Publicity & advertising ideas please
Discussion
Hi all
I run a small PC Support business (one man band) and I'm looking for some ideas on how to generate a bit more business.
I'm very cash-flow limited at the moment (thanks in part to a nasty burglary, I've just done a vat return & it's frightening how much impact the upheaval had but that's another story) so I'm looking for quick & cheap ideas, I can start spending a bit more when I build up a head of steam again.
I've done newspaper ads in the past with mixed response, Thomsons with quite a good response (so I'll be going in that again but that's for the future).
My target market is home users & the SME sector.
I've been around a good few years & have a good reputation with existing customers. I always ask them to recommend me - and they do.
I have some fairly basic laserprinted flyers on bright eye-catching paper which get popped through small biz letterboxes but get a very poor return from those.
Might it be worth spending a little & getting some nice glossy postcard size handout cards done I wonder?
I put flyers up in shopwindows/post offices etc, I've just revamped the website & have an adwords campaign running.
But there's so much experience on here so I open it up to the floor...
So... your ideas for advertising & publicity please! Cheap is good, wacky is fine, effective is the aim!
Cheers - PBF
I run a small PC Support business (one man band) and I'm looking for some ideas on how to generate a bit more business.
I'm very cash-flow limited at the moment (thanks in part to a nasty burglary, I've just done a vat return & it's frightening how much impact the upheaval had but that's another story) so I'm looking for quick & cheap ideas, I can start spending a bit more when I build up a head of steam again.
I've done newspaper ads in the past with mixed response, Thomsons with quite a good response (so I'll be going in that again but that's for the future).
My target market is home users & the SME sector.
I've been around a good few years & have a good reputation with existing customers. I always ask them to recommend me - and they do.
I have some fairly basic laserprinted flyers on bright eye-catching paper which get popped through small biz letterboxes but get a very poor return from those.
Might it be worth spending a little & getting some nice glossy postcard size handout cards done I wonder?
I put flyers up in shopwindows/post offices etc, I've just revamped the website & have an adwords campaign running.
But there's so much experience on here so I open it up to the floor...
So... your ideas for advertising & publicity please! Cheap is good, wacky is fine, effective is the aim!
Cheers - PBF
Well, just tried to log onto your website and got a 404 error, if it keeps happening change your web host for starters.
Adwords can be useful but only short term, the goal is to get a high generic listing. Take our core businesses we have 40+ domains / websites for each covering a host of keywords (terms Joe Public uses to search for a service) Now granted we can set these up for virtually nothing as we are in the right industry but its a potentially cheap way to generate a lot of customers if you know what you are doing.
For example take our debt recovery company, type into Google or yahoo debt collection company or debt collection letters or debt recovery letter etc etc we come top or very near.
Yell.com can be worth it although pricey.
Local paper adverts if they have the right section
ETA the link for your site is spelt wrong, its missing the "O" in computers
Adwords can be useful but only short term, the goal is to get a high generic listing. Take our core businesses we have 40+ domains / websites for each covering a host of keywords (terms Joe Public uses to search for a service) Now granted we can set these up for virtually nothing as we are in the right industry but its a potentially cheap way to generate a lot of customers if you know what you are doing.
For example take our debt recovery company, type into Google or yahoo debt collection company or debt collection letters or debt recovery letter etc etc we come top or very near.
Yell.com can be worth it although pricey.
Local paper adverts if they have the right section
ETA the link for your site is spelt wrong, its missing the "O" in computers
Edited by jamesuk28 on Tuesday 17th June 21:51
jamesuk28 said:
Well, just tried to log onto your website and got a 404 error, if it keeps happening change your web host for starters.
ETA the link for your site is spelt wrong, its missing the "O" in computers
Oops!ETA the link for your site is spelt wrong, its missing the "O" in computers
I'll go & correct that in a moment!See your point about many domains, each targeted towards specific keywords, I can do that easy enough!
I've requested a free link on Yell.com but need to call them back as they had a query but you reckon their paid for service brings you some decent quality enquiries?
Quite agree about adwords, it's a useful adjunct but I don't spend much on it and have some geographically specific keywords to try & tap into the local market but get >50% of hits from Google's organic searches.
Cheers & thanks for the comments. - Dunc.
Pot Bellied Fool said:
jamesuk28 said:
Well, just tried to log onto your website and got a 404 error, if it keeps happening change your web host for starters.
ETA the link for your site is spelt wrong, its missing the "O" in computers
Oops!ETA the link for your site is spelt wrong, its missing the "O" in computers
I'll go & correct that in a moment!See your point about many domains, each targeted towards specific keywords, I can do that easy enough!
I've requested a free link on Yell.com but need to call them back as they had a query but you reckon their paid for service brings you some decent quality enquiries?
Quite agree about adwords, it's a useful adjunct but I don't spend much on it and have some geographically specific keywords to try & tap into the local market but get >50% of hits from Google's organic searches.
Cheers & thanks for the comments. - Dunc.
Re yell.com the initial advert (sponsored listing with web link) cost us roughly £380, but from there we were able to add other sponsored listings for our other companies for roughly £75 each.
We are reasonably happy with the response we get and I assume its counted as a valuable inbound link so may help your generic search engine listings.
Sponsor the area at your local recycling centre where people leave their old computers (might not be able to do this officially but bung the operatives a few quid). Stick a big day-glo sign up saying something along the lines of "STOP! Is it really bust?" Call me to find out....ect.
Hire a room somewhere and run a FREE PC introductory course for those new to computers. (Housewives, oldies, etc). You build trust with them and be available for hire when they get stuck or experience problems.
