Advertising My New Website

Home Services

I am looking for ways to locally advertise our new site. We are a remodeling/home improvement company that services a 40-50 mile radius. I'm not looking for SEO suggestions (we have that somewhat covered). We are looking for different ways to drive people that are looking for a home improvement company and are not using a search engine to search.

In other words, has any of you had success using radio, newspaper, TV, signage, or whatever (looking for suggestions) to drive this market segment to your site?

Thanks in advance from a long time remodeling contractor, but new to the "web" game.

edjohnson

HS,
Put it on everything....everything....Bus. card, truck, yard signs, shirts,....Post cards have worked for me pretty well, flyers in newspaper boxes. If you have the $$$, radio, newspaper.....everything

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Douglas Johnson
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SLSTech

Ditto's - anywhere you have your name / logo your website should be listed

Put it in your signatures for email, CT, other websites you visit

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Alabama Full Service Remodeling, Renovation, and Preservation by SLS Construction
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SquirrelNmoose

Definitely. You need to get the info out there just the same you want your phone number out there.

One thing I don't see enough is readable website names. Remember, on most media a potential customer will have only seconds to read the web address, figure out what subject it pertains too, then decided if it's a product/service they are interested then maybe read it again for memory.

Make your web address easily readable.
The www.example.com portion of the web address is never case sensitive. This means that you never have to worry about whether www.example.com, WWW.EXAMPLE.COM or www.Example.com will work. They all work just fine, so use the one that looks the best to you.
If you have a long name it's essential, NoChargeForAwesomeNess.com is readable. Try to read it like this, nochargeforawesomeness.com

Anything past the .com (.net, .org etc.), case may matter depending on the web server and configuration.
www.Example.com/MyFile.jpg and www.Example.com/myfile.jpg may be considered different by your web server.

The same goes for your email. MyName@MyEmail.com will work just fine. While technically there is a specification to make this different, I've never seen it implemented. I've used this format for a long time now.

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Len,
"There is no charge for Awesomeness"
A view through the eyes of SquirreNmoose

Home Services

Thanks guys for the input. I do know to put the address on everything in print & broadcast. Also thanks "Upscale" for the tip. My address is: peoriahomeservices.com which will now be printed PeoriaHomeServices.com! (Peoria, IL - our location + Home Services - parent company name...we have 6 companies under 1 roof/corporation)

I tried to get homeservices.com, (to have a shorter name) but it was already taken. We also own homeservicespeoria.com (linking to peoriahomeservices.com) in case someone types it backwards.

What I'm really looking for is some type of new ad campaign that I can launch to promote our site. I'm trying to get ideas of what has been successful for people in similar industries. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance...

tinner666

Wish I could help you. Never tried to market one. Sorry.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

CreativeHomeImp

we got our website all over our tucks (both doors and tailgates) so just driving around town generates website traffic.

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Mike Finley

Just to be blunt since you're new here.

WHAT THE F ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Are you some internet startup that is going to be the next myspace or ebay?

Or are you a remodeling contractor???????

Advertise your company. Along with your company - ADVERTISE YOUR PHONE NUMBER, so that people will call you. Isn't your goal for somebody to call you so you can set an appointment????? While you're advertising your company and phone number.... advertise your website.

Unless my website was set up to make money through ecommerce I would never devote marketing dollars to advertise just my site. Marketing dollars should be spent to advertise your company and direct them to contact you whether it's through your website, your phone or my telegraph.

Whew....

CreativeHomeImp

you hit it one the head. I think of my site as an extra, more so people can look at our jobs on their own time. Getting the phone number out there is defiantly #1

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http://www.creativehomeimp.com

George Z

Maybe, mostly you are right.
Unless your web url and company name is almost one and the same.
A whole bunch of whatevercompany.ca jingles and advertising here lately,
have made the url more memorable than the company name.
Definitely more memorable than a phone number.

officepainters.com is our latest company, not Office Painters
colourhelp.ca is my daughters site, not Colour Help.

Memorable and musical.

Also, a direct visit to the site is so much better than a visit from a keyword.
You better dominate Google Real Estate, or it's like the old stupid:

"Find us in the Yellow pages"

By the way, 75% leads are website requests.

