If you’re like many women who specialize in family portraiture, and who draw from your neighborhood for clientele, here’s a terrific idea for a Halloween promotion.

Since families should be thinking about portraits for Christmas holiday cards or gifts but typically don’t until the last possible moment, create a small, one-sided promo flyer to advertise your services. Be sure to tell them to book early to avoid the rush (you might even offer a small discount if they book within the next week). Rather than printing a batch on your home printer, take a finished piece to a Kinko’s or Office Max and have them run as many color copies as you think you might need. Copies made this way are much cheaper than if you do them yourself.

At your favorite discount store, buy full size candy bars, as many as you think you’ll need for the traffic at your house. Tape or rubber band the flyer around the bars, with the blank side out, and give them away to the little urchins when they come a’beggin’.

The payoff will happen when the kids get home and their candy is checked by the parents, who will see the blank paper wrap and naturally want to see what it is. Voila! Targeted advertising for about a dollar per family.