ADVERTISING MAPS: THE ROAD TO BIG PROFITS

ADVERTISING MAPS: THE ROAD TO BIG PROFITS

Maps serve a purpose. People use them for directions. They

trust them and depend on them to get them where they want

to go. It tells them where the local attractions are, and

other places if interest, particularly among tourists -

the people who use maps the most.

Considering the credibility and the power of maps as a

printed medium, it takes an entrepreneur 2 seconds to

realize that there's money in maps...as an advertising

vehicle.

You can design your city map to be as large as 28" x 40"

which can be printed by commercial print houses with large

format presses. Or you can use the 11"x 17" format and

bring it to your neighborhood quick printer.

THE MAP

What you're going to make a map of is as critical as

deciding about how you're going to do it. These are the

two questions that will make the foundation of your

business.

Big cities are very seldom a great market for City Maps.

However, if you break them apart and make maps for

selected business districts, even down to selected

neighborhoods, the taking is plenty.

Focus on dense retail districts. Target those with

neighboring restaurant rows, historical spots or other

tourist attractions.

Purchase reprint rights of already existing maps as this

would prove significantly easier and more cost efficient

than producing one yourself.

"Cartoon" maps may be visually entertaining, but they are

seldom useful. You will probably attract more advertisers

if you can equate your advertising rates with potential

use.

Advertisers position advertising blocks on the outer edge

of the map area. Depending of the size of your map and the

paper you plan to print it on, you can have as many or as

few "blocks" to offer for advertising. Encourage your

advertisers to buy more than 1 block of advertising. This

will not only make your map look more exclusive, but it

will also make your selling task much easier.