Where To Advertise In Connecticut

Karlosak

Hi everybody.
We moved from Arizona to CT and started to run the home improvement, remodeling business here, too. The problem is, things are completely different from Phoenix. Contractors are busy, but we are new and word of the mouth does not work yet and I don't know where to advertise. It seems that newspaper ads do not work. Where do contractors advertise in CT?
Thanks
Antonella

slickshift

There's three distinct parts of CT, with a little overlap
You'll need to figure where you are, and where you are looking to market

The west is a posh suburb of NYC, it's counted as that on any national marketing material

The shoreline from New Haven north is a little different
Still well off, but the new construction and remods are more for a slightly different customer then those living next door to Martha and Dave
You'll get those, but also more regular well-off people, and old money Grandpa was Rich tightwads, and Nouveux Riche Obnoxicats
(You hear "Don't you know who I am" alot when people don't get their way)

The north east is farms and casinos, so there's an odd mix of old swamp yankees and new yuppies

A big generalization, yes, but reasonably accurate as far as those types of generalizations go
My point being is the different target customers in these different markets respond to different media/campaigns

The Penny Saver may work well on the shore (It's more like a yellow pages resource there, it's not a "low-ballers" cheapo service rag) but not at all in the west
It may only get low quality leads in the northeast

A heads up, Middlesex County (mid-state shore & CT river valley) is fast becoming the richest county
It will take a lot to beat the west, but it's coming up quickly-if not there already

__________________
Signature Quote

Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

Kristina

We were in North Central CT and found that the smaller local papers worked, joining the local chamber of commerce worked. The jobs trickled in (he was established and had a good name, but not on his "own", he had worked with his dad before) and even though he's been working for someone else for a year, STILL gets at least one call a month for jobs.

Good luck to you!!

__________________

Karlosak

Thanks Kristina.

I will definitely consider the Pennysaver, but with local papers...you know, there are tons of them. We moved late to get a place in the Yellowpages, so I need something to start with. It seems the Hartford Courant and the CT Post did not work at all.
We live between Farmington and Waterbury, so basically everything can be reached pretty much in timely manner (in Phoenix sometime we drove 3 hours to the jobsite.)
Chamber of commerce could be a possibility, I'll check it out.
Thanks, we need some luck
Did you move out from CT?
Antonella

Sparks33

I had started my biz late last year. I am an EC I have got alot of biz by word of mouth. I also went to local store and see if I could post a flyer or leave cards. I am doing a bargin book ad this time around. I have pickud up a good amount of work from these. Also mass mailers brouht in enough work to cover postage and alittle profit. What areas are you going for in CT, Bristol, Avon, Farmington,?

POOLMANinCT

between farmington & waterbury... those towns are worlds apart in every aspect.. very distinct personalities waterbury they collect many bids , farmington they just go w whoever did the neighbors work..
bristol down to earth group of folks.. they seem to base buying on how you handle the sales call...

where are you sparky?

jmic

Barba ??

__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe

jmic

Once the weather breaks and people start getting their taxes done I think they are usually ready to start planning what they want done around their homes. I'd keep trying the local papers and inquire if they have any special " Homes Editions " coming out.

__________________
___"Remember You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression"______________________
Joe