Photo for our ad

[wgoforth]

PM

hmm, none recieved...

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

Replied

[Oldgringo]

Go with the first photo unless you're trying for the Bonny and Clyde look. Concealed is concealed.

[wgoforth]

Actual ad

[Dave2]

Nice! I like that picture better in the context of the ad than I did when it was just a picture.

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

NICE!!!

[speedsix]

...I like the first one best...

[wgoforth]

I can't take credit (or blame)... I took it to the newspaper, and they asked for the original pic so they could crop and rebuild it, and that's what they came up with. Not bad, at least an attractive lady in it

[C-dub]

Late to the party as usual. How about guns drawn, but pointed up at the ready and both looking at the camera like in the first picture? Kind of like this lady, but with you two back to back.

[wgoforth]

Late to the party as usual. How about guns drawn, but pointed up at the ready and both looking at the camera like in the first picture? Kind of like this lady, but with you two back to back.

I had actually thought of the "Charlies Angels" pose.... but then thought about how I tell folks even up is not a safe position, either safety or tactics. If one were to go off...what goes up must come down. In tactics, simple blocking can hamper deployment... We will likely try some others though...or maybe actual pics of a class.
Thanks!

[Oldgringo]

Good choice. You want to come across as responsible and concerned citizens not as members of some vigilante cult sans capes...imo.

[Rex B]

I think that the first picture is the by far the best pose. With the two of you leaning on each other it says that not only do you have each other's backs but that you each support one another and count on one another. The arms crossed gives a good solid feeling to your foundation and confidence in your knowledge and skills. The looking into the camera smiling gives the viewers a comfortable feeling and that the two of you are approachable.

I have 3 suggestions...

1) Make your guns visible via OWB holsters. If you have to borrow a gun and holster from a friend to make it happen do it. This way viewers can understand the caption at a quick glance.

2) Put a title on the top of it. Something like "Defensive Pistol Training" or something similar. This too will allow viewers to know what they are looking at right away.

3) Put what you teach and contact info at the bottom e.g. Basic and Advanced handgun training courses. Call ***-***-**** for more info.


I think with the guns out and being aimed it could be seen as too aggressive for beginners and knowledgeable persons alike. Nobody wants to take a course from someone that carries a gun because it makes them look cool of tough.

You want people to be able to understand your poster/ad immediately. If they have to study it it will make them feel that it is unorganized. Your poster/ad is a direct reflection of your courses. If they feel the poster/ad is unorganized they will feel that is how you courses will be too.

You also want to keep it simple. Too much info will make it look jumbled and cramped. This will lead to people feeling that they are being bombarded with information. Again, if they feel this way about your poster/ad they will feel your courses will be the same.

I'm a marketing guy, and I work with this sort of thing daily. This is right on the money

[Rex B]

Great suggestions, Don't Tread.

I had already modified it to this:

I would move the paragraph to either the right side (so it looks like she is saying it) or to a central position.
I think the location (Brownwood) would be essential. I hate ads with no location.

[schufflerbot]

love the idea, but think you could benefit greatly from the services of a professional photographer and someone with a little photoshop knowledge/experience.

if you want, i can play around with the photos you submitted this weekend... no offense, but those look like backyard photos taken with a pocket camera. ;)

if you're advertising services, you want the potential customer to think that you're 100% professional in every way, right?

that starts with a good, quality image with organized information and if possible, a nice logo.

do you have a company name?

[Bulldog1911]

I'm also not sure how I feel about the pine tree background.