My sense is that, working within the community of developers and large-scale owners, some will "try out someone new" if they think they can get a better price. The problem you have is (a) earning a fair margin on the work and (b) getting paid. Just one bad job can create havoc on your bottom line. I've heard too many stories of smaller contractors and subs ruined by dishonest players who exploit the newcomer's innocence or lack of
You also often are in the space of "lemmings" chasing obvious opportunities, where "low bid wins the job" and unless you are really efficient, low bid means losing money on the job.
Of course, as you've discovered, sometimes the best approach is simple and direct. You ask.
On a longer-range perspective, I really like connecting with relevant associations with local chapter serving your client focus (niche). The appropriate association depends on whether you want to work on schools, hospitals, commercial buildings or the like.
Generally, marketing is most successful if you frame your work within a niche or speciality -- the "narrower" the better. "We can do anything" is usually not a good marketing message, unless you are operating within a very confined geography. (Miami in my opinion is too big to say we do everything, usually this distinction is best if you serve a primarily rural area or relatively small town.)
Again, for marketing, I like SMPS, especially in connecting with architects and engineers -- the members in your local chapter will not always be the company decision-makers, but if you build relationships with their marketing people, you will likely also get connections to the executives who can refer work.
You also often are in the space of "lemmings" chasing obvious opportunities, where "low bid wins the job" and unless you are really efficient, low bid means losing money on the job.
Of course, as you've discovered, sometimes the best approach is simple and direct. You ask.
On a longer-range perspective, I really like connecting with relevant associations with local chapter serving your client focus (niche). The appropriate association depends on whether you want to work on schools, hospitals, commercial buildings or the like.
Generally, marketing is most successful if you frame your work within a niche or speciality -- the "narrower" the better. "We can do anything" is usually not a good marketing message, unless you are operating within a very confined geography. (Miami in my opinion is too big to say we do everything, usually this distinction is best if you serve a primarily rural area or relatively small town.)
Again, for marketing, I like SMPS, especially in connecting with architects and engineers -- the members in your local chapter will not always be the company decision-makers, but if you build relationships with their marketing people, you will likely also get connections to the executives who can refer work.
