Hi There,

I’m a local children’s entertainer. Well looking within the local community paper I noticed in the classified section that there is an area for children's entertainment. In the weeks that I have been following this I have noticed that there is only one individual that has purchased an ad. I was wondering if anyone has had any success with a small classified.
My plan is to place an add for two or three months and track it and see if it produces some quality leads. I was just wondering what others experiences are with such an effort. It is obviously working for this other entertainer or they wouldn’t continue.

Thank you

While I haven't done classified ads for a few years, I did them for many years with lots of success. I did track what worked where, though. Some papers produced better results than others.

I have ran classified ads for my birthday shows, and also my Christmas party shows.

- Donald

Ryan
No one reads the news paper, or the yellow pages any more. Is there a free childrens news paper availible at the super market, or drug store in your area?

I have just started advertising in the children’s news paper as well, the next issue will be my first time in. I am just now seriously hitting the advertising. I have spent the last two years making the best show possible, and now its time to make a real go at making this work.

Over the years I’ve attempted using both classified and small ads from time to time.

All I’ve ever really had from them,
are more papers calling me to also advertize in their papers,
so it has always been a total waste of money and time.

Now the exception.
There is a brand new newspaper in town, and I’d like to support their success,
I like what they are printing.

Being new, they are offering a daily ad for what amounts to “almost nothing”
in other words, I can get an ad run every weekday for five weeks
(holiday gig-booking season) for under $100 total.

So, I’ve placed a small ad with them,
I expect nothing except maybe other solicitation calls.

But the monetary investment was very small,
and I want to support the new paper.
I took the (small) chance and we’ll see,
it’s day-four and no nibbles as yet.

There are far better ways to spend your hard-earned marketing budget,
and far better ways to get local exposure.
I highly suggest, if you’re somewhat new to this,
the “For Dummies” books
on Marketing, PR, Business, and Advertizing.

Magically,
Walt