Discussion
I'm looking at trying to increase the number of members at a local fitness class I help run and have been looking for some advertisement options. Already on Facebook/Instagram etc but looking for some more direct advertisement options.
One thing i've thought of is a targeted leaflet drop in the local area. Reason being leaflets are cheap, i'm more than happy spending a few days distributing them and I seem them as a good way of reaching people even if they glance at it on the way to the bin.
What is the thought on leaflets? Would you see them as an annoyance and as a result be more likely to not use the business advertising that way? Or do you see them as a useful option and would be open to using the business if of interest to you?
One thing i've thought of is a targeted leaflet drop in the local area. Reason being leaflets are cheap, i'm more than happy spending a few days distributing them and I seem them as a good way of reaching people even if they glance at it on the way to the bin.
What is the thought on leaflets? Would you see them as an annoyance and as a result be more likely to not use the business advertising that way? Or do you see them as a useful option and would be open to using the business if of interest to you?
I've recently designed some for a mate who's started a little one-man gardening business. He got three full day's work on a retainer basis of the back of these, doing exactly as you say, spending a day dropping them through local letter boxes.
My theory is that as everyone is moving to digital comms, it's opening up a renewed opportunity for traditional print based comms as there's less of it about.
The key is what you put on the leaflet and what it looks like. Think carefully about the content (sell the outcome first, then service) and hire a decent designer.
My theory is that as everyone is moving to digital comms, it's opening up a renewed opportunity for traditional print based comms as there's less of it about.
The key is what you put on the leaflet and what it looks like. Think carefully about the content (sell the outcome first, then service) and hire a decent designer.
RicksAlfas said:
Also see if your area has one of those "village magazines" which are full of adverts as people have a browse through those.
Or both - get them to put the leaflet in the magazine...I have half a dozen such leaflets tucked away in case I might need their services one day.
I think the general consensus is that there’s success rate of circa 1% for leaflets. Leaflets can work but it’s difficult not to get despondent when you spend day delivering leaflets with no results.
I only managed a week before giving up and finding alternative and more successful methods.
I only managed a week before giving up and finding alternative and more successful methods.
I know a guy who lives in a very big house that printing leaflets paid for. Always makes me think of the gold rush - the guys making all the money were selling shovels.
I'd be inclined to work out whether it's cheaper/more effective to do a leaflet run or advertise in those local free magazines that get shoved through the door each week. Let someone else do al the delivering.
I'd be inclined to work out whether it's cheaper/more effective to do a leaflet run or advertise in those local free magazines that get shoved through the door each week. Let someone else do al the delivering.
MYOB said:
I think the general consensus is that there’s success rate of circa 1% for leaflets.
I used work for Barnardo's in the 90s - marketing. 1% was indeed the baseline for all Direct Marketing and Mailing but that 1% would yield tremendous revenue. I left just around the time we started to get clever with databases - sending less but in a more targeted manner which saw rates start to nudge 5%.Best example of direct mail I've ever seen was from a Mailing and Fulfilment House. A box arrived in which was a little desk-top bin. Opened it up to find a bit of scrunched up paper on which was written..... 'You've just taken a bit of direct mail out of the bin. Imagine what we can do for your next campaign'. That was early 00s and they still get a bit of work from me today!
jeremyc said:
P runs a fitness class: this week's exercise involves all attendees walking around the local area and popping leaflets through doors. 
I love that idea 
Thanks for the replies so far. Yeah i'm sure the return isn't huge but i've got an idea of what areas of target so hoping to bump up the return a bit that way. I'll give it a go and at worst i've wasted a small amount of cash and some time. I will have a look and see if there is a local newsletter, sure there used to be one.
I've used leaflets in the past, there are some costs of getting them designed and printed but should be easy with various high street firms.
Distributing them yourself is the way to go.
What to watch out for is if you use professional distribution - it used to be common to pay for say 1,000 leaflets to be distributed but if you read the T&C's they might only deliver 750. Easy money for the distribution company, getting paid for nothing.
Distributing them yourself is the way to go.
What to watch out for is if you use professional distribution - it used to be common to pay for say 1,000 leaflets to be distributed but if you read the T&C's they might only deliver 750. Easy money for the distribution company, getting paid for nothing.
Whataguy said:
Distributing them yourself is the way to go.
This is my chap in action...https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aqrR_LcoAEA
Make sure you have a Call to Action on them, like Call Today and quote Code10 for a discount. Also Refer a friend and if they join with you xxxx
I used to put out 40k leaflets a month when we were buying houses to flip. I used to split test the designs against areas. Some designs work better than others simply by the demographic area.
I used to put out 40k leaflets a month when we were buying houses to flip. I used to split test the designs against areas. Some designs work better than others simply by the demographic area.
From being on the customer side of landscaping recently in Scotland, Social media and communication is massive, when getting my garden landscaped locally I found at least 10 companies within say 30 minutes travel from me. Msgd all of them, after seeing their work on Facebook mainly. Most didn’t reply, some promised to come out and didn’t and I landed lucky with a great company who met all my needs. This may not be helpful, as you will likely know this from your existing business. I wasn’t fussed if they didn’t have a website, but did have SM.
Leaflets here generally go in the recycling, but if they have a social media page off the back of it, then I would check it.
Also with the guy I used, let me order a lot of the materials myself. This let me get samples from 4/5 different grass companies and around 20 samples to choose from. Would you be offering samples to your customers to try? I found a massive help.
Hope it goes well and some of that was helpful.
Leaflets here generally go in the recycling, but if they have a social media page off the back of it, then I would check it.
Also with the guy I used, let me order a lot of the materials myself. This let me get samples from 4/5 different grass companies and around 20 samples to choose from. Would you be offering samples to your customers to try? I found a massive help.
Hope it goes well and some of that was helpful.
There's a few online services that offer Leaflet drops at postal sector level, www.leafletdrop.co.uk being one of them,
However for micro targeted distributions nothing beats mapping at postcode level and a good eye for reading road layouts and density of housing (which happens to be my job!)
Good luck, Leaflets can work, but they need to not be sh!t and have a clearly traceable redemption so you can track the response rates.
However for micro targeted distributions nothing beats mapping at postcode level and a good eye for reading road layouts and density of housing (which happens to be my job!)
Good luck, Leaflets can work, but they need to not be sh!t and have a clearly traceable redemption so you can track the response rates.
Maybe I'm an exception but every single leaflet we get pushed through our letterbox goes straight in the recycling. I rarely give the leaflet a second glance.
A good design might catch my eye but Mrs J is Creative Director / Brand Director so it would have to be something exceptional to catch my eye!
If we want a local service of any sort, we just hunt online. I wouldn't under estimate the power of social media and enrolling the support of some local influencers.
A good design might catch my eye but Mrs J is Creative Director / Brand Director so it would have to be something exceptional to catch my eye!
If we want a local service of any sort, we just hunt online. I wouldn't under estimate the power of social media and enrolling the support of some local influencers.
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