Share Your Door Hanger Distribution Costs
Door Hanger Advertising works great. So why aren’t you doing it more often? For many businesses the problem is distribution costs. If this is your problem, consider sharing the distribution cost and logistics with other businesses. Here’s how.
Plastic Door Hanger Bags Can Reduce Distribution Costs
Instead of using regular door hangers, print flyers instead and then insert your flyer along with other businesses in a clear plastic door hanger bag. Go to www.BlanksAndBags.com for prices and ordering information.
This door hanger promotion method is a great way to promote an entire shopping plaza. By including offers from your business neighbors, the door hanger bag will contain more value for your prospects, and additional traffic will be created which can increase your response rate.
Another approach is to include businesses that you’re not in competition with, but are related to your product or service. For example, a Realtor may include a mortgage broker, insurance agent or home repair specialists. A chiropractor, might include other health care professionals such as a dentist, optometrist or medical office.
One final thought. Who’s going to be on the outside of the plastic door hanger bag? There are 2 sides.
Here are some suggestions:
1- You could rotate the prime positions.
2-Your distribution costs could also be reduced by charging a premium for those spots.
3-You could print an index page that might feature the theme and list all of the businesses inside the door hanger bag.
4- You could always just keep the best spot for yourself, after all it was your idea!
Who’s Going To Distribute Your Door Hangers?
Door hangers are a great way to advertise, but you’re busy running your business, so how will you get them distributed?
Professional door hanger distribution companies are available in some cities, but they might not always be available when and where you want them.
One idea is to get a local organization like the Boy Scouts, A Church Group or Little League Team to distribute your door hangers as a fund raiser. You help them and they help you.
You can always distribute your door hangers yourself or with a friend or loved one. Walking is great exercise, and if you spend an hour at the beginning or end of the day distributing door hangers, imagine the shape you’ll be in at the end of a few months.
Plan your distribution area in advance using Google Maps and count the houses on each street.
Here’s another more aggressive plan. Hire a full time employee dedicated to door hanger distribution. Sounds expensive but consider this: an adult with a plan can easily distribute 500 door hangers in a day in most suburban neighborhoods (more in a city environment).
Figure a 7 hour day with and hour for lunch. In today’s job market, there are plenty of able bodied workers who would be happy to have the job for lets say $9 per hour (this type of wage may vary more or less in different parts of the county). That would work out to be .126 cents per door hanger. That’s a lot less than a .44 cent stamp!
Whichever way you decide to distribute your door hangers, be organized. Google maps are great and are very detailed. Figure out your distribution area in advance. Count the number of houses on each street and pay your workers by the street, not by the number of door hangers you give them to distribute. Even good kids, may start hanging more than one door hanger on each door as they get tired. In this way, it’s easy to spot check and make sure your distribution is accomplished.
Planning out your distribution area in detail may sound like a big homework assignment, but remember, you only have to do it once. You’ll be all set when it’s time to distribute your door hangers the next time. Good luck!
Try Adding Value Instead Of Discounting On Your Door Hanger
Remember, the purpose of your door hanger advertising campaign is to generate leads.
A good way to do this is to include a “Special Offier” on your door hanger. We call this your “Magnet”. A good magnet will attract new customers.
Try being creative. Many advertisers use the old “10% Off” approach. It may work, but it’s been over used and often the prospect doesn’t believe the discount is real.
No not a "Chcik Magnet". Use a special offer as the "Magnet" on your door hanger to attract new customers!
Try adding value instead of a discount. Price your product competitively and then add more product or service for the same price. For example, a door hanger for a carpet cleaner might say “3 Rooms Cleaned for $99 – Plus 1 Chair Cleaned FREE!” This is a “WIN, WIN OFFER”. He gets his full price for the carpet cleaning and lets the client know that he also offers upholstery cleaning – and after cleaning one chair the rest of the upholstery may look a bit dingy, which could lead to an additional sale.
The value added offer doesn’t always have to be free either. We’ve all been asked to “SUPER SIZE” our order at a fast food restaurant. That extra $1.99 for a larger fountain soda and a few extra french fries really adds up.
