Replies

1. 
   Robrehm | Dec 17, 2009 05:00pm | #1

   start with your local chamber of commeerece. They offer after hours events and other events that are dedicated to networking. IF you are not on linkedin you need to be. Check with the local business publications, they tend to offer networking events. Google networking events for your area. you might find more than you expect. Networking works and works well but dont expect immediate results.there is bunch of events out there but you need to look for them. I belong to a networking group that is a formal organization i know would love to expand into your area. http://www.amspirit.com talk to Frank, tell him I sent you.

2. 
   JeffyT | Dec 18, 2009 09:10pm | #2

   You could spend some time with your local H4H or some other low income housing related charity group.

   You get to show your skills, meet some other builder volunteers to network with and a whole lot of non-builder volunteers who are all looking for renos on their houses in the more affluent parts of your community ;)

   Plus, it's a good cause in its own right so even if you get no projects out of it your time's been well spent.

   j

3. 
   Nuke | Dec 21, 2009 07:15am | #3

   Mike, I am glad you realized that traditional advertising has its limits. Some thoughts ...

   One of the things that bothers me as a consumer looking for contractors of skilled expertise is their apparent inability to enter the Informational Age. This was fine back in the 1980's and 1990's, but my wife has progressed more in this realm than most trade-skill folks of self-employment.

   It costs less than $100 per year to host and maintain a registered domain name that will provide you with customized email. Add to this web link, Google site registrations and better target marketing can benefit.

   There is nothing more of a turn-off than someone recommending a company that thinks they are 'with the times' and use Yahoo for a free email service. Sorry, I am not emailing a Yahoo address.

   Then there are those that seem to make the effort, reach an obstacle, and never resolve it to gain the benefits they originally sought. For instance, a couple of web sites recently visited had feedback forms for taking prespective client information.

   Click the Submit button and instead of taking the information and emailing you on it the broken form simply reports back to the client a problem has been reached and 'oh well, go somewhere else' as the only option.

   I was impressed with one self-employed contractor last Spring. Not only did he have a domain name registered with target advertising (Google searches produced results specific to his site for the Internet user's geographic area based on passive IP-targeting.

   He multiplied the effect by registering 28 domain names thus flooding the field and diluting any chance his competition had in this area of advertising. Anyone emailing him via any of the domain names or advertised email addresses (corresponding to his domain names and not a Yahoo or Hotmail address) were pushed to his Blackberry in real time.

   It was strange that when he was working he could get his email, respond by voice, immediately and didn't need to be 'in the office' to conduct future business.

   Simply advertising your existence isn't enough. Being reachable in real-time for future business offers you the first opportunity to bite the customer's wallet before your competition does.

   BTW, the wife and I have our own registered domain names. No, not for professional use but for personal use. We customer email for specific functions. Let's say my domain name was xyz123a.com and I was looking for a roofer. My email address would be [email protected]. And once the roofing job was done that email goes away. I control its existence and no fear os Spam in my life.