Help with advertising myself as self employed

Middle_Sister

I work from home exclusively for one company however business is slow and I need to advertise for some more work. I don't know what to say but I can use SAGE, payroll, invoicing, etc.

Can someone help me with a newspaper advert please?

paulwf

IMHO unless your local paper has a business supplement that isn't effective advertising. You need to think about "targeted advertising", by that I mean 95% of the readership of your local paper will have no interest whatsoever in your services, you need to aim for your target market.

To be honest even in a targeted publication advertising still isn't that cost effective. The first thing to do is make up business cards, they cost pennies but you can hand them out to anyone that is interested so they won't forget you 5 minutes after you met them. Next get a website and get it listed in various directories, it doesn't have to be anything fancy and it will only cost a few pounds a year so very cost effective.

Get savvy at mentioning your services to every self employed person you meet. If a plumber fixes your boiler tell them about what you could do for them and give them your card. There are usually lots of business networking meetings in any given area, call up Business Link, your local enterprise agency, chambers of commerce and anything along those lines.

Make friends with accountants and bank managers, every one of their business clients will ask for a book keeper suggestion (some accountants may offer book keeping but small firms might not). Visit every business in your local area and ask if they have a book keeper, and if they do tell them why you are better...perfect your pitch first.

All these ideas cost next to nothing and will be 10 to 100 times as effective as a newspaper advert which lasts for 1 week (or 1 day) and is then thrown away.

nzmegs

I agree with the above post that advertising is very hit and miss. you need to target it.
As a self employed person myself I recommend attending networking meetings in your area. Also look at online freelancing sites and bid for some jobs that way.
A website can be effective - but i have had one call in 2 years which came directly from my website. Mostly mine is used as something to direct people to so they can find out more in their own time.
perhaps leafleting your local area might be effective too. or even advertising in your local directory if there is one. I think starting local is always the best thing - then word of mouth does the rest.

wontfallforit

Middle_Sister wrote: »

I work from home exclusively for one company however business is slow and I need to advertise for some more work. I don't know what to say but I can use SAGE, payroll, invoicing, etc.

Can someone help me with a newspaper advert please?

Make sure your services are highlighted on your Facebook page, if you have one. It may not come to anything, but it's free, and takes literally 30 seconds.

joeblack066

Put a card up at Pro Trade, that kinda place, wgere self employed builders, plumbers etc go.....cost you minimum but usually brings good results!

Chorlton1_2

Send an e-mail / letter to every accountant in your area for a start.
They may need you for sick/maternity cover or have clients who could use you on a day or 1/2 day basis every so often.

Good luck

Middle_Sister

Thank you for your replies. Much appreciated. Now to get busy!

Sarahjovi

Contact your local Business Link and find out if there are any local Networking events happening.

Sarah:D