Advertising is one of the things that many businesses overlook when it comes to thinking about starting a business. You have a great idea, do the research, get the business up and running, and get a website, then bingo, flocks of people come and buy your products or services.
If only it was that simple…
Without advertising, all you have is a great business…no customers. The customers you d get will be in passing or through word of mouth, which is free, but it will take a lot longer to start bringing in the money you need to sustain and grow your business.
Advertising online is a lot different to advertising in print – for one thing, there is a lot more choice. You can advertise from free to several thousand pounds a month. So here is a breakdown of the pros and cons of using online advertising:1. Advertising online is low cost
You can work with just about every budget for internet advertising – from free to several thousand pounds a month, there is something for everyone.
The major print directories now offer free basic online listings:
www.yell.com
www.thomsonlocal.com
www.thephonebook.bt.com
Let’s not forget our very own Mumpreneur Directory, https://www.motherswhowork.co.uk/mumpreneur-business-directory/, which is currently free to advertise on.
2. Capture market
Should your product/service aim to cater to the younger generation or the corporate-oriented ones, internet advertising would be best since they would always be “hooked-up” into the net surfing sites that might have a link to your very own. Result, a great number of “hits” on your site!
3. Speed
Buying online adverts is very fast – most sites these days allow you to add all the details you need, make a payment and then view your live ad in minutes, so if you are in a rush to promote something, there is nothing to hold you back.
4. Update easily
Unlike the TV ads that need to be updated on a regular basis, internet ads may run for quite some time without the need for change. And it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg to make changes, either. Text listings are usually free to edit – banner ads don’t cost much to make little tweaks or get redoen, either.
5. Online advertising gets maximum exposure
The aim of internet advertising is to offer the widest range or maximum exposure of the brand at the least possible cost. Being online, each website has the potential to reach the whole world – imagine what impact advertising on a high traffic website for your audience could do for your business?
