Advertising in a Big City

[bryanGENE]

I am about to launch my lifestyle/social networking site, and I want to create a big user base in my city first. I live in Houston, and I have a few ideas on how to promote the website. I am going to get a vehicle like a H2 and put decals/paint it. My ideas are pretty unoriginal, so I was wondering if anyone had any innovative ideas that they would like to share. If you want to take a look at my website, just PM me and i'll send you a link.

[Mikey1205]

Local newspapers, radios and tv shows if possible?

Try throwing some promotional events and sponsoring sports teams... door to door flyering wouldn't be such a bad idea either.

[The Stealthy One]

Word-of-mouth will work better here. I'll admit that I'm not very creative, so I have no solution to the problem, but I do know this - what you're planning to do is bland, and will fail.

[bryanGENE]

Word-of-mouth will work better here. I'll admit that I'm not very creative, so I have no solution to the problem, but I do know this - what you're planning to do is bland, and will fail.

Well, what makes the idea bland? The site idea, or the H2 idea? I would like know. I've already had the site covered by some sites, and been contacted by lifestyle magazines who want to run articles, and Study Breaks in Austin. This is back when I first started creating it. Six months have passed since, and now I am starting my advertising campaign. I am all for constructive criticism, but I asked a question, and If you can't reply to it with helpful information, do not reply at all.

[bryanGENE]

Local newspapers, radios and tv shows if possible?

Try throwing some promotional events and sponsoring sports teams... door to door flyering wouldn't be such a bad idea either.

Yea I have some promotional events lined up. I am promoting at a club/lounge every Saturday starting in June.

[The Stealthy One]

Well, what makes the idea bland? The site idea, or the H2 idea? I would like know. I've already had the site covered by some sites, and been contacted by lifestyle magazines who want to run articles, and Study Breaks in Austin. This is back when I first started creating it. Six months have passed since, and now I am starting my advertising campaign. I am all for constructive criticism, but I asked a question, and If you can't reply to it with helpful information, do not reply at all.

Wow, let's drop our attitude at the door. There's no place for that kind of behavior in business.

It's boring because it's what everyone does. If you saw a Hummer tooling around town with funny-looking paint, would you even give it more than 5 seconds' thought? Probably not. And that's the problem with your idea. You need something that will create a lasting impression. Believe me - the media couldn't give a crap about a painted Hummer.

Again, I'm not the creative type, so I don't know what the answer is. But I can tell you, your current idea won't go very well.

[bryanGENE]

Wow, let's drop our attitude at the door. There's no place for that kind of behavior in business.

It's boring because it's what everyone does. If you saw a Hummer tooling around town with funny-looking paint, would you even give it more than 5 seconds' thought? Probably not. And that's the problem with your idea. You need something that will create a lasting impression. Believe me - the media couldn't give a crap about a painted Hummer.

Again, I'm not the creative type, so I don't know what the answer is. But I can tell you, your current idea won't go very well.

In reply to the Hummer; It is not for the media. I was going to place it outside of the club that I will be promoting. Since, it is in a busy night life area of mid town Houston, it should catch plenty of eyes. It would just have the website logo, and address on the Hummer. I have heard about radio advertising, but I have also heard that it is way to expensive for what you get back in return. I agree the best way is word of mouth or viral, but I was looking for some innovative ways to catch people's attention.

[j-hova]

parking a hummer outside a nightclub will not work for 2 reasons
1) People walking in and out of the club are intoxicated and have impaired memory...which means your vehicle will not have a lasting impression on them unless you do somehting remarkable...i don't know exactly what your website is but i can suggest gathering as many good looking girls as you can to hang out around your hummer and hand out junk (t-shirts, water bottles) anything that someone won't want to throw out but will have your logo and adress on it. BEautiful women are always an amazing marketing strategy especially around drunk men. Loud club banging music is another way to get attention.

2)It will be dark out and unless you painted the hummer bright yellow or a similarly bright colour, no one will see your logo or web adresse.

[bryanGENE]

parking a hummer outside a nightclub will not work for 2 reasons
1) People walking in and out of the club are intoxicated and have impaired memory...which means your vehicle will not have a lasting impression on them unless you do somehting remarkable...i don't know exactly what your website is but i can suggest gathering as many good looking girls as you can to hang out around your hummer and hand out junk (t-shirts, water bottles) anything that someone won't want to throw out but will have your logo and adress on it. BEautiful women are always an amazing marketing strategy especially around drunk men. Loud club banging music is another way to get attention.

2)It will be dark out and unless you painted the hummer bright yellow or a similarly bright colour, no one will see your logo or web adresse.

Well, before they enter the club they have to wait in line. I do have a lot of girls who are more than willing to help out. The website is geared towards those who lavish in the night scene, so good looking women are always good.

[Bestmiler]

Why not walk around the city and hand out fliers? The great thing about this is that you aren't looking for one specific group of people.

[zoobie]

Fliers first. Then, newspapers and the radio, later.

[ChaseManset]

I'm not sure I understand your logic here...

Hummer idea is not smart. Way too much money for a way too little market.

Check out http://www.captivatingindoorads.com/aboutus.html. Much better idea to begin your viral marketing strategy.

Save the 30K, unless you need the Hummer as a write-off. I assume you have zero revenue as of now, so forget the idea.

Save your marketing budget for a campaign that will reach a much larger customer base.

[Marketeer]

Maybe sponsor some sort of contest inside one of the clubs where you are promoting your site. Have people sign up with their email address (so you can send out email promotions to them later) and give away something like an ipod, or itunes gift certificate (something that would appeal to your target market)...
I have plenty more ideas that you may or may not find helpful...I sent you a private message, so message me back if you need any help!