2. Get Publicity! Hopefully you will get good kind! Write a press release, get your picture in local paper or on news, do a radio interview, sponsor an event. Anytime you become visible, you get publicity.

3. Demonstrating. Vacuum cleaners, cosmetics, auto test drives, home parties. If your product can be demonstrated successfully, it is as good as sold.

4. Personal contacts. Selling insurance, cars or selling at a flea market are examples of personal contact is necessary to make sale, (unlike mail order or internet sales).

Test. Test. Test. When you find what works, stick with it. Good Luck!

Barbara Kenzik is a sales rep and markets 3 and 4 day vacation packages for Coastal Vacations. If you would like to find out more about Coastal Vacations and their business opportunity visit www.coastalsuccess.net/barbara/ look.asp or email bkenzik@bellsouth.net

Answer Repetitive Questions On-Hold As you’re on-hold spots are developed, remember this marketing strategy is a customer service tool as well as an advertising tool. Take heat from your receptionist during busy call periods and answer those repetitive questions in on-hold spots.

On-Hold Advertising is Economical Advertising sales are based on number of impressions. If a business had one call placed on hold every ten minutes during an eight hour day 5 days per week, there would be 11,000 opportunities each year to market their business and services.

How to Evaluate an On- Hold Company Make certain you get both male and female voice talent, and that professional voice is pleasing. The studio you use should employ scriptwriters and offer a selection of licensed music to choose from. You choose music from their library, not on-hold company. You don’t want same stale music everyone else uses. In most cases all that is needed is an inexpensive off-the-shelf CD player.

Facts About On-Hold Advertising Eighty percent of businesses have nothing on-hold, so businesses that do set up programs are on cutting edge. Twelve percent of businesses do have a radio or CD tuned in while their customers are on-hold. Only 8% of businesses have on-hold programs.

The number of companies who use on-hold as a time to advertise are growing. That’s because business owners are realizing there’s no better way to impress a client who has never been to your office than a well designed, informative on-hold program. Remember in today’s competitive market, image is everything. On-Hold advertising is one of best facelifts a company could have.