In a world increasingly wired, I am sometimes amazed at the effectiveness of low tech communications. Webvillages of Blacksburg, Va has developed a great free electronic village for the Crystal Coast of NC. Yet the intersection of highways 24 and %8 always seems to be a fertile spot for hand lettered signs or even sheets with a message.
When we tried a marketing event for some lots in a subdivision, we advertised in a number of newspapers including USA Today. We had something of a web presence but we also put out signs the day of the event. The signs turned out to be as effective as anything. Several people called on the print advertising, but none showed up for the event.
Humans can be very spontaneous creatures. We will look on the Internet and plan trips, but we are less likely to look on the Internet for a restaurant for tonight’s meal.
We are much more likely to ask someone that we meet on a boardwalk than take the time to search out restaurants on the computer.
Tonight we were driving across the bridge to Emerald Isle. Just after the bridge was a hand lettered sign advertising a “fifties-style drive-in restaurant” at a local church, Chapel by the Sea. We attended a similar event put on by Emerald Isle last summer so we head down Emerald Drive until we saw someone carrying a sign about burgers and hot dogs.
They had a good crowd. I suspect that they could have gotten some additional people with Internet advertising, but I doubt it would have brought a massively larger number of people.
The critical thing to remember is that no one method will get to everyone, but one method might be more useful than another. It just depends on what you are trying to do.
I recently took part in an online discussion which was part of the Toronto Globe and Mail’s series The Download Decade. It was only advertised online and ended up as successful as I could handle in responding to questions.
Earlier in the week, I spent time on a YouTube video of a house that I will be listing. It is also in the real estate section of the Crystal Coast Electronic Village. It has been very successful in both places. Still I cannot wait to get it listed and finally put a sign in front of the property.
People may have stopped reading newspapers and real estate magazines, but they still pay attention to signs and what they hear on the Internet.,
I suspect it will be several years before we can dispose of the sheets at the intersection. I am happy to write for those who enjoy it. My first for pay blog. Crystal Coast Living has become another good waay to to find out about putting down roots in our aea. It least it is very easy on the paper supply.
Our technological infirmity 