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mike stanislaw

a sale to me is like a date with a girl. first thing you have to do is make sure she knows you even exists and your name. that could be your basic add anywhere it is. then make it easy for her to take a peek at you, in the comfort of her own privacy, when she makes the time. this could be your web site. all of this may excite further contact with you and her. a date or sale. worked for me at NE high.

davitk

Stealth not stalking, I like it. I also am of the opinion that customers are like girls, they tend to check out your hiney only when you are not looking. Websites are perfect for that

Home Services

I realize the air is thinner in Colorado, so I will explain this question to you s...l...o...w...l...y, alright Chief.

Including our url in all of our print & electronic (that would be TV, radio, etc) is a no brainer. When I posted my question, I thought that would be assumed, but apparantly not. What I am looking for is somebody with EXPERIENCE (and results) at launching their new site with a creative way to locally advertise it.

In other words...a "new & additional" ad campaign specifically designed to create consumer awareness. And yes, I already know to send a direct mail piece to our existing customer database...that also qualifies for the catagory of no b...r...a...i...n...e...r!

davitk

Careful H S this attitude won't make you many friends around here.

Why not order 500 fridge magnets complete w/web address, add a cover letter (hand addressed and personally signed) mailed to your target demo?

Mike Finley

Your website is nothing more than a brochure (yes, I did look at it)

Look at it this way since you are having such a hard time getting it in your head.

You are going to rent a billboard on a major highway. You have two choices

#1 is you will put on the billboard a picture of the front of a brochure your company has and a message that says, write to "PO Box 1022" for our free brochure about what we do.

#2 is you will put on the billboard your company name, a picture of what you do, a description of your services, a call to action statement, your phone number and your website address

Now for whatever reason you would choose #1? Cause that is exactly what you are asking about doing.

RidgeWalker

Radio, Newspaper, TV and signage are all "parts" of a marketing program, however be aware the an increasing number of people are "NOT" using that medium to find their go-to-guy when they need a service or a problem solved. Also this type of advertising media is relatively expensive so you have to determine if the cost's are justified versus the results. Personally I've never had results from any type of traditional advertising. People have been so bombarded with this that they just zone it out.

You mentioned that you have seo covered and I'm hoping that's not all your doing online because seo is only a small fraction of making your presence known on the internet.

Look for the following on a local level to get your name out on the internet:
Directories Free or very cheap
Communities, (forums) Free
Popular blogs that allow you to comment on. Free and effective
Popular non competing companies who may link exchange with you. Free
Start your own Directory or forum Cheap if not free.

All these things can actually drive more potential clients to your web site exposing them to much more about your company then you could ever afford a TV or Printed ads.

Don't get me started on your site but I strongly suggest that you tone it down a bit. And it's not as SEO optimized as you might have been led to believe.

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SquirrelNmoose

It does sound a little silly to ask, how do I market my marketing. That's the generic question posed.

But there is such a thing.
There is something called a Microsite. Generally they are used for a product launch or brand imaging.
They usually give a reason for a consumer to check it out. "This is sooo Cool!" "Check out this video, it's awesome" etc.
Then within the microsite you get your link, or connection to your main business. This can generate high traffic if done correctly, and as always you will get some crossover just from the numbers (who did this?). Also it can build your image.

If you think of it that way, you have probably seen some examples of this.
Here's kind of an elaborate one.
Check out what brand is at the bottom..
http://nolaf.org/

You can also search for Microsite - Microsite marketing - Microsite product launch - etc.

__________________
Len,
"There is no charge for Awesomeness"
A view through the eyes of SquirreNmoose

Home Services

Thank you RidgeWalker & Upscale. Your replies are the "non-traditional advertising" ideas we're looking for.

Quick note: RidgeWalker, I do realize that the SEO is still lacking at this point. Although it is published, we are still "under construction" with the site. Thanks for taking the time to check it out.

Upscale, you are correct about "market our marketing" (also a good way to put it). Over the years we have built successful home improvement companies by being somewhat different from our competitors & would like to continue with "out of the box" marketing.

In 2003 we did a bathroom remodel for the Oprah Winfrey show. It was one of those "while you were out" type shows. I realized with all the local publicity we received (small town company on national TV) that this set us apart from our competitors. In other words, being different is a very good thing. From that point forward we have tried to locally position ourselves as not the same-ol', same-ol' type of company.

Thanks again for the ideas & keep them coming - I'm all ears.