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[MBAtarga]

Personally I think the ad carries the message you are trying to make!

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

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Your audio isn't working and your video feed is a bit sketchy.

[deanp]

Going for constructive criticism here...

It feels like two 1/2 page ads. The top has a great photo, company name and contact info. Add a line for services rendered and it’s done.

The bottom feels disorganized - too much text, nothing that calls out exactly what you do: cadmium. chrome, suspension, grills, calipers, engine detail... are you selling parts, coatings, rebuilding services? Be specific.

It also feels difficult to find out how to contact you, reader’s eyes are not going to stop in the middle of the right edge of the page. Be conscious of where you put the website and phone number, don’t make your customer look for it.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by deanp

Going for constructive criticism here...

It feels like two 1/2 page ads. The top has a great photo, company name and contact info. Add a line for services rendered and it’s done.

The bottom feels disorganized - too much text, nothing that calls out exactly what you do: cadmium. chrome, suspension, grills, calipers, engine detail... are you selling parts, coatings, rebuilding services? Be specific.

It also feels difficult to find out how to contact you, reader’s eyes are not going to stop in the middle of the right edge of the page. Be conscious of where you put the website and phone number, don’t make your customer look for it.

I agree.

[jorian]

The pic, contact details and the first line below.
Ferdinand Porsche was well known for being a perfectionist.

Cut and print.

[gchappel]

This ad looks like every other ad in every other car mag. Nothing wrong with that. If I was a reader that had never heard of your services, I would not even stop flipping through the pages to read it. Flip, flip, flip.
I personally really liked the line, no one cares more about your car than we do.
Use a picture like a guy staring lovingly at his brake caliper or whatever. Or a shot at night in your shop with one artist working late doing a final polish on your part. The whole shop is dark except for one workbench in the back.
You need a picture that will slow down my flip, flip, flip through the magazine. Something like one of the above at least surprises me and makes me think- what the heck. Then I will read a couple of lines of text. You have to grab me in the first 20 words. All you are trying to do here is get me interested. After that, I can figure out what you do.
Gary

[Ziggythecat]

In my experience, true hobbyists subscribing to hobbyist magazines are there as much for the ads as they are for the articles.

That new full page ad will get the attention of the guys that are your target market ( the restoration hobbyist or restoration shop ) and the Panamera and new car guys will keep on flipping, which they should.

I would have your graphic guy create several versions of the same format ad, and change it each issue, by using a different part as your show piece.

Each issue would have your ad, with a different eye catcher., and your target market will notice.
It won’t cost you any more to Wow them with something new each issue.


Your goals are to catch their attention (mission accomplished) , and drive them to your web site to seal the deal.
They will have to search the ad, a bit, to find your web....that is good, it creates more interest, more involvement, makes them dig a little, and they will find it.

Your work speaks for itself, and the ad will bring results.
Be careful what you wish for, you might be working harder than ever...

[cabmandone]

I like the ad but I think the gray background with the chrome vent window frame isn't eye catching enough. I think with a full page ad you'll be okay but I think I'd try something with some more color to catch the eye a bit more. And I think I'd make it a pic of one of your most commonly refurb'd parts.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by deanp

Going for constructive criticism here...

It feels like two 1/2 page ads. The top has a great photo, company name and contact info. Add a line for services rendered and it’s done.

The bottom feels disorganized - too much text, nothing that calls out exactly what you do: cadmium. chrome, suspension, grills, calipers, engine detail... are you selling parts, coatings, rebuilding services? Be specific.

It also feels difficult to find out how to contact you, reader’s eyes are not going to stop in the middle of the right edge of the page. Be conscious of where you put the website and phone number, don’t make your customer look for it.

Thanks Dean you have captured my intent. The top of the page is an Infiniti ad. The bottom is a Lexus ad. The question becomes how will it be seen in the context of paging through a magazine vs on a thread about the ad. Will the duality be apparent or off-putting?

I completely agree on it's difficult to find how to contact me and I will work on that. Might add another line of contact text along the bottom. And maybe bump up the logo box in the image.

This ad is only for Esses for which I doubt more than 1 or 2 readers will scan a QR code and go to the web site. When we run in Panorama and Excellence, and Forza, I will have our web designer create a custom landing page welcoming the reader with a quick topline list of things we do. Great for both tracking and measuring response, i.e., how many QR'd and then left the site vs. clicking and then what did they click on, chrome vs. anodizing, etc.

For "what we do" I can stress parts restoration in the text. Have had a few customers who saw the ad on FB text me on what they think the text should say. That said, Parts and Services is sort of a win win. Everyone needs both so the perceived dual messaging may be helpful.

