Reply To: Is advertising for LA’s still considered unethical?

[Jason T. Radice]

No, not avoiding a stigma, just not an effective use of money. If it made them money, they would do it. Marketing depts are supposed to troll for RFPs and foster/maintain client relationships..something an ad in the newspaper cannot do. As I had stated, I’ve seen large firms advertise in print, but only in trade mags. Direct mail is also quite effective for advertising to a potential client. Another thing I forgot to mention is trade shows. I know the firms I had worked for who did marketing would often get booths (or suites) at shows related to their practice focus and advertise there with the booth and marketing slicks. You get exposure to a very targeted clientele in very short period of time, often with good return on investment. Keep in mind, once you are established, you get to know a lot of people, and they get to know of you. Its a small community.

 

Even for residential LAs, there are some general observations.Many firms just are not interested in the type of clients a general ad in a newspaper would bring, and those who would see the ad often are not willing to spend the extra money for an LA on top of material and labor costs. Thats why so many design/builds write off the design costs when you have them install or at least buy the plants from them.