Reaching Busy Parents/Moms

I hate coming out and seeing a flyer on my car...I usually don't read them. What about asking if you can leave flyers and local businesses: library, grocery stores retirement home, chruches, the stores that you think you may be going to.

Flyers on cars bad idea about 90% of them get thrown on the ground and people refuse to go to your business cause they think your cheap or you just plain old pissed them off. Some places its illegal to put flyers on cars. I suggest saving your money on flyers on cars and stick them in local businesses where MOMs hang out. Also try to find web advertisement even if it is craigslist. You might want to invest in a website (Intuit is great company) Paper ads online and newpaper. Get the word out but dont barrage ppl with your business. I suggest you do some research on companies of all walks of life (thanks to the internet its too easy) how they advertise. Good Luck and I hope it works out well for you

there is a place on here for you to post your buisness. Maybe see if you can post at like a babies r us or toys r us store or an obgyn office something like that

Where do you turn when you're looking for information?

-Website with lots and lots and lots of pages describing what you do.
-Blog about lots of things that have to do with you business to optimize Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and how it helps people.
- Buy internet ads on sites where people are discussing issues that relate to what you're offerings (alzheimer support sites, mamasource, you get the idea)
-put together a fan page on facebook
-Save the catchy fliers for buying ad space in school directories, posting at a nursing home or supermarket
-Offer your product as a trial for a silent auction for a larger organization -almost everyone does silent auctions. Call and ask.

Put yourself in your customer's shoes and think about where they would go for information and help. Will they go to the mall and pray for a flier to appear on their car? No? OK, then think about where they *would* go. When you only have a few dollars to spend you have to spend them very, very wisely.

Define your target markets, then go to where they are. I'll suggest "Fast Forward MBA in Marketing" to give you a crash course in how to market. GL and congrats on putting it all together!

Sorry Bren,
I wouldn't like a flyer on my car. I find them annoying and never look at them.
BUT, that is just MY opinion.
My dry-cleaners has a bulletin board just inside the door, what about looking in places like that to see if you can post a flyer. I think my grocery store does too. Gymnastics/karate places. Think about where busy moms go and ask if you can post flyers there.
Good Luck!

I would ask a few daycare facilties in your catchment area, whether you could drop off a few flyers. That way it's pretty target group oriented.
Good luck!

I hate gettig in my car and seeing something on the windsheild. I don't even read it, I crumble it up. I also have reported to the main office before. Have you thought about going to an office store and getting a jumbo magnet for your car? You can put it on the side or back or even a window decal.

It's a good start, but be careful, it is illegal in a lot of places.
Have you thought about going to vista print and getting some postcards to mail out (They are pretty cheap and if you do a bulk mailing at the post office, it is cheaper)? Or make up some flyers and go to business that moms frequent and ask the owner if you can place the fliers in there? Also, put your flyers up on community boards. They are in gas stations, restaurants, etc.
Good luck. It sounds like you have come a long way in this!

Sorry but I would not hire anyone that had a flyer on my car. I would be afraid that its a scary scam. I would look into Dr. offices. Day care places like that. You really need to find out where you can actually leave flyers. Also you may want to leave your back ground information for companys or Dr. office. They may get leary of you not knowing you. Make sure you are Cory Checked and have papers to prove it.

yup - hate the wasteful paper on my car. because i consider it intrusive and now i gotta dispose of it.

online marketing is my preference. but having said that...other people do the car thing so you would definitely not be alone.

how about a little targeted marketing? put the paper flyer on cars but put a business-card-sized-magnet (which at least as a practical use) on mini vans and family SUVs (look inside the cars for car seats...preferrably those w/>1 car seat = ).

I really don't like getting flyers on my car or on my doorstep. I don't think it's an effective way to advertise.

Rather than placing them on cars, why don't you try posting them on community bulletin boards in supermarkets or other business around town. Check with local day care centers and see if you can leave a stack with them or post one on their bulletin board. Make a visit to the senior center. Ask them if you could do a short presentation.

Good luck.

Hi B.,

I just happen to be looking online for the legality of posting flyers in my neighborhood (Sacramento, CA) for my childcare business and ran across this posting. I'm not a mom/parent, but a childcare provider. I'm trying to increase my business through posting flyers. However, I too thought about the concierge thing. How is that going for you and do you have any advice. Have you looked at the International Concierge and Errand Association?

Dani

Any flyer left at my door at home or on my car is immediately wadded up and tossed in the trash. I don't even look at it. I am VERY picky about my car and take offense if someone takes the liberty to handle my property.

IF you choose to go this route, I know everyone is not like me, I would make sure there is no damage to a car or you might have other issues.

I think a good way for you to approach the market is through the schools, senior centers, etc. Maybe a small investment for an ad in a local community magazine, mass mail your flyers to certain communities, day care centers, etc. Many centers allow you to post your business card.

I'd find some way other than flyers on cars and homes. In my area it is a big no........It is illegal in some areas..check your local laws.

I would think a mother at a daycare is much more busy than a mom at the mall. Ask daycares if you may leave some of your flyers at their check in desk for moms to take as needed. Are you offering a coupon to try your services?

Can't stand fliers on my car!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you familiar with vistaprint.com??? Check it out. You can get soooo much stuff for free. You just pay shipping, which is a reasonable price. NEVER purchase anything full price from them. Once you order one thing, they will send you tons of emails where something different is free, and sometimes a "special" where a lot of stuff is free...and then within a couple of weeks the same "special" will roll around again. They encourage you to buy more, but just stick with the free stuff. You can get magnets (business card size), fliers, business cards, yard signs, t-shirts, postcards, car magnets..... You can pick from the art they have, or they charge you to upload your own logo---though if you wait long enough they will have a "special" where you can upload your own logo for free. Come up with something catchy for your fliers, regardless of where you decide to put them. If a busy mom doesn't see something that catches her attention in a quick glance, she won't take time to read through your info, no matter how awesome your business is and how much they need it.

I think a couple people already suggested leaving a stack of flyers at daycare centers. I think that would be GREAT! Think of other businesses that already cater to the demographic your looking for (busy working parents). I'd leave a stack at every daycare in the area and at the local schools as well. Also give a call to places like ballet schools, soccer clinics, etc.

Good luck.

T.