Saturday, February 28, 2009
It Takes Time
If you are just starting to do some advertising for your business, or even if you have been doing it for a while and are just starting a new campaign, one critical thing to keep in mind is that "it takes time". It takes time for people to take notice of your efforts and then once they do, it takes time for them to react to your call to action. Unless you are offering something that no one else anywhere offers, that is free and normally costs a lot, or is something that your target needs immediately because of unexpected circumstances, then don't expect instant results. It takes much more than running one ad in the paper or running 1 day of radio spots. It takes time. Think about all the ads you see and hear every day. How many of them do you actually react to immediately - after seeing or hearing it once? If you need help figuring out how to advertise and what to actually expect from your investment, call Tarte Advertising, Inc. We will help you put together a strategic, realistic plan for your business or campaign - but it still takes time.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Make It Count
In the past, we have had small businesses come to us and say, “I have $1000 – what can you do for me”. When this happened, we had to think twice and really consider the question. It wasn’t whether or not we could do something with their money, but rather, can Tarte Advertising, Inc. get a return off the money that the client was investing.
Tarte Advertising wants to make a difference for our clients – that is our goal – and if we do not think it is achievable, we will let you know. It is only fair.
If we take our client’s $1000 and purchase online ad space or we take our client’s $1000 and do a small direct mailer – will the client gain something from it? Will they get new customers? Will they sell more products? No matter who it is and what their needs are, we want to be sure that we are making it count – for everyone involved.
Tarte Advertising wants to make a difference for our clients – that is our goal – and if we do not think it is achievable, we will let you know. It is only fair.
If we take our client’s $1000 and purchase online ad space or we take our client’s $1000 and do a small direct mailer – will the client gain something from it? Will they get new customers? Will they sell more products? No matter who it is and what their needs are, we want to be sure that we are making it count – for everyone involved.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Do What Makes You Money
Let’s start with this statement: You are in business to make money – to make a living. For most people in business, this is the main goal, or at least ONE of the main goals.
You have a passion for what you do – which is a great thing. But, does your passion actually make you money? Is your passion one of the key areas in your business that is bringing in dollars and enabling you to receive a weekly paycheck?
If you are finding yourself in the same boat that many are in right now with the economy, loosing money or just not making what you were a year ago, maybe it is time for you to take a look at your services or products and figure out exactly which ones are making money and which ones aren’t. For some, this can be a very difficult and eye-opening experience because you may find out that the one thing in your business that you truly love – your passion – may not be making you any money. Actually, it could be making you lose money.
Once you go through your products and services (and possibly even employees) and find what is making you money and what isn’t making you money, the next step is the hardest. You must take action and do something about the things that are not making you money. In times like these, for many, major adjustments must be made in order to stay in business.
Think about this example. Nancy had a card shop that she sold her homemade cards in. Making cards was her passion. Even though she never sold tons of her cards, she still loved doing it and was convinced that one day her cards would “catch on”. Because of this, she also had to sell other designer’s cards, small gift items, specialty paper for scrap-booking, and miscellaneous nick-knacks. Nancy had never really figured the exact time and cost that went in to each card that she made. She just priced them competitively with the other cards she sold. When Nancy’s business started struggling, and she had some extra time on her hands, she sat down and figured up her best and worst selling products and also figured the real cost of her own cards that she was making. The results were astounding to Nancy. She found that the price of cards she was making needed to be increased by nearly $2.00 each in order to make money off of them. However, if Nancy were to mark them up that much they would be the most expensive cards in the shop, and Nancy knew that her cards wouldn’t sell for those prices. Even though making cards was her passion, the other reason that she had the card shop in the first place, was to make money. If Nancy continued to dump money in to making her own cards, her business would not only continue to struggle, but would eventually fail. The hard decision was made and Nancy stopped making cards. The extra money that she was using on her own cards, she took and put in to advertising. Within three months, Nancy was able to hire Tarte Advertising, Inc to build a website and start running some ads/promotions in a few of the local publications, something she had never done before. It wasn’t an overnight, quick fix, but after 8-9 months, Nancy was definitely able to tell a difference. It was a tough decision, but she knew she had to do it if she wanted to stay in business. Nancy is still hoping that once things pick back up with the economy she will be able to start making and selling her cards again.
If your goal is to make money, do the things that make you money – or do something different.
You have a passion for what you do – which is a great thing. But, does your passion actually make you money? Is your passion one of the key areas in your business that is bringing in dollars and enabling you to receive a weekly paycheck?
If you are finding yourself in the same boat that many are in right now with the economy, loosing money or just not making what you were a year ago, maybe it is time for you to take a look at your services or products and figure out exactly which ones are making money and which ones aren’t. For some, this can be a very difficult and eye-opening experience because you may find out that the one thing in your business that you truly love – your passion – may not be making you any money. Actually, it could be making you lose money.
Once you go through your products and services (and possibly even employees) and find what is making you money and what isn’t making you money, the next step is the hardest. You must take action and do something about the things that are not making you money. In times like these, for many, major adjustments must be made in order to stay in business.
Think about this example. Nancy had a card shop that she sold her homemade cards in. Making cards was her passion. Even though she never sold tons of her cards, she still loved doing it and was convinced that one day her cards would “catch on”. Because of this, she also had to sell other designer’s cards, small gift items, specialty paper for scrap-booking, and miscellaneous nick-knacks. Nancy had never really figured the exact time and cost that went in to each card that she made. She just priced them competitively with the other cards she sold. When Nancy’s business started struggling, and she had some extra time on her hands, she sat down and figured up her best and worst selling products and also figured the real cost of her own cards that she was making. The results were astounding to Nancy. She found that the price of cards she was making needed to be increased by nearly $2.00 each in order to make money off of them. However, if Nancy were to mark them up that much they would be the most expensive cards in the shop, and Nancy knew that her cards wouldn’t sell for those prices. Even though making cards was her passion, the other reason that she had the card shop in the first place, was to make money. If Nancy continued to dump money in to making her own cards, her business would not only continue to struggle, but would eventually fail. The hard decision was made and Nancy stopped making cards. The extra money that she was using on her own cards, she took and put in to advertising. Within three months, Nancy was able to hire Tarte Advertising, Inc to build a website and start running some ads/promotions in a few of the local publications, something she had never done before. It wasn’t an overnight, quick fix, but after 8-9 months, Nancy was definitely able to tell a difference. It was a tough decision, but she knew she had to do it if she wanted to stay in business. Nancy is still hoping that once things pick back up with the economy she will be able to start making and selling her cards again.
If your goal is to make money, do the things that make you money – or do something different.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
A Well-designed logo should...
- Promote brand recognition and awareness
- Set the tone for your business (and its products)
- Look professional
- Last a lifetime to solidify your brand in the long-run
- Aimed at target consumers
- Reduce well -- a logo should hold its integrity, even when reduced to an inch
- Work well in black and white, as well as grayscale -- not just in color
- Establish an impact and the perception of a higher level of credibility
Need a logo for a new business venture? Do you want to update your current logo to make a lasting impression on customers? Browse the Tarte Advertising portfolio to see samples of our logo design.
- Set the tone for your business (and its products)
- Look professional
- Last a lifetime to solidify your brand in the long-run
- Aimed at target consumers
- Reduce well -- a logo should hold its integrity, even when reduced to an inch
- Work well in black and white, as well as grayscale -- not just in color
- Establish an impact and the perception of a higher level of credibility
Need a logo for a new business venture? Do you want to update your current logo to make a lasting impression on customers? Browse the Tarte Advertising portfolio to see samples of our logo design.
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