I have started an online shopping site for women and am in need of money for advertising - mainly on TV. I have tried ads in papers, on the Internet, and passing out business cards. Although the business cards have brought visitors to the web site, I need to generate sales.
Are there any government grants available for advertising expenses for Online Businesses?
Hi!
Thanks for posting your question on the Community. You may not be aware, but government agencies generally do not make loans directly to business
owners. The government provides a guaranty to banks and lenders for
money lent to small businesses. This guaranty is a promise to pay a
portion of the loan back to the bank in case a business owner defaults
on the loan. A guaranty reduces the lender's risk, which allows the
lender to make loans to business owners who do not qualify for
traditional loans.
A great place to start looking for more information is here. Please let us know if you are able to find financing through a local bank.
Thanks!Stuart
There are a number of threads related to the availability or not of govt. grants. From what I've read here, there aren't really any grants available for commercial businesses.
just wondering, what sort of response did you get from your online advertisisng, and who did you use?
BobK | Community Administrator |
3/23/2010 - 1:45 pm
Show Replied Text…
Hello, To the best of my knowledge and experience, generally neither the SBA or the Economic Development Admin. offers grants to individuals; however federal block grants are awarded yearly to state economic development agencies, and nonprofit groups and universities. These in turn, award grants to businesses that are disadvantaged,women-owned, those involved in research and technology, and others contributing to their communities' development or job potential or education and that qualify for these local or state grants. Some business associations and/or nonprofit foundations also help with loans or give cash awards. You will have to do research to learn what is available. Here are two links with grant resources and related books: http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/guides/women.html http://www.fundsnetservices.com/ Hope this helps. Good luck.Message Edited by JamieD on 08-26-2009 10:25 AM
Federal (and state) governments do not provide small business grants for starting a business, or in your case, to support your advertising. Even community block grants do not normally produce grants for businesses. In fact most community block grant money is limited to non-profits, local agencies, education institutions, etc.
Some non-profits and for-profits provide grants to small businesses, but these are rare and usually targeted toward very specific types of businesses or groups, such as women-owned and minority-owned enterprises.
If you would like to find out financing programs that apply to you, I recommend trying out the Loans and Grants Search Engine, which will provide you with a list of financing programs for which you might qualify.
Federal (and state) governments do not provide small business grants for starting a business, or in your case, to support your advertising. Even community block grants do not normally produce grants for businesses. In fact most community block grant money is limited to non-profits, local agencies, education institutions, etc. Some non-profits and for-profits provide grants to small businesses, but these are rare and usually targeted toward very specific types of businesses or groups, such as women-owned and minority-owned enterprises. If you would like to find out financing programs that apply to you, I recommend trying out the Loans and Grants Search Engine, which will provide you with a list of financing programs for which you might qualify.
As others have indicated, don't waste time looking for grants to pay you to advertise on TV.
But, more importantly, I wouldn't waste money ADVERTISING on TV - at least not at this point in your business.
If you are getting some people to your website, but no one is buying, spending more money to get more people to your website is just going to waste more money. Before you spend any more money on advertising, you need to find out why people aren't buying.
To do that, start with people you know who would be likely to give you a candid opinion. What would they look for on a site like yours? What would make them buy?
What about your site would prevent them from buying? Are they not finding clothes they like? Is there something about the way the site looks, or their ability to find what they need on the site? What about contact information, guarantees, etc.?
If asking friends isn't helpful, if you're getting any people to your website, you could ask people to take a survey and give you feedback. SurveyMonkey.com has good survey software. A prominent feedback option (if you don't have one) might produce some useful information, too.
Bottom line, though: Figure out what offers, what products, etc. work before buying TV ads .
As others have indicated, don't waste time looking for grants to pay you to advertise on TV.But, more importantly, I wouldn't waste money ADVERTISING on TV - at least not at this point in your business. If you are getting some people to your website, but no one is buying, spending more money to get more people to your website is just going to waste more money. Before you spend any more money on advertising, you need to find out why people aren't buying. To do that, start with people you know who would be likely to give you a candid opinion. What would they look for on a site like yours? What would make them buy? What about your site would prevent them from buying? Are they not finding clothes they like? Is there something about the way the site looks, or their ability to find what they need on the site? What about contact information, guarantees, etc.? If asking friends isn't helpful, if you're getting any people to your website, you could ask people to take a survey and give you feedback. SurveyMonkey.com has good survey software. A prominent feedback option (if you don't have one) might produce some useful information, too. Bottom line, though: Figure out what offers, what products, etc. work before buying TV ads .
