There is a women's luncheon coming up and I want to do something to get my phones ringing.  I thought about making up flyers or giving out my newsletter.  I even thought about offering gift cards that could be activated once they sent me a referral or want to do business with me.  I just don't want to appear desperate.
122754
frig magnets, anything personalized having to do with hygeine  ie: nail clippers, tooth brushes, etc.  people love that stuff and see your name everytime they use it
624256
i agree. start getting others to join your cause. i will be one. email me at happylittlecity@yahoo.com anytime you have something going on. i will be there to help. seriously. i will make phone calls, demonstrate, write letters. you tell me what you want done.
304122
Fake lotto tickets are the only thing that really come to mind.  I would google "gag gifts" and I think you will get so many ideas the hard part will be chosing just a couple.
377249
You can advertise to your customers that if they sign up for your mailing list, then they can be informed about sales and discounts that you might have in the future, or whatever other benefit that you can think of.  I personally have signed up for mailing lists at Wal*Mart to see what's going to be on sale, and a few eBay sellers, if they sell things I am interested in collecting.  If there's something good, I might also forward it to my friends if I know that they're looking for whatever I saw.
454786
Look for neighborhood bulletin boards at grocery stores, etc. and put some of your business cards on them.\n\nWrite postcards to your friends telling them about your new venture, and offering to help with holiday gift ideas.\n\nInvite a few close friends over for coffee, cocktails or white chili*, and have some of your wares conspicuously in view.  Don't make an overt sales pitch, but be ready with enthusiastic questions to the inevitable questions.\n\n*  My answer to your earlier white chili question was mostly tongue-in-cheek.  Sorry if I offended you.
30216
You could play off the idea of serving home cooked meals with your marketing. For instance, send out inivitations to a "family meal," "a house warming party," etc. to residents living near the restaurant. You could do 2 for 1, list your specials, personalize it with pics, etc.\n\nSince you're in a small town, advertising in the local paper or college paper, on radio, at any colleges or universities, etc. may also be an option. I moved from a small town (less than 15,000 people) not too long ago & that's how restaurants advertised there.\n\nBasically, just keep in mind what your restaurant's personality is as well as yours. Blend those two & ideas should start flowing.\n\nBest of luck to you!
37601
There were catalogs when I was a kid that would offer free stuff from different companies.  Samples, coloring books, little toys, stuff like that.  I know there are sites that offer free stuff, but I think they just hook you so that they can send spam to your inbox.  If you are willing to take the chance...
406971
Fliers in every market and on every available bulletin board. \nHave some nice cards made up and give every customer a few at every job (for them to give to thier friends).\nAdvertise on your local Craigslist...\nhttp://www.craigslist.org
215220
I find it hard to give out my phone number to people I have known for a few months let alone a few days.  I would consider waiting it out and making sure things are smooth.  Your age and privacy should be taken into consideration. as well.  If you are under 18 and living at home you might want to make sure you and your parents can handle an onslaught of calls if they start coming in.
369149
I would send out the invites, but you probably wont' be as much RSVP's as you would like sinces its such short notice.  I would just send them out and hope for the best.  Remember even the first set you sent out, a lot of people are going to come who didn't RSVP so be prepared for that.
319031
Hello,\n\nI think that the best way to approach these people may be to go through the management of the apartments.  Upscale or not, no one likes flyers on their door or car.  This way you can work something out with the mngr to perhaps slip it into their boxes or for them to be kept on the counter in the mngt office. (perhaps you can give them a discount for your services or a free coupon - one time only in exchange for their help)\n\nAnother optrion you may consider could be and errand service....this way you can still be with your kids on your "off" time, but also be making extra money.  Im a single parent too, I have a f/t job and the fact that I will have to forfeit seeing them in the evenings and weekends is why I am starting my own business as welland not getting a second job.\n\nThe errands could be, cooking dinner, picking up dry cleaning, walking their dog, grocery shopping or gift shopping or getting their cars washed for them.  Kind of a Gal Friday situation.\n\nBest of luck to you.
19660
Well, you could always ask people to donate to the mom & Dad foundation. You could tell them that the proceeds will be going towards getting a lucky couple of parents a nice gift. Or if you actually want to work for it, you can maybe have a fundraiser, maybe a plate sale, like a chicken plate or something, just get your mom and dad or some friends to help sell get the food and cook it and sell tickets so that you can have some money left over for yourself also! Let me know if my ideas were good!
162228
Two weeks ago I went to a health recovery center and met half a dozen people with different forms of disabilities.  For each person I needed to figure out how they went about communicating.  \n\nOne person had a flat keypad that looked like a typewriter and she touched one letter at a time. On the back of the pad was a short note explaining who she was and how she communicated.\n\nPerhaps you could design a nice cartoon figure of a woman holding a hand to her ear shouting, "Whaaaat?  I can't hear you!"  Something that is fun and understandable quickly.  \n\nThink of it this way.  There are plenty of times in life when somebody needs to see identification from you before they will talk.  A bouncer, for instance, can't put two words together without seeing an i.d. first.  A human resources person is incapicitated without your resume as a security blanket.  A doctor's office won't even say hello until you've filled out the waivers.\n\nAlso, people wear uniforms in all kinds of different endeavors to show "who they are".  I'm not suggesting a uniform for you, of course, I'm just trying to show that people "announce themselves".\n\nThat's why I think that a fun cartoon picture could help announce you and make your situation understandable to somebody else in about 1/2 a second.  I think that an announcement card of some sort would cause somebody to feel, "Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I understand what's up, that's cool."\n\nGood luck.  I sincerely hope you get success on this question.
182365
I guess it would depend on if they have caller id or not....maybe you should find another way to pass the time, or hey they may find one for you.lol
6745
Give a party for a reduced rate and make sure the host gives out your card. Word of mouth is probably really important in your business.
167743
Try putting together a detailed (try to be brief) flier or brochure, can even be one page. Put them up around town, also drop by some of your local clubs you might think would benefit from your space and give them the info. Networking in your local area can be a great resource. A small newspaper ad, flyer at your church/temple might get th word out as well. Last but not least, have an open house some day, just a 2 hour event, invite local businesses, civic clubs, church groups to attend, serve a punch or coffee and tea and let them know about your available space.
586105
Why not make a flyer saying Baby Sitting/Pet Sitting/tutoring  Services available and post it in different places like shopping centers, if your neighborhood has a community newsletter put an ad in there...The flyers that you put up have the tags at the bottom with your name and phone number that people can rip off would be good and this way you can see the amount of interest people have.  What about a local animal shelter?  They might hire you.  If not, put lots of flyers out everywhere!  Put them in mailboxes of people you know that have kids and or animals.  Get your folks to spread your interest also.  Word of mouth is always good.  And make sure on the flyer you say references available upon request.  And have them available.  Good luck and keep us posted on your quest!