Virtual Assistant Forums | Work from Home

Bevalee · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2008

I'm sure most of you will say face to face networking is the best way of getting clients which is great, however I'm not able to committ to networking as I'm working full time. I will be sending out postcards next week, but would like to know if any of you have sent out flyers and was it successful or a waste of money.

Thanks in advance

Robin_Holstein · #2 (**permalink**) 08-29-2008

Get your hands on the book Gorilla Marketing. You will learn you CAN market and network while working full time. It's one of the best books I've ever read. (I need to write a review! [note to self])

Flyers can work, but you have to get them in the hands of the people you are trying to reach. Networking is something you do every time you interact with another person. You do it at church, at PTA, at dinner, at the grocery, everywhere.

You aren't going to have one thing [i.e. postcard, flyers, promotional event] send you a ton of business. It's an ongoing thing.

One of the best ways to build awareness is to have a routine presence in a print publication. Save your nickles and dimes to purchase a 2x2 ad space in your classifieds or weekly paper. Purchase three weeks at a time, skip a week, purchase three more. Keep this going for several months.

Write business related articles and submit them to business publictions as commentaries. Use a signature block that identifies you, your company and your credentials [briefly].

There is no magic pill. It takes work and determination.

The Write Exec · #3 (**permalink**) 09-01-2008

Thanks for that information and the reference. I certainly intend to check out the book. And the tips are greatly appreciated.

MichelleJ · #4 (**permalink**) 09-01-2008

They say it takes a few go-rounds of it to get your name out there, noticed, and a response. I do postcard mailings from time to time. I notice more people lurking around at my site more than I hear the phone ringing, but it IS getting the word out. I will wait a little bit and then send another one....etc. You can send out a ton of flyers and not get one response, so make sure to send to a more targeted area. This way, they do receive it and you are spreading the word!! Don't get discouraged because you may not get a call right away, but maybe a few months down the line...if you know what I mean.

I agree with Robin...lots of work it takes and determination!! It's a consistent thing. You have to keep at it.

Good luck!

Bevalee · #5 (**permalink**) 09-02-2008

Thanks for the excellent advice,

I will stick to mailing my postcard to my target market amongst other marketing avenues.

KC Virtual Solutions · #6 (**permalink**) 09-02-2008

Hi

I'm in the same situation as you, I'm just about to order some brochures for Vista Print, they've got special offers on at the moment it's well worth a look.

I'm going to sending them out to a local business and Innovation Centre, they have loads of units that they rent out to newly set up businesses. I have also contacted our local free magazine and have given me a good offer to place an ad in the magazine and it gets distributed to 26,000 homes and businesses in the area.

Do you have something similar? anything is worth a shot, right?

Here is the link for vista print if you're interested http://www.vistaprint.co.uk/vp/welco...x?xnav=welcome

I've ordered by business cards from there and I was very happy with them.

Bevalee · #7 (**permalink**) 09-02-2008

I ordered my postcards from vistaprint and got them today

I will send them to my target market. I had thought about sending them to some business centers/units around the area I work, so I might just too that as well.

Gold VA's · #8 (**permalink**) 12-09-2010

I plan on sending out flyers as well. Has anyone sent letters to potential clients? Since I am a student at my local university I have been speaking with a lot of my professors so that would be a good idea.

A4-Admin · #9 (**permalink**) 12-10-2010

I work in media and it is a common fact that if a flyer is given to you or put into a publication like a newspaper 9 out of 10 people will discard it. You would be better off, as Robin says, saving your money and putting it into a regular advert in a publication where it will be seen by thousands and used by a few.

People tend to keep magazines and newspapers and will look over them time and time again. Readership figures are alot higher than circulation figures. Make sure your advert is concise and can be read easily. A larger advert is not always the best advert, it is the content that matters. Customers need to know the basics, who you are, what you do and how to get hold of you. Hope this helps.

A4 Admin