I run my own business, I have no formal training & I no business degree & have never done a marketing course.
I do have a BSC (Behind Shop Counter) from when I helped out at my dad's Fish n Chips shop in Fordsburg in the 1970's...
But one thing I DO know is that the more people who know about your business the better.
So you need to advertise or do 'Marketing;.
What the best way to do this is - I have no idea.
We used to advertise in the Yellow Pages (Google before Google).
The Yellow Pages was owned by Maister Directories (useless bastards) & later by Telkom (also useless).
Nowadays, everyone just searches on thei phones if they want a product or service.
So you, like it or not, need a 'Social Media Presence'.
Some people rely fully on Fakebook, I personally, don't like Facebook as a business medium.
But, however you do it, you must do it. Advertise/market.
My dad used to say, you HAVE TO advertise if it's quiet so you can get work.
If it's busy it PAYS TO advertise.
Right, so what has this got to do with us, the Off Road User...?
Lynx 4x4:
There was a4x4 Accessories/fitment place in Alberton called Lynx 4x4.
He made great stuff. His rear bumpers were particularly good.
Unfortunately, the 'founder' Charles, went overseas for a few years & left the business in the hands of a partner.
The partner royally stuffed it up.
Years later I heard Charles was back & trying to rebuild the business.
Then I heard it was gone.
I recently attened the opening of the 4x4 Track at the Lion & Safari Park as a guest of Off Course 4x4.
I met a guy called Joos, from Alberton.
I asked him if he remembers Lynx4x4 & related the story above.
Joos said he actually knows Charles, Charles has a new venture & is doing well.
Joos said he'd get Charles to call me.
A few days later Charles calls. We have a chat & I tell him I'm glad he is back in business.
But, as no one knows about it, I invite him to join this Forum & share the story of Lynx & what happened with us.
He can then introduce us to his new venture.
I said that, if he likes, he can take out a banner advert too.
He mentioned something about having enough work.
I said, "We'll join the Forum - you don't need to advertise".
He didn't.
Zondagh:
Through Off Course 4x4 on Facebook (& ONLY through Off Course 4x4 on Facebook) I became aware of a guy busy mapping all the 4x4 Trails.
At the self-same 4x4 Trail opening at Lion & Safari Park, I found out that this Trail Mapping guy was there.
I tracked him down & introduced myself.
I had a chat to him - I like what he is trying to do.
In fact, years ago, I approached Map Studio to do the same thing - but they weren't interested.
I suggested that he join the Forum & start a Thread about what he was trying to do.
He wasn;t very keen. I pointed out that had I not been friends with Japie & Ant I wouldn't have know about his venture.
Also, despite knowing about it, I can find no info.
He said he'd consider it once he launches Version 2 of his App, but not now.
I said he should at least join and start the Thread so that, in a few months when V.2 comes out he has a captive audience.
He hasn't.
Camp & Climb:
I happened upon a new Camp & Climb outlet near here. I've since bought off them.
I asked them how business is - basically, it's not good. The owner has done no marketing & the location is not the best.
I offered them the opportunity to join the Forum & start a Thread. They didn't seem interested.
I was there again last week. I asked 'How's business?' they said so - so.
I asked how they are doing compared to the other stores.
I didn't get a straight answer - but I reckon the answer is 'Poorly'.
I then reminded them that I had been in before & had made an offer.
The manager said 'We are not authorised to do that'.
I suggested they speak to someone who is authorised.
I got the impression the conversation was way above his pay grade.
I wish when I was starting out, someone in the building industry had offered THE HOUSE DOCTOR free exposure.
When this Forum started I invited a company making 'DustRoad Underbody Protection" to join the Forum. Twice.
He ignored me.
Later, when we had the 4x4 Action Group FaceBook page with over 4500 members he would dump his adverts on our page.
At first I left it, then I started contacting him & saying that only Club members can advertise.
He ignored me & continued placing adverts. I contacted him again.
I suggested that he take a banner advert on the Forum.
If he does, I'll let him advertise on the FaceBook page.
He ignored me,
So I started deleting his adverts.
I then made the offer again.
He replied basically saying he is only interested in free advertising.
He ain't paying for sh!t.
So I blocked him.
Advertise a kak-hou over Facebook and other social media. Even the radio. Then when people reach out you ignore them, don't get back to them or don't have any stock of what you advertised. All the skills in the marketing department but none in sales.
The problem I see with businesses these days are not that quality of workmanship is not bad or anything, but many of the companies that we make use of, that have bad advertising, and bad websites, also tend to have very shit after-service records.
In short I believe a company that does not bother to advertise something is either not passionate or proud of their work, nor offer good service once a product has been bought. Although there are the exceptions to this obviously.
If you have a product you believe in and passionate driven, you will advertise and expand your business. Word of mouth is good but only goes that far! But in full agreement with Redman, you get many bull$hitters that only advertise and never deliver! These businesses however are normally short lived luckily.
In todays day and age, I believe most marketing continues to be Internet search/Social Media/Radio/Word of mouth/Billboards. Linked to a GOOD website! Hate a good product with a $hit website where it states "Please contact us"...
If we think about all the gadgets we purchase purchase for our vehicles, normally these come as recommendations of other forum members and outings we do... I will any day support a place that does its own R&D and willing to go the extra mile for them. Good examples of these stay STOFPAD 4x4 and Summit 4x4.
It's all relative...
Peet Kruger
2009 Fortuner 4.0 V6
Bugjuic, there is a flip side to this.
Some companies wish to grow organically: one shouldn't write cheques that your ass can't cash.
For instance: if we advertise an Oktoberfest at our farm brewpub but we have a bigger target market penetration than expected and the venue is overwhelmed. We then get a crap reputation due to punters having a bad experience.
Another example: Manny puts posters up for House Doctor across Gauteng. He gets 1000 calls a day. He can't service a tenth of them. Everybody then says Manny's service is crap............
So SELECTIVE marketing is also not a bad idea, compared to shotgun marketing.
Peet tgats why I started that Thread about the great service at Anropa and Mikem.
Some companies deserve praise....
Definitely and I have to say, having dealt with Mikem a few times already. Service was 110% always!
In saying that, maybe starting a topic, almost in a sense of a poll where one can get good service in different field of expertise, that can definitely not only help members looking for good service in different areas, but also thereby help business owners who are deserving of it. Maybe if they see how high they are praised for their effort they could take out a banner on the forum less reluctantly than some of the above mentioned places on this thread? Who knows maybe it's the banner seller on this forum that's the problem?
It's all relative...
Peet Kruger
2009 Fortuner 4.0 V6
Bugjuic, there is a flip side to this.
Some companies wish to grow organically: one shouldn't write cheques that your ass can't cash.
For instance: if we advertise an Oktoberfest at our farm brewpub but we have a bigger target market penetration than expected and the venue is overwhelmed. We then get a crap reputation due to punters having a bad experience.
Another example: Manny puts posters up for House Doctor across Gauteng. He gets 1000 calls a day. He can't service a tenth of them. Everybody then says Manny's service is crap............
So SELECTIVE marketing is also not a bad idea, compared to shotgun marketing.
Jakes 100% agreed. I fully support a decision like that. But what gets me down, is the fact that smaller business owners that do nothing in terms of advertisement sit and whine the whole day of bad business, but make no effort from their side. So if your business is at its capacity, and you are at a point where you are satisfied and growing organically from there, it's fine.
Agreed that organic businesses still need to choose marketing strategies better in some sense. But no marketing would mean a slow increase in business or failure in total...
It's all relative...
Peet Kruger
2009 Fortuner 4.0 V6
