GG> You're right Laurie - in the past this type of 
 GG> "advertising" was new and exciting and therefore 
 GG> tolerated but I guess too many people have started 
 GG> using the old blanket fax system and hence the 
 GG> terrific amount of "junk faxes" we currently 
 GG> receive each day.
 
We do recieve a tremendous amount of junk faxes.  The ones I seem to get the 
most are Chippendales - they're trying to get me to see their show every 
week.  The ones I hate the most are the 5 page religious or political rants.  
Sheesh!
 
 GG> I guess I'll have to go back to the old system of 
 GG> using the postal system since other advertising 
 GG> methods are either too expensive or not effective.
 
The only reason we use fax ad campaigns is because they're so effective.  
Presenting a fax ad so that it will have a positive effect takes a lot of 
work.  You have to put as much time, effort, and talent into designing the 
page as you would in any ad in the newpaper or TV - more, in fact, because it 
has to please a reluctant audience.  You have to comply with every letter of 
the law.  You have to target your market carefully.  You have to keep your 
delete number list up to date.  In many ways it's more work than mail outs, 
which takes it to about the same cost per customer gained as glossy door 
hangers.  However, it is effective.  We track how we gained every customer we 
have, and keep a data base.  Newspaper ads turn out to be the most expensive 
in terms of how much spent and how many customers gained, even though they 
don't seem to be more expensive in original cost.  Door hangers are the least 
effective.  Thousands go out for one or two customers.  coupon books are 
nearly as useless.  Enough time and money spent on a fax ad campaign brings 
in a similar level of success as a TV ad campaign for about a tenth the cost 
per customer.  the drawback, even more than the time involved in running a 
successful campaign is the risk of alienating your potential client base.  
Negative name recognition is an  *extremely*  high price to pay.
--- Maximus 2.01wb
---------------