Really good marketing ideas?

I run a branch of a nation wide payday loan company. We opened in March and we are not doing so well. My regional has asked me to up my marketing, but I can't think of any good ideas taht won't a) Violate company policies or b) be expensive.
I've used the usual, flyers, door knockers, coupon mailers but they don't seem to work. I need suggestions if you don't mind?

10 points to the best answer, of course!

I'll answer your question, but you won't like it so I guess I won't get B/A. Oh well.

But first I'd like to suggest you find another field for your career. The one you're in now prays on the poor and those who are barely making it by. The interest those companies charge is horrendous and is just barely legal -- I put them in the same category as loan sharks.

Anyway, to answer your question. As I said, your target is the poor; in order to get more business you should go to the food banks in your area whenever they're open and hand out flyer's. You could also try the Social Security office, day labor businesses, and retirement homes.

I've also seen these businesses hire people to hold signs on busy street corners with the business name and an arrow pointing towards the office, maybe that will help.

Some information about payday loans:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article…

http://www.credit.com/credit_information…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payday_loan

well, this is the thing, you are not doing your market research, just investing in advertising. you should find out first who is your target customer, who they are and where they live, their buying habits and their reasons why they would go to your type of business. then you can create a message that attracts your target customer. marketing is finding out where your customers are, advertising is letting them who and where you are. also, differentiate your company from the myriad of other companies that do what you do. your advertising dollars will be better invested and your return will be greater. market ting requires a bit of time but it does make a world of difference. best wishes to you and your venture!

You'll obviously want to do a targeted marketing. Flyers and door knockers are great - but you need to get into the mailbox. And you don't even know if you are getting to the right ones.

Acxiom has people who are underbanked (i.e. tend to pay cash rather than CC or bank account) and can target by an invitation to apply ranking (not going to qualify for credit type thing). Those are the people who will need your help and response (so long as you have the right offer). Stick with postcards - most targeted mailings that come through in envelopes actually LOOK like "junk mail" and don't get opened. At least with a postcard, it's open and BAM in their face while they're sifting through their mail. Go to a company like Vista Print - you can design your postcard right online if you want to. They'll even slap the postage on it and mail it for you if you want.

Tada! In a matter of two days you've done a targeted marketing campaign on your own...and depending on the size, potentially under $1,000.