Promoting a small business

[i386]

The job hunt isn't going so well. So in the mean time I decided to have go at my own business. I'm still filling out applications and sending resumes, but that process doesn't generate any money.

I've been offering my computer services to residential and small business customers. I've been running a classified ad for a little over a week and made a few cold calls. Now I don't consider myself much of a salesman, but the door to door sales approach hasn't been very successful.

I've been careful not to do the things that I find annoying when salesmen come to call. For example, I get to the point quickly without a lot of small talk to begin with. If they want to chat after I've stated my business that's fine.

So I've had limited success with the classifieds. No success from cold calls. I'm considering running a business card sized ad but it'll cost me about $100 for a week.

I'm also giving business cards to friends and family.

I need to work a minimum of 2 service calls per day. Small businesses are a good target because they'll give yo repeat business. Residential customers will repeat much less frequently, but there are more of them.


I know some of you self employed guys have been down this road. Any tips?

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Promoting a small business

What service do you provide, Web page design?? My business is differant, I use flyers to get 80% of my biz, I do provide residential mostly. I wish I could help more, It's tough right now with the economy being the way it is. what about a 2"X2" ad for starters in the paper.

 

[i386]

Re: Promoting a small business

What service do you provide, Web page design?? My business is differant, I use flyers to get 80% of my biz, I do provide residential mostly. I wish I could help more, It's tough right now with the economy being the way it is. what about a 2"X2" ad for starters in the paper.

I do pretty much anything that needs done....
Desktop, Laptop, Server support (hardware and software). Network hardware support, troubleshooting. I can pull and terminate data cable too. Wireless networking. I don't offer web design, but I will make small site changes if a customer needs it.

 

[PolishPrince]

Re: Promoting a small business

Here's a tried and true method on cold calling.
Introduce yourself and then immediately follow with, "i'm not here to sell anything, but simply to introduce myself and see if there may be a fit/need down the road."
By saying you're not there to sell anything they lower their "salesman's guard" and are more likely to accommodate you.
After you've done some work for them, ask if they know someone who you might help just as you helped them.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Promoting a small business

If you could offer web page design it could also help with your business, I am wanting to have a web site for my business so custumers can just go and see before and after pics, and also put the URL on my flyers so they can also see a web site that they can go to, Alot of small businesses might like that service too, I know I do, just don't know how to do it. I have been stocking up on pics though until that time comes. Have your own web page too, seems more people are going to the computer instead of the phone book.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Promoting a small business

As crazy as this sounds put a small advertisement on Craigslist to do computer repair/tuneups. Have you seen the prices that staples or the geek squad charge? Another good avenue right now to consider are tax examiner offices. My Father got a contract and did all the H&R block offices in his area of FL for quite some time..... maintaining and upgrading the PC's and software.... that season when they have to be up and running is coming.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Promoting a small business

i also have an at home Johnson/Evinrude service business. i use Craigslist. i get all the work i can do, and more.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Promoting a small business

The best free advertising is word of mouth. It starts a little slowly but spreads like wildfire. Get all the family and friends to promote you in their daily ventures. Put some ad's up on local community notice boards. Good Luck it is tough out there at the moment.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Promoting a small business

i don't have any good answers. but i'm pretty much convinced that this statement may be true..
you can be a great plumber (insert your trade) with bad marketing skills and fail in small biz.
you can be a crummy plumber (insert your trade) with great marketing skills and be very successful in small biz.

i probably fall in between those category...

