Replies

1. 
   frammer52 | Oct 10, 2008 01:58am | #1

   The time to line up more work is when you are busy.  It must be a confidence thing, but I was always the busiest when I was the busiest.(Understand)

   Never stop looking for more work.  I always said if things were that good for me I will hire or sub out the excess!

   I forgot, congradulation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. 
   Oak River Mike | Oct 10, 2008 02:03am | #2

   Thanks Frammer!

   Yeah, just not sure where the next one will come from based on the economy.  Thats why I am wodnering where to spend to get the most bang for the buck...

1. 
   EricPaulson | Oct 10, 2008 02:14am | #3

   For a few thousand dollars a year, the company I work for runs a lot of 30 second ads on local cable channels.

   Getting a pretty good bang out of it.

   I think we get production for around $500.00 per ad. They had a special where they sold 1000 spots for $1000.00 I think? Maybe a little more but it wasn't much.

   I would encourage anyone to look in to it. 

1. 
   Oak River Mike | Oct 10, 2008 03:07am | #4

   Eric,

   Not a bad idea as NO ONE is running construction ads in our market right now. I could be the only one.

   Thanks

    

2. 
   alwaysoverbudget | Oct 10, 2008 03:43am | #5

   truck and trailer lettered? thats the first thing i think. then a sign in the front yard of your jobsite. 

   advertising was always a expense for me with little return and heres why,i wouldn't make a full commitment. if your going to spend money advertising,you have to be consistant day in and day out.once they have heard your ad 200 times they will finally remember you,as long as you hit them again every couple days!

   if my truck was lettered and looking good,i swear on the weekends i'd make sure i went to lowes /hd first thing sat.am and parked the truck front row.maybe buy a couple 2x's and throw in the bed so lowes feels better. i have seen people stop and write numbers down off of guys there loading up. larry

   if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

1. 
   maverick | Oct 15, 2008 04:20am | #9

   >>if my truck was lettered and looking good,i swear on the weekends i'd make sure.....

   ?????

   I think yer trying to give yerself a wake-up call 

3. 
   DanH | Oct 10, 2008 04:00am | #6

   Just become a Minnesota Lutheran. Then you'll know God's gonna get even for the happiness you're enjoying now.

   Corporation: n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. --Ambrose Bierce
1. 
   Oak River Mike | Oct 10, 2008 05:34am | #8

   Ahhh, another fan!  I saw him live last year....come to think of it, I am expecting God to get even with me sometime soon!

4. 
   Robrehm | Oct 10, 2008 05:17am | #7

   In a word, networking. Go to chamber meetings. Be friendly, be forward. tell folks what you do. Find a networking group & attend socials even if you don't join. A booth in a trade show where you want business (dentist, docs, land sharks......I mean lawyers, etc.) can be a great thing IF you work it. 

    At a trade show, Give always that get attention. I use a squirt gun ( I was leery but the advertising guy said try it, it works like a dream) and a high end corkscrew reflective of the high end restaurants we build. I tend to be a "destination" booth. & make sure your company name & # or web address are on there.

   This IS the time to stand out, be proactive. Look around, who else is marketing? Any one your size? Capitalize on that & point out you aren't fly by night. times are tough & you are still there. Always be positive when meeting clients. You'll be amazed how well it works.

   I agree it takes a bunch of $ to do traditional advertising. Instead get a professionally done web site that sells for you and tie your "advertising" to draw folks in to the website.

   Just a few thoughts, I hope it helps.

   "this dog may be old but he ain't cold. And he still knows how to bury a bone."

   Lattimore

    

   http://www.rehmodeling.com

5. 
   Hazlett | Oct 19, 2008 05:29pm | #10

   Mike,---- you already know that nothing beats word of mouth advertising

   what you want is continuing referalls from your previous customers--------------
   so,---how to encouragethose referalls??????
   pretty easy---handwrite thankyou notes.

   I have 3 on my desk that i will be dropping in the mailbox on my bike ride today

   #1 to a customer who i worked for on a small repair last fall and for whom i did a larger repair and recieved payment for this past week. customer is a doctor--huge house---he is presently holding a proposal for me to replace his roof next spring( he originally recieved my name as a referall from one of his nurses--- nurse was on her condo board when I re-roofed her condo association--2-3 buildings a year for 10 plus years)

   #2 to #1's neighbor-- #2 asked for and recieved a proposal for replacing HIS roof as well---equally huge house--in conversation--it turns out I went to highschool 28 years ago with his stockbroker and good friend. #2---for whome I have not yet worked--refereed me to one of HIS long time friends-- I will be starting HER project this week

   #3--- customer was actually a referall from one of the breaktime regulars-- i will be thanking him in another thread here momentarily.

   what i do specifically is i had some post cards printed up with my company logo on them--- i also put on a "celebrating or 20th anniversar" sticker and hand write a short note.

   once a customer actually PAYS-- i send them a postcard with a short note--" thank you for the privilege of working on your home----blah, blah, blah----please let us know if we can help you in the future--blah blah, blah
   you get the idea.
   ALSO---every customer or prospective customer who calls----find out
   WHO they got your name from and send THAT person a thankyou note for the referall---hand written.
   EVERY time a person gives you a referall--wether you close the sale or not---send the person giving the referall a short hand written note.
   it takes about a year to make this a lasting habit
   everybody gets pretty much the same basic note----wether the project was a $95 service call---or a $25,000 roof.
   If you do this consistently-- and TRACK it--within a few years you will be getting referalls from people you have never met, never worked for, and have no idea WHO they are--but they will still be giving your name out and it will require a bit of detective work to find out WHERE to send the thankyou note

   what does it cost????- 2-3 minutes of your time, a 27 cent post card stamp-----and a few cents for each post card

   Best wishes,
   stephen

1. 
   Shep | Oct 19, 2008 06:23pm | #13

   I like the post card idea. I'm gonna steal that.

6. 
   Jasper57 | Oct 19, 2008 05:50pm | #11

   I'm not a contractor so I can't speak to that end of it, but I'll tell you that, as a homeowner, I'll hire a guy I see working for my neighbor ahead of anyone else. And, if his truck and his gear make him look well-organized and responsible AND EASY TO CONTACT, I'll make the effort to go ask a few questions.

   Speaking of trade shows, I saw a device at a show that mounts to the tailgate of a truck and holds business cards and advertising sheets. Signage on a truck is a good idea IMO, but cards and pictures of your work in a handy spot at your worksite is a great idea.

   Jasper57

    

    

7. 
   JeffinPA | Oct 19, 2008 05:55pm | #12

   I have never advertized.  100% referral.

   If you take great care of your clients, call your old clients and remind them that you would love to have referrals. 

   I constantly remind my clients when they are thanking me for those little extra things I do that all I ask for in return is referrals!!