- Thread starter andytm
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BrokenBiker
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my father does custom airbrushin for motorcyles, helmets, cars and leather jackets, and in payment for a job, the guy made him a website. since then he has been innundated with customers asking for quotes and designs
rtbcomp
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In Sheffield there is The Sheffield Forum on the internet, a bit like this one, they let you advertise for free, so maybe there's something similar round where you are?
Also people ask for services on that forum, so you can reply to them for free too.
I use Freecycle in a subversive way, for example "OFFER set of Metro wheels, I've gritblasted them ready for you to paint."
Also people ask for services on that forum, so you can reply to them for free too.
I use Freecycle in a subversive way, for example "OFFER set of Metro wheels, I've gritblasted them ready for you to paint."
the snooper
getting older by the day
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not all that glitters is gold the internet doesnt work for every business, if you opperate a business that specialises such as the airbrush art work mentioned then people search them out.
but general fabrication and local garages, local yellow pages.
forget anyone that rings you offering ad services it cant be that good or they wouldnt be ringing you been there done that parted with £600 quid and got nothing back from it
andytm
Member
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- 84
ive had lots of calls from advertising agents but dont see how they can live up to half they promise to do, ive my own welding fabrication business i specialise in automotive re designs chopping cars about etc also aluminium and stainless tig welding but anything in metal from decorative metalwork to machine components , ive been up an self employed about a year now with no advertising but looking to get more work in now etc so a website may be the first thing i need to look at as would also allow me a place to show off some of the work i do ,also have a facebook page look for A TM Engineering and recently also done this free advertising thing http://www.atmengineering.freeindex.co.uk/
When I'm looking for a particular service I just go straight to Yell.com, I think most people do.
My daughter has a small business and Yell offered her a website she can tweak to suit herself and add photos to - looks very smart. Just the thing for anyone doing design work.
My daughter has a small business and Yell offered her a website she can tweak to suit herself and add photos to - looks very smart. Just the thing for anyone doing design work.
Steer clear of ad agencies. When our family business was still going we had regular approaches from them. We gave it a go once but despite all their claims nothing really came from it. All they did was do press releases, some trade journal ad's and some mailshoting. For us, most results came from Kelly's directory ad's, this was in the days before the internet, and we did that ourselves !
Press ads can be very good as you're talking to a focussed audience. Don't bother with one-off ads, waste of money. Runs are better. In fact there was a saying kicking about that people need to see a Thing six times before it sticks with them. Don't take the price they ask either, play a little hard to get and haggle, you'll always get a discount.
And get decent ad image(s) made, it shouldn't cost too much and can be re-used over & over.
I never bothered with any of the "enhanced listings" offered by yell and every other directory.
Having a website is a good idea, both as a source of leads and as a showcase, but it needs to be well-formed so it gets indexed and ranked well against search terms people are likely to use, and therefore found by relevant potential customers. Just puting up a site doesn't guarantee that in itself.
And get decent ad image(s) made, it shouldn't cost too much and can be re-used over & over.
I never bothered with any of the "enhanced listings" offered by yell and every other directory.
Having a website is a good idea, both as a source of leads and as a showcase, but it needs to be well-formed so it gets indexed and ranked well against search terms people are likely to use, and therefore found by relevant potential customers. Just puting up a site doesn't guarantee that in itself.
OMG a topic on a welding forum that I can actually constructively contribute towards! 
On a basic level for a small business looking to grow there are a few simple things you can do. This is all top line – there is a lot more detail to all of this but wanted to keep is simple.
Image
You need a company name and a logo – something visibly recognisable and unique to you. It needs to look professional, clean in design and also stand out. A brand colour also helps with this. When you’re considering logo options keep in mind what the big players do – they spend billions every year on branding, so if you follow in the same footsteps then you know you are copying best practice.
Business image really makes a difference and people buy with their eyes, even when they have no idea of the service you offer. It’s the difference of receiving a call or an email from a prospective customer or not. A professional looking logo and brand image will encourage people to use you. Don’t pay any attention to your company image and it will put people off.
You want business cards, and letterhead – professionally produced. Use them – if you speak to someone about your business and don’t leave them with a business card you have wasted an opportunity.
Getting the word out
Local advertising can be effective and also cheap – don’t bother with people selling you advertising space, do some of the leg work yourself. There are always a lot of local publications kicking around the local area all happy to sell advertising space at low prices – your immediate customers will probably be local to you. Remember you won’t always see an immediate return from your expenditure but its about getting your name out there. Also anything that goes in print gets read by multiple people – word of mouth will spread and if people don’t immediately need your services they will develop recall. Recall is a key reason why big business spends lots of money bombing you out on TV with their adverts. So when you are in the market for insurance you go straight to Go Compare!
Adverts are a waste of time however if they aren’t well produced, and your company image isn’t any good. I am amazed at the number of businesses that advertise but fail to even add in a contact number, email address or actually state what they do!
Also telephone calls and sales letters to potential customers will also have a good impact.
