How Do You Advertise??

nitrox2595 said:

you can call me at 914.490.0644 on wendesday and ill give it to you

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Chris, thank you very much for the info. These guys are AWESOME to deal with & offer a much higher quality job for very reasonable prices.

I will post a link once the site is finished.

Thanx Again,

Jared

I started out by making my own business cards with a program that I bought on my computer. I also advertised in the free classifieds paper that comes out once a week. I got jobs this way, but it wasn't very consistant. I decided my business cards were too amaturish and had some printed up from Office Depot that look real nice and profeshional. I also created a website on google.blogspot that is free that I post all sorts of picture on that show what I've done. Some jobs don't work for pics, but some are great for this. Before and after type pics as well as just some cool stuff I've built. I also have a picture of myself and my wife on it with some personal information about myself. Clients have said they hired me because of my website who didn't know me already. They said that after reading it and looking at my pics, they felt I was somebody who would take care of them and who they could trust. That's a huge compliment and something that I tried hard to get across.

A suprise to me was putting up 3x5 yard signs. I bought them because a client kept recomending them to me and they said they'd put one up in front of their home, which was on a busy street. After awhile, I orderd them online and started putting them up on the homes I was working on. The results have been huge. People see the sign, see me working on their neighbors home, and automatically assume that I'm doing a good job. Some contact the homeowner to ask about me, but others just call from the sign and we go from there. Once I'm in the front door, I pretty much always get the job.

I haven't run an add in the free classifieds this year and I have jobs booked up into October. It's all word of mouth right now and those yard signs that I put up and leave with my clients. Some keep the signs up for months, others take them down when I'm done. What's funny is they keep the signs and don't through them away.

Eddie

Eddie, What is the majority of your work?

No problem, Jared. Yes, they are good to work with. good luck with them

bobcatrg said:

Eddie, What is the majority of your work?

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I'm a licensed residential general contractor. I'm pretty much split between remodels and the other half of my work being repairs. Of the remodels, I do bathrooms more then anything by a large margin. Not sure why that is, but it's good money and something I enjoy. Once or twice a year I also end up doing an addition to a home, but that's about all I can take of those jobs. I like moving around to new jobs all the time and doing soemthing different. I don't know how somebody can be a framer or sheetrocker or whatever and do the same thing every day, all the time. I also build a few houses, but again, it's usually too much time at one place for me.

Eddie

Eddie,
That's just about the exact route I took, when I decided to go out on my own. Those yard signs really are an excellent way to bring in clients. I'd guess almost 50% of my clients came to me through those signs. The other half is typically from personal referrals.

When I was the Project Estimator at a large Pacific Northwest company, I was the contact point for all of the subs that wanted to work with us. It always helped their stature with us when they took the time to introduce themselves. As long as they were professional, stood by their work, didn't overstate their abilities and were good communicators, I gave them an honest chance to participate in some of our projects.

Here are the pics of the truck I was talking about that we lettered...sorry for the delay...been busy...and for those who doubt that it works or say "ugh why so much lettering?" I just landed a 15acre job yesterday that started with a phone call off of someone following me down the road sooooo :drinkup

........

HeyUvaVt,

Is that a personal vehicle? I use my truck for getting to my jobs and carrying my tools, so I don't think I'm commercial, but I'm afraid that if I letter it or put a magnet on the door with my info, I might become commercial. I'm even afraid to ask my insurance abou this just in case they want to charge me commercial rates.

What's the rule on advertising with your truck?

Thanks, it looks great!!!!

Eddie

I dunno.....I really couldn't get a clear view of that..................

Looks like a billboard on wheels...great way to advertise.

I dunno.....I really couldn't get a clear view of that..................

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Lol...just can't help yourself can you...

checked with ins company and they didn't have any issues with me doing it... squizzy squizzy squizzy:lmao

Have to agree about the signage on the truck, it works.

Might also be better down under here, but it seems the more I work the more work I get from people seeing the truck on the road. It stands out a bit round these parts, and people like to use someone who is busy.

If your busy you must do a good job.

I have my business information on my truck, clothing and have business cards. I work some of the tradeshows as well. Newspaper ads haven't been paying back. I'm looking more at the internet now and word of mouth from satisfied customers.

I do both business cards & website. Also local advertising in those small local papers do well.