Simpedia

Alan N., Alabama

I’m a new Simply Music Teacher. I have three small group classes, and want to REALLY expand beginning this summer. So, I did all kinds of thinking and asking about marketing ideas, since I have never taught and only have ten students. I have done several things that have turned out okay, but the most INCREDIBLE has been to just put out some handwritten yard signs! I have received over 30 phone calls in two days, actually had 20 on the very first day.

The signs are just those cheap plastic corrugated ones, with the metal posts. (I chose bright yellow, wrote on them with a big black marker) I paid about $150 for 100 of them online. I decided to handwrite them because of something I read that said people will pay most attention to handwritten signs vs. printed ones. It actually said, “Write it like a third grader!!!!”

One other point. I put the signs in the following locations within three miles of my studio:

Four Elementary and Middle Schools, All subdivision entrances, Major intersections, Ball parks & Churches

Basically anywhere I thought there might be a lot of children’s parents.

It only took me an hour to put out 50 signs. I put them out between 6-7am so I could catch the school and work traffic BEFORE anybody removed them!!!! My phone was ringing before 8am.

Louise H., Michigan

I would recommend before anyone doing this that you check with your local city or township. In our town this is illegal and the signs would be taken down almost as soon as they are put up. Plus there are potential fines that can occur.

Alan N., Alabama

The wording on the yellow sign, written with black big marker is, “Summer Piano Class, 627-000-0000”

Did not ask permission to put the signs out.

Got the signs online at: http://donjohnsonsigns.com/

To this point I have had 30 phone calls, including 40 prospects.

Julie M., Canada

I’d like to echo Louise’s point about the legality of putting signs up. I went ahead and bought the lawn bags signs for advertising. After I placed a bunch, I received a phone call from the local authorities. I had three days to take down the signs or face a $300 fine. Now I’ve got some useless signs in my garage.

Gordon Harvey, AU

I have to say I’m uncomfortable with this idea. Laws are there for a reason, and unless I have a strong ethical objection to them, I tend to obey them. I notice I am slightly irritated with these kinds of signs when I see them – I see them like a form of graffiti and find myself kind of annoyed with people bypassing the normal processes whereby you pay for a privilege. I guess you could pay the fine voluntarily!

If a mild-mannered, tolerant type like me doesn’t like seeing them, I wonder how they are perceived by other members of the community. Although Alan doesn’t put his name or address on his signs, I imagine people could connect the dots and potentially associate their local SM teacher with practices they don’t like.

It’s up to each person (although you should also check your License Agreement that this isn’t any kind of breach, if admittedly a mild one), but I wouldn’t.

Kerry V., AU

Julie, I wonder if they are useless or untapped signs sitting in your garage? These signs may not be permissible to put up ‘anywhere’ but you may be able to use them in your yard and ask friends and neighbors, or friends who have their own business who will be happy to place them. Alan’s response happened immediately so if you hadn’t received any calls within those few days you had them up, they may not have been in the right target areas. Ask the schools if you could have it on their fence for a week and offer to pay them a percentage from each student who enrolls. Helps the school fundraise. Win, Win!

Yes, be responsible but see what you can do to work ‘around’ the legalities. You’ll be amazed at what you can do when you think out of the box.

All the best with using these signs again.

Alan, such a very simple sign. Amazing how there was not much information except piano lessons and phone number! Well done!

It is advisable to make sure that you do abide by the ‘silly’ council laws, for (one would hope) they are placed for a logical / sensible reason.

Rebecca S., AU

I don’t know about anyone else, but when I see Yard Signs, I think cheap. You seem them from time to time for weight loss, make money fast, etc. I don’t know if this is the brand I would be wanting to build. To me, SM is not cheap and wouldn’t feel comfortable advertising that way.

I build my business through advertising in the Yellow Pages, School Newsletters, referral and SM website. I also had a display at a school fete where there were thousands of people who came through. This took a year to get to the size I was looking for, and I have had a very good retention rate. Please give feedback in six months to your retention rate, because that will be a good indicator as to what type of student these signs bring.

Evan H., Kansas

I’ve been reading the responses to the yard sign discussion with great interest. We were very tempted to get 100 yard signs and do the same thing, but we share the concerns voiced on the forum:
1. Legality and associated risk. It is illegal to put up yard signs in our community, and the fines could be substantial.
2. Reputation. We feel that Simply Music studios should be above reproach. We don’t want to be associated with breaking the rules.
3. Arrogance (this goes back to reputation). We don’t want property owners associating our studio with unacceptable behavior. Also concerning reputation, we want our studio to be associated with high quality and excellence.
With this in mind, we had already created the art for door hangers that we will put up with the help of some of our college-age friends over the next week or two, in time for the summer sign-up season. Our door hangers capitalize on our piano jam recital format, and we’re already getting a positive response to newspaper ads which use a similar format and message. Although we will have to put up far more door hangers in order to reach as many prospects (and spend more money doing so), this approach is legal and consistent with accepted practice in our community and consistent with how we want to be perceived.

Carrie L., Michigan

If it’s helpful I had a discussion with a sports organization for children that does consistent signs. They said that typically signs that are geared towards children that are professionally done typically do not have much of a response legally. Occasionally they are asked to come and take them down and they do.

They have had a great response to their signs.

Elaine F., South Carolina

In case this was not covered– it might be okay to use yard signs with permission of homeowner. I’ve done this and had great response. I put them in the yards across street from the elementary schools. Just for a week. I always ask the homeowner and they always say yes.