A Good First Impression for $59

Your first impression to a potential client will usually determines whether he will do business with you in the future or not. Your business card is an inexpensive self-promotion tool that allow you to stand out from the pack and give yourself an edge. A well designed business card printed on a quality card stock shows that you value the quality of your work and that you are likely to offer the same service to customers. A poorly designed card on cheap paper serves as a warning to others that you cut corners promoting yourself, and will probably do the same with customer's work.

"I can do it myself. I have Publisher!" I hear many say when I offer to design and print cards for them. Most times their well intended efforts yield poor results after many hours of frustration and wasted time.

Below offers a typical example of a home made card a client put together and the card I designed and printed for him.

I design, assemble and print 1000 business cards printed on 14pt. UV coated card stock (the glossy cards) for only $59. This offer is extended to anyone in the United States.

Become a follower of my blog in the month of April. On May 1st, a random follower will receive 1000 FREE Business Cards.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

Please Stand By

A great way to save 50% - 80% off regular advertising rates is by running a "Stand-By Ad".

A stand-by ad is a print advertisement that a newspaper or magazine uses when, hours before press run, "holes" in the publication appear that requires ads for filler. If you submit a stand-by ad and it is ready to print, the ad can run at a huge discount.


The downside, of course, is that there is no guarantee your ad will appear on any given day.

It is important that your stand-by ad catches the eye of the reader. This can be achieved by utilizing the services of a graphic designer who uses basic design principles effectively. Please see a selection of ads I've designed on my website. Please contact me, and I will design and assemble your stand-by ad. In addition, I will also negotiate fees with your local publication.

Please Stand By.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

Why I Am So Narrow Minded

If everyone is your customer, then no one is your customer.

That is, if you fail to focus your message to a specific group that is interested in your product, you will waste time, effort and money trying to reach those that have no interest in what you are selling.

Let's say, for example, you are selling new glow-in-the dark baseballs.

If you use a poor "shotgun" approach to selling (marketing to the masses), you would use the following logic..."I need to sell a lot of glow-in-the-dark baseballs, so I will run ads in the publication with the highest circulation."

In order to reach your target buyers for glow-in-the-dark baseballs more effectively, I would suggest the following...

1. Identify your market. In this case it would be children who play baseball.

2. Narrow your focus and identify specility magazines that children read or parents of children who play baseball read, then insert a strong ad. See my offer below if you wish to receive a comprehensive list of niche publications that reach your target market.

3. Design a highly visible banner and hang it on the outfield wall at the local Little League ball park.

4. Run an eye catching ad in the local minor league baseball team program.

These simple marketing examples will enable you to direct your message to baseball families at a much more reasonable cost and offer a greater response in return than the "shotgun" approach.

Every business has different clientele, assets and budget. That is why it is important to consult a marketing expert before you summon random hordes of salespeople into your office.


I offer FREE consultations and recommendations to improve your sales. In addition, I always include a cost quote to implement my plans.

When it comes to advertising, I am very narrow minded, and I encourage my clients to be narrow minded too.

If you click the button to the right and become a follower to my weekly blog, I will send you a link to a great website that offers a long list of niche magazines and publications that appeal to most all demographics.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook
Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

4 Tips That Saved a Business

Carl's BBQ restaurant was struggling. Even though his small diner was located on a major through road, customers didn't know he was there. He contacted me last summer and asked for advice. Here are the 4 marketing tips I recommended...

1. Change your restaurant's name. Carl's Classic Cafe does not indicate BBQ.
Solution - He changed the name of the restaurant to Black Eyed Pig BBQ.

2. Design a strong, immediately recognizable logo that gave his restaurant credibility and provided customers with a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Solution - I designed the Black Eyed Pig logo.

3. Install HUGE, highly visible signs. His strongest asset was his location, and by simply letting people know he is there and open would certainly generate sales.
Solution - I designed large aluminum signs that were installed on the roof facade. I also installed 5 foot high, bright orange B-B-Q vinyl letters on the windows.

4. Generate a web presence.
Solution - I designed and assembled a website for him, locked in a solid domain name and installed keywords in his code that got him onto page one on Google within weeks.

The results...
Carl's traffic has increased 4 fold since my recommendations were implemented. His business has been so overwhelming, he is thinking of opening a second diner, even in this weak economy.

Every business has different clientele, assets and budget. What worked for Carl may not work for the next restaurant down the road. That is why it is important to consult a marketing expert before you drop a nickel on advertising. I offer FREE consultations and recommendations to improve your sales. In addition, I always include a cost quote to implement my plans.

After following my recommendations, you will clearly discover my advertising and marketing services are not an expense, but a wise investment in your company.

Ask Carl.

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising

See http://www.davehortonads/ or visit me on Facebook

Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com

I Don't Need A Logo

I've met many business people who hand me a Office Max produced business card with a smiling, large headed retro cartoon guy smiling with his thumb up and a twinkle on his tooth. This stale clip art posing as a company logo immediately tells me that the person gave no thought to how poorly he is presenting himself to potential clients.

When I offer to design a logo for them, I'm usually assured "I don't need a logo."

Why do you need a logo?

1. A good logo lends a corporate look to a small business. Home made logos scream "small-time vendor" and your clients will regard you as such.

2. A good logo gives your business an immediate recognizable identity. It will enable your company stand out in the crowded market.

3. A good logo offers stability for clients or customers who feel more comfortable looking for a well-defined company, and "look and feel" may be one of their criteria for making a decision.

4. A good logo makes you to stand out in your field. A good logo can put you far above the competition, especially when paired with a strong identity program which includes corresponding business cards, letterhead, print advertising, company website, vehicle signage and storefront signage.

5. A good logo strongly hints or explains what your business is and how it can help your clients.

During the 20 years I've been in business, I've designed hundreds of logos for Naples and Southwest Florida businesses, starting with a Rollsafe logo contest I won in 1990. Many examples of logos I've created can be found on my website.

Thanks for reading the 1st entry into my new company blog. The 1st person to email me will receive a FREE company logo design.

Do you need a logo?

Dave Horton
Dave Horton Advertising
See http://www.davehortonads.com/ or visit me on Facebook
Email me at davehortonads@gmail.com