So take some time to think about the Magnet on your door hanger. If you need some help, just give us a call and we’ll be happy to brain storm with you. Call 866-585-0965 M-F – 9-6 Eastern Time.
Use door hangers to promote your website. Don’t have a website? Read this!
Using door hangers to send visitors to your website is a great idea, but have you given much thought as to what they will do when they get there?
Who should designed your website? A website consultant, a template on online, your nephew?
Make your website an ad not just a brochure. Include special offers and change them regularly.
The answer is: YOU SHOULD DESIGN YOUR WEBSITE!
You don’t have to learn any complicated software. You can hire someone or ask a friend for assistance, but you should be in charge of the content.
The first step is to decide what you want your website to do. There are 3 main options to consider:
- A Brochure Online
- An Ad Online
- A Store Online
For most small businesses options 1 and 2 are the most practical and affordable. Most websites are set up as online brochures with information about products and services.
Using your website as an “Ad Online” is an overlooked concept that works very well. It’s a way to promote special offers on a regular basis without having to pay for newspaper or other advertising. You just have to get your customers trained to checkout the latest offers from time to time. Ofcourse, the offers have to be strong or your clients won’t take the time to return.
We have just introduced an exciting new one page “Mini Website” that allows the site owner to easily update content and special offers. No software training is needed. Click the link below for more information:
http://www.GetAMiniWebsite.com
To kick off our new web program we are offering a $50 discount on your next Door Hanger or Flyer Printing Order when you purchase a $99 Mini Website.
For more information call 1-866-585-0965.
Full Color vs Two Color Door Hanger Printing
Marketing dollars are tight. Funny, that seems to be the case in good times and bad. Nevertheless you want to get the most for what you spend. So, do you order full color glossy door hangers or less expensive two color door hangers?
To help decide, consider two factors:
Consideration Number 1: What are you selling?
If you are selling a high end product like jewelry or furniture – or – a high end service like cosmetic dentistry or major home remodeling, then as they say, “…a picture is worth a thousand words” and a full color glossy door hanger will probably work better.
If you are selling lower priced products or service like fast food or driveway seal coating, then a two color door hanger may work just fine.
Consideration Number 2: Wo are you selling to?
Image is important, especially if your target market is higher income. A full color door hanger may work better in this situation. If your service requires an in home estimate, a photo of you or your employee(s), looking neat and professional, may provide the secure feeling necessary to be invited into your prospects home.
Consideration number 1 & 2 don’t always coincide. For instance, perhaps you are offering a weekly lawn service at a relatively low price, but your target is higher priced homes. A full color door hanger is probably the way to go while the same type of service offered to middle class homes might work with a two color door hanger.
Here’s another idea. Save money by using a two color door hanger to drive prospects to your full color website.
Your the boss. With the information above, you need to make the decision. Have confidence in what you are doing and you’ll get it right!
Door Hanger Distribution: Results Are A Matter Of Timing
In order for prospects to respond to your door hanger marketing campaign, you need to distribute them at just the right time.
It’s easy for a Pizza Shop. I can always be convinced to order a pizza, especially when I have a special offer in front of me.
For other businesses, it’s a bit more challenging. For example: A Realtor needs to have their door hanger distributed when a homeowner has decided to sell. The best time for a Travel Agent to put their advertisement on the door is when a family is planning their vacation.
How do you know the perfect time to distribute? You don’t. So the next best thing is to pick a neighborhood and distribute your door hangers on a regular basis. In other words, it’s better to distribute 1000 door hangers five times to the same homes than to distribute 5000 door hangers one time to a larger area.
Even though your prospects may not be ready to buy when you do a distribution, you are still creating a “top of mind” awareness. Over time, when they need the product or service that you provide, they are going to think of you first.
So don’t be discouraged, be consistent and you will see your sales increase in the long run.
Include Prices On Your Door Hangers
I’ve seen lots of business people who are reluctant to include prices for their products or services on their door hanger advertising. They give lots of reasons: I don’t want my competition to know my prices, I don’t want to scare off the prospect, my product or service has too many options to include a price, etc.
