AndyStobbs
Member
- Messages
- 2,475
- Location
- North West England
Have had one job come through the sign writing on my van in 4 years. The next one is staying plain.
Can you be sure of that?Have had one job come through the sign writing on my van in 4 years. The next one is staying plain.
Marketing can be maximising word of mouth
There is nothing to be scared of in spending on marketing as long as it adds buisness or develops more word of mouth in a new area or field
Some examples of firms that spend on marketing? Certainly include all the very best in thier field rolls Royce Holland and Holland rolex Everest etc
It's a long list because basically they all do good and bad and bad quality firms actually more often than not don't market thier services because the fact they are cheaper is thier only usp and as all marketing should if done well more than pay for itself in volume margin and add to buying power can lower prices charged
One little show I did cost me a hundred pounds yet directly got me a number of jobs totalling over 4 k and many more got to see what we can do which will pay off long term
Don't be scared of it if you don't understand it just seek advice
As you say blenkie, I have done zero marketing in ages. It's all blloks for some trades. I only have work if vehicles are broken if nothing is broken then people don't NEED a repair, or a service or an MOT. No amount of advertising can create broken cars. Yes I could coax customers from other garages, further a field but unless they [the customer] was unhappy with their garage why would they swap - because I am not about to work for less.
Plumbers and plastering, well people WANT to redecorate or change the bathroom. So they are in a stronger position to benefit from advertising.
I tried it in my first year of trading and spent £1000's on no return which would've been better spent on
Beer
Holidays
Females
Machinery
Not necessarily in that order
Oh handing out a buisness card in a bar is advertising
Thats not my style, I try not to mix work with socializing. To the point that I don't generally tell people what I do upon first meeting them; only if the conversation is driven that way, and then I often generalise. Partly to separate work from personal life, and mainly because 4/5 people upon finding out what you do, immediately start telling you their car/van/pony/roof/chimney/ whatever needs attention.
I see your point Andy. Otherwise people just want to talk about work and things needing done when you are in the pub trying to get away from it.Thats not my style, I try not to mix work with socializing. To the point that I don't generally tell people what I do upon first meeting them; only if the conversation is driven that way, and then I often generalise. Partly to separate work from personal life, and mainly because 4/5 people upon finding out what you do, immediately start telling you their car/van/pony/roof/chimney/ whatever needs attention.
Phoning after 9 pm with an unsolicited call is actually illegalI see your point Andy. Otherwise people just want to talk about work and things needing done when you are in the pub trying to get away from it.
I have a boat engineering business and have alot of work in the summer and although I need the work can't get a minutes peace from boaters phoning at ten o'clock at night etc for something that could wait till morning.
Not in the UK it isn't.Phoning after 9 pm with an unsolicited call is actually illegal
The best way round it though is have a work and a home number and just don't answer the mobile or just turn the thing off
It's like you actually don't want work