Replies

1. 
   RenaissanceRestorations | Jul 12, 2004 08:56pm | #1

   As I'm in a "nich" market, I only target antique and victorian style homes. So, my brochure has some examples of past work, amoung other things.

   Renaissance Restorations
   Victorian Home Restoration Services
   http://www.renaissancerestorations.com

1. 
   ClancysBro | Jul 13, 2004 12:40am | #2

   Thanks for sticking your neck out and replying. Yes, the dreaded marketing area in my business is dead...doa...nothing coming in...I have to do something and now. I did go out and sort of say "check the competition"and did my research part of it anyway. I have glossy ones, simple ones, informative ones, ones with prices, ones that explain very little, and then mine which I did over the weekend. (and it looks like it.) I am still a little intimidated at the competition out there.

   I think you are right in finding your market and that niche of specialty where you have experience and skill in, but this is a niche for myself that I am not an expert in and could easily classify myself as a generalist. I am not use to that feeling and am also attempting to cross a language barrier. The vision I have is tapping the Latino community for my sales in the next 5 years. Believe me, you can take this to the bank, it’s the hot market where I am. Still looking for some more ideas, I should have addressed this aspect of my business a long time ago. -Prota

1. 
   ponytl | Jul 13, 2004 03:53am | #3

   if i needed work NOW  i'd tap into the "rent a husband" market...  since you can do anything...most people have no idea who to call for simple stuff... which often leads to bigger stuff... and all you have to do is make one older lady happy about you come'n to the house on time and fix'n a ceiling fan... a few stuck doors... and hang'n that new towel bar... and all her friends will know your name before noon the next day... they get around $50 an hour around here... (plus they usually get fed and have to listen to a few stories)

   pony

2. 
   davidmeiland | Jul 14, 2004 03:23am | #4

   I didn't think investing in a brochure was wise for my business. I'd have to get a thousand or more printed, which would cost a lot, and then I'd be locked into the pictures and information I used in the brochure. Also, I don't know how I'd get brochures out there. So, I decided to do postcards, which are easy to get laid out, easy to get printed, and easy to distribute (I bought a mailing list and sent out 500 of them). My plan is to do a new one about 3 times per year, and although I'll use mostly the same layout for the back each time I'll be able to make some changes to it as well--for instance I'm just getting a website going and will announce that on the back of the next card. Obviously I decided that a website was also a worthwhile investment, and we run a small ad in the back of the weekly paper.

3. 
   Isamemon | Jul 14, 2004 03:41am | #5

   somewhat related

   are the yellow pages dead in your area

   we have a clean record and good references

   but I bet not one of my jobs in the past few months has come from yellow pages

   and we have one of the biggest yellopw pages ads out there.

   the jobs have come from many sources

   they have been from homeshows, newspaper specials, brochures and the bestest thing ever, referals

   we gpt sucked into radio and ran an ad 5 times a day for 3 months, that didnt seem to work either

   the radio people said I needed to run it longer for recognition

   of course a lot of this could be market area and just being a general contractor and not having a "niche"

   our town has a population fo about 50k and it seems a fifth are in construction

   as far as brochures , it seems people say they like them, they always disappear from racks and home shows, Ive sent out hundreds, had a local lumber yard that let me put them up

   but my biggest problem I really believe is people looking for the el-cheap-oh

   and partially because of overhead, in part due to advertising, we are not the cheapest in town

   targeting the older homeowner can be a good ticket, just dont take advantage of it.

   I know one guy that targets  "rent a husband" market too older folks

   he says it is just a ploy to get in the door and upsell]

   and he made more money then me last year

   so figure out what you are trying to do, a niche, a rent a husband

   find out where they hang out and put up signs, have good colorfull brochures available, answer your phone calls asap, show up i a clean rig, with clean clothes and not smelling like cigs or beer

   I guess this reply isnt much help