small business marketing ideas

Micky_d

The charity idea is really good, many thanks

Micky_d

Pennywise, I feel like I'be had my knuckles wrapped but in a good way. I appreciate the advice and hopefully I will treat all my customers with respect (when I get some). Many thanks

Slinky

Something I read on another forum was that a plumber who did any work at people's houses, left his business card cable tied to the trap under the sink so that if they needed a plumber again, hopefully it would be him that would get the call.

You could do the same with a card next to the fusebox. Also leave a couple of cards with your customers for them to be able to pass onto friends.

Horace

Other places to advertise for free https://www.working-bees.com (you can have a basic free account with them - I think it is supposed to work a bit like People Per Hour but I havent sussed it out yet). Get yourself onto LinkedIn and Twitter. Join industry-related groups on LinkedIn and get contributing to discussions - this again will raise your profile.

There are some networking groups out there that don't charge the hefty membership fees such as 4Networking and BNI - some like Business Biscotti are the cost of a cup of coffee but this takes time out of the middle of the morning. Do a google search in your area for networking groups, connect with plumbers, builders etc because they will know people that need your services and vice versa.

If you have a website with a blog on it, blog about changes in regulations with regard to electrical cabling etc, the more you blog the more you show yourself to be an expert in your field.

Good luck - good electricians are hard to find.

Savvy_Sue

Slinky wrote: »

Something I read on another forum was that a plumber who did any work at people's houses, left his business card cable tied to the trap under the sink so that if they needed a plumber again, hopefully it would be him that would get the call.

You could do the same with a card next to the fusebox.

That is a very good idea: our original boiler had the installer's phone number on a label inside the 'door'. The new boiler doesn't have that, although I think that's because it wasn't stuck down rather than that it wasn't there.

I don't think Pennywise was rapping anyone's knuckles, but it always astonishes me how some tradesmen don't phone back if you contact them, don't provide a quote when asked, and don't get back to you if you contact them about any 'snagging'.

pitkin is suggesting a cheap entry into the world of PA testing, which could be worth exploring. Strikes me as mind numbingly boring work, plus if you do start by hiring a machine you may struggle to get the bookings if you are time limited - would be worth getting a few set up for one week before committing yourself to the actual hire period, if that makes sense, rather than committing yourself to doing that in a particular week and then finding that some companies would like it done, just not right then.

pitkin2020

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

pitkin is suggesting a cheap entry into the world of PA testing, which could be worth exploring. Strikes me as mind numbingly boring work, plus if you do start by hiring a machine you may struggle to get the bookings if you are time limited - would be worth getting a few set up for one week before committing yourself to the actual hire period, if that makes sense, rather than committing yourself to doing that in a particular week and then finding that some companies would like it done, just not right then.

PAT testing is mind numbingly boring ask any leccy and most will tell you they hate doing it, but it is something that has to be done so can fill your diary quite easily. Most leccys when fully up and running tend to shy away from PAT most even just get the apprentice to do it lol. It is a stepping stone into those businesses though.

I certainly wouldn't be booking in clients sparsely thats why you would need to canvas hard to ensure you could fill everyday with tests to warrant the hire cost of the machine. Even a small town will have in excess of 100 businesses you would only need less than 10 to give a good amount of work!! 2 decent sized jobs of testing would cover the hire cost, so 1 day really leaving 4 days to make a profit. Far more lucrative than being tied up with charity work where you aren't getting paid!!

If you get 10 jobs out of it you will also potentially have 10 new customers to build on but you will have also met a lot of business owners along the way and handed out a lot of business cards in the process that could lead to potential work also.

If you think of most small businesses they are likely to have atleast 50 to 100 items that need testing, at 1.50 a pop you could easily be earning over £100 a day. IIRC the tester on hire was around £100 and that included all the labels too!!

£25 outlay and time..........

ESKIMO

I was merely suggesting the chairty stuff to keep the OP's inital marketing/outlay costs low and also to coin the phrase, 'testing the water' - so to speak. Would give you an idea of the demand for the services in your area.

It certainly wouldn't do your credability or reputation any harm whilst you 'twiddle your thumbs and wait for the phone to ring...' - It's called 'being proactive'. - "If the mountain won't got to mohammed, then..." You see what i mean? Challenges and obstacles are meant to be overcome.

The publicity/spin-off which could be FREE could be priceless for you and seriously be worth the time and effort you put in to 'having a go'. Lending a hand with the new skills you just aquired and putting them to some good.

I can't fathom how difficult it must be for anyone trying to start out/up in business at this current time.

On the point of business cards ('calling cards') yes - and always leave more than one! Maybe you could even 'dot them around' appliances, or 'assuming' you get some residential work like Sue mentioned you could leave one in the boiler cupboard, one behind the flap on the immersion, one next to the meter etc.

And in business permises you could use a simple sticker - with your name, address and contact number wrapped around the end cable of the plug of the appliance you tested or place a sticker under the flap of the printer - you wouldn't believe how many people can't change a printer cartridge. Think of it as your 'Trade Mark' Lol.

