1. Other Businesses' On-Hold Messages

We've discussed using your telephone system to pitch your products to callers while you put them on hold. Why not pay other companies to do this for you? Find a business in your neighborhood which receives a lot of phone calls (e.g., pizza deliveries, car services or Chinese restaurants) and pay them to play your messages on their phone system while they put their customers on hold. You may also need to supply them with the equipment. As most of these businesses have a fairly simple phone system.

2. Free Pens

Pens inscribed with your business name are a cheap, effective means of advertising. Give them away to everyone who walks into your store, and let neighboring vendors hand them out as free gifts to their customers. People are not likely to throw away these business cards in disguise, and unlike most other ads, their effect will last a long time. You may even want to add a short commercial hook to the inscription, such as: "10% DISCOUNT FOR SHOWING US THIS PEN."

3. Free Calendars

Everyone needs calendars and looks at them year round. Not a bad place for an ad, is it? Most printers offer custom-printed calendars with the client's business name and logo printed on them. If such calendars prove too expensive to give away to your customers, consider instead offering pocket-size, single- sheet calendars that can be carried in wallets or pocketbooks. Calendars with your logo printed on them are also great for giving away to other businesses so that they can hang them on their walls for their customers to see.

4. Photo Envelopes

The average photo shop (whether one-hour or slower out-lab services) develops about fifty rolls of film a day. The pictures are put into a special paper envelope that the customer receives. More often than not, this envelope displays the name of the photo and little else. For a small fee (or even for sharing in the printing costs) you might be able to persuade photo shop owners to place your ad on their envelopes, preferably with a coupon or a discount for anyone who brings you the envelope.

5. Ads on Plastic Bags.

Almost every store uses plastic bags. Millions of plastic bags are carried out of stores and into consumers' homes every day. As you might expect, large chains have their own names/logo printed on their bags, but most small stores use generic plastic bags that they buy from special vendors. Put your ad on such bags and distribute them free of charge to stores in your neighborhood. Overnight, and for a very small investment, your name will be splashed all over town -both on the streets and in consumers' homes.

6. Taxicabs & Limo Airport Services

Passengers who ride in taxicabs often find themselves staring blindly at the back of the seat in front of them. Why not hang your ad there? Not only will it get the passenger's attention, the length of time she has to spend sitting in front of it will ensure that it is read thoroughly. You can contact local car services or even small bus/passenger van companies. Another, different approach is to mount your ads on top of these vehicles to be seen by pedestrians and other motorists.

7. Ads on Tools For Rent

This is one of the most overlooked means of adverting. In the course of a year, most households will use certain rented tools: rug cleaners, video camera accessories, heavy drills, tools for the occasional renovation job, etcetera. Most tools are large enough for ads (at least small stickers) to be placed on them, and as their renters handle them for at least an hour at a time, they allow for ample time for such ads to be read.

8. Ads on Bicycles for Rent

Bicycle or small moped rental places can be found in most large cities, and are often a favored tourist choice. If your business is tourist-industry related (photo shop, motel, souvenir shop), placing your ads on bikes is undoubtedly a good idea. But even if it isn't, don't forget that a large ad suspended from the crossbar of a bike can be seen by hundreds of people as the cyclist makes his way through city streets. Think of such ads as smaller versions of billboards.

9. Ads on Supermarket Carts

Consumers usually spend more time pushing supermarket carts than they do driving to and from the supermarket. If large firms spend millions of dollars on radio commercials that are directed almost exclusively at drivers, why not spend a few bucks on ads directed at cart pushers? Contact supermarkets in your neighborhood. If this option is not available, they might consider allowing you to add your fliers to the coupon sheets they place on the bottom of every cart.

10. Restrooms

Why not? Almost every store and office has them, and every one of them accommodates several customers a day. Furthermore, people spend at least a few minutes in there, and rarely have something better to do than read your ad. Ads can be placed on the stall door, which might be overkill, or on the bathroom wall (e.g., near the sinks), which is more appropriate and less intrusive. You might even want to use your store or office's own bathroom to promote your deal-of-the-week.

11. Schools and Colleges

Schools and colleges have notice boards. Although they cannot be used directly for commercial advertising, small, hand written messages that sell items students have a particular interest in (books, filmmaking equipment rental, party supplies) will not look out of place there. If posting your ads there proves impossible, try to find locations on nearby streets where those ads can be displayed, or have someone hand fliers to students.

12. Hotels

Hotels sometimes hand out small neighborhood guides to their guests, complete with a selection of local merchants, places of entertainment, restaurants, hot spots, etcetera. Check with local hotels and find the ones that offer these services. They will usually either charge you a small fee to be included in the neighborhood guide, or ask that you give their guests a special discount (for example, 20% off every purchase to anyone who shows you the guide).