door hanger advertising

Door Hanger Advertising for A Mortgage Company

mortgageHere are a few Ideas for Mortgage Brokers that have been used successfully by our clients. Use one or a combination, but don’t over crowd the door hanger with too much information. The door hanger must pass “The Glance Test”, which means the reader will know what the card is about with just a passing glance. This can make the difference between getting noticed or being tossed out as junk mail.

  1. Highlight One Main Loan Type
    While it may be a good idea to include a “laundry list” of all your loan types and services, don’t make that the highlight of your ad. That type of ad is better suited for a directory, like the yellow pages. When people go the the yellow pages, or some other directory, they have already decided to investigate a new home loan. Direct marketing presents more of a challenge. We are trying to get the attention of a prospect who is probably not thinking about a home loan as he removes your hanger from his door. Your goal is to make the prospect excited about our loan offer. Pick your most popular and best loan offer and promote it in a tantalizing way. Remember, all we are trying to do is generate a lead.
  2. I’m Afraid To Look At My Credit Score!
    The first step in applying for a loan is checking the applicants credit score. People usually hate this part. Scores are never as high as anticipated. Take the sting out of that process by offering a FREE Credit Score and Analysis. You might include copy like this: “We’ll work with you regardless of your credit score. We’ll even show you how to improve your score as fast as possible.” You can even charge an upfront fee for the service to be refunded at closing and still call it free.
  3. Do You Represent More Than One Loan Institution?
    Then make sure prospects know you have a number of companies to place their mortgage with. Use the phrase:”We Shop And You SAVE!”
  4. It’s All About You
    When you are advertising your services, it is not the time to be modest. Securing a mortgage is a one on one,  personal service. Include your photo and a brief resume on your postcard. You may be surprised how many people recognize you, especially if you mail to homes in your own neighborhood. Humanize your image by including memberships in community organizations or church groups.
  5. Let The Prospect Pre-Qualify Themselves
    If you have a loan offering with specific requirements try listing them on the door hanger. Income, Credit Score, Length of Employment, etc. – Use this headline: “Pre-Qualify Yourself For A New Loan – If You Meet This Criteria, Call Today And Let’s Get Started!”.
  6. Benefits Not Details
    Use your postcard to highlight the benefits of a particular loan not the details. Save Money, Get Cash Out, Lower Your Payment, etc. The purpose of the postcard is to generate a lead, not make the sale. Keep it brief and as tantalizing as possible.

Door Hanger Advertising Ideas For A Home Remodeling Company

handyman1Here are a few Ideas for a Home Remodeling Company that have been used successfully by our clients. Use one or a combination, but don’t over crowd the door hanger with too much information. The postcard must pass “The Glance Test”, which means the reader will know what the card is about with just a passing glance. This can make the difference between getting noticed or being tossed out as junk advertising.

  1. Make A Specific Offer
    While it may be a good idea to include a “laundry list” of all the home remodeling services that you offer, don’t make that the highlight of your ad. That type of ad is better suited for a directory, like the yellow pages. When people go the the yellow pages, or some other directory, they have already decided to investigate a remodeling project. Direct marketing presents more of a challenge. We are trying to get the attention of a prospect who is probably not thinking about a home remodeling as he removes your hanger from his door. Your goal is to get the prospect excited about a project. Offer a home remodeling project that is popular and a great value and then, promote it in a tantalizing way. Remember, all we are trying to do is generate a lead.
  2. Go Fishing For New Customers – Use A Price As The Bait
    We are not suggesting a “Bait and Switch”, an attractive price for a specific service will “lure” more prospects to respond. Which offer do you think sounds better? A) “Storm Windows Replaced – Call Now And Save!” or  B) “Storm Windows Replaced – Most Homes In This Neighborhood Only $195 per Window!” .You can always include a disclaimer such as: “most homes”,  “window size”, “single story homes only”, etc. Some will see a price and say, “that’s too expensive”, but others will remark “I didn’t realize it was so reasonable.”Prices pre-qualify prospects before they call.
  3. Call “The Honest Contractor”
    It may sound corny, but people are wary of tradesman. Everyone hates the idea of getting ripped off. Remember, you are asking for an invitation to go inside someones home to provide an estimate. Include your photo on the door hanger. It will make the door hanger more personal (you may be surprised how many people recognize you). You name and a photo sends a message that you are proud of your company and your work.  If you have a crew, show a group photo and they should be in some sort of uniform (even a nice t-shirt).
  4. Use Full Color Door Hangers With Lots Of Photos
    It’s true, a picture is worth a 1000 words, or more! Include a photos of your work. If you have before and after shots, even better. Along with the photos add a few testimonials and a line that says additional references available on request.
  5. I Guarantee It!
    “We show up when we say we will, we treat your home like it is our own and we’ll finish on time and within budget. I own the company, I’ll be at the job and I guarantee the work”. That’s Powerful.
  6. Build A Foundation Of New Customers In Your Own Neighborhood
    Why not prospect in the neighborhood where you live. USPS Carrier Route Maps make it easy to target specific neighborhoods. People like to do business with locals. You can even offer a neighborhood discount.

