Marketing help (electrical contractor)
Discussion
Hi guys, just a little bit of help required.
Basically i started up an electrical contracting business just over a year ago.
I did well last year (for a startup), which i accomplished by using "rated people" which generated a nice amount of work.
This worked well as i know have quite a few repeat customers, as well as getting recommendations of these people.
I have now stopped using "rated people" as i don't find it the same service it was. It now seems full of cowboys doing jobs silly cheap for cash :roll eyes:
I do not want to go down this road, as i want to be known for quality/reliable etc.
I am at the stage now where i am getting enough work to get by through the contacts i made last year, and locals finding me via yell.com (i am fifth from the top) etc
But i am getting a fair few days like today when i have nothing
So i am wondering if any of you experts on here can give any advice on the best ways to advertise/market things to get new customers.
Also i live in a pretty rural area which makes things that bit more difficult.
Any advice would be much appreciated
Cheers
Basically i started up an electrical contracting business just over a year ago.
I did well last year (for a startup), which i accomplished by using "rated people" which generated a nice amount of work.
This worked well as i know have quite a few repeat customers, as well as getting recommendations of these people.
I have now stopped using "rated people" as i don't find it the same service it was. It now seems full of cowboys doing jobs silly cheap for cash :roll eyes:
I do not want to go down this road, as i want to be known for quality/reliable etc.
I am at the stage now where i am getting enough work to get by through the contacts i made last year, and locals finding me via yell.com (i am fifth from the top) etc
But i am getting a fair few days like today when i have nothing
So i am wondering if any of you experts on here can give any advice on the best ways to advertise/market things to get new customers.
Also i live in a pretty rural area which makes things that bit more difficult.
Any advice would be much appreciated
Cheers
I've no idea what the cost/benefit ratio is but i'm always amazed that trades people don't have a website.
A basic one (but well designed), just showing contact details, credentials, customer testimonials and pictures of work done is all that's required. I would expect that you would get a bit of traffic from google hits especially if you combine it with a social media site e.g. FB.
A basic one (but well designed), just showing contact details, credentials, customer testimonials and pictures of work done is all that's required. I would expect that you would get a bit of traffic from google hits especially if you combine it with a social media site e.g. FB.
Are there local places that have notice boards where you can out your business card? Don't B&Q do this? (I may have made that up) Travis Perking do I found a builder by asking them.
Small ads at the back of a free paper? That's all people are going to use a free paper for finding a local man to fix their roof, garden, electrics.
Small ads at the back of a free paper? That's all people are going to use a free paper for finding a local man to fix their roof, garden, electrics.
If it makes you feel a bit better, it's very quiet out there in general at the minute.
We're an electrical contractor, have been for 30+ years, mostly word of mouth. Work has gradually died out. We are still busy, but only due to massively reduced staff levels. We really need 2 more electricians to make sure we earn enough to cover overheads.
Some of our competitors are sitting around with nothing to do though.... Out of the two biggest wholesalers we use one is saying they're quiet, the other is saying they're manic (may be due to different staff levels between them)
Frimley, any chance I could have a copy too please? We haven't done anything since I met with you, and obviously finding work has got harder and harder!
We're an electrical contractor, have been for 30+ years, mostly word of mouth. Work has gradually died out. We are still busy, but only due to massively reduced staff levels. We really need 2 more electricians to make sure we earn enough to cover overheads.
Some of our competitors are sitting around with nothing to do though.... Out of the two biggest wholesalers we use one is saying they're quiet, the other is saying they're manic (may be due to different staff levels between them)
Frimley, any chance I could have a copy too please? We haven't done anything since I met with you, and obviously finding work has got harder and harder!
R1 Indy said:
I will give Travis a go, there are no B&Q's Etc around.
I did try some add's in the tradesman section of the local free paper, But it was costing £60 a week, and after 8 weeks it only generated 1 call.
Frimley that would be fantastic. That would be great if you don't mind.
