Advertising and what works well - Advertising

[solentbuildingcompany]

have worked for the past 25 years for someone else mainly in groundworks and hard and soft landscaping and general building
now got to a stage where im looking out going alone but still need to earn a living so looking at doing it gradually picking up works weekends etc then reducing days down to i feel i can earn enough on my own
wages working for someone else seem to have stood still over the last few years and i seem to be earning less than 10 years ago with bills increasing and hours on site to be getting longer
to be honest earnings and outgoings are not really stacking up
hows best to advertise papers leafleting shops etc
have to keep my job at the moment as have bills to pay
have no real start up costs as already have a truck and all tools i need

picked up a few jobs this year on the side thro homeowners moving in on the new estate we were building but that was all via word of mouth
any ideas appreciated

[Dave_L]

You're in the same boat as many - margins and earnings are far less than they were five years ago let alone ten.

Word of mouth and recommendations are by far the best way of attracting fresh enquiries, I also find Yell.com a useful stream plus a website with all the relevant info on - plus some half-decent google search engine optimisation with locally keyed search words.

[seanandruby]

Join the club, i'm down £150 a week over the last year. Just got to weather the storm.

[local patios and driveway]

I dont tell people how i get my work, its fatal. Once bitten twice shy.

[lutonlagerlout]

a lot of website jiggery pokkery can help
a mate of mine has it set up so if anyone types in "painter in harpenden " he comes up in the first ten google results.
personally we just go with word of mouth and reccomendation
in my experience 5/10 who surf on in to your website are just a waste of time
LLL

[Carberry]

Networking and word of mouth. Didn't realise just how important it was before I went in to business. All my jobs last year came from word of mouth or from mentioning to my gas customers that I do landscaping.

[Tony McC]

For small contractors, a website is useful for giving contact info and showing off a few photies, but you'll never win much work from it.

As others have said, word of mouth, personal recommendation and a good rep are far more important.

[solentbuildingcompany]

Thanks for replies

[Tony McC]

And don't forget a professional-looking A-Board or two, plus a decent van with the right livery

[Dave_L]

Well turned out trucks - basically mobile billboards. Works well as you say Tone.

[parishpaver]

0845 number and fake Ltd. company name printed on van and hi-vis jackets.

Knock on pensioners doors repeatedly, offering lower price every day until they give in.

Use intimidation and threats to quell any customer questions or complaints.

These are guaranteed money spinners used by many "contractors" up and down the country. Being a member of their "association" brings many benefits. No NI or income tax to pay, vastly reduced tipping charges in any of the countries lay-bys and virtual immunity from harassment from police and trading standards.

We could all learn a trick or two from them.

[lutonlagerlout]

dont forget pictures of immaculate drives that they have never even seen
all the hallmark of the provisional pikey pavers
they will even run your granny down the bank===> free of charge
LLL

[local patios and driveway]

The one off special offer of only 90% payment up front, leaving you 10% as a bond.

"Do as you likeys, its for the best"