tradesman electrician selection criteria

big_ste

Hello,
I've recently started a electrician business, and I'm looking for help in the marketing of my business and as a point of reference, I'm looking for advice from people who employ tradesman as to the sort of characteristics that they find important in selecting a tradesman and what is important so that I can get the details of my adverts etc correct, Alos methods of selection yellow pages, recommendation, free press, so I know where to spend my advertising pennies any comments would be greatly appreciated, as I can only moneysave when I've money earnt

Alan50

Hi Big Ste,
I normally use Yellow Pages as the advertiser must supply his trading address. I also prefer that he must belong to one of the approved Buiding regulation 'Part P'
schemes for electrical installation re: https://www.NICEIC.com they check the insurance details and qualifications of the electricians

I hope the information helps

Regards

Alan

baldelectrician

2 points

1. where in the UK are you?

2. Don't use u-findus.com (they are very hard sell, don't take no for an answer and are craaaaaap- my opinion)

vaio

Yellow pages (but you’ll not appear until the next printing)

I’d join the NICEIC and advertise in local papers

benood

When I look at an ad I always prefer the tradesmen who give a landline as well as a mobile number.

big_ste

OK, thanks for the replys
answers CO Durham
I've already registered to the niceic and have been a electrician for some years, just need a bit of consumer insider thought.
re the yellow pages, who does a consumer pick from 50 adverts?

Little_John

The ones recommended to me by friends. Its sad to say but there are to many dodgy tradesmen out there that have done a course at collage and believe they can be let loose on a house.

If I don't know anyone then its the yellow pages phone a few and the ones who are busy then wait for them if they are not busy then they have little work which normally means what they do isn't very good as no one is recommending them.

olly300

Apart from what the others have written I also google tradesmen I use and see what bad comments have been written about their company. If all the comments are good I get suspicious as it looks like they have put the comments on themselves.

Also when I get quotes any tradesmen who is happy to put a quote in writing without being asked and is helpful in any way is more likely to get the work.

weekendwarrior

Get as much free advertising on the net as possible.

There are many directories out there that are free!

Do you have a website?

If you do then here is a good place to start advertising- http://www.directory.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/

It is free if you give a reciprocal link back, if you don't have a website then you may still be able to get a free advert if you help out a bit on the forum-
http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/forum1/ultimate-handyman-directory-t1305.html

I read somewhere that the ultimate handyman site gets over 800,000 page views per month and is one of the better DIY websites.

baldelectrician

The reason for the 'where are you' was to ascertain whether you should look at SELECT, as you are not in scotland then don't bother.

If you are NICEIC make sure it is full app contractor- not just domestic installer.

How to do a yellow pages ad - design it yourself, and make your company start with 'a' not 000000aaaaaaa__Electrics- looks dodgy.

for example 'ask big steve' or abs electrical

It's all about being different.
Get out the test equipment and give a cert- you can guarantee that most others don't.
I use dust sheets (not rocket science I admit but it is good to make an effort and actually give a darn about clients houses)

Decent uniform, clean shaven, plenty of business cards available.

Advertise your LANDLINE, as people don't like ringing mobiles. divert the landline to your mobile, then you don't miss a call

another thing is advertise 'no job too small' as people know they can call you for something small.

Realist

The best for of advertising is "Word of mouth" and nothing in the world beats that and past customers recommendations.

Yellow pages are expensive and the work you get from them does not cover the ad costs.

Use a local paper and get in touch with local builders or even do a leaflet drop through front doors.

Regards.