Door Hanger Advertising Ideas For A Cleaning Service

girl-cleaningWhether you are targeting new residential or commercial clients, Door Hanger Distribution is a great way to get new customers for your cleaning service. Here are a few ideas that our clients have used successfully in the past.

  1. Concentrate Your Customers – Save Time, Save Gas, Clean More Homes!
    Distribute Door Hangers where you currently have the highest  concentration of customers.  Plan a distribution  to these neighborhoods every 4 – 5 weeks.
  2. Is Having A Cleaning Service  A Luxury?
    To many people it is, but it’s got to be an affordable luxury if you want them to consider it. Actually, for working couples with kids, a cleaning service has become less of a luxury and more of a necessity. Try using this headline: “Think You Can’t Afford A Cleaning Service… Call Us, You May Be Surprised!” Then go on to describe that you have programs available to fit most budgets. By varying what you clean, and how often you clean, you can make it affordable.
  3. Show A Price
    Give prospects an idea of the cost of your service. For example, “Most Homes In This Neighborhood Cleaned For $79 or Less!”.  In fact, you should include a menu of prices for a variety of services. Some will see a price and say, “that’s too expensive”, but others will remark “I didn’t realize it was so reasonable.” Prices pre-qualify prospects before they call.
  4. FREE Cleaning Service!
    You are probably thinking “…that’s easy for you to say”.  Try this offer: FREE CLEANING SERVICE (Headline) and then a disclaimer – For new customers. Get 2 cleanings at our regular low price and your 3rd cleaning is Free! That works out to a 33% discount. Plus, after 3 cleanings in a row, it is probably safe to say you’ve got a new regular customer.
  5. It’s All About You!
    Do you have a small operation? Try this headline to emphasize your personal service: “I Own The Company, I Clean The Homes, I Guarantee Your Satisfaction!” Include your photo and you will have a very powerful message on your postcard. If you have a crew, then show their photo. The more personal and professional your image, the more likely it is that a homeowner will trust you inside their home.
  6. Promote Your Website With Direct Mail
    Don’t have one? You should. And it should contain more than just a laundry list of your services. Include testimonials, cleaning tips, monthly specials on seasonal cleaning services and more.  The website should have plenty of good content that can be used to sell new clients and keep the ones you have.
  7. Offer Residential Service To Your Corporate Clients
    No corporate clients? How about a “Friends And Family” Promotion. Offer discounts to the friends and family of your current residential clients.

Door Hanger Advertising Ideas For An Air Conditioning & Heating Company

Bryant-Installer_065Here are a few Ideas for an Air Conditioning & Heating Company that have been used successfully by our clients. Use one or a combination, but don’t over crowd the door hanger with too much information. The door hanger must pass “The Glance Test”, which means the reader will know what the card is about with just a passing glance. This can make the difference between getting noticed or being tossed out as junk advertising.

