I’m going to let you into a secret here

The last time I made a purchase based on a flyer through my door was just around 15 years ago.

I was living with a group of students in Preston and to be honest any old pizza joint would have done the job. I think being students we went for the cheapest and nearest option and picked up the phone.

In the year 1999-2000 online reputations couldn’t make or break a business. It was the days of dial up, PCs took 10 minutes to boot up and get online and websites such as Tripadvisor or Freeindex either didn’t exist or weren’t the norm.

There was a lack of information online to influence the buying decisions

FAST FORWARD TO 2014
This week I received a flyer through the post for a local restaurant

Within 15 seconds I’d gone on my phone to check the reviews on Tripadvisor that told me the restaurant was only just scraping the Top 50 Restaurants in Altrincham, only 50% of people who visited recommended it and there were a shockingly large number of negative reviews saying to avoid the place like the plague

Why would a business spend huge amounts of money on design, print and distribution only for a 15 second online search to reveal a much clearer picture of the proposition?

THE SOCIAL / ONLINE NORM
In 2014 whether you’re engaged online or not – online will influence the sales process even when it comes to Tradvertising

If you’ve just spend hundreds or thousands on a flyer drop for your restaurant – your Tripadvisor ranking still will override it!

If you’re one of the 4 or 5 companies advertising Windows in the local paper – potential customers will be looking on Freeindex to see where you’re ranked

And more often than not people will ask on Facebook / Twitter for recommendations of local businesses rather than looking at any Tradvertising

CAN TRADVERTISING STILL WORK?
I recently did an experiment with Altrincham Design Studio

A highly targeted B2B campaign aimed at specific types of businesses outside of the Altrincham area.

We worked on a very clear message to convey and had links back to the website so that potential customers could further research and look at testimonials

With just 15 A4 Leaflets distributed we generated a ROI of 3 times the original investment which included the design costs.

So yes – Tradvertising can work with a highly targeted campaign backed up with a strong online reputation!!!

COMMON MISTAKES IN TRADVERTISING

Looking at recent editions of the local newspaper and flyers here are some classic mistakes I’ve noticed small businesses make

1. Including a website link to a website that isn’t live

2. Having a website, but not including it on your advert so that people can find out more

3. Not including Social Media links if you have them

4. Just including the twitter / facebook logos without specific usernames – Search functionality on social isn’t always great and you wouldn’t put a photo of a phone without your phone number

5. Including Social Media profiles when you haven’t updated social media in months if at all

6. Advertising a Niche Product using Mass Market media

If you’re thinking of Tradvertising – email alex@altrinchamhq.co.uk or call 07806774279 to get your online marketing & reputation in place 1st!!

Altrincham Hq

“With over 12 years experience of Social Media and 17 years experience of online marketing in other companies, clients come to myself when they want a veteran rather than a rookie” Alex McCann