Very good thoughts, thank you!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by Ziggythecat

In my experience, true hobbyists subscribing to hobbyist magazines are there as much for the ads as they are for the articles.

That new full page ad will get the attention of the guys that are your target market ( the restoration hobbyist or restoration shop ) and the Panamera and new car guys will keep on flipping, which they should.

I would have your graphic guy create several versions of the same format ad, and change it each issue, by using a different part as your show piece.

Each issue would have your ad, with a different eye catcher., and your target market will notice.
It won’t cost you any more to Wow them with something new each issue.


Your goals are to catch their attention (mission accomplished) , and drive them to your web site to seal the deal.
They will have to search the ad, a bit, to find your web....that is good, it creates more interest, more involvement, makes them dig a little, and they will find it.

Your work speaks for itself, and the ad will bring results.
Be careful what you wish for, you might be working harder than ever...

Thank you and good thoughts and exactly what I plan to do though my graphic guy is ME, I've got about 20 hours into this ad now. Creating ads is hard work, I'll say that. On running different pics, absolutely. Notice that the fan and housing pic is etched (an Early S reader will know it is) but when I advertise in Pano, it will be a Cerakoted fan and housing. Same with Engine Detail, that's a 73 RS motor, I'll use a 3.2 or 993 motor I've done. Dong a lot of custom work for a 3.2 now actually. Things like that.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by gchappel

This ad looks like every other ad in every other car mag. Nothing wrong with that. If I was a reader that had never heard of your services, I would not even stop flipping through the pages to read it. Flip, flip, flip.
I personally really liked the line, no one cares more about your car than we do.
Use a picture like a guy staring lovingly at his brake caliper or whatever. Or a shot at night in your shop with one artist working late doing a final polish on your part. The whole shop is dark except for one workbench in the back.
You need a picture that will slow down my flip, flip, flip through the magazine. Something like one of the above at least surprises me and makes me think- what the heck. Then I will read a couple of lines of text. You have to grab me in the first 20 words. All you are trying to do here is get me interested. After that, I can figure out what you do.
Gary

Thanks Gary, you know I agree somewhat. The good news is this is only going in Esses which is very small and the ad should stand out. The same ad in Pano could be turned past easily but certainly worth testing with a QR code and maybe a custom URL. It might be worthwhile to offer a free t-shirt in a custom URL in print ads.

I like that line too and may try to work it back into the text.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Here are two more versions of the same ad. Do you like either of these better than the first? Which one do you think is the best ad? And if you like either of these, any final suggestions?

[gchappel]

I really like the first of the new ones- with the line no one cares.....
Let us know how successful it is.
Gary

[KFC911]

^^^^ I'm the opposite... don't like that line.... at all.

It's BS.... and would turn me off if I were a potential customer... but I'm not .

No one cares about my car more than I do.... and that is a true fact

Don't BS .... jmho.

[RWebb]

Minor changes only - period after 1st line.

then 2nd sentence starts with "He"

last sentence: "Our obsession is a ... to perfection when restoring your parts."

great photo


now use your stump grind to make some paper pulp and issue a limited ed. poster

[Scott Douglas]

I would have thought you would show what you started with on at least some of those parts.
That, to me, is what you're all about. Taking below standard parts and making them better than new.
There are a lot of pictures of nice shiny parts. Very few say 'Here is what you send us, this is what we send back to you.'

[87maniac]

Advertising Mistake #1:

It 'reads' visually as two half page ads.
You're paying for the whole page,
fill that page with a stunning full bleed beauty shot.

A great headline will stop page flippers.
A supporting subhead will lead the reader into the bodycopy.
You have too much bodycopy (nobody reads anymore)

The small circular photos do not convey the quality and detail of your work.

Print advertising is difficult.

[Alan A]

Too wordy.
Little pictures are boring.
No one needs your email if your website is there. Contact us should be front and center there not in print.

Not enough contrast in the big picture. My eyes glide right past it. You want me to stop and go oh **** that looks nice, not see grey, be bored, flip the page.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I think this is pretty close to final. Web site is undergoing major renovation.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

I would have thought you would show what you started with on at least some of those parts.
That, to me, is what you're all about. Taking below standard parts and making them better than new.
There are a lot of pictures of nice shiny parts. Very few say 'Here is what you send us, this is what we send back to you.'

Exactly. Need a "grab" like "From Rust to Lust" with a before and after pics. Get rid of the small pics.

The posts following the above were also excellent.

Edit: Why limit your efforts to Porsche? What if I own a Porsche and an Alfa? I assume it is because the magazine is Porsche directed, but why mention a single brand only with a reference to Ferd? What about Enzo?

Just curious.