Print Ads or Adwords? Which is Better?

The simple truth is that printed adverts like leaflets and brochures and Google Adwords both have their place in any marketing campaign. In fact, both offline and online marketing campaigns are essential in driving traffic to your website or business blog for that matter. If managed correctly, both campaigns have the ability to increase interest in your company and services and improve your ROI (Return On Investment). One thing is certain, both print and internet marketing campaigns are essential to your company's growth and success.

For online newbies, getting your site ranked highly by the major search engines is a daunting task. Heck, it is even a battle for experienced internet marketers. Google Adwords is a great way to drive traffic to a new website, but it requires a steep learning curve. Nor does it end there! In order to get your ads to show in the top 10 sponsored links requires that your ad is relevant and matches the content of your web site. This requires that your web site is Search Engine Optimized. Having a pretty web site just doesn't cut the mustard and without some SEO and Adwords fine-tweaking, your site will hang way back on page 1,409 000 for a search query, never to be seen.

Brochures or leaflets, on the other hand, are relatively cheap to print and distribute and have the advantage of getting your message across immediately as well as advertising your web site for potential customers to visit. As with any marketing campaign, your brochure or leaflet should be compelling enough to arouse interest in your company and service and invite buyers to phone you, email you or visit your web site. If writing compelling ad copy is not your strong point, hire an experienced copywriter and graphic designer to do it for you. It will be money well spent.

To drive traffic to your web site, include your URL on your calling cards, letterheads, calendars, invoices, brochures and at the bottom (or top) of every fax and email you send. Invite people to visit by simply asking them to log on and tell you how your site can be improved or what other products and services they would like to see there. Offer them an incentive; a discount on their next order for the best, implementable suggestion they email to you before the end of the month. The aim is simply to generate interest and get a dialogue going with your clients.

For more information, please contact Dean Young on Tel +27 11 708 7807 or Fax +27 11 708 7845.