anyways, it's tough out there right now.
i started with a small yellow pages ad. every year i'd go a little bigger. that's all i've done for advertising. that worked until this economy fell out. + every year there seemed to be more and more yellow ads in my line of work. including folks that advertise almost working for free in print in same yellow pages.. i've still not figured out pricing. least not for my biz. low pricing may get biz. but it sure brings my line of work down to i might as well be a ditch digger (no offense to ditch diggers).
this year, for the first time, i'm going backwards in ad size in the yellow pages. along with creating a web site. hope your better at that than i am. the web site thing i've found that having a site don't get you recognized. i've got a web site. but ya can't google it up. i'm trying to fig. out how to get it to the top of a search, which appears harder to do than ya'd think.
right now, i'm slowly going backwards in biz as i don't have enough customer base to keep it afloat w/o new customers. will say that my best advertising is that done by my previous customers. a recommendation from them to their friends. that seems to land me a job faster than any form of advertising. but ya still gotta have the quantity of customers to make a living. many folks don't have money right now for anything extra. or even keeping what they have going. this is a real killer. i know i'm putting off things i'd like to fix or have better, but i don't have the funds either, so i don't spread any wealth either. this is a viscous circle. and i think the economy is in it.
i also give out a biz card to my customers, or to anyone who might want one. i try and be most friendly. which sometimes is hard to do. depending on the customer. i do quality work, but if folks don't call and have me go to work for them, they don't know that.
staying on top of your trade seems most important too. my trade is moving so fast i'm having trouble staying with the technology. + the technology cost much to keep up with. new tools, mostly. w/o the new tools, some jobs ya can't do because ya don't have the proper tools.

well, this ain't my best right up, but i gotta get ready for work, if any comes around, so i'm gonna hit send. sorry for a rambling thread on my part..

 

[jonesg]

Re: Promoting a small business

The smart money walked away from the yellow pages 5 yrs ago,
the best bet is on craigslist, a website and a cute girl to do your cold calling for you. Craigslist requires constant work, keep posting every week.

We never visit a potential without some sort of gift, a small platter of cookies or a box of homemade brownies, everyone loves free food, fliers and business card.
Get in and out in 10 minutes or less, otherwise you're wasting everyones time.

What wd do,
offer 50% off first timers.
Join the chamber of commerce for connections.
Attend the chamber business roundup breakfast meetings every week and network.
Join other buisiness organizations, some will take work in exchange for dues.
Set up a facebook page for technical q&A to attract potential clients.
Open a free account with SCORE (society of retired executives) they will match you with a mentor in your line of work, I used them once and it was very good.

Our prices are slightly lower,
I work 7 days a week.
I start work at 4 am.

If that sounds unpalatable you're not cut out for self employment.
I would dig ditches and wash dishes for peanuts before standing in an unemployment line. In fact I already do.

Finally, get off your duff and get to it.

 

[i386]

Re: Promoting a small business

Thanks for the input. I do have business cards and a web site. I've been posting on Craigslist some with disappointing results. No potential clients but 20-30 emails from scammers per week. You're right though. I need to make sure my ad is posted every week. If it gets me one customer it's worth doing.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Promoting a small business

i386 I will add on the craigslist thing you need to redo your add every 3 days not just once a week . Once a week gets lost in 2 days and nobody sees you . You can also look for other free classifieds in your area such as kajiji and there are others . I spend currently around $20,000.00 a year on Yellow page advertising and barely keep myself busy going on our third year since we opened and the economy is killing everybody. I am happy to have the work I do as I have watched alot of larger companies go under in the last couple years.


Ziggy not to turn this into a political/ Church thread but I can tell you if you google ( Chritian heating and air conditioning Louisville , Ky. ) I am at the top of the page . I tried the google add words and other nonsense and the truth is by simply stating on our web site that we are a Christian Family owned HVAC company we get hits all the time just from that one statement on our website. We dont have the best most awesome website out there but that one line gets us hits off of google regularly. Yes by the way we are so its not just a line to get us work.


Rick

 

[Adjuster]

Re: Promoting a small business

On CraigsList do not allow contact by email(check box). Post a business phone number. No more email scammers this way. If you don't have a business number go get yourself a Boost Mobile Unlimited phone for $50.00 per month.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Promoting a small business

Not trying to rain on your parade, truely, but the type of business your in maybe one reason why it's so hard to get going. I know in my area, computer techs are a dime a dozen. If you had something different to offer along with your computer experience, you may be able to generate more business. I work for a computer store but I install intrusion alarms. We also sell business supplies. So we offer more under one roof. If you could land some third party contract work, then it will be all good from there. Good luck to you.