Marketing: Any success stories?

T

Tim Smith

Member
I've been sending mailers to a target group for about three years now (Planting Seeds) - I've gotten a lot of calls from those customers this summer. I guess those seeds are starting to grow.

I also sent mailers to my existing customers back in April - Offering other services- that has done fairly well.

Sent post card mailers (with before & after pics) to log home owners within a 100 mile radius (the list was approx. 379 names) - received 14 jobs from it.

Yellow Pages did good for me. Its expensive, but has a been a powerful tool.

Newspaper ad didn't seem to do to well.

Door hangers worked pretty good, if It was a neighborhood that I've recently provided services too.


Overall, pretty good year for marketing (advertising portion of marketing). I've worked on improving my products and services. I've added several more services to my business. I implemented the 1st phase of my expansion plan this summer and it went well. Business is growing, could be a little faster for my taste, but the ball keeps rolling.
 
Contacting previous customers is an area that contractors too often overlook. I'm guilty as well. This point was firmly illustrated for me last spring when I didnt hear from one of my best deck customers ( very large deck/gazebo, gets done every spring)

I got a little busy and didnt call him until late April...........and his wife tells me they lost my phone number. I'm thinking: "Hello!!! I've been cleaning your deck for 5 years now........can you pick up the white pages at least?" Well, obviously not. This really opened my eyes to the importance of corresponding with your customers on a regular basis (something I need to work on) and also the benefit of refridgerator magnets.
 
I agree with you both. Customer contact management is so very important yet overlooked by most. That brings referrals.
 
I guess most people depends on the good old "word of mouth"??? Which is a powerful tool for getting business, just not whole lot. I guess, if a person was in the business for many years, they can make a good living on the "word of mouth" technique. If making a good living is what you want? or do you want more?
 
Mike and the rest of you, many of your problems with return calls or customers being able to find you would be solved with magnetic business cards.. Clients use them to hold up their kids pictures or the fridge and never lose them. A regular card will get lost or thrown away but magnetics have a way of staying around for years. Just as in Mikes case, they lost his number. Even if they did look in the phone book or paper they may be tempted to try another one of the companies advertising in it.. Who knows, they may be cheaper. Their work may suck and you may get them back the following year but why take the risk?
Try them out... I guarrantee you will keep more of your clients and increase your sales. Also make sure to put your website on them and any other services you provide.

If anyone wants more tips, email me.
 
Henry,

Have you ever printed a calendar on your magnet. Gives the customer another reason to keep your magnet. Something, that I do - I put up to 3yrs (calendar) on my magnets.





*Something else that I started doing this year. I bought some brass plates ( 1 inch by 2 inches) and had the following engraved on them:

TIDALWAVE
Exterior Pressure Washing
573-243-9990


With two small wood screws - I attach it to the deck beneath the top step on the fascia board. I also own a home inspection company & I always see where Heat/Air Techs, Electritions, etc leave these stickers with their info. Its kind of like leaving your signature or reputation on the deck. I knew that some customers may not want it on their deck, so I ask permission. I've only had two customers out of 40 or so say no. just an idea - works for me.
 
Hey Guys, Thank you all for all the great ideas and tips. I am just getting started and am learning alot on these posts and appreciate all of your suggestions. I plan and hope to use some of these ideas im my area and look to see what long and short term results it brings. One question I have for you guys is, have you had any luck with (or tried) giving a referal fee? Just an idea I had and wondered if it works for others. I would love to hear any other ideas of what has worked, and even more important what hasn't worked.

Thanks again for your help in helping me learn the ropes.

Rick Kment
rkment@hotmail.com
 
I've thought about doing those brass plates actually but could never find anywhere to do them at. How much are they and where are you getting them? I had also wondered how people would feel about mounting them on their deck as well. I've never done the calendar things and I get an excellent response. My problem with calenders is they serve a purpose with a date on them. Clients would be more inclined to throw them away when they expire and they are usually lighter wieght so they won't hold as much.. Most of my clients have LOTS of my old magnets, some have as many as 7 different styles on their fridge from when I change my cards..lol

Rich, I've tried paying for referrals but I found that if a cleint was going to refer someone they would do it paid or not. I think it's kinda like begging for work and I never wanted to give out that impression. A lot of guys do it and it works well for them though. I usually don't need the work though so why give away my money?
I'm only slow for maybe 6 weeks a year and even then I still have 2 crews running 6 hours a day at minimum. One big heavy snowstorm and I can go from eating steaks to lobster...LOL
 
Rick

If your looking for a board to learn - this is it. If you have any questions, please ask away. I tend to like the referral fees. It works well, when you have a consitent customer (commercial - that you do on a schedule basis) - I send letters to existing commercial customers offering $100.00 credit for any referrals with a sign contract. I will make more that that $100.00 in no time. As for residential - I tend to tell customers, that anybody on their street that calls withing the next month - I will give a 10% discount (theirs ways of putting that in the estimate), This is what I do for the original customer: I always do more than the customer expects. for example, if I'm there to clean the siding - I will do a patio, or clean their lawn furniture. Customers really appreciat it. I tell the customer - I also cleaned your XXXX and XXXXX as a token of my appreciation. If your satisfied with our services, please recommend us to your neighbors and we will give them a 10% discount. Seldom if ever, does the original customer ask for any payment or discount - I already gave them more than what they paid for, not to mention quality services.

Another thing you can do - put out a yard sign and get permission to leave it for a week or two - Drop door hanges (or flyers) at all the neighbors homes, before you do the job.


Henry

I go to a local sign store - I pay about $4.00 a plate ---- money well spent. As of calender magnets - you are right - thats why I put up to 3 yrs. A magnet with a temperature guage is pretty cool also.
 
I always ask if I can leave a yard sign when were doing powerwashing also. Even if it's just for a few days between the cleaning and the sealing phase. It lets other people know who you are and then they can see the quality of your work. I don't leave them for a whole week though. I don't have the time to go back and get them so I'd rather leave them for a shorter time and get them when I go back out. I've got three crews traveling the county every day so I could do it but were pretty busy as it is allready.
 
$4 each plaque? wow, I know that's not that expensive but that would bury me..lol I've got 10,413 customers right now... tonight I'll probably have more. I could give them out to jobs over $500 but that seems cruel to the other clients..lol Magnetic cards work well for everyone.
 
Add $4 to your bid and its paid for.............
 
Henry

Did you ever purchase any brass plates?
 
Any of your ideas work-out?
 
Henry Bockman said:
I always ask if I can leave a yard sign when were doing powerwashing also. Even if it's just for a few days between the cleaning and the sealing phase. It lets other people know who you are and then they can see the quality of your work. I don't leave them for a whole week though. I don't have the time to go back and get them so I'd rather leave them for a shorter time and get them when I go back out. I've got three crews traveling the county every day so I could do it but were pretty busy as it is allready.
Click to expand...

Do you still use yards Signs now Henry?
 
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