  1. Direct Mail Strategy: How Many, How Often?
    We get calls, like clockwork, from HVAC companies just before the start of the winter and summer seasons. It makes sense, homeowners haven’t used their heating or air conditioning for a few months and they will need a tune up, service or replacement.
    Consider the distribution options. With a budget of about $1350, you could print 24,000  full color door hangers. One option would be to distribute to 12,000 homes twice a year prior to the summer and winter seasons. Another option would be to distribute to 4,000 homes every other month (6 times a year). Or you could distribute to 2,000 homes every month. There’s no right or wrong strategy here. However, marketing experts emphasize that repetition is an important factor in the overall success of a campaign. Targeting a smaller territory, distributing more often and supplementing with additional media can result in a steady stream of prospects, rather than a flash in the pan once or twice a year.
  2. Call “The Honest Contractor”
    It may sound corny, but people are wary of tradesman. Everyone hates the idea of getting ripped off. Remember, you are asking for an invitation to go inside someones home to provide an estimate or checkout equipment. Include your photo on the door hanger. It will make the door hanger more personal (you may be surprised how many people recognize you). You name and a photo sends a message that you are proud of your company and your work.  If you have a crew, show a group photo and they should be in some sort of uniform (even a nice t-shirt).
  3. Don’t Just Offer A “Tune-UP” – Tell Them Why They Need It!
    A pre-season 15 point checkup is a standard offer in the industry. Make sure you show a price for the service and highlight any savings offered. For example “15 Point Air Conditioning Checkup – Now $79 Regular $99 Save $20!”. And be sure to stress the benefits of the checkup: “Extend The Life Of Your Unit and Save On Energy Costs With Regular Maintenance”.
  4. The No Fee Service Call
    If you get the job, waive the service call fee. Your ad can say: “FREE Service Call” the disclaimer can go on to say “Service call fee waived if work is done (a $59 value)”.
  5. Offer Residential Service To Your Corporate Clients
    No corporate clients? How about a “Friends And Family”
    Promotion. Offer discounts to the friends and family of your current clients.
  6. Show The Price
    If you offer replacement units for heating or air conditioning, use a price to get more response. Which offer do you think sounds better? A) “Replace Your Central AC Unit, Call Today & Save!” or B) “Replace Your Central AC Unit – Most Homes In This Neighborhood Only $1995!” . Some will see a price and say, “that’s too expensive”, but others will remark “I didn’t realize it was so reasonable.” Prices pre-qualify prospects before they call. Use your best offer, with a disclaimer if necessary, for example “…price based on existing electrical and slab.”

Door Hanger Advertsing Ideas For Chiropractors

back_painHere are a few Ideas for Chiropractors that have been used successfully by our clients. Use one or a combination, but don’t over crowd the door hanger with too much information. The door hanger must pass “The Glance Test”, which means the reader will know what the door hanger is about with just a passing glance. This can make the difference between getting noticed or being tossed out as junk advertising.

  1. Segment The Market
    In any geographic area you will find 3 groups: (1) Those that are using Chiropractic, (2) Those who have tried Chiropractic and were not happy with the results, (3) Those who know little about Chiropractic. Who are you targeting? Make sure your message is designed to speak to that segment.
  2. What’s Your “Claim To Fame”?
    Therapies and equipment can be vary from office to office. If you offer a unique Chiropractic Therapy, promote it with a brief description, photos and testimonials.
  3. Educational Seminars
    Seminars can be a great way to educate a group of potential patients at one time. Making it a lunch or dinner seminar always helps to increase attendance, but make sure your invitation is clear that there will be a formal presentation on the benefits of Chiropractic.
  4. Ask The Doctor
    Invite folks to ask questions about treatment, fees, insurance, etc. Use email or better yet, allocate an hour or two each week to answer questions over the phone.
  5. It’s All About You
    When you are advertising your services, it is not the time to be modest. Personalize the door hanger by including your photo and a brief resume.  Include memberships in community organizations or church groups.
  6. If We Can’t Help, We Will Tell You!
    Try this message: “Chiropractic Treatment has helped thousands to live pain free. Is Chiropractic Treatment right for you? Find out with a FREE Consultation and No Obligation.

Door Hanger Advertising Ideas For Restauants

chefThe success of a door hanger distribution campaign is determined by a number of factors, starting with having a clear objective for the campaign.  Once you have defined the goal of the campaign, the door hanger must be designed to motivate the prospect to respond to your call to action, for example, come to the restaurant, go to a website, order over the phone, etc. We call this motivating offer “A Magnet”.

Here are a few Ideas and Magnets that have been used successfully by our restaurant clients. Use one or a combination, but don’t over crowd the postcard with too much information. The door hanger must pass “The Glance Test”, which means the reader will know what the card is about with just a passing glance. This can make the difference between getting noticed or being tossed out as junk advertising.

1. Increase Lunch Business
Distribute to local businesses and offer a lunch special.  Use a radius from your location, a half mile to a mile. For this campaign, it is better to have a smaller distribution area and to distribute more often.

Your magnet doesn’t have to be a discount. Take a lesson from the national chains like Subway’s $5 Footlong or McDonalds Value Menu. Feature value packed lunch specials, that are served up quickly and taste a lot better than the  “fast food” competition.

