10 Reasons to Advertise on our city guide cites
2. More and more potential customers are searching the internet for businesses and services.
8. You can change your ad at any time with convenient log in.
10. We provide a convenient telephone directory to locate a business phone number with our Business Categories list on the left side of the home page. This brings people back to the site and thus they will see the rotating Gold Ads.
What is product name awareness?
It is the implanting of your business name in the minds of potential customers so that when they have a need for the services that you provide, your name comes into their mind automatically. It is the goal of every advertising campaign. It is the most important result you want from your advertising.
How do we create this awareness?
We create this mindset by the repetition of your business name to the public through as many sources as possible. It is the repetitive nature of seeing and hearing your business name over and over, everywhere they look that implants the association of their need to your business name. It is why companies like Coke®, Budweiser® and Visa® continually advertise their brand in a multitude of venues. In some instances it has worked so successfully that the brand name becomes a generic reference for the product. When you ask for a cola soda you normally just say “coke”. Q-Tips® is another case where this has been so effective that we normally just ask for a “q-tip” anytime we want a cotton swab. Band-Aid® is by far the most classic example. No one ever asks for an adhesive bandage, they always ask for a “band-aid”. Kleenex® is a case where people used to ask if you had a “kleenex”. However, due to a decline in regular Kleenex® advertisements, people have gone back to using the generic word “tissue”.
Why do we need to diversify our advertising?
Most businesses advertise in newspapers and magazines feeling those are the most cost effective ways to reach as many people as possible. Display ads create a visual impression and association with the product and your business name. Radio is another effective way for many potential customers to hear your business name. However, radio advertising, being a sound-only media, requires constant repetition of your ad over a long period of time to be effective. Radio listeners normally do not write down anything they happen to hear, nor can they save a coupon or special offer from the radio. Once you stop your radio ads, people quickly forget you. Television gives you the best of both worlds; audio and visual all wrapped up in one effective package but it is very, very expensive. Direct mail is another effective way to put your name in front of hundreds of people. Participating in expos and fairs can also give you that one on one exposure with potential customers. All these things working together create a mindset for the consumer to think of your business first.
What about the Internet?
With the proliferation of web sites, online business directories and Google advertising, more and more potential customers are searching the Internet for businesses and services. You must include Internet advertising in your overall plan. After spending a good amount of time and money creating this awareness using print, radio and television, mailings and such, it would be disastrous for all that effort and expense to be wasted because the potential customer doesn’t see your name when searching the Internet.
How we can help
Our online business directory is simple, straightforward and easy for viewers to use. We have created a site where people can find useful information that they actually want and need on a daily basis. In addition, our site has the distinct advantage of being seen no matter where the person is. They could be someone planning a visit or a move to our area, or local residence needing a product or service. People from all over the Country can now find our site and your business information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. No other medium can make this claim. Best of all, we have made it extremely affordable for you to get this needed exposure. Our Gold business listing costs only $10 per month and the Silver listing is $3 per month based on an annual purchase.
A funny thing about Internet searchers…
You may ask the question “Since a basic business listing is free on your site and my information is already there, why should I upgrade?” The answer is simple: people using the Internet to search for information are impatient and want immediate response. They tend to look at only the first 4 or 5 listings on a page. They then want to go directly to a website about that business for more detailed information. Our basic free listings are alphabetical within each category; however, many categories have more than one page of business listings and several have over 100. Upgrading places you at the top of your category, above all basic business listings. The Silver upgrade contains links to your website and email. The Gold upgrade is placed above all Silver upgrades, contains the hot links to your web site and email and is a large display ad that contains room for a picture or logo, written text to describe your business or service, and the ability to add coupons. Both upgrades are placed in order by date of purchase.
Two easy ways to upgrade
There are two ways to upgrade your business listing. Our automated system is designed to make it simple for you to enter, change or update your business information right from your own computer. If you prefer, we can can handle all the input for you. You should always call (740-941-1383) or email (manager@waverlyinfo.com) any time you have a question, concern or need help. There are never any added charges for this support.
A Final Thought
The next time you write the check for that newspaper/radio ad, remember that other customers may be searching the web. Will they find you?