I'd like find a good ad sponsor for our weekly newsletter that goes to
10,000 people.  We have a very groovy and narrowly targeted audience;
our website specializes in vintage clothing, rare books and other
one-of-a-kind stuff. How would I go about finding the right companies
to approach?

---

Request for Question Clarification by mwalcoff-ga on 13 Aug 2002 15:38 PDT

Please tell me more about your publication. What is the geographical
concentration of your readership? Does your newsletter consist of text
e-mail messages or is it mailed in paper format? Have you tried
putting a "your ad here" message in the newsletter? Perhaps one of
your readers is interested in advertising.

---

Clarification of Question by superba-ga on 13 Aug 2002 16:03 PDT

Hi!  Wow that was fast!  Our newsletter goes to our members, 85% in
the US, the balance mostly in Anglophone countries.  It's an email
newsletter that also goes out in an optional HTML format.  I haven't
tried putting "your ad here" because we have kind of a
high-groove-quotient membership, and I am nervous of seeming cheesy. 
If I can think of a witty way to put it across, we might try it,
though (good idea!)

---

Clarification of Question by superba-ga on 13 Aug 2002 16:16 PDT

Also, I meant to add: the publication is very brief and concentrates
on a small group of weird/interesting things we have available on our
site.  Also there is usually some small informational essay and/or
offer, a quotation from literature, sometimes a literary themed
contest. The newsletter is really just aimed at people who love cool,
rare and/or weird stuff.

---

Request for Question Clarification by bitmaven-ga on 15 Aug 2002 18:22 PDT

superba-ga

I don't know if this is out of the google-bounds, but might we see
your webpage?  I might get a better idea as to who might be interested
(ad wise) if I could see exactly what you were selling/pitching.    I
have a few ideas in my head, but I'm afraid they might be too wierd.
:)

bitmaven-ga

---

Clarification of Question by superba-ga on 15 Aug 2002 22:54 PDT

Hi!  No harm in trying, I guess ... our site is http://www.popula.com.
 If this is not cool, I apologize, Googlistas!  But I could really use
some help/suggestions for this task!

thx v. much.

superba-ga

I got a chance to look around your site and 'feel out' what you might
be looking for.   The following (I've decided to include 15 possible
companies, and 3 'maybe' suggestions)  are just possibilities for
companies you might target about advertising.  I've also included
links below that will help you stimulate other possible leads, as well
as a bit more into the mysterious science of ezine advertising.   By
the way, your website is really fascinating.   I may have to go back
to it as a consumer, rather than as a researcher. :)

One of the first companies I was thinking about, when I looked at your
music section was a little known, and favorite company of mine called
http://www.cdbaby.com   -- They seem to have a lot of what many of
your customers were selling, and they're just generally groovy folks,
to boot.

You might also try http://www.cdnow.com, a larger company, but still
relatively diverse with the music.

For your antiques/vintage section, you might try
http://www.spin.net.au/~rokit/ -- Rokit is an online directory of
antiques (mostly 20th Century, vintage goodness) as well as books and
music.

When in doubt for vintage clothing ad possibilities, you might try
http://www.monstervintage.com/ (I love them already, their title is in
japanese :)

Or http://www.catchingthebutterfly.com/  

http://www.unique-vintage.com/  
 (Both of these are also vintage clothing stores) 

http://www.fashiondig.com/ -- A store that explores '20th century
sytle'  it offers many a link to vintage ware and image archives that
they list are for 'inspiration' into your own vintage look.

Oh this is a list within a list.   Upon typing "kitsch" "stores"
"online" in a google query I was greeted with this wonderful list of
possible ad-revenue for your store:

http://altervistas.com/sites/bizarre/shopping/online_stores/

Again with the books, might I suggest, http://www.bookfinder.com/  --
A great resource for finding all those hard to find books your
customers seemed to be selling.

Also, http://www.bookquarters.com/booklist.asp -- A book collectors
clearinghouse that allows you to search for hard-to-find books and
compare it with over 140 different stores that sell books online.

For your poster/art needs, I reccomend a larger store,
http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=605481  provides a good
selection of posters your customers might enjoy.   They're varied
enough with their selection to satisfy many tastes.