A word of caution, don’t try to combine this idea with a dinner promotion. In most cases, workers who are around during the day probably live in a different part of town and won’t be prospects for evening business. Don’t clutter up the card. Stay focused on lunch.

2. Build An “Earlybird” Crowd
Is there a senior community near your location? They like to eat early and save money. You want to fill seats between the lunch and dinner hours. Sounds like you may have something in common! Once you get them into the restaurant, keep them coming back with a frequent diner punch card.

3. If You Show Them, They Will Come!
How many nearby residents have never been inside your restaurant? How many drive by without ever stopping? Show them what you are all about with a full color door hanger. Start with a photo of the exterior that prospects will recognize from their daily travels. Then, include photos of the interior, your customers, your staff, you and especially your food. Include a partial menu of your best dishes. Finally, include a personal invitation with a special offer. Tell the prospect to ask for the owner or manager when they arrive, and then roll out the red carpet.

4. Build Your Delivery Business Door hangers are an effective and affordable way to keep in front of potential delivery customers. Once again a smaller area, with frequent distribution will yield the best results. Experiment with different offers and track response carefully. Repeat your best offers, get rid of the ones that don’t work and keep adding new ones. Once you have fine tuned your door hanger, your campaign won’t cost you money, it will make you money every time you distribute. At that point, it’s time to expand that delivery area.

Make sure you include a menu with a “Bounce Back” coupon with every delivery order. Give them an incentive to order again, sooner rather than later.

5. Give A Really Big Discount
In this economy everyone is looking for a deal. So give them one. Just make it valid only on the days or hours that you need to increase business. Don’t measure the success of your campaign on this one discounted transaction. If you make a new customer as a result of this promotion, you’ll see benefits all year long. And don’t forget about the value of “word of mouth”. So be aggressive and make them an offer they can’t refuse.

6. Secret Recipe Revealed!
If you have a dish that you are really proud of, publish the recipe with some photos of the preparation on your door hanger. The Olive Garden does this all the time in their TV Advertising. They make the food the star of the show (which it should be). Don’t worry about potential customers staying home and cooking instead of going out to eat at your restaurant. Most couples today have too little time and energy to cook a special dinner at home. But if you are worried, you could leave out part of the recipe (only kidding).

7. Use A Discount Coupon On Your Postcard To Test New Menu Items
Want to add a new item to the menu, but you’re not sure how it will go over? Include a coupon with a discounted price on your door hanger, to jump start the introduction.

Door Hanger Advertising Ideas for Realtors

house sold-flatThe success of a door hanger distribution campaign is determined by a number of factors, starting with having a clear objective for the campaign. Once you have defined the goal of the campaign, the door hanger must be designed to motivate the prospect to respond to your call to action, for example, come to your office, go to a website or call on the phone.  We call this motivating offer “A Magnet”.

Here are a few Ideas and Magnets that have been used successfully by our clients. Use one or a combination, but do not over crowd the postcard with too much information. The door hanger must pass “The Glance Test”, which means the reader will know what the door hanger is about with just a passing glance. This can make the difference between getting noticed or being tossed out as junk advertising.

  1. It is all about you!
    When you are advertising your services, it is not the time to be modest. Selling Real Estate is a one on one,  personal service. Include your photo and a brief resume. If you are new to the business, do not try to conceal it, let folks know that you are building a reputation and will work harder to get results. Include memberships in community organizations or church groups. If you live in the neighborhood you are targeting, be sure to mention it.
  2. Farm Area: It’s Not The Size But The Frequency That Counts
    Door Hangers are an effective and affordable way to keep in front of new listing prospects. A smaller distribution area scheduled on a frequent basis will yield the best results. Remember, your name needs to be “top of mind” when the decision to sell is made. The only way to do that is to distribute on a regular basis.  Be consistent and over time, the listings will come. Once you’ve built momentum, it’s time to expand that farm area.
  3. Develop A Market Plan for New Listings And Give It A Name
    Sure, most listings sell through the MLS. What other marketing activities do you include with your listing service? Open house, lawn signs, newspaper advertising, website, door hangers, etc. Make a list and present it as a results oriented marketing package. Make it even more special by giving it a name i.e. “The Exclusive, Bill Sullivan, Residential Real Estate, Marketing Plan”.
  4. Use A Slogan To Help People Remember Your Name
    Sometimes it may seem corny, but it works. i.e. “Selling Your Home? If You’re In A Hurry, Call Billy Murray!”
  5. The FREE Market Analysis Offer
    Everyone uses this offer, but perhaps a little rewording can make it more appealing, by targeting curiosity: “Find Out How Much You Neighbors House Sold For….You May Be Surprised!”
  6. List The Houses You’ve Sold Recently. Don’t Have Any? You Can Still Make A List.
    Put together a list of houses that have sold recently, including prices and a brief description. If they are not your listings, put a small disclaimer at the bottom “complied from MLS data base”.
  7. Can You Offer A Discount Brokerage Fee? People Love To Save.
    If your broker allows, you might consider offering a discounted brokerage fee and advertise: “Full Service At A Lower Fee”!

