Self-Employed: How Do You Advertise??

[98rammer]

for you self employed members, or ones in advertising, what works best in your advertising? Big ads, small ads, local papers, big papers, cold calling, etc. ?



currently i'm in 4 local papers with a small ad (cheap, but has only gotten two responses in the last month and a half). i joined service magic two months and just got my first legitimate response today. I feel that professionalism/image is a big part of business and am gearing my ads towards that with a nice logo, etc. What type of ads do you run? Logo, Picture, An ad to sell or an ad for repetition/branding, etc. ??



Tom

 

[fkovalski]

What type of business are you?



I work with an architecture firm. While I am not "self" employed, it is small enough that it feels such. Most of our work is by word of mouth. Nothing beats the "word- on- the street" of a good reputation.

 

[JLEONARD]

Tom,



Ditto on the word of mouth aspect.

My wife and son both have businesses and this has worked well for them.

Wife advertised in the local paper when she first started... after two months she pulled the ad and never looked back.

Son stuck a small home made sign in front of his auto repair shop... . that was 2 years ago... .

Now he's working late every night!!



Good luck.

What are ya doing anyway?

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Tom, I forgot to mention this too you last weekend...



There is a local locksmith, he advertises soley with business cards, and of course the phone book.



He has been in business for 40+ years and has a crew of 20+ guys...



I made up business cards with magnetic backs for people to put on their fridge or office file cabinet, this has worked out very well for me.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Ahh... that explains the 'Spotless Ceilings' vinyl stickers all over your truck.



Good luck with your venture, Tom.



Sure beats working for 'the man' like I do... :-{}



MTY

 

[98rammer]

i'm a ceiling contractor (cleaning, coating, some painting, custom installations, drywall/plaster, suspended ceilings, etc. ). www.SpotlessCeilings.com is my website. it started off as cleaning, but things have been changing. i need to update the lettering on the truck, or (hopefully) get a trailer (though i really want to trade my truck) and put my stuff on there in a more professional, updated mannor. LITTLE steps!



i'm having very noticeable, but classy business cards being printed as we speak (blue/black marble backround with silver lettering). my old ones are very outdated and not so professional looking. one of my last customers gave that adivce to me- spend the money, don't get cheap cards. i tend to now agree so my cards will stick out on the local boards.



hmm mark, good idea with the magnetic thing, i'll have to look into that. btw, i'm surprised that a locksmith would have 20+ guys working for him



i know that word of mouth is the best advertising, which of course goes through your work. dad's been in business for 26 or 27 years and does very little to no advertising (welder--all word of mouth). i've learned a lot from him. it's the starting out that's the hard part.



i'm also trying to read up on how to make my ad(s) more noticeable to people, but i'm not extremely creative when it comes to these things.



i appreciate the advice guys!

Tom

 

[98rammer]

ah, thanks matt. i've always known that i would have to self employed to make a decent living. can't make a living on $8/hr, or really anything less than $15. i'm still working two part time jobs, may have to get another one to make ends meet. but i'm happy in the direction i'm going now. i find it easy to work hard 10+ hours a day when you're making good money, but it very hard to work for $8/hr 8 hours a day. it has its ups and downs. hopefully next year i can buy all the lobster :-laf

 

[HoleshotHolset]

You make good points, Tom.



MMmmm... . lobstah.



MTY

 

[fkovalski]

Nice website, Tom. Do you have more samples of your work to post on the site? Many clients may want to see the variations of designs that you offer in a portfolio in your website.



I do not know if you have any professional relationships with architects, but visiting some with brochures of your work could provide some good leads. Many times I design tenant finishes for raw spaces. Coordinating with trades like yours helps our clients.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Good luck to ya Tom. If you're handy with ceilings like you are 12 valvers, you'll do just fine. I work from home for myself and have never placed an ad nor paid to be in the phone book. I basically worked for others doing what I do now and went out on my own. I already had a client base to get started with. Some have stayed with me and others have retired or left the business. I have picked up new clients by going to home shows and stopping into construction sites and introducing myself. A firm handshake will go a long ways with most people.

 

[DaveN]

One thing that I saw (not sure if it worked or not) but as you drive around and see new houses or buildings going up (in the roughing phase) stop by and either talk to the contractors or leave a card stapled somewhere near the door. Sometimes if you talk to a GC and lowball him on the first job he'll give you a shot. Let him know that you're giving him a first time special to get his business-otherwise the next time you bid a job he'll think that you're screwing him.



In your business, if you can get in with a general contractor, that's solid repeat business, since he's building multiple houses or buildings a year. Going after joe homeowner or joe businessman who's redoing their house is much more competetive, and more likely to not result in repeat business. Not to say that Joe homeowner isn't good work - but how often do you hear about someone redoing their ceiling?

 

[TORQUE THIS]

Tom, how come no link to the TDR on your site... :-laf

 

[QRTRHRS]

The family restaraunts around me use placemats with advertising on them. We have had some feedback from advertising our farm on them. We have a handful of weekly "paper shops" advertising anything and everything that some people seem to find time to read. The places we frequent for farm supplies allow us to leave cards which has yielded some activity. Our website is mostly good for people wanting to sell us something. At this time, I don't even own any trailers but when I was moving alot of horses or materials around, I did not advertise. Even though I am fully licensed and insured, etc. , I don't want any attention. For some though, a rolling billboard works well.

 

[98rammer]

Tom, how come no link to the TDR on your site... :-laf

"wouldn't be prudent" >snl reference<



Unfortunately I don't really have any relationships with architects or general contractors. i guess i have some soliciting, uh work to do.



the lowballing issue is a touchy one (just go lawnsite.com). i know a specific residential roofing contractor who charges very high and gets it... then puts it into major advertising. he quoted my family $16,000 to replace the shingles on a potential house. but then again he gets it. it's definately a balancing act. there's a certain amount i will not work under for unless i'm sure it'll get me future business because... why? i can go work for someone else.



the thing about me is some parts of my business are a niche market and i'm simply trying to figure out how to get my name out (like everyone else). i plan to offer the popcorn ceiling spray finish as no one around here offers it. however, that wont until i get the right equipment and some experience.



i shake everyone's hand,

send postcards out for the cleaning (only a couple work),

wear printed t shirts which need to be updated,

have the business cards out at local places,

and the paper advertising.



i do use my cell for my business. i wonder if that affects my "professionalism" by not sounding like i have an office, etc.



what do you guys think of a catch phrase?



Tom