We've just released a short guide about methods of getting PR and publicity for your business. You can get this from Holistic Local PR services.

Anyway, I just thought I'd create a place here for everyone to share their own ideas or successful methods you've used to get publicity for yourself.

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When I was first starting out, I sold myself on eBay for Children in Need. I offered therapy/coaching over the phone everyday for a whole week.

The local rag ran a mediumish article about this and I got the biggest influx of new enquiries, more than any other kind of advertising.

I guess this was successful for me for a few reasons:
- I attached myself to peoples perceptions of the charity
- As a therpaist, peopel have to trust me enough, before we have even met, this really helped
- Free exposure, an advert dressed up as a non advert, so it reached a different mindset in the readership
and many others I haven;t quite got round to figuring out yet.

Anyway, it worked for me.

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and the other really successfull advert I did in the local paper was a bit special!!!

Grand National Weekend, a whole page of adverts, spread out like 3 x 8 rectangles.

All the adverts in the local paper cost more in Colour with pictures and all sorts. Figuring this page would be full of these kind of adverts, I went the opposite way. I had a rectangle to use, so I put in literally 8 words. I asked for a thick red border and black text. I got them to make the text really small and centred and leave a large white gap around the text. It stood out against all the glitzy expensive adverts, saved me money and got me business.

I re printed the same advert one week later, only this time I asked for them to put it upside down. It would have been ignored by most readers but the subconscious mind picks these things up, and knowing this I added the extra words as a heading "look at things differently, and "yes we know its upsaide down!" at the bottom./ Silly ideas I know, but they were effective for me.

Hope this helps you.

Asif

Last edited: 4-11-2006 11:37:09 PM

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Thanks for posting these Asif. I think they're great ideas. I particularly like the idea of the upside down advert. I can see why that would definitely get noticed. Did you get any responses from that ad?

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As a hypnotherapist, I suppose that makes me a bit more aware of how the subconscious mind works and what presses it buttons.

My NLP mentor said that "if at first you don't succeed, try something different". The only way to make an advert stand out was for it to be the only one that was not overloaded with colours and designs. So it made it TOO simple. Got a great response.

The upside down "Look at things differently" advert I thought of whilst I was on the phone booking the ad itself. This would just nudge the subconscious mind into looking. I got a massive spike of hits on my website from those ads. More so from the upside down advert. It got people to take action as well i.e using their bodies to turn the paper the wrong way up - a kinaesthetic response. No other advert would have this effect, the reader would just carry on perusing , turnign pages on autopilot normally otherwise.

The North East Press group have since banned upside down adverts unless approved by the editor himself ! Made me smile!

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I love the idea of a plain, simple, upside down ad. That has really made me smile - can I use it Asif?

I have just begun a local maildrop. I have some very good quality (gave the local printer some sales tips n he did me a special deal) postcards with the picture of a spider (a toy one belonging to my son) and first few lines of the nursery rhyme Incy Wincy spider in a lovely, creepy text on the front. When you turn the card it asks Did you help Incy out? and then has some blurb.

People are loving them so far. I have delivered the first 250 and have got my first client. Also a friend who runs make over parties has taken some and her clients are all picking them up and reading them, she took 5 last friday and has asked for some more And obviously my kids think they are great.

S

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Sarah,

Brilliant stuff! You have my permission to do an upside down ad if I can use the spider reference!

I have been reading some guides on advertising for therapist and there are some really good suggestions there, but your spider advert sounds really effective.

I rarely do newspaper advertising generally, only if I need a spike of new clients periodically. One thing I will suggest make sure you check out where you will be advertising and the sort of adverts that are already in there. And then go the opposite way. Placement is also importnat, try and get your newspaper advert where the readers thumb will go, these are the most effective.

Most people advertise by thinking only of their advert not how it will blend with the environment. I used to work in advertising, and when a proof is sent out, it is just the advert you have paid for on a plain white background. The reality is different.

If I had the money, I would get a whole blank page with the text block the size of a credit card (or even upside down). It gets you noticed. It has also been proven that the best colours for an advert or indeed any logo or symbol are red, white and black. Try not to deviate too much from that, its a perfect mix.

Also contact your local BBC radio station, they often do the odd peice and interviews on health matters. I have been on talking about various things like hypnotherapy, nlp and motivation, and they generate some business as well.

One thing I learnt very quickly is that you will ask many people to look over you adverts or website or articles and you get the standard "really good" response with no constructive feedback. My first website attempt was a shambles and no one told me! I sent the link out to about 30 people. Luckily one person came back with a list of points for improvement. Find someone who can give you an honest and objective critique, very important!!!! If you get stuck, give me a shout, we can help each other out.

Asif


Asif

Last edited: 7-11-2006 10:41:37 AM

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Thank you Asif for some fantastic advice. I have not done any newspaper advertising yet as I managed to get an article published this month and I thought I would rest on my laurels and wait to see what it brought in first, but I really like your advice (especially as you know what you are talking about).

The spider is all part of a campaign based around nursery rhymes, coming from the idea that I am (as a Life Coach) the modern day equivalent to a fairy godmother (who doesnt have a wand or give you stuff, although I do have a set of wings for 'special occasions' ) and it is aimed at my market of 25-40 year old mums. How do you percieve yourself - a knight in shining armour?, a peace maker?, an explorer? and who are your clients - We could tailor the spider idea to suit you more, and I know you could do it yourself and sometimes its just more fun to bounce these ideas off others.

And as for the website, it is interesting asking people what they think, especially when they are in the same trade as you. I have had one person (and only one) tell me that my description of NLP is wrong! which I have (probably arrogantly) put down to being a question of personal distortion, generalisation and deletion and chosen to leave as is for now, other than that people have been complementry (as predicted). I guess the proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say and I shall have to wait and see how many people come to me from it (it was launched 2 weeks ago). If you would like to take a look anyone and give me your feedback its www.infin8life.co.uk

Sarah

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the most successful pr i ever got came from doing a hip adjustment in a crowded bar on a saturday night

we cleared off a table, and completed the process in about five minutes

my patient was ecstatic and sent an email out to her friends about me [over 1000 people in the local area] and i gave away over 500 business cards that night

launched my first clinic in a city where i didn't know a soul, and gave me a story to tell for years

cameron

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and that nuovon, is what its all about. Marketing, sales etc is all about results.
Another example, I live in a town of 20,000. I have not advertised or maketed my business in 4 years, I have been here almost 5 years. The work I do gets results, and I am booked out 3 months in advance. Without results you do not have a business, with results, the world is your oyster.

Last edited: 10-12-2006 08:17:36 AM

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I've been re-reading this thread with interest. I've had quite a slowdown in business recently,and don't really know why. I'm feeling comfortable with it at the moment (sometimes we need a break!) but must relaunch myself after Xmas! So any more brill suggestions welcomed!!

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