A few years ago I advertised in the local news every week for two years, it cost me about £10k and we didn't get a single direct lead. Now either that's because it just doesn't work, or because our adverts were crap, or a bit of both. Electricians, and most trades, are very reactive, someone will need one at some point and then look them up on Google/ask friends. I don't think many people see an advert for an electrician in a paper and say "oh lets get the house rewired".I did try some add's in the tradesman section of the local free paper, But it was costing £60 a week, and after 8 weeks it only generated 1 call.
Frimley that would be fantastic. That would be great if you don't mind.
R1 Indy said:
Thanks, I do actually have a basic (self-made) website which I'm looking to get rebuilt by a professional.
However unless you google my company name, or get linked to it, nobody will find it.
so u say people find u ok on yell in which case the first thing they do is click on your website - which doesnt shout quality and high end as u say is the direction you want to go - if its the one i think it is.However unless you google my company name, or get linked to it, nobody will find it.
+ u are non existant on google
Edited by petemurphy on Wednesday 4th February 16:39
R1 Indy said:
Frimley that would be fantastic. That would be great if you don't mind.
Ok, I did it for a friend who wanted to start up on his own (already worked for a company doing the same job). In the end he didn't do it which was the right decision for him but I'd done a lot of the ground work on marketing for him. You can be my guinea pig 
petemurphy said:
so u say people find u ok on yell in which case the first thing they do is click on your website - which doesnt shout quality and high end as u say is the direction you want to go - if its the one i think it is.
+ u are non existant on google
Yes like i said, I'm looking at getting something far better made. I made that one with absolutely no IT knowledge! (i take it Matt Webb Electrical is what you found?) + u are non existant on google
Edited by petemurphy on Wednesday 4th February 16:39
R1 Indy said:
Yes like i said, I'm looking at getting something far better made. I made that one with absolutely no IT knowledge! (i take it Matt Webb Electrical is what you found?)
yep - fair enough but before u get into indepth marketing the basics have to be right. doesnt have to be expensive but you'll never get far on google with that. should be your no1 priority imho. shout if u need any helpWas in a very similar position, I started out using Rated People, My Builder and few other sites. I still use them a lot spending around £1500 a month.
Difference is we specialise in domestic rewiring. There is around 10 rewires per month on Rated People, Id say we get 80% of them, other contractors just can't match our speed at rewiring so we do have something "different. Rewires are generally £2-5k so you can see my initial investment is nothing in comparison.
I don't rely on Rated People Like I used to, and could work without it.
Work on a website, if you want quick results use Google Adwords, but expect to spend at least £500-1000 a month on it. You WILL make the money back if you put it in. That kind of doe will put you top of google for "electrician" searches in your area.
Get accreditations if you haven't. Getting NICEIC etc separates you from the monkeys posing as legit businesses on Rated People.
I have booklets I issue when pricing any work through sites like Rated People., The booklets took a lot of effort, so I won't be sharing,
They explain to customers who we are, our insurances, our company numbers etc, why we are VAT registered, why they should go for NICEIC etc etc. You need to educate the customers on these sites, so they know why some guys are so cheap.
From using mostly Rated People Ive grown from one man band to 10 employees, so no matter what people say about it, it worked for me, but as mentioned we work mostly in a niche market, specifically rewiring.
Sometimes I seriously consider going back to 1 or 2 guys though...far less stress and often I had more doe in my pocket!
I have 130 reviews on Rated....all but 2 are 5 star...other 2 are 4 star....and very very petty.
edit - ads in papers etc for me have been useless.....When people want things these days they google it. A small majority, likely elderly will check papers.
I do one flyer per year around spring for "bespoke garden lighting" it has some really interesting and fancy pics on it, and its bright orange.
I know this will grab attention as its different. Last year I posted maybe 2000 high quality flyers, to all the nice areas around my bit £300k+ properties...we got three jobs from it, but generated around £10k. Know your market. If I get a generic sparky flyer through the door with "lights for £35, sockets £25..zzzzz straight in the bin.
