SML

My brother opened a roofing and siding business last year and was doing sub-contracting and has now decided to just go with his own business stuff this year. I am trying to figure out what the best way of advertising is for very inexpensive. I have done all the free stuff on the web, opened a web site, and am currently looking into the newspaper stuff. We have road and yard signs. The main thing I am wondering about is a press release. I read somewhere online that is a good idea for advertising. He just got Certified as a Master Shingler, will be getting his builders license this month, and like I said before he opened his business last year but this year he is on his own, and is going to go from a DBA to an LLC. Can he write a press release for free advertising? And if so what should it include? Also does anyone else have any creative ideas for advertising for a small Roofing and Siding Company in south-eastern Michigan (let stress the importantace of FREE or very cheap advertising)

NYPTK

The best way is to integrate your marketing communications program...Overlap your ads to provide maximum exposure to the most peoiple in your target areas...yoiur ads should say the phone # and website...the website, "As seen in (publication name)"...etc.Pennysavers are great...watch the zones and ad sizes...try to run an insane special for 'X' amount of sq foot...free gutters with every full 30 yr roof...etc. BUT, make it something he can afford. They will provide free artwork and try NOT to bury the ad...maybe a detached mailing label...slip sheet. Or testing it run a (10 week minimum) ad in the service guide in the back. Inserts are also greeat and you can do B&W for between 35-50 per 1000 CPM (Cost per thousand)...some minimums apply.Newspaper is a true rip off in most areasRadio is good, but for the roofing business...only during very specific times of yearTV...NO WAY...not for several years out.Run a contest on his websiteKnock on doors (seriously)Word of mouth (WOM) is always the bestSend out holiday cards to customersAsk your dealer representative (ASK!!!) about Co-Op dollars for advertising and how it works. Try to deal direct with the manufacturer if you can...target companies that give Co-Op dollars...you can possibly increase you advertising dollars by 100% (after reimbursement)Sub contract by targeting GC'sALWAYS place a yardfront sign when working at a property for the duration of the job...include a "Information tube" off the side and keep some fliers in it.The list goes on...I hope this helps.

vijay5066

Guess i can help him with online marketing tips.If your brother happen to have a website,then he should promote it the right way.I know that your brother did not found much success with his previous marketing campaign.I think the main reason for that to happen,because the method he used.Here's my way of doing online marketing.Hope your brother will succeed1)Article MarketingReally a powerful method in getting audience. Write a good article based on your niche topic and submit it in article directories. Just go to google or yahoo and search for "free article directories". It will suggest you a host of directories that you can easily submit your writings. When people surf in that certain directory, they might stumble into your article and you got all the fame needed to be successful in Internet Marketing.2)BloggingThis method is just like the article writing. You write what you want but good contents for your audience in blogs. The better you got, the more audience you get. You can also submit the same contents that you wrote in blogs in article directories. You get instant viewers if your article is in top 10 within your niche3)Offer free stuffsIt's always good to get free stuffs. Everyone likes it.So offer some free stuffs such as e-books or software for your audience. You will get a good, loyal and repeating audience. If you are looking for FREE e-books to market it in your site, check out this link.www.abc-netmarketing.blogspot.... provides a host of e-books on internet marketing. The e-books will be updated weekly. So hurry up and get your best one soon.4)E-mail MarketingIt's as easy as ABC. Just promote your site to all your online contacts using e-mail.Write a good email that will attract your audience. If you got the contents right and able to convince your contacts , you are on your way to success.5)SEO-Search Engine OptimizationCheck outwww.ezinerticles.com for HOT tips on SEO6)You Tube VideosUse free videos from you tube and paste the links in your site. People like video tutorials better than articles or e-books.7)Google AdsenseI strongly suggest you to visit www.abc-netmarketing.blogspot.... and learn about google adsense.If it's not the best, atleast one of the best income generator for your websites. Visit the link and watch the video tutorials for FREE.8)ForumsJust google for any forums on your niche topic.Join a few and start getting active by exchanging or giving tips to others.9)NewsgroupIt works well just like email marketing.Just join yahoo groups that's related to your niche.Join as many as you can.Look for the highest amount of members.Write a good headline that will attract people to read your contents

seodigger8494

If you want free advertising for your small business these are the tools:-use free traffic exchanges -social networking sites -social bookmarking sites -forums -blog directories -online ads. etc. -submitting your site link to search engines such as Google,yahoo,msn,alexa etc.http://poseidonprofit.blogspot.com

JohnT

I build a roofing business in England some years ago from nothing to over $2 million a year in turnover. I started by printing flyers A5 size and paying some kids to go to all the houses in my local town and put them into the letterboxes. I started getting local work and from there it moved on with referrals. You could print them yourself on your computer and spend a weekend with your brother placing them in letterboxes. That would be free.

comps1324

Write articles about your website or ideas.Submit your website for users to review, free!Submit your Business to Famous Business, freeGo to Famous Pageshttp://famouspages.info

KennethDreyer

I would suggest you to register with google maps and adwords as an online strategy. Maybe you can target men and woman above 40 and facebook as well. Get yourself a nice website, but don't spend to much money on it try to go viral or anything. I don't thing it will be worth it fro a small roofing business. And being small I assume you want the best possible ROI..

My $0.05 on online marketing.

jessiblack

Advertising is very expensive for newspapers. Is there a way I can cut this expense. I am advertising for students and teachers.” Lisa Yang Butler, San Gabriel Valley, CA

The best way to reduce advertisng costs is to get a better response with your advertising. I.e. if ten times as many people respond each time you run an ad you won’t need to run it as often and you’ll end up saving money.

Learn how to write ads that get a better response with The 15 Second Marketing Guide.
- The Small Business Marketing Response Expert, Charlie Cook

Juliusanderson

I think you should try both online and offline marketing techniques as both have their own target markets

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pravakar

I think you should do SEO and social networking marketing.