Ads?

[Benton]

I put question in the wrong room:

I was wondering if anyone had any advice concerning advertising. I was thinking of "soliciting". My plan was to walk in to existing companies with my card etc. I have never placed an ad. Most of my business is word of mouth from side jobs (I am licensed). But I want to increase my customer base. Any advice is more than appreciated.

 

[ptonsparky]

You might research the business a bit before you walk in the door. Be prepared for rejection or at least a polite thank you but no thanks. Sure won't hurt though.

 

[ceb58]

Try running a ad in the local newspaper. It is not that expensive and will help get your name out. The contractors will usually have an EC that they have used for years and have a relationship with. If a contractor "jumps" at your solicitation then chances are he is just looking for some one he can beat up, on price, worse than the guy doing the work now.

 

[glene77is]

. . . "soliciting" . . .

Benton,

Treat this as if it were a Career Transition.

ie,

(1) Prepare your script, resume, references,
work experience, work solutions, goals.

(2) Have a business plan for your own activities.
(Who you are, what you can do, where you want to go)

(3) Have a business plan to improve their company.
(Who they are, what they do, where they want to go)
(Your method of helping their company achieve their goal.)

Market yourself as a Solutions Provider to the contact.
(1) Have a list of their company's business requirements.
(2) Have a list of how you can improve their productivity.

Example of Offered Skills:
(1) Have an electrician friend who offers 24/7 on-call
(partly because project work is real slow)
(2) Have an electrician friend who has advanced circuit tracing skills,
and $500 signal tracers to help.
(Can trace problems that tie up a regular electricians. )
(3) Have another electrician friend who can get along
with a snake in the grass,
and not loose his shirt or cool.

 

[Benton]

Thanks guys,

GREAT ADVICE!

 

[Buck Parrish]

I recomend a book called "Start up Guide, to Guerrilla Marketing" Author Jay and Jeannie Levinsons

 

[GUNNING]

Things they b a changing

Things they b a changing

The phone book is eliminating the white pages. I'm thinking the yellow pages isn't what it was anymore. I've got one more year there then its Google time for me.
I would start either pinpointing your customers or start building up your computer internet base. Finding your customers is the proactive thing to do. Go out and sell yourself. I hesitate to say this but ask them "what will it take for you to give me a try." Sell personalized service. I started with florescent orange cards. I knew they would end up in the Rolodex and every time they passed my card they would read it. Get to know the architects and engineering firms, the larger commercial GC's. Ask what they expect from a sub. People like helping noobies. Remember you have one chance with them. You are only as good as your last sale and its a small town. The ol ataboy gets you points and one aw shoot wipes out the points. Take it slow and methodical. Get organized and keep your appointments and schedule. :roll:

 

[George Stolz]

My plan was to walk in to existing companies with my card etc.

I tried that and had a whopping 0% success rate. Even in cases where I was taken seriously walking in the door, there were no calls generated from the exercise. I would investigate other avenues before falling back on that.

In our case, it was pure desperation that started the attempt, and it could well be that the smell followed me in the door.

 

[ptonsparky]

Are we having server problems again? Seems like I can only get in the back door.

 

[Tiger Electrical]

I tried that and had a whopping 0% success rate. Even in cases where I was taken seriously walking in the door, there were no calls generated from the exercise. I would investigate other avenues before falling back on that.

In our case, it was pure desperation that started the attempt, and it could well be that the smell followed me in the door.

I recommended knocking on business doors to my BIL's cleaning business. He knocked on over 100 doors. Result: No business and 1 call to the police.

 

[GUNNING]

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Target your customer base. It takes 3 pieces of direct mail to have one read. Then it all gets thrown away. Start slow and keep at it till they remember your name. Then they remember why they remember your name. Then return their calls promptly. Sometimes there isn't any work. Thats a good time to build relationships.

 

[dbuckley]

My advice: figure out what benefit the customer will get from having your card, and then sell that. You need to be differentiated by the other ECs he could get at a moments notice from the yellow pages.