Looking for suggestions

[jimbairn]

Tying in to the Scottish Enterprise thread, I have to agree with the post about SE being crap on advice but OK as a source of funding. For example, my local enterprise has just offered me financial assistance to promote the cartoon workshops and other services:thumbup1: This has to be in the form of advertising, promotional material etc. For example, they've OK'd me using some of it to take a stand at the upcoming Falkirk Business Fair.

While it's a welcome sum, it's not infinite and I have to go back to them with details of how I propose to spend the money and budgets. Naturally, I want to make the best use of the money and I'm looking for suggestions.

The cartoon workshops are primarily aimed at trainers and facilitators - people who use the good old flipchart instead of PowerPoint. Are there any dedicated magazines of websites it would be worthwhile advertising on? Any other groups worth considering - I'm convinced it could be developed into a good, fun, teambuilding exercise, for example.

Any advice would, as usual, be appreciated.

 

[stuarty]

Hi Jim. Well done on your funding. Yes there are websites, ways of marketing online that you can use very effectively to showcase your services. There are lots of things you can do to create buzz from your stuff. PM you some stuff.

cheers

 

[johnthesearcher]

Hi Jim....... great news on your success in securing the above funding.

I was down in B & Q earlier today and for whatever reason I was reminded of your post.

Now why do I tell you that and how could it be potentially lucrative for you? Well you may have already been 'down this route' or tried the following approach but ...maybe not! it's just an idea I had.

I watched the tills (POS) area for a while and what I saw made me think of fun, as shoppers went about their business they looked bored and fed up.......I know that shopping for shelves or a self build unit that you will have to put up later doesn't really cut it by contrast with 'enjoyment' when you could be out golfing or whatever.

If you put on your 'best case scenario' glasses for a minute or two as you read this you'll get a number of ideas .....I'm sure. It's late and my brain is 'mince' so forgive the length of this.

People gather in droves at business parks or shopping centres like the Fort, Straiton and Hermiston Gate etc and I'm only using B & Q for this example as they are under intense competitive pressure from the likes of - Focus and Homebase.

B & Q are obiously not short of a bob or two when you consider how much prime time tv advertising they are doing just now.

In respect of your funding application which has the advertising and promotional criteria as a condition let's say you approached your nearest B & Q and asked them to commission you for a series A3 size 'themed' fun cartoons or caricitures for their end of isle sections and point of sale display areas.

You know something like How To or promotion of B & Q bargain offers....in a story board - easy to produce and replicate type format......which brings a smile to shoppers and makes their trip fun and memorable.

I might run out of space here but whatever.....I'm on a roll.

B & Q also run training courses for new staff (induction) and a delivery format which brings a bit of fun to it may be just what they need to refresh boring courses.

There is a number of different ways this could be approached but something like that meets your funding criteria, gives you excellent exposure and tie on advertising and promotional capability especially as it could be 'rolled out' across all their UK stores.

Think how that press release would look.

Hope this sparks of some ideas for you.

John

 

[stugster]

let's say you approached your nearest B & Q and asked them to commission you for a series A3 size 'themed' fun cartoons or caricitures for their end of isle sections and point of sale display areas.
.....
B & Q also run training courses for new staff (induction) and a delivery format which brings a bit of fun to it may be just what they need to refresh boring courses.

Brilliant suggestions, and it doesn't need to stop at B&Q! All large retailers would be a prime target. Get a sales letter drafted up that'll work for them all and send them out :d follow up with a phone-call and see where it takes you!

 

[Boxby]

Have you thought about the education sector? If you train the teachers then you can give them the opportunity to add some fun into their lessons - maybe if you targeted the course at the dryer lessons that they're trying to encourage - sciences etc. Teaching them how to quickly add cartoons in to OH slides etc to keep the kids interested.

(I see lots of lovely cartoons of teachers blowing themselves up!!)

 

[peteark]

Jim the problem is, online advertising can be very expensive, with very little in the way of guarantees, even then what happens when the money runs out?

For what it's worth I would spend the money on setting up a cracking online blog/news/article section populate it regularly and then syndicate the information via feeds to all the major social networks.

This way the money will have fantastic long term value

Good luck

 

[jimbairn]

Thanks for the suggestions. Lots there for me to think about...