What's Your Single Favorite Form Of Advertising?

wackman

And by advertising I don't mean word of mouth. Like paid advertising.

deckman22

My website. I paid for it once back in '99 & it still ranks on the first page of the major search engines without ever paying a dime extra. A good website that ranks within the first 3 pages on desired keywords is well worth what you pay for it. Phone book ads work good, but cost too much $ & you have to pay every year.

Dave Mac

flyers

Bone Saw

ditto, there will be folks here who strongly disagree though

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GregS

Posting on home owner message boards. It costs me my time but results in the majority of my business.

Grumpy

My websites are my favorite for the reasons Deckman said however I also spend money advertising them in addition to their organic placement.

Tommy C

BuildingHomes - can you recommend any homeowner message boards?

Nathan

www.DIYChatroom.com is one

(shameless plug)

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

Grumpy

Yeah I too have gotten some leads from doig that but I haven't done it in quite some time because it seems like it is always the same 5 questions over and over and handy andy's tend to get upset when you tell them NOT to try something.

Putty Truck

My favorite is any community based events like fairs, charities, etc. I prefer to spend my money locally.

wackman

That's a good mix of advertising. I'm wondering about the diy sites. Wouldn't you need to limit it to locals if you were looking to work on their property? Do you know the best way to find the local message boards?

PressurePros

The skinny on the message boards and chat forums.

1) They are usually high volume and Google loves them. You may search for "kitchen and bath remodeling ideas" and get a hit on Nathan's DIY board. If you are posting in there and the person is local, you can get the business.
2) People are now looking to the internet for authorities. The more your name appears on the internet, the more credibility you are going to have. It makes selling much easier. I hear from every other customer "you were all over the internet, that's why we called you"
3) The link backs in your signature line are going to help your own website rank. They have to be done right. Not picking on you, Chris, but the anchor text of your signature link is not helping your website.

Tommy, in addition to Nathan's excellent (and very visible) DIY site, I started a new DIY chat forum as well. Its catered more to the beginner, whereas Nathan's board has the very serious and often skilled DIY'er.

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Ken Fenner
Pressure Washing PA
Roof Cleaning Services PA

Susan Betz

Web site. Google AdWords. Niche boards that cater to our market (e.g. horse lovers). We letter our trucks, give out tons of business cards, and that's about it.

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The plumber

I am just now getting in to these networking lunches. I met a carpenter that does this at a networking dinner one night when I was out with one of the ladies that I advertise with, and I got 2 calls within a week saying he recommended me. He says he stays pretty busy without advertising thanks to these networking lunches. It's a crazy web of people that know people that know people. It trickles down through hundreds of people in the end. 1 dinner=2 calls. That's not bad. Next week I'm meeting with a bunch of contractors for lunch, and the best part is there is no plumbers in that group.

dougchips

Website.

Our website brings in most of our window leads and some door leads since I added a door page. We are adding 4 more pages and a forum over the next month.


Plumber--please post how your lunch lead source works out.

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FCPWLLC

Internet here also. Don't even need a website to get business from internet marketing but it helps.

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Dave Mac

How can I learn how to get buisness from the internet?????

thanks
dave mac

MattCoops

In your off time, head to the library or store and get some books on help in building a web site: web design, html, css, seo (Search Engine Optimization)

Build your website and market it in every form of advertising you do; biz cards, flyers, mailers, print ads, etc.

Start a Google Adwords ppc (pay per click) campaign to get "googlers" to your website.

Try an online lead generation service. (although I don't recommend, it gets costly and quality of leads is low)

Get your company listed in online directories.

Network with people online in forums such as DIY, and become a source of good information in your field.



Find other contractors online in your area (LIKE ME) who have paint leads but are too busy doing tile work and could use a guy to feed work to.

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Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
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ResConRes

There are obviously hundreds of ways to advertise, so my advice as a new business owner looking for the same thing, is do something and STICK to it. Placing one ad in a paper, then one ad in a mag, then a little money on searches will just lead to you spending a lot of money and no returns. Make a commitment and go with it. Also try out your options first. For instance, on yellowpages.com type in what you think people would use to find you and see what comes up, sometimes they are so far off it won't do you any good. As a consumer that has frustrated my to no end and I won't go to any of them anymore. The younger generation loves the net, 45-60 like trade shows, older like BBB and newspapers. Pick your target market and go to them.

GregS

None for the US. I own the main one for Canada, nice captive audience

Just find forums for home owners.