best form of advertising - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Peter B · 04-26-2006, 01:39 PM

Hey everyone i have been painting for about 7 years and recentlly started my own business. I was curious if anyone had any pointers on finding quality jobs. What advertising works best for you (besides word of mouth which i feel is the best). I put an add in a local shopper mag. but i've only gotten one call so far. I plan to put an add it the phone book but it won't go in for a few months. Any advice on how to land jobs?

johnjamesalaska · 04-26-2006, 03:29 PM

Word of mouth is the best as you know but that takes time. Yellow pages can be really good depending on your market and the size of the ad. A full page brings the work big time where I live but costs a little over a thousand a month and one job pays for that. The newspaper where I live has an "call an expert" section which works reasonably well. Door hangers take alot of work...they say if you get 1 out of one thousand ppl you advertise to youre doing well. Joining a group/organizations can help kick start the word of mouth thing..you might try calling up some General contractors or fire/flood restoration companies and try the sub thing but nothing beats being out there in your community meeting ppl and knowing other business owners.

Good luck

Mike Finley · 04-26-2006, 03:45 PM

Word of mouth isn't advertising, it might fall more under marketing than anything else. If you read every post in the marketing and advertising section you will get quite an education.

johnjamesalaska · 04-26-2006, 07:17 PM

Well I guess it does depend on your definition of advertising

American Heritage® Dictionary: Description of advertise
TRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To make public announcement of, especially to proclaim the qualities or advantages of (a product or business) so as to increase sales.

lornmastro · 04-26-2006, 09:18 PM

i've also gotten busy because of my connections with interior designer and real estate offices.

Mike Finley · 04-26-2006, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjamesalaska

Well I guess it does depend on your definition of advertising

American Heritage® Dictionary: Description of advertise
TRANSITIVE VERB: 1. To make public announcement of, especially to proclaim the qualities or advantages of (a product or business) so as to increase sales.

So how does word of mouth get defined by that definition?

Advertising is a verb, what actions are you taking? Cause / Effect. Sending out flyers is the cause - the effect is someone calling you.

johnjamesalaska · 04-26-2006, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

So how does word of mouth get defined by that definition?

Advertising is a verb, what actions are you taking? Cause / Effect. Sending out flyers is the cause - the effect is someone calling you.

Well the action would be making customer after customer realize by your work that you are better than anyone that they know of. You worked for this doctor and he was very happy with your work (action) and he tells that senator who becomes your customer(effect). Working your tail off for years to become better than your competition was a cause, and the effect was ppl hear from this person, that business of not just the quality of work but the all around performance. Advertising partly entails having other ppl tell other ppl about you. I wouldnt under estimate ones performance as a form of advertising.

Peter B · 04-27-2006, 11:11 AM

Thanks a lot for the advise, i was planning an placing an add it the yellow pages but the next issue doesn't come out until Sept. I have been trying to get by without doing new cont. but the last few weeks have been really slow. So i think your right i should start making contact with some contractors and really get some work going. Thanks a lot guys.

Mike Finley · 04-27-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjamesalaska

Well the action would be making customer after customer realize by your work that you are better than anyone that they know of. You worked for this doctor and he was very happy with your work (action) and he tells that senator who becomes your customer(effect). Working your tail off for years to become better than your competition was a cause, and the effect was ppl hear from this person, that business of not just the quality of work but the all around performance.

What you described the effect of your past customers rewarding you by referring you for doing good work. It isn't advertising. It isn't even marketing.

Now if you do what you described and THEN... you create something that you send to your customers reminding them about you and reminding them to refer you or give them some sort of reward or compensation for referring you... then that piece you have created would be a form of marketing.

johnjamesalaska · 04-28-2006, 01:28 AM

Good luck Pete.

lornmastro · 04-28-2006, 11:43 AM

yes i offered up $$$ to people who refered me work that ends up in a job over $350.00....its amazing how many more referrals i get when there a $$ incentive involved...then i just add the incentive into the new customers proposal price. my old customers are falling over themself handing out my card....so its worked for me