Best way of advertising

[emmatjackson]

My partner is in the middle of setting up his own business and just want some advise off you guys.
If you were in need of a plumber were would you look?
We have put an advert in yellow pages but not out till may thinking about the Herald.
Any suggestions?

[Madhatter]

If he's got a van, sign write it.

Get some leaflets done up, when he does a job, put them through doors ten either side on both sides of the street.

Yellow pages is ok, thomson too but you only get work for the first few weeks after.

Tell him to get some refferences of satisfied customers too, they can come in handy.

If you advertise in the paper you have to keep it in for weeks before it starts to work, a lot of people think about having jobs done for weeks or months.

Don't forget cards too.

Be very careful about people ringing you up selling advertising space. It's often not worth it.

Those leaflets, it's worth going round to houses that have for sale and sold signs up, and pushing one through.

If he does an emegency call out service, put it on all your adverts.

[Gayle]

Tell him to go to Hyndburn Enterprise Trust. They help people set up their own businesses, give small start up grants and give marketing courses.

[Madhatter]

And most importantly, do a good job, word of mouth is free. tell the customer if he knows of anyone wanting any work done youd be greatfull if they recomended you.
AND emma note the YOU, for it to work you have to support him every bit of the way, not that I'm saying your not cos by asking that you are.

[emmatjackson]

Madhatter some good ideas there. Have done some cards and drawn up a leaflet for him.
We are going to do all this slowly and not rush in to much as he still working at min. Van we have got and signing is the next stage just had it all resprayed.
He has seen the enterprise trust and received some good advise off them booked in for some one day courses with them.

[wellbeing]

u need to put it on the internet and do a leaflet drop around all areas pay some1 cheap to do it!dnt forget loot and maybe pay some1 like a curry house or a taxi firm to advertise you on the back of their cards nt sure how much it will be but worth a try!

[emmatjackson]

Support!! Im his bloody rock. I have organised everything for him. I have designed his invoices, cards,leaflets, and advert for yellow pages im just waiting for my first wage. ha ha

[emmatjackson]

Internet yeah we kinda got that covered on yell.com

[Gayle]

Originally Posted by emmatjackson

Internet yeah we kinda got that covered on yell.com

....and on here, lol

[entwisi]

To be honest, a good plumber doesn;t need to advertise once they have done a few good jobs as they are as rare as hens teeth. beyond yellow pages stick to local interest groups such as on here, try asking places like Age Concern if he can put a card up. Once he has dome a few good jobs teh work will come looking for him.

[Gayle]

Another idea - and I know no one really likes doing stuff for free - but, he could volunteer to help a local community group or a charity shop or something and then let the papers know about it.

The amount of newspaper coverage that he'd get for that would be 10 times better than placing an advert in the same paper.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Also it might be worth while contacting somewhere like Age Concern or Homewise......often pensioners want someone who is reliable to do work for them.
Yes....word of mouth is good......and cheap.

[emmatjackson]

Yeah

S.T.PLUMBING & HEATING

All general plumbing and heating work
Full installations, Bathroom suites, water mains, boiler and gas fire services etc.

OVER 16 YRS EXP. Competitive rates Excellent customer service.

[wellbeing]

no need to b funny gayle internet dosnt just mean yell.com so no need to be clever!there is loot and google!!!

[wellbeing]

sorry gayle i meant emma jackson