The effectiveness of advertising balloons is topped only by the relatively new phenomenon of advertising wrapping. Wrapping, which consists of printing advertising on thin material and literally wrapping it around an object to turn it into a billboard, is extremely costly. Advertising balloons, on the other hand, are extremely affordable. Here, then, is the Who, What, When, Where, and Why of advertising inflatables.

Who: Advertising inflatables are relatively inexpensive, and can definitely accommodate even the most modest advertising budget. Advertising balloons allow small- and medium-sized businesses and organizations to compete with their larger counterparts.

What: Advertising inflatables include advertising balloons, advertising blimps, custom balloons and helium balloons. Some are filled with helium, while others are filled using cold-air blowers. Advertising blimps and advertising balloons are typically tethered to the ground or a rooftop, and float up to 120 feet above the ground. Twenty-foot tall dancing balloons, often in the shape of a person or character, are tethered to the ground and are filled using an air blower. Most companies keep a variety of standard advertising inflatables in stock, but they can also make balloons or blimps in virtually any shape.

When: Use advertising inflatables anytime you need to draw the attention of passersby. Advertising blimps are great when you want to attract attention from a distance. If you have a retail store near a highway, for example, a small blimp flying in the sky will grab the attention of drivers. If you wish to attract street traffic, a dancing balloon tethered to the ground at street level will cause heads to turn. Keep in mind, though, that dancing balloons tend to fall over in winds over 20 miles per hour, and are most effective on calm days. If you have a booth at a trade show, you may wish to hang advertising balloons from the ceiling.

Where: Advertising balloons and blimps can be used anywhere you want to stand out from the crowd, whether it's near a storefront, at a street festival, at a fundraising event, or at a trade show.

Why: Advertising inflatables are an extremely cost effective method of drawing attention to your store, product, or service. For as little as $300, you can have an effective advertisement that you can use as often as you'd like.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Visit this Business and Entrepreneurs Website and Majon's Business and Entrepreneurs directory.