#1 word of mouth
#2 business cards
#3 Yellow pages
#4 competitions of shows, etc.

Any others that you are using that you have found that works to get yourself noticed?

INTERNET!!!

get an internet ad. I have a google adwords campaign and a website. They are keeping me busy.

Website and list youself on as many bridal networks available most are free I'm on one that I pay .10 per click. I put an amount in my account and whenever someone clicks my website they take .10 $20 can last a few months.

When I ordered my cards for future use, I also ordered return address lables with the same information on them, not addresses, just email, phone, photo, slogan, and company name. When I deliver a cake or someone picks them up, I stick it on their cake box... I have gotten a few orders off of this from parties.. or even better if it is a huge cake and it isn't a formal setting like a wedding, say it is a kiddie party... I stick the same sticker on my cake board so as slices are going out, people are getting name recognition. I got both the labels and cards from vistaprints and they called last week offering a free trial run on a website that they build for you... I am not that deep in yet, so I haven't gone that right,but just a thought

Hey Lindsay how are your cakes coming along. I'm not finished yet. Love those Bridal sites great for business.

Sharon, They are going great! I finished them on Friday. All I have left to do is my samples!

Thanks for asking.

And you? Any more pics? I'd love if you have more to see them

lol....how could I forget the internet, I am always on it!!

If you had a chance to do a window display with a frosted dummy cake with your business name attached to it so the world could view it, would you be interested?Would you consider this advertising for yourself even if your dummy cake was sitting on a display next to another's with their name on it?

I would definitely do a dummy cake for a window display if you have the opportunity! Even with another dummy right next to it. There are SO many people out there, enough for you AND the 'other guy' to bake for.

Other low cost forms of advertising include taking samples to various locations. Small flyers wherever you can put them- library bulletin boards, school faculty lounges, etc.

Good luck!

For me word of mouth is keeping me pretty busy. I also make cakes and give them away randomly and that gets me TONS of business. I give them to realtors, builders, mortgage lenders, and others. They know TONS of people...so the word gets around fast.

I also got a lead at a party this past Friday....I made the Power Ranger Cupcake Cake (in my photos) and I gave my web address to 2 people. One is a guy who's wife is a pharmsutical (sp?) salesperson who likes to give baked goods to her doctors. He asked me if I'd be interested in being her supplier!!!!! I hope that she calls me!!!

Referrals & more referrals!
I participate in "networking" groups and events- take tons of business cards & flyers. Get to know all the wedding/party planners in your area. People like to know you. If they like you they will give you business!
Stickers, cards, flyers, etc- make sure your info is on EveryThing! And make sure everyone you know has a stack. Give upgrades or add-ons to those who give you referrals!
The words "I know a great person for cakes" go so much farther than an ad in the yellowpages!

yep I just went to my first networking group last month and I am joining it on Tues Valley Womens networking this month speaker is on the financial end of business. Almost forgot about it.

albumangle I graduated from Southgate High moved to Canada in 1981. My kid were born in LA

Just want to add my 2 cents worth on the internet. The ONLY advertising I do is on two internet sites .... The Knot and Respond.com.

My business tripled from one year to the next when I put ads on these two sites.

I won't do a yellow pages ad because I'm not sure anyone really uses those. Take a general survey .... most people tell me they go straight to the internet when they want to find a business. So far, I haven't found anyone who refers to the yellow pages when they are looking for something.