Also, http://www.barewalls.com/ - similar to allposters, but a bit
smaller in scope.

For more 'object d'art'  might I suggest: 
http://www.afterzed.com/aftermarket/ -- A unique collection of art,
ranging from jewelry, photos, framed pieces and sculptures.


For your kitchen needs, I found this site: 
http://www.eclectic-ware.com/Eclectic-ware/eclectic-ware.html

I don't know if you'd use this in your e-zine perse, but for your
erotica section, perhaps http://www.foryoualone.co.uk/ -- a very cute,
cleverly designed british adult 'toy' store.

A few others I've found that may work with your store, may not: 

http://www.animenation.com/ -- These guys advertise on many circles,
and your interests are wide enough that they might apply to you.

http://www.oneofakindantiques.com/ -- Rather self explanatory,
operating out of CT.

http://www.englishretreads.com/ -- A site specializing in purses, made
out of recycled rubber inner tubes.   These guys are pretty neat. 
Their designs look fresh and new, and they're doing something
positive.   This seems quite oriented to the type of audience you
might be attracting.


I'm sure there's quite a bit more out there, but this will give you a
good jumping off point.   At no extra charge, I've included some links
that might help you target your store even more efficently than I've
been able to do.  http://opt-influence.com/
will allow you to serve up your e-zine/newsletter to potential
advertisers (on major directory lists).   The Ezine-tips.com links are
suggested reading for better possible targeting methods.

http://opt-influence.com/


A site on what your advertisers might want. 
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/revenue/20010419.shtml

Tips on coming up with other possible advertisers for your list:  
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/revenue/20001012.shtml

Relevant ads, for your readers -- A tip, you could always ask your
audience what they might want to see:
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/revenue/20000726.shtml

How to find advertisers, past the google-answers method: 
http://ezine-tips.com/articles/revenue/19990616.shtml

	1. Place your advertising info in the ezine itself. You might be
surprised at how many of your subscribers are actually  potential
advertisers. If your web hosting provider allows it, set up a special
alias for advertising info requests. Either equip this alias with an
autoresponder to automatically send information to interested parties,
or keep a text file handy to cut and paste into a reply email to save
yourself time.

If you do use an autoresponder, make sure you are sent a copy of the
requests, so that you can follow up. Just be aware that too many
follow-ups may be perceived as spam by the person on the other end.

	2. Keep a list of folks who have advertised with you in the past.
Probably the best source of advertising sales is from repeat,
satisfied customers. Ask your advertisers if they'd like to join a
list to be notified of upcoming ad specials, etc. Then use this list
to contact them periodically (no more than twice a month).

	3. List your ezine's rates and information in the various ezine
advertising directories on the Web. Here are two nice ones:

	http://ezineadsource.com/
	http://lifestylespub.com/

In closing, I really hope this can help you out in your possible
ad-revenue hunt.   I enjoy helping folks who offer something creative
and new, and the research in this case was quite fun.   Its always
good to find possible new stores to go visit as a customer myself.  
Good luck!

bitmaven-ga

Search terms:  "unusual" "store" "Online"
               "unique" "one-of-a-kind"
               "unusual" "store" "Online"
               "book collecting" "stores"
               "fashion" "vintage"
               "erotica" "stores" "online"
               "kitchen" "eclectic" "unique"
               "posters online"
               "kitsch" "stores" "online"                
               "vintage clothes" "online"
               "unique" "antiques" "online"
               "music stores" "alternative" "online"
               "music" "eclectic" "varied"
               "email list advertising"
               "eclectic music"

Yay, bitmaven!  Wotta bang for the buck.  If we manage to get this
financing I'm working on, can we hire you?  Thanks 1,000,000!

My friend Max, who is successfully operating a small pet supply Web
site and newsletter, recommends a book, Advertising on the Internet
(Second Edition):

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0471344044/ref=ase_wilsoninternetse/103-0887825-5146204

I wish I could do more to help, since your project sounds like the
kind of offbeat thing that I like.

Best of luck!
pinkfreud

Superba, 

(gushing here, she swears)

Dunno how the google editors feel about job offers :-)  Thanks for the
high praise tho, I'm glad I could help.   Good luck with your site,
and the financing,  it does rock.


Bitmaven-ga