So, I actually have to get my business off the ground. Here’s where I’m at:
– business cards should be ready this week, so I’m going to start passing them out like it’s going out of style.
– I’m thinking of doing a targeted mail drop. Canada Post will drop off cards, for example, to neighbourhoods that meet certain criteria. I need more information on this front, but it seems promising.
– My vehicle is unmarked. I need signage.
– I haven’t done much work outside of family and friends, but I plan to send letters to past clients featuring my new logo.
– I’m thinking I’ll need a line in the Yellow Pages for credibility.
– It seems that I’ll have an opportunity to work with my former employers’ cabinet installer for a couple jobs, which should increase my exposure with clients who could act as referrals.
Is there anything else I should be doing? Someone I knew started a kitchen design/installation business with nothing more than a Yellow Pages ad.
Interestingly enough, I’m not thinking website. A local contractor mentioned that, when asked, 0% of his clients said they’d visited his website. So he shut it down.
Replies
100% of my clients have visited my website.
FWIW
Google adwords are a great, cheap, marketing tool. Also Craigslist depending on what you are doing. Definitely worth a shot if you are new, it's free.
Edited 1/6/2008 8:40 pm ET by redeyedfly
Ok. Noted. I'm in a fairly conservative kind of area, so it didn't surprised me to hear that clients might not be so net-saavy.I shouldn't sound so quick to rule it out.
Around these parts I'm not so sure I'd want to hitch my wagon up to Craigslist. There is a general feeling around Seattle that the carpenters and contractors found off CL are generally unreliable. Many are unlicensed and state so in the ad. Pisses me off to no end that it's taking biz from people that are trying to be legit. I've had many clients ask me what my hourly rate is and when I tell them they typically say "geeze....I can get somebody off Craigslist for $25 an hour". And I tell them go ahead, but here's my card. Call me when they don't finish the job after they've taken your money and or they get hurt at your house and you are stuck paying for that lopped off finger or long term care for a fall of the roof.
I've stopped advertising on CL because people expect that they should only have to pay $25 bucks an hour and that just isn't going to pay the bills.
BjR
Edited 1/7/2008 12:56 am ET by BjR
I think it's a pretty dicey deal too. The one good thing about a craigslist ad is you can say a lot for free, which qualifies the clients if they do happen to call. By structuring the ad to explain your quality and insurances, etc, you can weed out those that are looking for cheap. Also, because so many are advertising in bottom tier language, you can easily separate from the pack.I've done few small deals from cl but the vast majority are tire kickers or looking for ten dollar carpenters. Bob's next test date: 12/10/07
Yard signs, Photo post cards, stay out of the yellow pages and craigs list type deals- nothing but tire kickers and "how cheap will you work for?" type folks there.
100% of my client have visited my website and I have gotten several houses from it. In this day you really need to have one. It needs to have lots of pretty pictures of your work and quotes from satisfied clients. I like having a public "how we work section to let people know what to expect and what to bring to the first meeting.
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"You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate."
yellow pages were a waste of money for my partner. He ran one for a year and barely covered the cost of the ad from the jobs he got. besides, Yellow pages dont make you credible your work does. I've done a year and a half of work now from stictly word of mouth. I have spent $0 on adversing. Even my business cards I got for free cuz I know a guy who works at a print shop. I started out simply doing jobs for people I know and word traveled fast. I had one good contact from my pevious job that gives me a good amount of work.
Your best advertising will be your work, and that kind is great cuz instead of shelling out for it. you get paid. Just make sure you do in increrdible job. The other stuff does work for some people but it is not the only way.
My partner has had signs on his van for a couple months now, so far no calls yet via that route, but you never know. At least with that it's a one time deal. Unlike yellow pages.
good luck