Political Crossfire Forums

[thintheherd]

Shakey Stevens wrote: Word of mouth is a form of advertising. You dont have to have an accountant, especially for a small business your talking about just established by word of mouth. If it is only spread by word of mouth it is no wonder the business failed. Word of mouth is peoples opinions, which could be good or bad, therefore you want to advertise yourself to promote it the way you want.
That's all my business is... I've never had to pay or make sales calls. All word of mouth for the last eight years.

His point was that if you have a product people want and you are good at producing it you could, conceivably, not have to pay for advertising.

I'm proof.

[Shakey Stevens]

Well my first sentence did state, "Word of mouth is advertising." My dad has been running a business for quite some time now, since it was first getting established. The business now makes a revenue of about 5 mil a week. As far as i know there has been no advertising, accept for the word of mouth and the simple item as a large sign viewable from a distance.

[LeopardPM]

Shakey Stevens wrote: Well my first sentence did state, "Word of mouth is advertising." My dad has been running a business for quite some time now, since it was first getting established. The business now makes a revenue of about 5 mil a week. As far as i know there has been no advertising, accept for the word of mouth and the simple item as a large sign viewable from a distance.
yes, word of mouth is 'advertising' in the sense that both are forms of communicating knowledge. But I was responding to your insinuation that 'advertising' as in a formal and directed action specifically meant to increase sales, is not always necessary. My own business would probably benefit from it, but I choose not to.

[Shakey Stevens]

But let me ask you this, How long exactly has your business been running and what kind of business is it? Im also positive that you have some form of advertising making it successful for this long. Telling people about your idea and business and what it sells, service or product, is a advertising type which has probably kept your business going for this long.

[LeopardPM]

Shakey Stevens wrote: But let me ask you this, How long exactly has your business been running and what kind of business is it? Im also positive that you have some form of advertising making it successful for this long. Telling people about your idea and business and what it sells, service or product, is a advertising type which has probably kept your business going for this long.
I have owned my business for over 6 years, it is a digital printing business specializing in postcards for realtors. Almost all of our clients come from referrals, though at first I did do sales presentations at the major realty offices in town (I should still do that if I were motivated enough).

If your point is that for a business to be successful, it must attract customers, and the method of attraction (be it word of mouth, or TV, or whatever) is advertising - then of course I agree. But it seemed like you specified the more formal modes of advertising, the active ones, not the passive word of mouth type. And a business can be successful without taking an active role in its advertising (probably a far less success than with advertising, but that isn't the point).

[Shakey Stevens]

Yeah, I did only say ADVERTISING and I never said the newspaper ad/comercial type of advertising. Advertising can be as simple as word of mouth, telling people, or a sign outside your business. In order for a small business to be successful it requires some form of advertising, like your business you started out giving presentations which was your advertising. After you are well known it isnt as necessary to advertise, a well established big business is Microsoft, you never see it advertise anymore b/c of the reason that its no longer small and everyone already knows.

[nbleven]

Harbinger wrote: Why is it so difficult, if not impossible, for an average middle class couple to open a successful small business? Well, the first thing that seems to be standing in the way of peoples "persuit of happiness" are all the unnecessary fees and prerequisites (red rape) that states, counties and cities impose on small business start-ups such as licensing, insurance and bonding and fees.

I don't agree. In fact, the US is reputed for having many businesses, and it seems to be one of the only places to start a business easily. Look at France; it's a terrible country for business. Charges are so high, and no one wants to create a business there. They have a simple -- stupid -- philosophy: "You hire someone, you cannot fire him!". Though France has Danone, Veolia, and Total; these businesses are mostly exporting in the rest of the world.