How to effectively advertise a local service

Bill_Shidding

Hi, I guess this could be in the wrong place (if so please move), but I'm seeking advice on do's and dont's when advertising a service locally, so its a kind of jobseeking.

With telephone directories dead in the water and restrictively expensive, internet advertising hit and miss, and not locally targeted. Newspaper adverts also expensive, and only of use if there is an immediate need. Free ads websites not effective, in my case at least.

I have a website, FB and g+.

Does letterbox / leaflet advertising work, or does it just annoy the householder into not using the service?

What criteria/USP makes you call an unfamiliar service over another?

Obviously word of mouth/recommendations are the best form of advertising but what else is there?

Any advice on how to perk-up responses?

Thanks for replies.

justanopinion

What's the business?

cr1mson

What about free mags?

brightonman123

gumtree, twitter, friday-ad? post pics of your work.