Like it or not, you are competing with Disney World and McDonalds!

Even if you are not in the restaurant or amusement park business, Disney World and McDonalds are marketing giants that have affected the way entrepreneurs promote their businesses. 

When you visit Disney World, you expect the restrooms to be clean and the employees (or “cast” as they like to be called) to be smiling and helpful. You know that if you go into just about any McDonalds worldwide, their award winning French Fries will taste the same as all of their other locations.

Consumers have grown to expect excellence from theses and other world class operations like Wal-Mart and Netflix. Therefore, you can’t get away with using slogans in your advertising that have become cliche. “Lowest Prices”, “Personalized Service”, and “Best Selection” and so on, don’t have the same impact on prospects as in the past.

Consumers take those things for granted. They expect a business to deliver on the basics, and if they don’t get what’s expected, they will take their business somewhere else.

Answer this question: “Why should a prospect do business with me instead of my competition who is offering a similar product or service?” You should be able to answer this question in a brief sentence or two. And here is the real challenge – the answer must be compelling enough to attract more customers than your competition.

In marketing terms, your answer is called “A Value Proposition”. Develop a good one and then use it on your door hanger advertising campaign!

How Much Would You Pay For A New Customer?

customer_price_tagWhat if there was a store that sold customers? No, not a store that sells to customers, I mean a store where small businesses could go and purchase new customers. And let’s say that store has all types of customers on the shelves, like in real life, difficult customers, cheap customers, average customers and even best customers.

You hear about the store and because every business can use new customers, you decide to go shopping. Like every good shopper you’ve got a list, you want to buy only “the best customers” and you want a bunch of them. But before you fill your cart you’ve got to come to grips with two factors: 1- how much do customers cost and 2- how much money do you have to spend (your budget)?

Let’s deal with factor one first. How much would you pay for a new customer? Isn’t the amount you would pay for anything determined by the value of the product or service. The same rule should apply to customers. So before we ask the question, how much are you willing to pay for a new customer, let’s ask how much is a new customer really worth. Here’s one method you can use.

Small Business Example: ABC Dry Cleaners

$40.00 –  Dollar amount of an average sale
30% –  Average profit margin
18 – Average number of sales per customer per year
2 – Average number of years a customer continues to purchase (customer life)
Using the numbers above, let’s compute the value of a customer
$12.00 profit x 18 sales per year x 2 year customer life = the Average Lifetime Value of a Customer: $432.00

So, we have determined, for our example business (ABC Dry Cleaners), that if they pay less than $432.00 for a new customer, on average they will make a profit. The point is, not to evaluate the value of a customer on just the initial sale. Furthermore, if our example business buys wisely, and pays less than $432.00, say $50.00 for a new customer, they’ll be way ahead of the game.

Work out the numbers for your business and go on a shopping spree! Buy as many new customers as you can. But wait minute, you might have a limited amount of cash on hand. Furthermore, your cash flow may not allow you to wait up to two years to recover the profit. That brings us to factor number two: your budget. The most important thing to consider here is being consistent. You can start with a small budget and expand it as cash flow permits. Determine a budget that you are comfortable with and then stick with it.

Well, now you have an idea of how much to spend on new customers and what your shopping budget is, but unfortunately, there isn’t a customer store where you can go to buy them. if only it were that easy.

Don’t despair, you can get new customers with advertising. But you’ve got to pick an advertising method that is measurable. Door hanger distribution is very measurable and it is cost effective. You can even target the type of customer your looking for (your definition of the best customer), by picking neighborhoods based on home values and proximity to your business.

Keep close track of the results of your door hanger distribution efforts. Then compute your cost per customer: Cost of the distribution divided by the number of customers generated. By fine tuning your door hanger design and special offers you can increase the response rate and lower your cost per customer.

Advertising isn’t easy, but if you know the cost to generate a new customer and the value of that customer, you will be well on your way to running successful advertising campaigns.