Door Hanger Advertising is not the same as directory advertising, like in the phone book. In a directory ad, the prospect has already decided that he needs your product or service and he is looking for someone to provide it. In a directory ad you want to include an entire “laundry list” of products and information about your company.
Door Hanger Advertising is different. In most cases the prospect isn’t thinking about your product or service. So we want to get his attention. Including a price on your door hanger is a good way to do it.
Let’s take a painting contractor as an example. Which of the examples below do you think would work best?
A) PAINT YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEK AND SAVE 10%
B) PAINT YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEK AND SAVE $100
C) PAINT YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEK FOR ONLY $899 (plus paint)
Great response is not necessarily generated by a discount. In offers “A” & “B”, the client has no idea what the cost to paint a house is, so the discount is meaningless. Some homeowners have never hired a painter and therefore have no frame of reference for pricing. They may read between the lines and think they know the price, but it may be too high or too low, not a good thing in either case. By including a price, the prospect may be surprised and have this reaction: “I didn’t know I hiring a painter was so affordable. Painting the house is within my budget. I’m going to call.”
By including the price, every call you receive will be pre-qualified.
If you are concerned about variables that may effect prices, include a disclaimer. For example: Most Houses In This Neighborhood Painted For $899. Some restrictions apply. Call for a FREE, no obligation Estimate.
Include Your “Claim To Fame” On Your Door Hanger
To set you apart from your competitors, it’s a good idea to include your “Claim To Fame” on your door hanger advertising. But, first you have to determine what is your “Claim To Fame”.
For businesses that offer a one of a kind product or service, it’s easy. Claims of best prices or best service are usually not very effective as many other businesses are making similar claims.
A realtor, insurance agent or travel agent usually offer the exact same services for the same price. Even tradesmen, like painters, plumbers and contractors often charge about the same price. So what sets them apart?
Consider that your “Claim To Fame” may be you. Your unique background or experience may be the one thing that no one else can copy. Promote yourself! Put your picture on your door hanger and provide a brief profile of what you can offer that makes your company the best choice.
A picture on your door hanger also sends a message that a person, not an organization is standing behind your offer. And if your product of service requires an on site visit to someone’s home – a photo will go along way in building the trust needed to be invited in.
So don’t be bashful, promote your self with a photo on your door hanger and watch your business grow!
Make Your Business Card A Multi Purpose Card
A professional looking business card says a lot about an individual and his company. These handy inexpensive cards can also help your business in other ways. Use the back of your business card as a promotion.
Here are a few examples:
1- COUPON CARD
Put a coupon offer on the back of your business card:
FREE Slice of Pizza or
FREE Tire Rotation with Oil Change, etc.
2- JOB ESTIMATE CARD
Leave a spot to write in an estimate:
Wash & Wax This Car
License Plate: _______ for $________
3- APPOINTMENT CARD
We Appreciate Your Business. Your Next Appointment is:________________________
4- POLITCAL ADVERTISMENT
Put a picture of the candidate and election day on the front.
Use the back to profile the candidate or his cause.
Use your imagination and everytime you hand out your business card you could be promoting additional business. Here is a link to our Business Card Page where you will find some examples. Prices start at just $99 for 1000 full color business cards including custom design, printing and shipping.
Give Your Customers An Incentive To “Come Again”
It’s true, your best prospect for a new sale is the customer that just left! As part of your sale, make sure you invite each customer to “Come Again”.
A good way to do this is to use flyers or door hangers with a special offer. Here are some examples of how to do it.
1- A Lawn Service completes his mowing and leaves a door hanger on the front door that says “We Appreciate Your Business” and goes on to offer a special deal on an additional service – perhaps Fertilization.
2- A Pizza Shop puts a “Box Topper” flyer on every pizza to go order. The flyer offers a discount on the customers next order. Maybe a different product like a pasta meal.
3- A Swimming Pool Service leaves a door hanger confirming that chemicals have been added to their swimming pool and offers a discount to the pool owner if he refers friends or family in the neighborhood.
You get the idea. You can use door hangers and flyers to target your existing customers to increase sales.
By the way we also have a flyer printing site that offers 1000 Flyers, designed, printed and shipped for only $89.