Best Way To Advertise?

Splinter

I've been a small potatoes operation for 10 years now, and while I've never made a fortune, I've always been comfortable. My work came in steady by word of mouth and I never felt like I had to throw in the towel.

These days I'm running low on work, and the jobs I've picked up so far this year were far from decent moneymakers. It's time for me to advertise.

I build kitchens and bathrooms and also have a small woodworking shop to do custom pieces. The biggest problem is that there's thousands of home remodelers here on LI building kitchens and bathrooms, and also very few homeowners looking for custom woodworking.

I think the general opinion of the yellow pages is it's not worth it, and the local craigslist is overrun with ads claiming "cheapest on Long Island" and "No product markup!" I'm currently working in my shop, so I dont even have a customers lawn to leave a small sign on. The shop is on a side road, and while I plan on putting a big sign on the front of the building, I dont think it gets a lot of viewings.

So where do I start? I know I need a website, but the one I had for 4 years barely got any hits. Any suggestions appreciated.

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- Alex

Long Island Remodeling Contractor

kevjob

try www.footbridgemedia.com for re vamping website and Aaron will also get your great SEO. Try door hangers or flyers to start with especially where you work alot.

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Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

threaderman

The advertising that works for you may not work for me.Try posting some smaller ads here and there to get a feel of where your hits are coming from,then hit it hard when you find something that works.
Even though I'm constantly tweaking my web-page and not really proud of it yet,I have the address prominently displayed in all my advertising,bus.cards,etc.If I can get people look at it then I feel I'm half way there, though it's the knowledge,great service, personality , diplomacy , fairness and just answering the phone gets me a lot of work,you still have to get the phones to ring.There is no single answer.
Try the search on this forum and these guys have found a hundred ways to advertise,and any info. you need regarding a quality web-site can be found here as well.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

threaderman

I use Craigs list and on occasion actually put right on my ad "if your looking for the cheapest company,that's not us".If you want someone fair,quality minded,work to code etc,call us.And I list the web-site address,naturally.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

Splinter

Thanks Kevin, I've heard of Footbridge, but never checked them out... It looks like a very good way to have a site built..

Joe, did you build your own website, or did you have someone make it for you?

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- Alex

Long Island Remodeling Contractor

threaderman

Mine is a template but I own it now,and can change it when I need to.The guy did a BS job on me from the git -go but I really got a great price considering what I've bein able to do with it so far.The template and initial set-up cost me 500.00,by the way.I needed something quickly so I really didn't interview other web builders.Oh yeah I forgot ,he came recommended from another idiot I fired shortly after that recommendation.

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Joe ---International Code Council Member

Your plumbing & gas specialist proudly serving Oklahoma City OK, Moore, Warr-acres, Norman, Midwest City, Edmond, Bethany, Forest Park

Splinter

So I just pulled the trigger on Footbridge... I'm excited to see what they can put together for me.

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- Alex

Long Island Remodeling Contractor

kevjob

you will be very pleased with the website and seo Aaron can also do bus cards postcards etc..

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Kevin
Basement Finishing Highlands Ranch Colorado
Littleton Colorado, Basement Remodeling
Kitchen Remodeling Denver

jarvis design

Hey everyone,
I thought I would add my perspective from up here in Canada. I am a custom design build contractor specializing in bathrooms and have work (usually for 3-4 months in advance). I am not in the yellow pages and the only flyers I do are 5x8 2 sided full colour on card stock - I don't do huge mailings -maybe a 1000 at a time in specific neighbourhoods - but it seems to keep me busy. I try to time mailings for when I am working in the area so people see my truck or trailer.
One other thing, if anyone needs a website and can deal with working long distance, my guy here in London did my website for less than $500.00 and that included hosting for a year.

Good luck!!
Mike J

jtomin

Hello, I own a painting and flooring business in Medford Oregon. I use a website called elance.com for all of my website design and graphic design. I was able to have 2 sites created and designed for under 500 total. It takes some time to learn what to tell the designers but the work is great. It is sort of like ebay but for web and graphic design.

Carport King

Stand out above the crowd! Everyone is the best,cheapest,fastest yada, yada,yada.

So be different and stand out. Be the most expensive and here is why. Tell a story about what and how you do it everything, you hand pick every piece of lumber that you use in your own custom wood shop. One out of maybe 25 is good enough because of your high standards.

Then every piece is milled for a perfect fit. Then every piece is hand sanded for that perfect smooth finish and then it is hand stained and finished to a gloss finish.

You get the message. There are clients out there who will pay for that type of product. Always go for the high end client.

yockremod

Wife did our website. Got it up in Feb. Comes up on page 1 on google. She also uses that Google Analytics to track the site. we average about 8 hits a day and 2 requests for estimates a week. Wish we got it done earlier. She knows how to set all that keyword stuff and tags...etc. She works in advertising and will be working on a few smaller sites for friends of ours. Check it out. www.yockeyremodeling.com

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www.yockeyremodeling.com
info@yockeyremodeling.com

gpaul

I build custom web sites, and while they are great and many people will not do business with you nowadays if you dont have one, its getting the peope to it.

In the case of home remodelers, I have found, and many of the national chains use direct mailers. Clipper magazine and Val Pak are the heavy hitters here in Pa.

If you have a web site up and put our a mailer, you can track your mailers response rate by hits to your site the day the mail is dropped.

So web presences is a must, but you need to help it with ourside sources like mail.

morganexteriors

best way to advertise i would say is by doing great business...word of mouth travels faster than one tends to think, and there's no better word than the ones that come out of a satisfied customers' mouth.

NH Remodeling Company With Services for Sunrooms Windows and Vinyl Siding

chars104

Thats great. We have a website but never get hits on it. Can you explain more detail how she is directing traffic and drawing people to your website. what tags are you using? We are in New mexico and have had a website for 2 years and I think I have received only one call. Thanks for any feedback.