Digital
Website is a complete must – no excuse they are cheap as anything to have set up. Get someone to do it for you or go for a self build. Good few web based options like Wordpress, Joomla etc that have a user friendly back end and varied templates to help you build the site. Remember though it needs to be effective and well presented and match you company image. There is no excuse for a poorly produced website in this day and age and just shows that the business can’t be bothered.
Make sure the web site is informative, easy to read, has a clear contact option and nice imagery – people like pictures!
These things act as a whole and not individually – so you can’t do 1 and not bother with the others (and this is just the key basics, it gets a lot more indepth)
Hope that helps a little
On a basic level for a small business looking to grow there are a few simple things you can do. This is all top line – there is a lot more detail to all of this but wanted to keep is simple.
Image
You need a company name and a logo – something visibly recognisable and unique to you. It needs to look professional, clean in design and also stand out. A brand colour also helps with this. When you’re considering logo options keep in mind what the big players do – they spend billions every year on branding, so if you follow in the same footsteps then you know you are copying best practice.
Business image really makes a difference and people buy with their eyes, even when they have no idea of the service you offer. It’s the difference of receiving a call or an email from a prospective customer or not. A professional looking logo and brand image will encourage people to use you. Don’t pay any attention to your company image and it will put people off.
You want business cards, and letterhead – professionally produced. Use them – if you speak to someone about your business and don’t leave them with a business card you have wasted an opportunity.
Getting the word out
Local advertising can be effective and also cheap – don’t bother with people selling you advertising space, do some of the leg work yourself. There are always a lot of local publications kicking around the local area all happy to sell advertising space at low prices – your immediate customers will probably be local to you. Remember you won’t always see an immediate return from your expenditure but its about getting your name out there. Also anything that goes in print gets read by multiple people – word of mouth will spread and if people don’t immediately need your services they will develop recall. Recall is a key reason why big business spends lots of money bombing you out on TV with their adverts. So when you are in the market for insurance you go straight to Go Compare!
Adverts are a waste of time however if they aren’t well produced, and your company image isn’t any good. I am amazed at the number of businesses that advertise but fail to even add in a contact number, email address or actually state what they do!
Also telephone calls and sales letters to potential customers will also have a good impact.
Digital
Website is a complete must – no excuse they are cheap as anything to have set up. Get someone to do it for you or go for a self build. Good few web based options like Wordpress, Joomla etc that have a user friendly back end and varied templates to help you build the site. Remember though it needs to be effective and well presented and match you company image. There is no excuse for a poorly produced website in this day and age and just shows that the business can’t be bothered.
Make sure the web site is informative, easy to read, has a clear contact option and nice imagery – people like pictures!
These things act as a whole and not individually – so you can’t do 1 and not bother with the others (and this is just the key basics, it gets a lot more indepth)
Hope that helps a little
Far from standard - It was my track day car. Complete hoot to drive. Basically stripped, roll cage, bucket seats, N2 arch kit, wider track, FRP panels, 2 way differential, usual engine tweeks and at one point also running dual carbs and lairy cams. I miss that car. Complete hooligan motor!
bloobloo
Professional Tinkerer
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I'm quite surprised that no one has mentioned any kind of referral type of advertising so far. At the moment 90% of my business comes from referrals. One really effective way to get referrals is to network. There are many many networking groups out there, just have a look on google for groups in your area, find one and book yourself on a meeting. Some are breakfast meetings, some are mid morning and some afternoon / evening, depends which one you choose. I am personally a member of the BNI, we meet at 6.45am have a chat, welcome new visitors, eat a slap up breakfast then everyone gets a chance to tell everyone in the room what they do, who they would like to meet, what or who their ideal referral would be. With the group I am part of, once I joined my profession was "locked", meaning nobody of the same or similar profession can join, basically meaning any business or referrals from from within that group are mine. It works welll for me.
Other groups, not just the BNI will be quite similar, some dont have the lock out policy some dont do breakfast etc just depends who you visit. Get yourself along to one you will be quite surprised on how much business you will pick up by just visiting varous groups. It also gets your name out there infront of alot of business owners directly.
Other groups, not just the BNI will be quite similar, some dont have the lock out policy some dont do breakfast etc just depends who you visit. Get yourself along to one you will be quite surprised on how much business you will pick up by just visiting varous groups. It also gets your name out there infront of alot of business owners directly.
KemppiFrog
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- Aquitaine
Biggest recent draw has been Yellow Pages. Followed by referals. Hints: reply quickly and get the quote in. Several have been quirky stuff that didn't appeal to the locals, so, if you need the work, be flexible.
Just been given a web source. At £24 squids/yr, it has to be a winner. mrsite shop or something similar.
KF
Oh, forgot. I have had several salespeople trying to flog local parish mag stuff. Seriously expensive (around €1K ) and talking to who? My neighbours....Who, probably by the noise, might just have figured out what I am up to..
KF
Just been given a web source. At £24 squids/yr, it has to be a winner. mrsite shop or something similar.
KF
Oh, forgot. I have had several salespeople trying to flog local parish mag stuff. Seriously expensive (around €1K ) and talking to who? My neighbours....Who, probably by the noise, might just have figured out what I am up to..
KF
