TV Spots or Banner Ads

[layoric]

Currently writing this with one of our new cats (Frisky) sleeping, leaning on my arm, so this is a challenge to type at 1AM...

Received pricing for TV spots, 15/30 sec. as well as banner ads or other ad types on cnycentral.com website - one of the local news channels.

Keep in mind, I don't have much in reserve right now, I really can't afford much more than $1,000, but here are the options:
-----
$1,020 for 19, 30 second commercials, over a two week span. They would be spread out during the different news broadcast times.

$1,020 for 38, 15 second commercials, same as above...

$795 for 30, 15 second commercials, but split between the diff. news broadcasts, Live with Kelly, and the Early Show.

------
Now for the website options:

$500 for one month of a header/footer on the cnycentral.com mobile app, not exclusive though, it'd be one of four total companies doing ads.
Ad placement could be home screen, radar page, forecast, or news page.

Finally, there are SEVERAL website ad options, which price anywhere from $200 for one month up to $2,500. Such options are:

• sports page (cheapest)
• school closings (most expensive, not shown until winter, includes all of the winter season)
• home page (tiny ads for less, larger for more)
• weather bug ad
• email marketing blasts (only to those signed up for it)
• ads on story pages
• tripple doppler page banner ad

The average cost for their website options are $200 - $500.

My thoughts so far is that it doesn't seem like a lot of tv spots, but at least I can afford some right now. My other thought is that while the online options will put my info out there more often, are they even being noticed? Perhaps the fact of having the online versions for an entire month, or more, will yield better results. I know it's always a crap shoot, of sorts. Just looking for some input. I have also not yet checked other channel prices.

Thanks for any input -
Kirk

 

[callthatgirl]

Here is what I just paid for, during my first month.

I bought spots during the early am news, Today Show, Lunch News, Judge Judy, Jimmy Fallon and a few random other times. Some spots were as high as $120 per slot, some were low, like $10.

Averaged out to $40 per commercial for 24 total, for $1000.

Can't say how it workeed out yet as we just got started, but I know TV, if you can afford it and the consistency, is good in my opinion. My thread below has some more information.

It's been fun hearing everyone say that they have seen the TV ads, but of course...I haven't lol.

 

[layoric]

well it looks similar in pricing then. It's just difficult to decide on a limitted budget.

 

[LolaJohnson]

It's quite a big marketing venture. But since you are on a limited budget, why don't you try the cheaper options first?

 

[gikstar]

REVIEWS - REVIEWS - REVIEWS, I see None

Sorry, can't say anything on whether you should do Banner Ads or TV spots since we don't do either, but having some time on my hands this evening I got curious and started doing some light research on your company and your area.
You appear to be in a small town remote area where you will have to do most of the traveling to your clients. Though 30 miles from Syracuse isn't that far.

Did a search for Computer Repair for Central Square, NY:

In searching 'local.yahoo.com' I don't find you listed
http://local.yahoo.com/NY/Central+Square/Computers+Electronics/Computer+Repair

In local.auburnpub.com I don't find you listed
http://local.auburnpub.com/central-square+ny/computer+repair/distance.30.n.all.zq.html

On yelp.com I don't find you listed
http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=itservices&find_loc=Central+Square,+NY

I find you listed on Angie'sList but all the rating are locked
http://www.angieslist.com/companylist/us/ny/central-square/irecoverdata.com-reviews-6732655.htm

Are you on Linkedin?

Checking your website closely, you list no reviews!!!!!

If I were you I would start with getting listed on all these and other sites and getting your clients to leave reviews. People want to know what other people have to say about your business.
[If one of your clients leaves a 4 star or less review, call them up and verify why they did so and how you can rectify it. We had someone leave a 4Star review and contacted them - well they meant to leave a 5Star but must have hit the wrong key and they corrected their error. You shoot for nothing less than a 5Star review.]

Bottom line is this (IMHO), if I were to hear or see an Ad for your company and were considering using you, I would check the internet via my computer or search via my phone for more information. No reviews, I'm moving on to the next computer repair person with lots of good reviews.

I purchase a lot of my personal and business computer parts based on 'closely reading' the reviews by others on places like Newegg... what no reviews, I look at another product.

Well, that's my 2 cents.

 

[trinetcr]

Don't forget about ad production in TV. Using the right tools (people) for the job will really make the difference and make you stand out. But that will also ad to the total cost of TV advertising for you.

 

[layoric]

Sorry, can't say anything on whether you should do Banner Ads or TV spots since we don't do either, but having some time on my hands this evening I got curious and started doing some light research on your company and your area.
You appear to be in a small town remote area where you will have to do most of the traveling to your clients. Though 30 miles from Syracuse isn't that far.

Did a search for Computer Repair for Central Square, NY:

In searching 'local.yahoo.com' I don't find you listed
http://local.yahoo.com/NY/Central+Square/Computers+Electronics/Computer+Repair

In local.auburnpub.com I don't find you listed
http://local.auburnpub.com/central-square+ny/computer+repair/distance.30.n.all.zq.html

On yelp.com I don't find you listed
http://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=itservices&find_loc=Central+Square,+NY

I find you listed on Angie'sList but all the rating are locked
http://www.angieslist.com/companylist/us/ny/central-square/irecoverdata.com-reviews-6732655.htm

Are you on Linkedin?

Checking your website closely, you list no reviews!!!!!

If I were you I would start with getting listed on all these and other sites and getting your clients to leave reviews. People want to know what other people have to say about your business.
[If one of your clients leaves a 4 star or less review, call them up and verify why they did so and how you can rectify it. We had someone leave a 4Star review and contacted them - well they meant to leave a 5Star but must have hit the wrong key and they corrected their error. You shoot for nothing less than a 5Star review.]

Bottom line is this (IMHO), if I were to hear or see an Ad for your company and were considering using you, I would check the internet via my computer or search via my phone for more information. No reviews, I'm moving on to the next computer repair person with lots of good reviews.

I purchase a lot of my personal and business computer parts based on 'closely reading' the reviews by others on places like Newegg... what no reviews, I look at another product.

Well, that's my 2 cents.

Yeah, the auburn link, don't know what that is, it's not near me anyhow (auburn).
The listings are locked for non-members on angie's list, that's how it works.
I just added the business to Yelp.

As for getting more reviews, I do have some - angies list, and two emails directly to me. I've been really trying to get customers to leave reviews, but frankly, they just seem lazy. I've tried saying they'd really be helping me out, no difference. Mentioned that I'd even pay for their membership on angies list (against their terms, but whatever), left links on their desktop, it's clearly marked on the website for links to leave a review, and also on my invoice/receipt. Still hardly any takers. The only way I got the few angie's list reviews was by sending personal letters to about 50 past customers, and I got 2 or three reviews left. However, only one was a member of angies list already so the others are not seen at all unless a member specifically clicks a link to show non member reviews.

How can you get customers to leave reviews?