Ad on Restaurants Menu

[Mark]

I was talking to the guy that owes Full Moon Pizza near my house. He told me that he is going to change their menu soon and was looking for local business sponsors to help pay for the cheap looking menu. These are the ones that can take home with you.

He does not know how many other businesses will want to do this and could not give me a price right now.

If this is cheap, I might do it. He said he would not charge much at all. Just wants to cover his expenses.

But it got me to thinking about the concept and if I should try it.

Eat time I eat there; I look at the menu and even take them home with me to do to go orders.

I guess the price matters a lot also. I mean if the guy wants 50 bucks then I'm going to try it. These are the cheap looking menu. I might be able to even offer to run them off on my own copy machine for him, if he allows me to place my ad on them.

Have any of you tried this idea or do any of you think it might work.

 

[DJM]

When I was captive I did that with a resturant that my friend owned. It was moderately successful. I made roughly 1-2 sales a month from those ads, and had between 3-4 people contacting me each month from them.
I guess it would depend on what kind of people ate at your place in question? If it seems like average,everyday people eat and order take out, then you should be fine.

EDIT
I also advertised in something called "coffee news" that was really good ROI for me. I dont know if they have that in GA ( its franchised ) but if they do, I would suggest it.

 

[1manshow]

Think I'd be asking myself "What credibility do I establish as an advertiser on a cheap looking menu" ? Not sure I'd be standing in that line. Maybe it depends on what your ideal customer is ?

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I did this on a Denny's menu but only got calls from dunk college kids at 3am.

 

[arnguy]

In my neck of the woods, many of the family restaurants offer advertising space on their place mats. Those that I have seen mostly have P&C agencies for some unknown reason, as well as other businesses. IMO this type of advertising would probably be more effective in a family style restaurant rather than a pizza parlor.

 

[xrac]

When I was captive I did that with a resturant that my friend owned. It was moderately successful. I made roughly 1-2 sales a month from those ads, and had between 3-4 people contacting me each month from them.
I guess it would depend on what kind of people ate at your place in question? If it seems like average,everyday people eat and order take out, then you should be fine.

EDIT
I also advertised in something called "coffee news" that was really good ROI for me. I dont know if they have that in GA ( its franchised ) but if they do, I would suggest it.

I had wondered if anyone had tried the Coffee News! Thanks!

 

[Mark]

This could also do some branding of your name. Just getting your name out there for people to see it. Does not mean they will call you or buy anything. But helps to get your name out there.

Everyone in Griffin GA knows the state farm guy. He is on billboards, newspaper ads, at my kids school giving out stuff, and everywhere. He has done a great job branding himself.

This might help brand yourself. Just helps get your name out there. Might help me later when they say, they have heard that name from somewhere. Aren't you that insurance guy?

 

[Guest]

Mark,

It's called various names Partnering/Joint Venturing/Co-oping. What it boils down to is creating a relationship which it sounds like you already have where you are both winners. It's a time tested way of low cost marketing.

Off the top of my head I came up with this. I would do it as a direct response marketing campaign instead of just using it as an image ad like the State Farm guy does. Try out this idea. First make sure you get the bottom 1/2 of the front page. As a negotiating point tell the guy you'll print them yourself if you can have the front bottom and if he'll give you a copy of the addresses he delivers to. Get yourself put on the delivery menu's also. You can use the addresses for a direct mail program. Then put something like this in.

Menu Printed Courtesy of ​

Rosenthol Insurance
Home of
"Real Fast Service"​

Enter Our Free Pizza a Month Contest
WE GIVE A FREE XXX PIZZA AWAY
Every Month
CALL XXX-XXXX NOW To Enter
And while your at it Get a Free Quote on​

Term Life Insurance------------Major Medical Coverage
Permanent Life Insurance------------Medicare Supplements
Final Expense Planning------------Income If Your Disabled
We Insure Individuals & Groups
Sorry - Only 1 Entry Per Household Per Month. Must be over 21 to enter.​

So all this will cost you is the menu printing costs and 20 bucks a month for a pizza. You could take this further and partner up with some other non-comp. businesses and do the same with them.

Godd luck​

 

[The New Guy]

We did these 20 plus years ago for a fundraiser for little league softball.

You can do Menus, Placemats, and Coffee Cups. Sell the space to others, get yours for free, and maybe even at a profit.

Placemats were the easiest to sell space in. We sold 16 ads for $25 each back then, just had to buy the paper 5000 sheets, printer did them for free.

I think you can print an 11 x 17 placemat for 12 cents each in lots of 10,000 now days. $1,200

You could sell 14 of the 16 ads for $89.95 each, keep 2 of the ads for yourself, and have it done for free.

The cost for your advertisers, would be less than a penny for each placemat.

Here is a sample placemat.
Wholesale Placemat Printing

 

[oicu812nbama]

This could also do some branding of your name. Just getting your name out there for people to see it. Does not mean they will call you or buy anything.

I'd rather be well known at the bank and spend that money on leads. lol
Can I contract directly with a ins company if I go independent or do I have to go through someone?