1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Advice on Marketing My Company

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout' started by akash22, Mar 21, 2019.

  1. akash22

    akash22 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2002
    Messages:
    125
    Likes Received:
    11
    I started a Singles Events Company and have set up 2 events - a Speed Dating Event and a Happy Hour Mixer. I have it at a very reasonable price - $10 for the Speed Dating Event which also gets you free admission to the Happy Hour. And ladies get their first drink free at Speed Dating.

    Anyways, I am having trouble spreading the word outside of my direct friends on Facebook. I’ve created a FB page and events for my company, paid FB ads, messaged and posted in tons of FB groups, posted the events/Tix for sale on eventbrite, and the venue has shared my FB event. My website is www.SPARXevents.com. I know I need to still write an “about us” page and have a gallery for pics.

    Do y’all have any advice on how else I can spread the word? Hoping for free ways to market but also open to paying - I just don’t want to break the bank unless I know it’s effective. Any help is greatly appreciated!
     
  2. akash22

    akash22 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2002
    Messages:
    125
    Likes Received:
    11
  3. LonghornFan

    LonghornFan Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2002
    Messages:
    15,705
    Likes Received:
    2,623
    @Ziggy is a cook at Torchy's Tacos. Maybe give him some flyers to pass out as that place gets crazy busy on evenings.
     
  4. glad_ken

    glad_ken Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 21, 2002
    Messages:
    2,320
    Likes Received:
    323
  5. Buck Turgidson

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2002
    Messages:
    84,955
    Likes Received:
    83,140
    Ask @Clutch if you can advertise on the bbs. All the dudes will show up.
     
  6. omgTHEpotential

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2012
    Messages:
    7,383
    Likes Received:
    5,887
    I can't really say much about marketing since it's not my field of expertise. But I can say something about design - I think you could use a more memorable logo.
     
    rusHour likes this.
  7. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2002
    Messages:
    35,571
    Likes Received:
    7,461
    Find out what similar companies are doing and one-up them. Study your competition.

    How is your pricing compared to other companies? Being the cheapest is not always best. Sometimes, people don't gravitate to the cheapest option because they assume it won't be as good as the moderately priced options. Might be better if your pricing was in the middle of your competition?

    Give some stuff away when you're first getting started. Free drink to the ladies is a good idea. Maybe one for the guys too?

    Do a google search for "guerilla marketing." Lots of great resources out there. And maybe read the book. It's a little outdated (written in 2007) but it will still put you in the right mindset for finding creative (and free) ways to get your name out there.

    Like you said, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on marketing until you start making a lot of money.

    Good luck!
     
    rusHour likes this.
  8. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 1999
    Messages:
    36,740
    Likes Received:
    13,132
    I'm just shocked yall suburb people even know what that is tbh.
     
  9. Buck Turgidson

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2002
    Messages:
    84,955
    Likes Received:
    83,140
    Lol. Torcy's Tacos is suburbia in tex-mex form.
     
  10. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 1999
    Messages:
    36,740
    Likes Received:
    13,132
    Looks that way.
     
  11. Xerobull

    Xerobull You son of a b!tch! I'm in!

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2003
    Messages:
    33,254
    Likes Received:
    30,752
    Pay 'influencers' to try it out and give you a good review.

    Hold 'free' events to build groundswell.

    Fiverr for SEO work.

    Stop asking for advice on a basketball fan off-topic forum where the demographic is middle aged men with kids.
     
    BruceAndre likes this.
  12. fallenphoenix

    fallenphoenix Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2009
    Messages:
    9,821
    Likes Received:
    1,619
    still delicious
     
  13. Space Ghost

    Space Ghost Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    14,947
    Likes Received:
    6,152
    Advertise a free drink for the ladies and no cover.

    For the men, charge them 25 and state no women over 30 and weight restrictions on the women.

    Hire half a dozen hot women to show up.
     
    rusHour and BruceAndre like this.
  14. Xerobull

    Xerobull You son of a b!tch! I'm in!

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2003
    Messages:
    33,254
    Likes Received:
    30,752

    Sounds like a typical CF sarcastic response but actual good advice.
     
    hvic likes this.
  15. finalsbound

    finalsbound Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2000
    Messages:
    12,328
    Likes Received:
    901
    The key is to fool people into thinking there will be attractive people there
     
  16. KingCheetah

    KingCheetah Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2002
    Messages:
    55,908
    Likes Received:
    47,610
    Hire James Harden to DJ.
     
  17. TheRealist137

    TheRealist137 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Messages:
    33,341
    Likes Received:
    19,175
    First you have to learn who your customer base will be. I don’t think catering this towards young people will work. To get dudes to come out, you need attractive women who are younger. You can’t get those women to come out to these events unlesss you pay them. Why would cute girls need speed dating when they have tinder or bumble. It’s a waste of time for them to go to these events just to get harassed by multiple guys all night.

    I would cater towards older men and women. Older women have a harder time on dating apps so they are more likely to use your service.
     
    iconoclastic likes this.
  18. rusHour

    rusHour Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2005
    Messages:
    1,862
    Likes Received:
    367
    Once you have the name of your company, you need a logo. You cannot market yourself and build a reputable brand without it.

    Ive been in graphic design/marketing for over 13 years (dont make me do the math), and there are so many bad logos out there. People get excited to start something new and rush through, instead of doing it the right way from the beginning - one step at a time. At the same time, people like you, dont know where to turn. Where can you find a good graphic designer? Most people know someone that knows someone. The results are definitely mixed. There are a lot of people out there who are self proclaimed graphic designers with little knowledge and experience.

    Ask yourself - What is your company/brand? How is it different than others out there? What demographic are you trying to appeal to? Some of this has already been stated... but are must haves in setting your brand.

    If you want people to feel comfortable using you, you need to perceive yourself as reputable and trust worthy. A logo is a big part of this - along with a website, "leave behinds" (flyers, postcards, business cards, promo items, t-shirts, etc.), and finding the right advertising scope to get things going. It is a lot more work to market yourself if you dont have a company or materials that work for you instead.
     
    omgTHEpotential likes this.
  19. akash22

    akash22 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 21, 2002
    Messages:
    125
    Likes Received:
    11
    Thanks for all the feedback/ideas/constructive criticism. I appreciate it!
     
  20. NateNate

    NateNate Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2008
    Messages:
    2,387
    Likes Received:
    531

    On the other hand he could market it as an alternative to social media dating. I'm sure there's a fair amount of younger folks who may be feed up with that or may prefer this sort of meet and greet style.

    My advice would be to find a away to make it "cool". My sarcastic advice would be to serve avacado toast. We millennials love that.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now