So I'm having a yard sale this weekend. I called the newspaper and asked them to print an ad in the Classifieds. They said "no problem" and I could mail, that is give to the USPS via big blue drop box, a check (that's the paper version of debit) for give or take 2 million dollars per character. I agreed and then moved onto another super important aspect of my marketing campaign that I call "Torn up Cardboard Box Strategy". This is extremely easy. First, under cover of nighttime, find dumpsters behind grocery stores and procure enough discarded boxes to fill the back of your car. Second, use kitchen utility scissors to cut boxes into big rectangular pieces. Thirdly, use the biggest marker you have to write the time and place of said yard sale. Be sure to add big arrows to direct potential customers. Lastly, and this is the most fun, drive through your neighborhood and fasten these signs to telephone poles, trees, stop signs etc. (fyi, make sure the arrows make sense...or huge mess). I know this sounds extremely fun! You should definitely try it if you haven't already. Or, how about saving some time...not to mention the give or take 2 million dollars!? Lucky for us, in this great year of 2013, we have the world wide web and cool things like yardsi.com, manta.com, and craigslist.org.. These sites allow free advertising that is easy to use. A simple post can reach an entire city instantly. No more signs, no more newspaper, no more word of mouth; just a lot of traffic.
Internet Advertising isn't just for businesses with big budgets. It is also for us broke college students. I've sold old textbooks on Craigslist for much more than the buyback price. http://charlotte.craigslist.org/bks/3793351946.html ...feel free to pass this along :)
Works Cited:
http://www.downtownhenderson.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Yard-Sale-Sign-1570165.jpg
I love selling things online! Craigslist has helped my life in so many ways! A perfect example is when I constructed a table in my parents backyard. I had a finished table and a pile (read, mound) of scrap wood. I was now too tired and lazy to have the desire to clean it all up but I knew that I could not leave a pile (read, mound) of wood in my parents backyard forever. Quickly, I opened Craigslist, posted an ad in the free section, required the "buyer" to bring a truck and load the wood, attached a photo, done!! Within two hours, all the wood had been removed from the yard and I sat at my table and enjoyed a beverage. Internet advertising at its finest!
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DeleteJess, that is hilarious! I once found an antique cherry armoire for 35$. Very rare piece that I really didn't need but made me happy! Did you happen to look at the other sites. I had never heard of them before I did this blog, but very cool. There are so many free ways to get your stuff sold. I'm sure you know of Etsy...this isn't free, however it is super cheap and creative. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteI love finding used furniture online! I also love selling random stuff online! I once acquired a free billiard light from Craigslist that someone was throwing away. I thought it would look cute in my house so I went to pick it up. When I got it home, it did not look as cute as I thought so I put it on eBay...it ended up selling for almost $300!! Isn't that crazy?! I guess I should open a business acquiring free things from Craigslist and selling them on eBay, lol.
DeleteLove the post, especially about the 2 million per character in the newspaper (since I work there and that sounds about right). I recently helped my parents with a yard sale. We bypassed the paper route by just posting ad on Craigslist and making a couple signs. It worked and I didn't spend a dime! Yardsi looks like it could be cool for those who like yard sales once more people post stuff there!
ReplyDeleteNatalie, thanks for backing me up on the 2 million$. It is silly to put anything in print these days. I think Yardsi is on the right track and could be useful when people catch on, like you said. For now, I think Craigslist really has the market on this due to its simplicity. Thanks for commenting!
DeletePrint advertising is getting harder and harder in large cities. Free is always better. To me advertising is reaching those you normally would not by conventional means. Going to websites like craigslist and yardsi is great free advertising or so called advertising. This has helped many small businesses and individuals get money or just get the word out. I am noticing a trend most internet advertising is geared towards small businesses aka those who can afford the small fees associated with advertising online. It seems to me that large companies have other ways to do things like TV and movies. Is there a company that has started from the bottom that has made it big from internet advertising like google.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure you would consider Netflix as starting from the bottom, but where have you seen Netflix ads? I've never seen a print or television ad for Netflix, have you? It has taken over the streaming video market, and now has well over 30 million subscribers. An interesting twist on Netflix - they refuse any advertising on their own site or during their content to augment their revenues. See accompanying article below:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/dean-jayson/how-netflix-is-quietly-sh_b_2339132.html
I don't really sell a lot online, but I do buy stuff online! I feel internet advertising is become more beneficial for the seller than print advertising. You're able to reach a larger audience much quicker than you would be able to if you were print advertising. I use internet advertising to sell my textbooks using the numerous groups that are set up on Facebook. In my opinion, it's more efficient than going around stapling a paper around the billboards at school.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the mention of yardsi.com! You have a great sense of comic timing in your writing... I enjoyed your post! Especially the advice to make sure the arrows are pointing in the right direction...
ReplyDeleteI really liked post's humorous approach to delving into the topic of free internet advertisements :)
ReplyDeleteI buy and sell things on the internet more than I do face-to-face, I find that it's much cheaper and saves me a lot of time and effort that can be better put to use in making the crafts I sell. Plus, I have access to the niche markets who'd want to purchase from me. Not everyone you talk to will be interested in buying your stuff.
In addition to Ebay and Craigslist, I love using sites like Etsy and Luulla, they're really cheap and connect you to people who are more likely going to search for those crafty type items.
One of the benefits of the internet is called "long tail marketing." (See page 392 in our book) Long tail marketing allows people like Christine to reach the statistical outliers, or niche markets, that are interested in the specific or specialized product she offers. Do you by any chance make flowered shirts?
ReplyDeleteI think Craiglist is awesome! I am not one of those guys who is on there all the time buying and selling stuff to flip a profit but it is nice to find a good product for less than market value. I hate having to pay for unnecessary things like ATM fees and shipping costs and free advertising is a starting point to elevating this dumb costs. You get to go and meet someone to get a first hand look and feel for the product you want to buy and can pay for it in many different ways.
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