Posted by Rick on December 16, 2002 at 15:56:56:
Hank,
Like Tim said, you’ve proven that you have a thick skin. You can take the heat, so the only thing left is to put the plan into action. Keep us posted.
Note of caution to all who may want to do this:
If you are NOT at least 6’2" and 210 lbs like Hank or a pistol packing, baldheaded ex-cop biker, like Jim(Fl)… then DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME !!
Creating business cards in MS Word - Posted by Hank
Posted by Hank on December 14, 2002 at 23:53:55:
How do I do this?
I can’t seem to figure out how to split up the 8.5 x 11 paper into card size in the program.
BTW, it’s not for cards, but for card sized paper messages to be taped on the driver side car window at local malls.
Do it and let us know the results. NT - Posted by Jack KY
Posted by Jack KY on December 16, 2002 at 13:44:40:
NT
Re: Creating business cards in MS Word - Posted by Jerry Martin
Posted by Jerry Martin on December 16, 2002 at 06:15:06:
Perhaps you could look into having your message printed on POST IT NOTES. gOD BLESS
Be careful of aftermarket window tint - Posted by Shawn J. Dostie
Posted by Shawn J. Dostie on December 15, 2002 at 19:57:26:
I’m not getting involved with whether you should or shouldn’t do the tape thing. I own a Used car lot and apply my own window stickers and messing with cheap aftermarket window tinting (available at wal mart) is not a fun proposition. You are supposed to apply from the inside but some yo yo’s never read the directions (predominantly a male gene I suppose). Just some useless info. but these guys think you’re going to get sued, and this is a real situation where you might find yourself in a pickle because you messed up some idiots illegal window tint.
Good Luck,
Shawn(OH)
Re: Creating business cards in MS Word - Posted by tsweat
Posted by tsweat on December 15, 2002 at 19:48:21:
I agree with Jim. I don’t quite understand why everyone jumped you like they did. What you are talking about is not something that anyone would want to fight you over, unless of course they would like to go to jail.
I am curious as to the response that you get off of the cards and flyers on the parked cars. If there is anything of substance coming out of it then I will have some high school kids beating the parking lot very soon.
Guerrilla Marketing at it’s finest. I love it!
Tom
It seems you are convinced - Posted by Jim FL
Posted by Jim FL on December 15, 2002 at 19:29:53:
Hank,
After reading your post, I thought you were simply asking how to format the pages in MS word to print business card sized ads, multiple copies per page?
Am I right?
You have that info now, so things should be fine.
I’m not sure why people jumped all over you for the idea, since you were not really asking for their opinion on the method.
I agree that it will in all likelyhood annoy some people, but the ones that get annoyed are probably not the ones who need your service.
Like you said, all the other methods of marketing that are cheap, free and inexpensive are all shunned by someone.
I say go for it, and track results.
If it works, great, and if not, quit, simple.
I use flyers, and yes, I get phone calls from those they annoy.
But, I also get calls from people needing to sell their houses FAST!
I’m also aware of people who get annoyed that I’ll buy a house next to theirs, and actually make money when I sell it.
Does this stop me from doing it?
NO WAY!!!
I am in this business to make money, as we all are.
I will not however make money at anyones expense, and I really do not see my marketing materials creating victims out of anyone.
You have your template, so use it and let us know how it goes.
Take care Hank, and good luck,
Jim FL
MSword answer to your question - Posted by Travis (Dallas)
Posted by Travis (Dallas) on December 15, 2002 at 18:43:55:
I’m not an expert in Word and didn’t want to read the manual…So I just typed information on a page that filled the space of a card and copied it three times on the paper. I went under “Format” and chose “two columns” and then printed the sheet in “landscape”.
It took a long time, but I did this to test many different cards. If you want, I’ll email you a sample.
You can print it on one paper and take it to Office Depot to have it copied on card stock and cut in cards.
Or you can buy AVERY perforated card stock at Office Depot to print your cards on.
I was once at a restaurant and someone put business cards advertising their business in the lower driver side window right above the door handle. The rubber gasket of the window kept it in place without tape.
If it works, let us know.
Travis (Dallas)
The Golden Rule - Posted by Kristine-CA
Posted by Kristine-CA on December 15, 2002 at 17:50:10:
Hank: as long as you don’t mind having people tape things to your windows, then I guess you are off the hook. I hate that stuff so I wouldn’t do it to someone else. But it takes all kinds.
