Neighborhood Marketing

VBuilt

I am staring a new job (summer home tear down and re-build) an hours drive away- yes I am thinking about buying a gas station!
A good customer, so it goes with the territory- would'nt want to lose him.
I am giving some thought to the trying to do some direct mailings, brochures, post cards ?? in the area while I am going to be there for about 5 months. I could easily handle another job or two while I am there.
The area is near the water/beaches; a mix of mostly older summer homes, converted year round homes and a few newer infills.
Has anyone had any experience with targeted advertising in a neighborhood that you are doing a job in?

Roy

buildenterprise

I usually print up some flyers with the address we're working on so potential customers can drive by and check it out. I'll leave early for work every morning and take half an hour/45 minutes to distribute the flyers. We've gotten quite a bit of work this way.

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Grumpy

There is a company, it was discussed here, they have a radius marketing program. I think they are called smart leads usa or something. YOu might want to give them a call. I will probably be tryign them out come march next year.

You may also want to pass out door hangers and flyers periodically in the neighborhood to the same houses repleatedly.

Next send a letter to everyone on the street introducing yourself and apologizing for any noise or disruptions and include yoru business card.

I think the key here will be frequency since you will probably be on site 6-9 months.

marc

Quantum mail does it for less than you can do it yourself

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Marc

VBuilt

Thanks for the replies.
I have already checked out the two mentioned and hope to make a decision over the holidays- existing house should be coming down and stuffed in dumpsters on Jan-2.

Roy

Tmrrptr

Hire a local kid to distribute flyers to doorsteps.

CSB

Marc, may I have your email address? I have a couple of questions for you.

marc

marc@sylvaincontracting.com

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Marc

ultimatetouch

I do everything Grumpy mentioned in his post. But I dont do it cosistantly which is a problem. I count on my wife to do the radius were in the neiborhood letters. With three kids that gets tough. What I was wondering, is there a company who will stuff and hand write the envelopes for you to? I know there are places mentioned above for post cards.
I would never hand out my own flyers anymore, I have them sent out by a service.

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Ultimatetouch
Illinois Remodeling Company, Kitchen Remodeling Chicago, Room Additions Illinois

Jason Whipple

I think this is a great idea. We just started a total renovation project in a lake area that does well in regards to remodeling. The problem is we are a little off the beaten path.

This would definitely help your exposure in a higher income area and keep prospects close to were you're working.

I think the US mail and the door flyer's would work best together rather than one or the other. Some people may throw one or the other out.

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Jason E Whipple, General Manager
Historic House Restoration, Cincinnati, Ohio
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vanderloo

Great article in the latest issue of "Professional Remodeler" talks aboout putting a sign onsight with "take one" box with flyers or brochures. Awesome idea!
Phil

jlomama

When we start a job, I go to zillow.com and get a list of neighboring addresses (it also gives you their home value which is nice if you want to pick and choose), then I do a reverse look up on whitepages.com to get the homeowner's name. I then hand address the envelopes with the homeowners name, this way they actually open it. We typically do 50-100 houses. Our initial letter introduces us and what we do (full service remodeling) and we also tell them we will waive our minimum fee on our handyman services while we are working in their neighborhood. A lot of times this gets us in their door. I enter their names and addresses into a database and follow up each week or every other week depending how long we are there with a new form of marketing. The more you get your name in front of them the better. You might also explain what you are doing for their neighbor in the initial letter. Good luck!