Biz cards

[GG]

I have had good luck going to specialty lighting stores and placing my business cards on their counters. Just wanted to pass that along to those of you who may not have thought of doing it. Do you have any suggestions on where else I can display my cards? I went around one day and just walked into businesses and apt. complexes and handed out cards. That was a big loser. I think out of 40 places 1 actually called me back, and said I needed like a 4 million ins. policy and that they dont pay any money until 30 days. Net 30 is what they call it I guess. Anyway, I would be interested in knowing where some of you display your cards. Thanks.

 

[charlie tuna]

Re: Biz cards

gg,
consider what your trying to do and who you are competing with. you will find out your best advertisment is "word of mouth"! by placing a business card at home depot or lowes you are trying to compete against people who have no license,no knowledge,and no overhead!!! if the customer is in the store to buy the material for the job, they are already in your pocket!! and they are looking for the lowest price which is going to the guy who does the work "on the side"!
it costs about eight hundred bucks to do a nice advertisment on a service truck --- you will never get eight hundred dollars worth of net additional business from this advertisment! you will be better off contacting the small gc's and mechanical contractors in your area --- at least your competing with professional businesses!

 

[petersonra]

Re: Biz cards

personally, i would give the big box stores a shot. a professional looking brochure will attract attention from people willing to pay for quality wotk. those looking for a hundred dollars worth of work are probably not going to care and will instead want the cheapest possible price.

but there are always people who want quality work, even those who shop at home depot (like me).

you will still need to be competitive. after all, money does make the world go round.

I don't think there are any home runs in the advertsing/promotions arena though. you have to keep after it all the time. Your successes will be measured in small (but hopefully profitable) increments of business. IMO, straight up advertising is mostly a waste of money for a small venture. your best return is from satisfied customers. a small yellow pages ad might be worthwhile.

I think a well kept service truck with your name and phone number on it is worth the money, but not if it is rusted out and looks like it is falling apart. this is an image thing, and you need to project the correct image.

 

[growler]

Re: Biz cards

GG, Most commercial accounts require insurance ( the more the better ) and payment in 30 days is standard. I have lost accounts when they dropped some of their requirements for a cheaper price. The good thing about commercial accounts is that they give you a steady base income, you can charge more and there is less competition ( some people don't want to wait for their money). When it comes to advertising, it's all good, just make sure you get a return on the money that you spend. Your service trucks or vans are the only free billboards that you are ever going to get. If you do residential service, use them, for construction and commercial it's a waste of time. Remember that homeowners are also business owners and business owners also have houses. The more work you are seen doing the better off you are. Putting in a new service looks impressive to some people and passing an inspection provides credibility. Word of mouth is the best advertising but to get the ball rolling you have to do some work, to work you have to advertise. Leave stickers on the panels of the houses that you go to ( people loose your business cards ).

 

[jeff43222]

Re: Biz cards

The main specialty lighting store in these parts actually has an EC license, so I don't think I'd get to post my card there.

As for putting up cards/brochures, I've found the best places for that kind of thing are YMCAs, coffee shops, and grocery stores. The problem is that you have to keep going around to replenish the cards, and that's a time waster.

A small yellow pages ad is a waste of money, IMHO. It sure has been for me. I have an in-column display ad near the top of the category (first page), and I've gotten very few calls from it. So few, in fact, that I've spent more on the ad than I've grossed from the two service calls I've gotten from it in four months. I do much better advertising in neighborhood newspapers.

 

[mdshunk]

Re: Biz cards

Door hangers... they work fantastic. If I ever do get slow, I hang a few hundred door hangers in neighborhoods where I'd like to do more work. I'd say I get about 10 calls out of each 100, and close about 5 of the 10 calls.

 

[cselectric]

Re: Biz cards

Cards can only go so far. Sometimes it is best to display onself. So far, some of my best leads have come from community involvement. Jaycees events, coaching Little League, Volunteering services for local charities and civic organizations. Get yourself out there, do the grip and grin, and become genuinely involved in the community. Given the option, most people would rather transact business with someone they know. Being involved in community organizations allows you to be that somebody they know.

 

[celtic]

Re: Biz cards

Door hangers/flyers in condo complexes..business cards in the local deli.

It also helps that my wife does the printing (and not the cheap ones off the computer, nice raised thermo printing).

 

[cwsolo]

Re: Biz cards

I've gotten quite a bit of business just by calling every A/C contractor that does not have a EC license number in the yellow pages, and offering to provide their disconnects or service upgrades when needed. I didn't have to spend much time on it either I just called all of the quarter page ads or bigger. I have also been asked to give my pricing info to swimming pool contractor's that I've called and Boat lift companies.
I just call introduce myself and tell them that I'm a newly licensed contractor and am trying to drum up some work and if they'd be interested in letting me bid some of their jobs I'd be happy to. I also let them know that I'm newly licensed but not new to the area just so they get a good feeling that you are rooted and plan to stay around.
It's working well for me and it's free.