What commotions do you find work for you

cold calling & free demos. some door to door but dont have much time for that anymore
 
Chris

There is no doubt that Marketing Materials do work... but in my experience it is becoming apparent that we are in the business of creating relationships. My best results have come from telephone and face to face conversations... admittedly, sometimes it has taken many attempts to secure this 'interaction' (visiting offices, networking, leaving voice messages, sending letters, sending proposals, etc...).

If I were you, I would get marketing materials that you feel would work for you made up... you want to differentiate yourself, some things may work for others, but work to your strengths and weaknesses. Be persistent (not an irritant), promote your business in person. Sell yourself and your service...:)
 
I haven't used postcards for Property Managers... it will more than likely go in the trash I think. Might work for residential PM's or condo PM's though.

Chris, think about follow up on the door hangers. Either write to the residents that you put the hanger on... or, it might be more work, but try to find their phone number in the book for a follow up call. Whatever way you decide to go, plan for multiple 'contacts' with them - the sale is rarely made on the first, or even second or third contact (I think there are a few threads on this subject).

Seriously though, since you have committed to the door hanger route, PLAN FOR THE FOLLOW UP... otherwise it could just be money down the drain. Note down all the addresses, and any telephone #'s you get... this will be the start of a 'targeted marketing program'... doesn't need to be anything fancy. If you have MS Excel... just have headings of:

- Name
- Address, City, State, Zip (put these in separate columns if you want to print labels)
- Contact No.

- First Contact (eg. door hanger)
- Second Contact (eg. follow up 'special promotion' letter)
- Third Contact (Phone Call)
... and so on

Take 15-20 minutes to write down a plan Chris and stick to it if you can... that way you can record true results of how successful your first 'marketing program/campaign' was.

Good Luck and keep the momentum going!!! :)
 
One thing I used to use successfully in past businesses is to use a street address (or criss-cross) directory. You can blanket a neighborhood with flyers around a house you did, and keep following up whether via phone or mail as the directory gives you both sets of information. It can lend trust and credence to your business by mentioning the work you performed for their neighbor, and also inspire a "compete with the Jones'" response. It's kind of like getting a referral to every neighbor of the customer you just serviced without even asking for it.
 
A friend of mine is a painter and he tried something I plan to try as well. He went to the local home show and dropped his business card in every fishbowl drawing there was for builders and property management companies with the hope that they would keep his card and contact him for jobs. That was in October. He is booked solid through July just from those business cards. He is hiring 3 more people to cover the call in business. Not sure how well it will work or if it will work at all for our industry, but it is definitely worth my time to give it a shot. Besides, I like going to home shows.
Until now, I have been concentrating on post cards to home owners, flyers in the local free semi weekly paper, a flyer in the "Welcome Wagon" basket and referals. I was going to do door to door for homes that obviously need service, but the local laws make it difficult. In one town we need a day permit at $25/day per sales person, and even then certain areas are still off limits. But in the next town door to door is perfectly acceptable without any permit.
Be sure to check the laws before you do anything other than mailings or mass distributions like in papers.
 
That is a good idea about the fish bowl for drawings.

I would think that they would just call to try to sell you stuff but I guess not. Cool.

The next home show that is here, I will go and give it a try, maybe drop some of my Magnetic Business Cards in there too. I would think they would put those up on the fridge or file cabinet instead of throwing it away.

I really like the idea, thanks.





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