Help with promotion ideas

Les4553

Anybody with any ideas for promoting our new business. We have a property maintenance company i.e. plumbing, electrical, general property repairs and refurbishment. Have advertised in all the usual places with minimal response.
Would be grateful for any suggestions.

sandiep

Do you have a website?

Les4553

sandiep wrote: »

Do you have a website?

No we don't at the moment mainly because of cost. We have a sign written van with our name on which is EastMenders. We have had a lot of positive feedback with the name even having people come up to us in car parks complimenting us on the name. The few jobs we have had, people have been delighted with our work but because of huge competition we are not getting the level of enquiries we should be.

poet123

What about giving out business cards outside a DIY store? or in a local market?. Running a competition in your local paper,with a prize for the best original advertising idea. A win win situation as you get exposure for the comp, and you get the ideas.

I may be a bit dense re your name, but the connotation is not only to property, but sewing,and unless your van and literature also carries other details, may be a bit too vague. Just a thought.

mikewebs

why not put a portable sign outside the premises you are working at - often drivers may not notice a sign written van but may notice a sign on the pavement. There are a lot of people in my area using signs as mobile advertising and they seem to generate a lot of business from what I've heard.

Les4553

poet123 wrote: »

What about giving out business cards outside a DIY store? or in a local market?. Running a competition in your local paper,with a prize for the best original advertising idea. A win win situation as you get exposure for the comp, and you get the ideas.

I may be a bit dense re your name, but the connotation is not only to property, but sewing,and unless your van and literature also carries other details, may be a bit too vague. Just a thought.

Thank you for your great ideas. Our van states exactly what we do and it is really eyecatching. Our cards and ads also say what we do. My husband is City & Guilds qualified and on these courses, which he took recently, he was their star pupil, so much so that his work is featured on their website (Able Skills). Wonder if we should promote his work by referring to that website?

Les4553

mikewebs wrote: »

why not put a portable sign outside the premises you are working at - often drivers may not notice a sign written van but may notice a sign on the pavement. There are a lot of people in my area using signs as mobile advertising and they seem to generate a lot of business from what I've heard.

This is a great idea but until we get a few more jobs we have nowhere to put it. Most of our jobs are for family at the moment. Thank you anyway.

scbk

I think the first step has to be a website. If you know what you're doing they're not that expensive - mine costs me around £1.50 a year

Do you have any friends etc that know a bit about computers and would do a bit of work for beer money?

PasturesNew

One popular DIY website for people with no skills is MrSite
http://www.mrsite.com
It's really been the only one I've seen so far that I'd recommend to somebody who didn't have a clue; I've seen some passable websites put together by people with no idea using this. And they did it quickly.

You just need the Standard version: http://www.mrsite.com/std.asp
£35.

You can start by just creating a single page that says what you do, how to get hold of you. Maybe some sample prices.

The beauty of a website is it can reduce your advertising spend as adverts only have to have your website address so you can cut down on other stuff you'd have tried to cram into the space.

Then move onto perhaps Frequently Asked Questions, in time some Customer Testimonials. Then eventually some Before/After pictures. Look on it as a "take a year to build it" project, don't try to do too much at first.

SPINKO_2

Hi having read through previous posts the name Eastmenders really stands out.I do think that word of mouth is the most effective means!With a name like that you will stand out and be remembered.Have you tried going to your local bathroom fitters etc for leaving leaflets at till points.Maybe try timber merchants as well.Perhaps offering a bit of beer money might jog them along!Good luck!

Debt_Free_Chick

Local/Parish/Church magazine? The advertising rates are usually minimal (ours will do a half page ad for £40 pa)