Suggestions for Advertising

[Basil]

Hi Folks,
Recently I filed to make BCF a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) because I have determined that <span style="text-decoration: underline">the only way I can continue this forum for much longer</span> is if it begins to pay for itself. To that end I need to attract 3 things: 1) vendors to advertise here 2)People to host their web sites on our servers 3) People to place ads on our classifieds (ads for cars are only $15 while ads for parts are free). Donations and member subscribers are also welcomed, but the three things I listed are probably the most important.

I have decided that I need to invest some $$ into advertising the BCF in some appropriate national and/or international magazines to help get the word out about our community here and the advertising opportunities.

<span style="font-weight: bold">I'd like to hear your suggestions</span> on ways we can get the word out about BCF, our classifieds, our vendor advertising, etc. I can tell you that one of our newer vendors who advertise here told me their business has exploded since they started advertising here. So much so that they had to hire an additional person to help. I just need to get that message across to other vendors out there - that advertising and participating on BCF is good for business if they cater to British car enthusiasts.

Also, our classifieds have helped sell over $800K in cars and parts, and that's just counting the ads where people have bothered to come back and mark their ads SOLD. The actual amount is probably much higher. I need to get our classifieds "out there" as "the" place to sell your British car.

I'm interested in your thoughts and suggestions.

Basil

 

[tony barnhill]

Contact Classic Motorsports & see about them highlighting the BCF in their website of the month segment.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Contact Classic Motorsports & see about them highlighting the BCF in their website of the month segment.

Good idea, but maybe better to do a feature article - think big!

 

[Steve]

I like Mickey's idea...... Editors are always looking for copy for their magazines.

I really enjoy Hemmings' Sports and Exotic Car publication, it carries a lot of LBC content every issue, the staff have Spitfires, a Land Rover, and they are restoring an MGB for charity, just to name a few. There are several LBC parts suppliers who advertise in there already.

 

[Steve]

Okay, a continuation..... Prepare a press release. Send that via e-mail to each of the editors of the publications that you would like to hit. They will usually publish it (in edited form) in the news/announcements section. I have a few other ideas, I'll PM you later and expand on them a little.

 

[roofman]

There are a whole host ( as I am sure you know) of marque magazines. triumph World, Mini World, etc . etc. etc.
Write up a 3-4 paragraph press relaese. Contact the advertising managers personally and they may run your small article in the front of the mag with a ad purchase giving you a double wammy.
On the Mini Forum in England, members recieve a discount for being a forum member. That may be an idea worth dicussing with vendors.
You could link to other sites, tit-for tat link agreements with marque specific sites may help.
Gotta be 100's of car club sites to contact. Many may allow you to host their websites cause many have poor support.
Expand the vendors with UK venders, classic car insurance co."s, local LBC repair companies, etc.
Purchase a pop up canopy or 2 and get them logo'd up and offer them for cheap for car shows.
Mailing list purchase of LBC customers may be available somewhere. Are email lists available?
Run a 1 cent auction in all british marques on ebay. They won't catch it and advertise your services available.

 

[Basil]

Lots of great ideas! Keep em coming!

 

[Dale]

The Vintage Triumph Registry has an excellent Bi-monthly magazine "The Vintage Triumph". The Jensen-Healey Preservation Society (JHPS) also has a publication and a good web site. I am ashamed to say I seldom visit the BCF classifieds and was ignorant of the success they've had. Maybe you need to blow your own horn more. Good Luck, Dale

 

[roofman]

I posted before when you originally talked about this that you should have a multy tier membership. Kick this around:
Free- Able to browse, post, but no picture can be seen or uploaded. Maybe no access to other areas like WiKi or classifieds.
$10 per year. Include the above
$20-$25 include something else

I really can't think of any reason why members would balk at a small fee. Say only 1/4 pay the $10 you should be rolling.

 

[Basil]

I posted before when you originally talked about this that you should have a multy tier membership. Kick this around:
Free- Able to browse, post, but no picture can be seen or uploaded. Maybe no access to other areas like WiKi or classifieds.
$10 per year. Include the above
$20-$25 include something else

I really can't think of any reason why members would balk at a small fee. Say only 1/4 pay the $10 you should be rolling.

I do have multi-tier membershios - I announced it some time ago. Look under "My Stuff" >> "Subscriptions"

Basic forum access still free but different levers get your more "stuff". The Platinum level allows you to host your own web site on the BCF servers. (Gold gets you a personal blog space), etc.

 

[tony barnhill]

May be time to sell space to the banner guys - the ones who pay you for clicks...you could institute a system where those of us who are gold or silver members could turn them off if we wanted....think there are lots of web sites that make good money with them.

I know of 1 website in the hobby where the owner makes so much money off his banners that he doesn't even have a regular job - just his website!

 

[roofman]

I know about the tiered pricing, but are you hitting any kind of revenue sweet spot? You need a big % paying a little bit, not just a couple here and there.
A million people paying $1, or maybe 20,000 paying $10 starts adding up.
Probably 98% of us don't really need personal websites and blog space.