Best form of advertising ?

[Gazzer]

What has been your most profitable form of advertising.Pound for pound, what do you think works best....Now before anyone says "Word of mouth" That is not what I am asking.
If you had to pay for some form of advertising to get yourself recognised, what would it be ?
Poll added

 

[widler]

mmmm,only tried newspapers,never got one call. don't bother with anything now,although my van is signwrote,so signwritten van it is.

i always find word of mouth the best

 

[enduro]

Just done some tiling for a guy who sorts out the advertising on TV...A 8 second one off ad in the middle of Coronation street is £80,000 or a 8 second ad during the break of the final of X factor will cost you £240,000...Need a few tiling jobs to make that pay..:lol:

 

[DHTiling]

For me it has to be a Website... then sign written van.. but the website does work very well.

 

[chrisroe]

church mags or newspaper shop windows

 

[user123]

Website, without a doubt.

 

[Ian]

Van has earnt its keep, but for me the best form of advertising is a local magazine which goes out to 90 villages surrounding Grantham, worth its weight in gold and is the only paid form of advertising I do.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

'Other' - point of sale(estimate) pen - timeless tiling solutions, which I hand to all good prospects.
Being on time and being as pleasant (as I can) to the customer.
Having an up to date portfolio of all work.
Directing them to the web page and Tilers Forum while I'am measuring up.

And what you don't want to know - recommendations.

 

[The Legend; Phil Hobson RIP]

Signed van for me, but hoping website might help. Also I still have one of TJs pens, very nice pen too

 

[Andy Allen]

i belive in covering all bases, sign written van, web site, parrish mag, yellow pages, cards in tile shops and word of mouth....think thats it..

 

[Colour Republic]

website without any shadow of a doubt.

If I had to choose just one form of advertising that would be it. Even over the sign written van. Pound for pound a decent website, well optimised, will knock anything else for six.

My website has cost me very little in hard cold cash but maybe 200 hundreds of hours of my time (and that includes learning how to build a website in the first place!). Knowing what I know now I would have no hesitation in spending £5k plus on a good website and still think it was cheap, it brings in that much business.

 

[Aston]

my top 3 would be..
1. a website - but get some advice on how to optimize it!!
2. local press
3. a combination of sign written van, printed clothing and locally distributed high quality fliers.

 

[Rich]

For me around here in the sticks, little shop windows believe it or not, £1 per month and has got me loads of work.

 

[jay]

Word of mouth

 

[Rich]

Word of mouth

:lol: Did you not read the first post. or are trying to upset Neale?