HousingZone.com

Mark Prideaux, owner and sales and marketing manager for Landmark Construction & Remodeling in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, knows that brand building requires continual, proactive marketing. So when local elections were held in his area in November, Prideaux had his printer create 30 plastic "campaign signs" featuring Landmark's logo. Prideaux then had his six workers place them among other campaign signs within a 5-mile radius of Landmark's offices. The signs were displayed for about two weeks before the election.

At a cost of less than $10 per sign, Prideaux says this marketing method was efficient and effective. While a city official called to say he needed permission to put a sign in one area (he was not penalized), Prideaux says the move was worth the exposure. Many familiar with Landmark commented on the signs.

Prideaux says such projects, coupled with job-site signage and logos on company trucks, increase visibility and make Landmark's $1.7 million operation "appear much larger than it is."

"For us, marketing is more of a process than an event," Prideaux says. "We're always looking for ways to increase marketing, and I took advantage of an opportunity with the election. There were no upfront expectations about bringing in new leads. This was about publicity."