Would agree with Ms. Attard - find out why those already coming to your site are not buying. If you still want to pursue advertising - try things that are free.
1) Get out into your community and network - attend any and all eventswhere more than one person gathers - talk to everyone.
2) Write PSA and send them to your local newspaper and tv stations - if they have extra space - they will display your PSA - make it compelling. For the TV - set up a day where you are offering discounts to the first 100 purchasers or some time of contest. This compelspeople to go to your site and compels the TV station to run your PSA.
3) Find social groups or networking groups in your area and contact them as a guest speaker - all of these groups or clubs are always looking for a guest speaker. Come up with a topic that they would be interested in and that promotes your business.
All of this is designed to create word of mouth advertising - the best and cheapest form available.
Federal (and state) governments do not provide small business grants for starting a business, or in your case, to support your advertising. Even community block grants do not normally produce grants for businesses. In fact most community block grant money is limited to non-profits, local agencies, education institutions, etc. Some non-profits and for-profits provide grants to small businesses, but these are rare and usually targeted toward very specific types of businesses or groups, such as women-owned and minority-owned enterprises. If you would like to find out financing programs that apply to you, I recommend trying out the Loans and Grants Search Engine, which will provide you with a list of financing programs for which you might qualify.
As others have indicated, don't waste time looking for grants to pay you to advertise on TV.
But, more importantly, I wouldn't waste money ADVERTISING on TV - at least not at this point in your business.
If you are getting some people to your website, but no one is buying, spending more money to get more people to your website is just going to waste more money. Before you spend any more money on advertising, you need to find out why people aren't buying.
To do that, start with people you know who would be likely to give you a candid opinion. What would they look for on a site like yours? What would make them buy?
What about your site would prevent them from buying? Are they not finding clothes they like? Is there something about the way the site looks, or their ability to find what they need on the site? What about contact information, guarantees, etc.?
If asking friends isn't helpful, if you're getting any people to your website, you could ask people to take a survey and give you feedback. SurveyMonkey.com has good survey software. A prominent feedback option (if you don't have one) might produce some useful information, too.
Bottom line, though: Figure out what offers, what products, etc. work before buying TV ads .
As others have indicated, don't waste time looking for grants to pay you to advertise on TV.But, more importantly, I wouldn't waste money ADVERTISING on TV - at least not at this point in your business. If you are getting some people to your website, but no one is buying, spending more money to get more people to your website is just going to waste more money. Before you spend any more money on advertising, you need to find out why people aren't buying. To do that, start with people you know who would be likely to give you a candid opinion. What would they look for on a site like yours? What would make them buy? What about your site would prevent them from buying? Are they not finding clothes they like? Is there something about the way the site looks, or their ability to find what they need on the site? What about contact information, guarantees, etc.? If asking friends isn't helpful, if you're getting any people to your website, you could ask people to take a survey and give you feedback. SurveyMonkey.com has good survey software. A prominent feedback option (if you don't have one) might produce some useful information, too. Bottom line, though: Figure out what offers, what products, etc. work before buying TV ads .
Would agree with Ms. Attard - find out why those already coming to your site are not buying. If you still want to pursue advertising - try things that are free.
1) Get out into your community and network - attend any and all eventswhere more than one person gathers - talk to everyone.
2) Write PSA and send them to your local newspaper and tv stations - if they have extra space - they will display your PSA - make it compelling. For the TV - set up a day where you are offering discounts to the first 100 purchasers or some time of contest. This compelspeople to go to your site and compels the TV station to run your PSA.
3) Find social groups or networking groups in your area and contact them as a guest speaker - all of these groups or clubs are always looking for a guest speaker. Come up with a topic that they would be interested in and that promotes your business.
All of this is designed to create word of mouth advertising - the best and cheapest form available.
StuartR | Former Moderator | 3/23/2010 - 1:44 pm
jamestkirk | Creator | 12/7/2009 - 11:45 pm
BobK | Community Administrator | 3/23/2010 - 1:45 pm
attard | Performer | 3/23/2010 - 1:45 pm
phanio | Contributor | 3/23/2010 - 1:45 pm
attard | Performer | 1/18/2011 - 8:45 am
phanio | Contributor | 1/18/2011 - 8:45 am
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