I get a little confused when one of the kinds doesn’t steer clear of using personal property for advertising–you know, when it works for you but not for the person who owns the car. But you can’t please everyone, so only can decide what is right for you.
Sincerely, Kristine
Save the paper - Posted by Potash
Posted by Potash on December 15, 2002 at 15:51:18:
Get a Stamp made, specify permanent ink:
“I Buy Houses
Hank Harrison
800-555-1212”
Just stamp it onto their windsheild
The answer… - Posted by Bill Plum
Posted by Bill Plum on December 15, 2002 at 11:45:02:
Go to your local printer and have them put your message on post it notes. No damage to the car. Sticks to the window. Will get their attention.
Yeah, it costs money, but so does printing them yourself. It just gets hidden when you print it seems more palatable.
Re: Creating business cards in MS Word - Posted by phil fernandez
Posted by phil fernandez on December 15, 2002 at 10:42:13:
I agree with the others. The owner of the vehicle that you tape a message to is not going to be very happy. I understand what you are trying to do, but the opposite will happen. Because you taped your message and put it without permission from the owner on his property, even if he has a house to sell, he probably won’t deal with you. He’ll just be angry.
I do not like to see someone putting an ad underneath my windshield wiper. Who gave them perrmission to do that to my property.
Just the way I see things.
Don’t Do It Hank !!! - Posted by Rick
Posted by Rick on December 15, 2002 at 09:16:06:
Hank,
I applaud your effort but please, don’t TAPE anything to people’s car. You may be surprised by the reaction you get… and it won’t be positive.
try this - Posted by Steve W (WA)
Posted by Steve W (WA) on December 14, 2002 at 23:59:00:
in page setup, there ought to be templates for avery labels. Just print it on reg paper.
Or, make your design and go to Kinkos - they did 1000 business cards for me for $20
And your window didn’t jam? - Posted by Hank
Posted by Hank on December 15, 2002 at 18:58:02:
That window jamming subject line is an Ed Copp joke. Read his post below for a good laugh.
Thanks for the MS Word idea.
I went to the avery site that somebody posted before and they had a template that worked for me.
Re: The Golden Rule - Posted by Hank
Posted by Hank on December 15, 2002 at 19:15:23:
I guess we all have to ask ourselves how far we will go to make money.
Well, I guess we should first ask ourselves what the probability is of a particular action will in fact, work.
Fliers or mini fliers on cars work. Bronchick ain’t the only guy that’s done business from them.
But getting back to the first question, how far will I go to make a buck?
That’s a question that I, as well as everyone else will have to answer every day we are chasing profits.
I will say that in no way feel that I’ve compromised my integrity by using a miniscule amount of tape to get my message on a window.
Some people go through life looking for reasons to complain about as much as possible. The quest for victimhood is rampant in modern America. Too bad.
BTW, I’m not saying you are that type of person.
I would suggest… - Posted by JT-IN
Posted by JT-IN on December 15, 2002 at 17:48:18:
stamping these windshields with your most revered competitors phone number… LOL
Re: Save the paper - Posted by Hank
Posted by Hank on December 15, 2002 at 16:56:16:
Funny.
Obnoxious ads do pull in the leads though.
I’ll ask you as well what harm a tiny, tiny piece of tape will do to a window?
Re: The answer… - Posted by Tsweat
Posted by Tsweat on December 15, 2002 at 23:00:12:
I actually like that idea. Not only non-damaging but very quick to peel and stick.
Re: Creating business cards in MS Word - Posted by Hank
Posted by Hank on December 15, 2002 at 11:26:17:
So I guess putting fliers on the front door of houses doesn’t work either.
Huh?
The reason I’m doing cars and not houses is something that Bronchick said/wrote.
He says that one can distribute more fliers by doing cars beacause they are closer together than houses. One can get more messages out per hour.
He says he has gotten results from that.
Now since I’m such a sensitive and considerate guy I altered this approach.
A smaller flier that won’t p_ss off the owner of the parking lot as bad as full sized mess makers seems to be a good idea.
Taping and not messing with windshield wipers also seems to be a kinder, gentler way of doing things.
I think the #1 buggaboo on everybodys list has to be the telemarketer calling after work - you know, around dinnertime.
But those calls keep coming.
Why?
They work.
People HATE bandit signs as well, but …
They work too.