I personally believe 2009 will be a great year for business with existing customers being the best form of advertisment.
I think so many learnt in the recent years about grabbing the lowest price along with who could get there tomorrow & be done yesterday.
I closed down in October of 2003. Due to repeat calls from old customers 2 plus years later, I finally accepted to return to work, but do so under my conditions. Knock on wood I was in the position to do so. Work limited days, hours, with no more than employees needed.
I know different areas, money needed, age of each Contractor as well as number of years being in business all plays a part in what we each need to survive.
I have started from nothing twice in my 33 years of business from a disability making me bedridden & was young without the needed disability Ins to carry me thru.
But each time from my customers & word of mouth, as well as the economy each time helping, I was able to get back on my feet & do well very fast. As well as moving to states starting up without knowing a single person.
I firmy believe if each job is done in a manner that your business depends on it, (in reality it does), one can remain as busy as one wishes to, modify your company size accordingly to satisfy your customer's needs.
Each satisfied customer shows your work to a number of other possible clients. Each job one does should generate at least 3 other jobs in no more than 5 years at the least. The longer one is in business the more "your work" should sell itself. If tying to expand, well then I see the need for advertising in what ever way to get to your goal. For me each time I expanded was because of the need to expand from referrals of jobs completed.
After 5 or 10 years in business one should know the market they are best suited for and should be settling to that market with your work selling your business for you.
Some different types of business require advertisment to survive, but typical Contractors serving H/O's, I don't believe need special or costly marketing.
I may be all wrong & may have just been really lucky in my life, if so I need to go buy me some lotto tickets
If one lives beyond their means, fail to see a customer as part of their business life, trys to get more jobs & to the bank as fast as possible, without taking the time to thank the one who wrote that check, may face hard times.
Always remember your business is your life, without it you are back to a 9 to 5 job waiting on Friday for your paycheck. You don;t have to kiss your customer's azz, just offer them the same quality & respect you would want to recieve & for me, I firmly believe they will be your best form of advertising.
Thru the past few decades most of us have had to run to keep up and so many forgot to take the time to say thank you to their customers. If you fail to remember your customers, they just may fail to remember you.
2009 I believe will prove this.
Just my thoughts, for my market. It is great to dream & grow and be able to live a great life, that is why we all are in business for the most part.
Just remember a good, solid, business will allow your dreams to become reality.
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