There are a lot of ways to spread the word about your business, and they don't always involve huge billboards and gigantic flashing signs.  Walking around Atlanta's midtown neighborhood, I recently spotted these signs [pictured below].  They were placed in numerous yards along a main thoroughfare, warning drivers to proceed cautiously through the area.  Undoubtedly the homeowners who placed them streetside have a connection to the cause.

As you can see, the signs are simple and relatively inexpensive, but they feed on the passion of parents and city dwellers for a safe coexistence with vehicular traffic.  So how is this advertising?
Look closely at the bottom of the sign.  PEDS.org [a pedestrian advocacy organization] and abbadabba [a trendy local footwear retailer] have sponsored them.  Although the average passerby might miss this commercial endorsement, the effect on both pedestrians and homeowners is strengthened by this subtle affiliation.
Sometimes it's just better to build a handful of strong relationships than a lot of weak ones.

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