Effective Advertising

InPhase277

I have a yellowpages ad coming out. I have some ads in the local papers. I am setting up my website tonight. I am considering direct mailing. I am listed in yellowpages.com and various other online listings, that is, Yahoo!, Google etc.

What are the most effective advertising routes for skilled trades? I have never needed ads in my couple of years in business in Atlanta, because most of my customers came with me when I left my employer... But here in my new locale, I want to focus on service, and I don't know anyone. So as I am trying to get to know folks, I want to learn more about effective advertising techniques. Anyone want to comment?

InPhase277

Carport King

If you are going for electric service take a 5 mile circle around your base of operation and mail postcards. Have them designed and use 4 color and a picture of you or a house.

Postcards do not need to be opened and give them a reason to call you now.
Fall in love with your customers they write your paycheck.
Mail to local business also that could use your services.

Enlarge your coverage area to 10 miles as this works for you.
Put your postcard campaign on auto pilot for 3 months and ajust as needed.

Use up to 3-4 different postcards and rotate them each month and send different messages on each and pictures.

Put a picture of your truck and your uniform men standing in front.

There are lots of ways to get business and try to capture there emails after they are customers and do a newsletter every month, keep your name in front of them always.

Good luck

al10fred1081

I have a similar problem with leads. I just moved from Washington DC to York PA. most of my customers would refer me to neighbors and friends/ family. on my bigger projects I had about a two month lead time on jobs, and stayed busy all year, had to turn away some jobs, and barely had to advertise. Now having moved up here I don't have any referals from past customers and I'm having a problem with getting solid leads.

The customers I have worked for up here have refered me to people they know when they had the opportunity, but I have nowhere near the customer base here as I do there. I'm definately considering postcards and an ad in the yellowpages. I hear they do well but nowhere near as well as the salesmen will tell you they do. the salesmen will tell you its a 2% return on sold leads per capita... say the ad reaches 10000 people... if thats the case I should be giving them like 10 cents a lead. not even close. at least thats the way it was with the pennysaver...

Alex

kriscad

Depending on the trade...

Yard Signs work great... 9" x 18"

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rservices

I've tried all different types of mailings and what I have found most effective is taking my 4 color postcard and putting in an envelop, and mailing it.(plain envelop no marketing of return address)

It may sound strange, and it cost more to mail. My thinking is that someone will have to open it, and look at it. Not just sift threw the junk mail and toss.

So far I have had better results than anything else I've done.

Traidr977

i have to agree postcards are the best.big phone book for me (painter)was a waste of $. all looking for price. best thing about postcards is u can drive the neighborhoods your working & take down addresses & print out your cards & get them there while your work van is in the area.

Carport King

You guys are all right because you all need to test your mailings.This is whats nice about inserts or postcards you do not need to mail 5000 to see if it working.Mail out 100 or 500 at a time.

I always use 4-5 different post cards with different sizes,headline,pictures,products and the message. There will always be one that out pulls the rest and that is the one I will mass mail.

It does not take to many jobs to pay for your mailing.
If you have a web site make sure you have a way to capture everyones e-mail address and then do a monthly newsletter to your list.
E-mail address are like real estate if you work it.

We use aweber for our autoresponder service. It is easy to set up and there service is great if needed.

Over the years you build your list and work it and they are the best leads you can have.Great for promotions new products and customer referral.

Boogga

good ideas, I am about to do direct marketing to a certain group of customers who we hae been targeting for the last 3-4 months. Different postcards sounds like the way to go. Very good!

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