ad, but being a relatively new site it is getting our name out there.
Hope this helps,

[Gillf]

Hi Neil,

Don't be sorry. :)

Late space can be genuine... I have a friend in the marketing industry who enjoys making the ad sellers cry! She waits to the very last minute when she knows they are desperate to fill the space and then barters like mad.

Anyway you ask how do we monitor web windows. Its fairly inaccurate, we put a discount or offer code in the ad and so if it's used we know the source of that customer. Other than that we always see a surge of traffic in the month after a placement... Its as much a marketing and brand awareness exercise for us as it is to get immediate new customers. We are fairly confident that a significant number from the traffic surge return and order but outside the discount code validity date. The supplement ads reach a big audience and although the "shelf life" of the ad is in theory only a couple of days... in practise the supplements can hang around for quite a while and turn up recycled in doctor's surgeries etc. Because we sell high value items this sort of advertising/marketing seems to works for us. I would not necessarily recommend it for low cost products as you would need a high volume of orders to cover the ad cost.

Cheers
Gill
Nightdresses Online (http://www.ever-so-sexy.com)

[NicJ]

Looks interesting I might give it a go for our website although we sell mid range priced items I think it may be worth it especially for Grand Parents

[Bather]

I always ask people selling advertising "when can I get the images / words over to you?" They say Wednesday which means that is when they close for orders. I then say phone me Wednesday afternoon then. If they do call you back Wednesday afternoon (or whenever) it means they are desperate and will probably accept any price! Cruel but effective.

[Bather]

Slightly more serious:
1) In our area Friday Ad has a big circulation. By placing ads on-line you get a good deal and can get a web link too. If they are in your geographical area it may be worth a go.
2) also try http://www.vivastreet.co.uk/ for free you can get a good listing and links !
3) http://www.brownbook.net/ gets you lots of info and links too, also free !

[john]

The supplement ads reach a big audience and although the "shelf life" of the ad is in theory only a couple of days... in practise the supplements can hang around for quite a while and turn up recycled in doctor's surgeries etc.

I do believe all the old mags etc have been banned from doctors waiting rooms as part of the Swine Flu hysteria, all those pages of germs etc.,

[Gillf]

I do believe all the old mags etc have been banned from doctors waiting rooms as part of the Swine Flu hysteria, all those pages of germs etc.,

Thanks John for that. A point to bear in mind. I wonder if it applies to all the other places where old mags gather... hair dressers, etc. Being of rude good health (fingers crossed it should remain so) I have not had reason to visit the doctor for a long time so no way of checking if my doctor is complying with the rule. But if, as you say, it is connected to the swine flu hysteria then it must be a relatively new rule so we will see if it has any significant affect on our next round of WW ads which will run in November.

Cheers
Gill
Nightdresses: satin, lace, chiffon and silk. (http://www.ever-so-sexy.com)

[Dave]

Hi,

I have had the misfortune of visiting the doctors surgery 4 times recently and as always there is a mountain of magazines to read. Even went to the hospital on Friday and they also had loads!

So if there is a new rule not everyone is following it.

[Gillf]

Hi Dave,

Hope you are better now. Keep away from those germ ridden magazines!! :D

Gill
Designer Lingerie (http://www.ever-so-sexy.com)