To summarise, You need to be prepared to pump money into things to get something out.
Difference is we specialise in domestic rewiring. There is around 10 rewires per month on Rated People, Id say we get 80% of them, other contractors just can't match our speed at rewiring so we do have something "different. Rewires are generally £2-5k so you can see my initial investment is nothing in comparison.
I don't rely on Rated People Like I used to, and could work without it.
Work on a website, if you want quick results use Google Adwords, but expect to spend at least £500-1000 a month on it. You WILL make the money back if you put it in. That kind of doe will put you top of google for "electrician" searches in your area.
Get accreditations if you haven't. Getting NICEIC etc separates you from the monkeys posing as legit businesses on Rated People.
I have booklets I issue when pricing any work through sites like Rated People., The booklets took a lot of effort, so I won't be sharing,
They explain to customers who we are, our insurances, our company numbers etc, why we are VAT registered, why they should go for NICEIC etc etc. You need to educate the customers on these sites, so they know why some guys are so cheap.
From using mostly Rated People Ive grown from one man band to 10 employees, so no matter what people say about it, it worked for me, but as mentioned we work mostly in a niche market, specifically rewiring.
Sometimes I seriously consider going back to 1 or 2 guys though...far less stress and often I had more doe in my pocket!
I have 130 reviews on Rated....all but 2 are 5 star...other 2 are 4 star....and very very petty.
edit - ads in papers etc for me have been useless.....When people want things these days they google it. A small majority, likely elderly will check papers.
I do one flyer per year around spring for "bespoke garden lighting" it has some really interesting and fancy pics on it, and its bright orange.
I know this will grab attention as its different. Last year I posted maybe 2000 high quality flyers, to all the nice areas around my bit £300k+ properties...we got three jobs from it, but generated around £10k. Know your market. If I get a generic sparky flyer through the door with "lights for £35, sockets £25..zzzzz straight in the bin.
To summarise, You need to be prepared to pump money into things to get something out.
Edited by Jamster123 on Wednesday 4th February 17:40
Edited by Jamster123 on Wednesday 4th February 17:47
Edited by Jamster123 on Wednesday 4th February 17:50
Hi R1 Indy,
If you decide to go down the route of using any printed marketing materials such as leaflets, signs, business cards, postcards etc then please get in touch with me for a quote.. you can email me at oliver@event-print.co.uk and take a look at my profile for a link to my website and all the products I supply.
I also supply printed and embroidered clothing to a lot of trades people if that's something you'd be interested in.
Regards,
Oliver
My sparky neighbour has ads in village newsletters and gets good trade from them. They're often photocopied and crap quality, but people do look at them. use your first name, landline number and state where you're based (as long as its not too far from the village).
There are still people out there who want to deal with a person who is local and don't like calling a mobile.
There are still people out there who want to deal with a person who is local and don't like calling a mobile.
Hi R1 indy, i'm also a spark.
One thing that worked for me is knowing or getting to know other sparks, i have just passed off a biggish industrial unit to someone else i trust as i just haven't got the time at the mo, but don't want to lose the contact.
Likewise if i'm between jobs i have 5-6 people i can phone for work.
There's always someone needs a chuck out.
One thing that worked for me is knowing or getting to know other sparks, i have just passed off a biggish industrial unit to someone else i trust as i just haven't got the time at the mo, but don't want to lose the contact.
Likewise if i'm between jobs i have 5-6 people i can phone for work.
There's always someone needs a chuck out.
Parish newsletter. Oldies still keep them religiously (boom boom!). Generally cheap and much better bang for buck than 'proper' press.
Ask your customers if they'll be case studies you can put on your website.
Sponsor a local event or team and push it in the local press.
Maybe offer to do a monthly column in the local rag giving out advice or answers on a problem page.
Ask your customers if they'll be case studies you can put on your website.
Sponsor a local event or team and push it in the local press.
Maybe offer to do a monthly column in the local rag giving out advice or answers on a problem page.
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