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- Newsgroups: misc.entrepreneurs
- Path: sparky!uunet!gatech!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!agate!dog.ee.lbl.gov!news!nosc!spectra!ohumukin
- From: ohumukin@spectra.com (Kawika Ohumukini)
- Subject: Re: 900 number programs besides psychics?
- Message-ID: <1993Jan21.170007.10085@spectra.com>
- Organization: Spectragraphics Corporation
- References: <1993Jan17.060905.977@fuug.fi>
- Date: Thu, 21 Jan 93 17:00:07 GMT
- Lines: 45
-
- In article <1993Jan17.060905.977@fuug.fi> an1573@anon.penet.fi writes:
- >
- >After studying the successful (i.e., repeating) classified ads in the
- >National Enquirer, J. Robert Burgoyne concludes:
- >
- >>The only type of one step ads that have reasonably good success rates
- >>are astrology section classified ads for 1-900 psychics.
- >
- >I too have noticed this. But I am wondering if 900 numbers are being used
- >successfully for any programs other than psychics and "hot talk"? If so,
- >where are they advertised?
- >
- >USA Today used to publish a directory of 900 lines in the Thursday
- >classifieds, but the directory dwindled to only one or two ads a week, and
- >now has disappeared altogether in spite of their solicitations for
- >advertising. I do notice that USA Today continues to advertise their own
- >900 lines for movie reviews, sports scores, sports predictions, lottery
- >results, etc.
- >
- >Are there other major advertising venues for these types of lines that I
- >haven't run across? Where have you seen other 900 lines advertised?
-
-
- The good thing I have noticed is that with 900 numbers is the advertising
- can be done on a small scale. For example, the San Diego Tribune costs
- about $90 for a 2 1/4" by 1" square per day. For an effective ad you
- need at least 2 squares which is $180. This is high for a first run,
- as we found out the hard way. It is better to start small, the local
- READER newspaper which is free in stores costs about $45 for a square.
- And it runs every week so coverage is very good for the advertising
- dollar and circulation is very high.
-
- The key is PERCENT OF CIRCULATION FOR TARGET CUSTOMER / AD DOLLAR.
- Look at your 900 idea, figure out the circulation of the media, estimate
- the amount of readers that would call a 900 number, and the amount
- of them that would call your 900 number. You will most likely find
- that the number is very small, maybe .01-.1% This is ok because
- with my 900 numbers I net about $1.10 to $1.25 for every minute called.
- Best advice is start as cheap as you can to reach your target customer.
- And it is good to notify them from different angles and consistency
- is paramount. I heard a statistic that a consumer will not act on
- a radio commercial until they hear it at least 5 times. Budget ads
- for at least double that or 10 ads.
-
- Kawika
-