Where to advertise?

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andyselec@aol.com

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Location
durham,nc
Occupation
Electrical contractor
In today's market where do you think the best place to advertise? I have a small 1 man shop (since 1995) and a small website and facebook page. Ive read to many nightmares about craigslist , what are you guys seeing as effective advertising in this tight market? My website I seem to get more calls from marketing people who want to better place my ad's are the worth it? Seems like alot of other business that use them think there just a scam. Any thoughts?
 
Google local lets you set up a "free" ad, just be prepared for telemarketers.

I have gotten some good jobs through it.
 
First you need to know who your targeted customers are, then you need to know where they spend time that they may notice you.

Just as good contractors maybe don't like Craigslist, a good customer probably does not either. If you are heavy in residential and get work in good neighborhoods, and do good work and make your customers happy they tell their friends, neighbors, relatives, coworkers, and pretty soon your image is selling itself. Many will not care about the cost as long as it is not way out of line.
 
Instead of advertising, how about joining a networking group? Or sending promotions to current customers? Or writing an article for the local paper?
 
direct mail

direct mail

Lately I get the most responses from google adwords +. I also have a phone book ad and a add in the service directory in the news paper.
The most effective ad campaign was when I started, targeted mail campaign. It carried me through several years of very hectic steady work and I still have a lot of those customers as my repeat base. Find your market and send them mail. Come to think of it I may revamp that approach again. Its been 17 years, and real effective.
 
JJWalecka said:
Flyer on a postcard. The postage is cheaper. :cool:
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Most of my work comes from word of mouth, but I would like to grow the business. I have heard pros and a lot of cons using post cards or a flyer. Did you develop the post card yourself or did you use a logo company? I have been debating on using that type of advertisement, but my concern is would I recoup my cost and how long it would take.
 
A1cbr said:
Most of my work comes from word of mouth, but I would like to grow the business. I have heard pros and a lot of cons using post cards or a flyer. Did you develop the post card yourself or did you use a logo company? I have been debating on using that type of advertisement, but my concern is would I recoup my cost and how long it would take.
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We live and work in a rural area. My targeted customers were farmers that have a need for expanding their grain handling equipment. We had pictures of before & after results for previous work, although those were more industrial in scope. We developed our own layout and with the aid of a laser color printer we already have, printed and mailed them. Hand addressed. The same flyer was copied into an area Ag related monthly, but the job was the result of the flyer. We asked. I doubt we had more than $500 worth of time plus the mailing costs.
 
all those are excellent ideas, 1 of the biggest things I hate with shops is that on there trucks they dont put down the phone number on them or its so small you have to be right at the truck to read it.People are inheritly lazy and unless you cut them off on the freeway and they want to bitch you out. They wont go looking for you in the phone book.
 
copper chopper said:
all those are excellent ideas, 1 of the biggest things I hate with shops is that on there trucks they dont put down the phone number on them or its so small you have to be right at the truck to read it.People are inheritly lazy and unless you cut them off on the freeway and they want to bitch you out. They wont go looking for you in the phone book.
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If you are a horrible driver you need one of your competitors signs on your vehicles while on road, and take it off when near the current job:lol:.
 
A1cbr said:
Most of my work comes from word of mouth, but I would like to grow the business. I have heard pros and a lot of cons using post cards or a flyer. Did you develop the post card yourself or did you use a logo company? I have been debating on using that type of advertisement, but my concern is would I recoup my cost and how long it would take.
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Where ya been, Al??
 
The best advertising is me. I simply go out in the area and meet the business owners it gives me a double shot at a customer I cane get them as a business customer and also as a residential customer.
 
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