Drumming up more business

[dontknowitall]

I don't agree that the internet is such a powerful advertising medium but I do agree it shouldn't be ignored.

I get most of my unrecommended work from my website but in one man band type trades, I'd suggest that recommendation is the most successful important source for new customers and after that Yellow Pages and local magazines and newspapers (not that I use any of these). After these media, I'm sure most people then turn to Tinternet.

Also, have you ever tried searching for and buying a car via the internet when you're not really sure what you want? When I looked for my van it was the most maddening experience I've suffered in many years! I ended up using Yellow Pages!

 

[md68]

Are you not using the internet?

I do online marketing for local businesses and I find it crazy you guys aren't taking advantage of Google being the new digital Yellow pages,.

Yellow pages is dying, people used to place an ad and that was it, the phone would ring. If you want to avoid drinking free coffee you can take advantage of the fact there were almost half a million people last month looking for a plumber in the Uk on Google.

You got a website? You getting traffic? you capturing peoples details? you building a relationship with them?

If you want to survive long term you need to be known as dave the plumber, not just "a" plumber.

"Don't find a customer to make a sale, make a sale to find a customer".

Get a customer retention strategy and use the internet and you'll have so much work you'll hate the fact that you ever read this post because you'll be swamped.

Most local businesses aren't doing this, not just plumbers.

GL

I agree that the internet is a valuable tool these days and yes I do use it along with the BNI, Local press, Leaflets, Thomson Local, Check a Trade, Trading standards, Paid refferals, Direct mail & joint marketing. Along of course with word of mouth but I love to tinker and try out new things.

I expect my phone to ring at least 10 times a day with customer enquiries and to honest I find makeing the phone ring more fun than the plumbing.