Contact your local Radio Station and offer to host a weekly 15 min "IT Slot" - people send in problems that you solve on air, give out advice, review software, etc. It can't be an overt sales pitch and you can't charge for it but it adds kudos. "I got my PC fixed by that bloke off the radio"
That's your lot. The meter starts running if you need more
Hire a room somewhere and run a FREE PC introductory course for those new to computers. (Housewives, oldies, etc). You build trust with them and be available for hire when they get stuck or experience problems.
Contact your local Radio Station and offer to host a weekly 15 min "IT Slot" - people send in problems that you solve on air, give out advice, review software, etc. It can't be an overt sales pitch and you can't charge for it but it adds kudos. "I got my PC fixed by that bloke off the radio"
That's your lot. The meter starts running if you need more
Have a look for a local website, with a forum (there is a network of them - relevantfirst halfofpostcode.com)).
First, take very cheap advertising.
Second (ideally with site management's agreement) set yourself up as the local "Computer Doc." You will find that there's a small but quite dedicated following on the forum (and often total computer numpties). As happens here, you can provide free answers to the more simple problems. When it seems larger than the person asking the question can cope with, you recommend they bring it in. You could even write the occasional article for the site on something topical: Making the most of an iPod, Networking the home, What's Vista like, good maintenance software (and use the articles as part payment in kind for the banners).
Amost free, it will get targetted exposure, and as you get satisfied customers they will start recommending you (cf Plotloss on the current ceiling speakers thread).
First, take very cheap advertising.
Second (ideally with site management's agreement) set yourself up as the local "Computer Doc." You will find that there's a small but quite dedicated following on the forum (and often total computer numpties). As happens here, you can provide free answers to the more simple problems. When it seems larger than the person asking the question can cope with, you recommend they bring it in. You could even write the occasional article for the site on something topical: Making the most of an iPod, Networking the home, What's Vista like, good maintenance software (and use the articles as part payment in kind for the banners).
Amost free, it will get targetted exposure, and as you get satisfied customers they will start recommending you (cf Plotloss on the current ceiling speakers thread).
HiRich said:
Have a look for a local website, with a forum (there is a network of them - relevantfirst halfofpostcode.com)).
You mean like www.l22.com for example? Doesn't seem to have anything there or pr8.com other than general sponsored link fodder.A good idea though, there's already a very busy one in Southport (and I think someone's already on that) but one around home would be equally good as I cover that area too. (L222/L23 etc.)
Cheers
Truckosaurus said:
How about a little sticker with your contact details on it, that can be sent out with a flyer or as an insert in the local paper. Have the heading "Stick this onto your monitor, you'll never know when you might need us!".
I suggested to someone else in a similar line to get a magnetic sticker that can be put on the outside of a PC box as they are almost always metal - unfortunately not much good for a laptop.go to local primary schools who can't afford / no demand for permanent IT staff - offer a few free days and then see if they want you to pop in once week / month once you show the staff how easy things are / fix issues that have bugged them for ages.
get crb checked first and use this to promote your service + parents of the kids - no parent wants a random stranger in their home so you could state crb checked and recommended by local school
get crb checked first and use this to promote your service + parents of the kids - no parent wants a random stranger in their home so you could state crb checked and recommended by local school
I like it!Join a local business network group - I used to be in BNI which turned out not to be the right thing for my business, but the IT guy got loads of referrals and orders.
Stripe your car up. You'll be amazed how many people notice and make a mental note of businesses they see when out and about.
In the local rugby / football / cricket club ? Loads of people send business the way of people in their club.
Stripe your car up. You'll be amazed how many people notice and make a mental note of businesses they see when out and about.
In the local rugby / football / cricket club ? Loads of people send business the way of people in their club.
Edited by semprini27 on Sunday 7th March 16:56
If you have a van look at getting some sort of information about yourself on there.
One of the best suggestions I can offer would be to do some research and build up a database of potential clients and produce a snazzy email which will invite them to your website. If you send a chain email – say to over a thousand companies I think you should expect a high return in that. Furthermore, if you think about what you are offering, someone using a computer would be your perfect target market and it would be appropriate. It would also not cost any money, just time.
It may be worth contacting societies and larger groups that involve themselves to build up contacts or gain contracts. I suggest your local council would be a good start.
One of the best suggestions I can offer would be to do some research and build up a database of potential clients and produce a snazzy email which will invite them to your website. If you send a chain email – say to over a thousand companies I think you should expect a high return in that. Furthermore, if you think about what you are offering, someone using a computer would be your perfect target market and it would be appropriate. It would also not cost any money, just time.
It may be worth contacting societies and larger groups that involve themselves to build up contacts or gain contracts. I suggest your local council would be a good start.
Three ideas, but that's your lot:
1. The referrals idea is good: Look at using social networks to help your satisfied customers spread this (they can become fans).
2. Create a sticker to go next to any on/off switch you find. It should say "When you need something more than switch it off, switch it on." May get you in trouble, depending on where you stick them, but also raise a knowing smile. Maybe some local cafes etc would let you do this around light switches etc.
3. Contact your local business advisory service and see if you can connect with the people they advise/offer preferential service for them. Maybe even a local bank branch who advise local businesses?
Hope that helps.
1. The referrals idea is good: Look at using social networks to help your satisfied customers spread this (they can become fans).
2. Create a sticker to go next to any on/off switch you find. It should say "When you need something more than switch it off, switch it on." May get you in trouble, depending on where you stick them, but also raise a knowing smile. Maybe some local cafes etc would let you do this around light switches etc.
3. Contact your local business advisory service and see if you can connect with the people they advise/offer preferential service for them. Maybe even a local bank branch who advise local businesses?
Hope that helps.
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