spreading the word locally

rickyroma

I have started up an ironing service. I have realised there are no shops near me that have boards or spaces in the window for local businesses to advertise which is disappointing I have started putting leaflets through doors locally but find this a very slow process with no response yet.
I just wondered where else I can best spread the word about myself.
I am waiting to hear back from Yell to confirm I can be listed with them.
I also have a website and a business facebook page but am not sure of the best way to promote them locally. Any ideas?

moonquack78

I'm not sure if many people read the signs in shops. Have you tried an advert in your local newspaper? Or you could put a sign on a post next to some traffic lights, although not sure if that is legal or not. Or put a sign near somewhere where your potential customers might be like a laundrette.

Wywth

rickyroma wrote: »

I have started up an ironing service. I have realised there are no shops near me that have boards or spaces in the window for local businesses to advertise which is disappointing I have started putting leaflets through doors locally but find this a very slow process with no response yet.
I just wondered where else I can best spread the word about myself.
I am waiting to hear back from Yell to confirm I can be listed with them.
I also have a website and a business facebook page but am not sure of the best way to promote them locally. Any ideas?

I would think for a service like yours, door to door leafleting is the way to spread the word.
It has a notoriously poor hit rate, and you may need to leaflet drop the same houses more than once. Think about the best day & time. Would Monday afternoon/evening be best if your locals are traditional and make Mondays washdays (not common nowadays is it?) You want to hit when people need ironing done, and hopefully are prepared to get someone else to do it rather than do it themself.
Maybe Friday afternoons would be better? Certainly a time when a lot of leaflets come through my door (usually for take away food) as it's the weekend, perhaps a time when busy business people who would be prepared to pay for ironing than do it themself have more time to read it, especially if its when they are spending their valuable weekend ironing rather than doing something they would better enjoy.

I notice most leaflets come by a 'professional' deliverer nowadays - they seem to post 2-3 competing takeaways leaflets at the same time, perhaps with a chips-away leaflet and a gym membership leaflet. I don't know who they work for, or how you could get them to deliver your leaflets, but I'm sure if that happens where you live and you catch one and ask, they will gladly tell you.

I can't believe you have no local shops that you can advertise in their window (unless you have no local shops at all). Don't the major stores like Tesco & Homebase allow small adverts in store nowadays? (Not sure if the allow business adverts - you'll need to check)
Otherwise, local newagents or post offices often sell window space for small adverts.

skylight

Facebook local selling sites - search for them, there will be loads; also search for localities parts of the towns you want to cover. You can advertise for free on most of them but check the sites individual rules. You can also connect that to your FB page.

Prothet_of_Doom

Free Paper always looking for NEWS story.

shmeeko69

rickyroma wrote: »

I have started up an ironing service. I have realised there are no shops near me that have boards or spaces in the window for local businesses to advertise which is disappointing I have started putting leaflets through doors locally but find this a very slow process with no response yet.
I just wondered where else I can best spread the word about myself.
I am waiting to hear back from Yell to confirm I can be listed with them.
I also have a website and a business facebook page but am not sure of the best way to promote them locally. Any ideas?

The fact that you hand delivered leaflets means that, you've got the ball rolling and unless you're incredibly unlucky, you should get a response from that.

Another thing you could do which is free, is to join local Facebook groups and let them know about your ironing service and also consider setting up your own community group. This type of advertising is growing and is very targeted.

FatVonD

I would leaflet the local station, parked cars and also commuters. Working people are the ones most likely to use your service.

Otherwise, local gyms?

rickyroma

Thanks for the replies. I live in a small village. Which has about 7 surrounding villages in the area I am targeting at the moment. My village alone has hundreds of addresses so delivering leaflets at a specific time isn't really an option. I will carry in leafleting until my village is complete and then move outwards.
I like the idea of Facebook groups and for sale pages and will look into this.
We have 2 small shops in the village who have taken my leaflet to display but I really couldn't find any similar chances in shops further afield.

rickyroma

I thought about looking at places where mums would meet up, like say, local nurseries? Do these places have notice boards and if so would they even entertain someone turning up on their doorstep with a request like that?

Lagoon

I do think the leaflets are the best option, but they will be a slow burner. Rather than getting an instant response, the key will be to stick in people's minds so that if/when they decide they need a service like yours, they'll remember you. That could take months, years even.

I personally would never put leaflets on cars. When that happens to me I feel they shouldn't be touching my vehicle, and it's an invasion of 'my' property. I would never use a company that did that. However, I'm happy to look at the leaflets that come through the door. Most end up in the bin, but I'll still remember the companies, and I save any I think will be useful in the near future.

As much as I hate junk mail, it is effective.

nickj_2

do you have a village newsletter , they are always handy , but depending on your circumstances i would get involved with stuff going on in your village , word of mouth will soon spread, if you have kids , get involved with the pta , or the village fete , once people know who you are and what you do it will soon gather pace ,and if you do a good job then they will pass on your name . this is what i did a few years ago , now i'm in the position where i very rarely travel out of the village for work and anything that i don't fancy i can turn down