Once again, good luck. You sound like a nice chap.

pitkin2020

ESKIMO wrote: »

I was merely suggesting the chairty stuff to keep the OP's inital marketing/outlay costs low and also to coin the phrase, 'testing the water' - so to speak. Would give you an idea of the demand for the services in your area.

It certainly wouldn't do your credability or reputation any harm whilst you 'twiddle your thumbs and wait for the phone to ring...' - It's called 'being proactive'. - "If the mountain won't got to mohammed, then..." You see what i mean? Challenges and obstacles are meant to be overcome.

The publicity/spin-off which could be FREE could be priceless for you and seriously be worth the time and effort you put in to 'having a go'. Lending a hand with the new skills you just aquired and putting them to some good.

I can't fathom how difficult it must be for anyone trying to start out/up in business at this current time.

On the point of business cards ('calling cards') yes - and always leave more than one! Maybe you could even 'dot them around' appliances, or 'assuming' you get some residential work like Sue mentioned you could leave one in the boiler cupboard, one behind the flap on the immersion, one next to the meter etc.

And in business permises you could use a simple sticker - with your name, address and contact number wrapped around the end cable of the plug of the appliance you tested or place a sticker under the flap of the printer - you wouldn't believe how many people can't change a printer cartridge. Think of it as your 'Trade Mark' Lol.

Once again, good luck. You sound like a nice chap.

The problem with doing work for free even for charities, it becomes expected. Charities aren't going to run around and do your advertising for you, and if they are getting someone in doing loads of work for free they are going to be chuffed and will want you to stay!!

Whilst your working for free in the charity your not being seen anywhere else, your not out during business hours pushing your business as you are hidden away in one location doing a particular job. Spending one day on the streets meeting and greeting potential clients with the possibility of putting yourself in front of hundreds of potential clients will be far more worthy to your business than just being seen by one charity. Whats the publicity spin off?? your doing free work!!

Of course if you are using it to gain some confidence in your skills etc and put your theory into practice its a great idea but don't expect work to come flooding in because you have done some free work for a charity, it won't happen.

I wouldn't do it personally if I was an electrician for any reason other than to build my confidence or to support a charity I wish to support. Yes it won't ruin your credability or reputation but it also will have very little impact in raising it. Your time could be better spent actually visiting and introducing yourself to clients who are likely to use your service as a paid service.

Do what ever you think is best for your business but remember to work smarter not harder!!

ESKIMO

I can't profess to being a local newpaper reporter, but surely something along the lines of..

Headline: Local Sparky Shocks Charity With Kindness...

Is far more likely to grab my attention.

Give the guy break. He hasn't even started yet.

Great that's all you need... A sparky coming round door-to-door 'introducing himself' - i would much rather have a business card/leaflet put through my letter box thanks. On another note the last thing he want's to do. All he will achieve is putting peoples backs up.

It's not a question of relying on the charity for 'business refferals' as you are implying. It's called being selfless and it's certainly a START. No one says he HAS TO commit 100% of his time to doing work for free. It's purely a stepping stone. Free publicity worth potentially hundreds which could be 'the talk of the town'. Using this publicity is what would generate business leads.

Also you are always going to 'guarantee' yourself work. - Even if its for free. It means you are doing something good, giving something back, and word of mouth gets round, people mention it.

The solicitors office next door spot his van parked outside a high-street or business park and ask him to 'pop-in' for a cuppa and give them a quote for installing a few new sockets or having a quick once-over of their printer which has 'gone on the blink AGAIN!'

I am much more likely to read an 'act of kindness' in my local paper rather than scouring the back pages of the 'classified ads' - and notice 'another' 'new sparky' in the area.

The majority of tradesmen rely on word of mouth - which IS the best asset for their business. Personal referrals make up for more business value rather than leads generated by back-page classified ads, where people only really 'browse' by going down a list of tradesmen looking for the 'cheapest quote'. - More of your on-demand 'convenience' service if you ask me.

Like my old man used to say; Start small grow BIG. Start BIG - go BUST!

ESKIMO

pitkin2020 wrote: »

I wouldn't do it personally if I was an electrician for any reason other than to build my confidence or to support a charity I wish to support.

You said it yourself. It works out as a win-win-win scenario.

1) Local paper gets a 'happy' feature for a change, instead of reporting about the numerous accident black-spots and burglaries in the local area or cuts to local government council spending, or back-yard garden grabbing from over-enthusiastic property developers! (Sorry, i really should stop talking about my local area!)

2) Sparky gets free publicity 'donating' his services to help out with a local charity in need. With a note/article that he is just starting up in the local area.

3) Charity also gets free publicity from a genuine and unexpected 'act of kindness' who are only too happy to give a character reference to this gentleman, vouching for his high-degree of proficiency, professionalism and efficiency. Most more than happy to have him back. (No doubt we can all guess why ;p)

I can't see what's wrong with it myself personally.

Give it a try. You really have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Good luck Micky