Advertising for Plumbing & Heating Co

[clh16]

Hi to all,

If possible I would like some advice on how best to advertise our plumbing & Heating Company. At present we mainly work for builders on new build - but would like some household work to fil in the 'lulls'.

We have had the vans signwritten and a board made (that presently works it way around relatives drives).

The local paper is expensive to advertise and has a large amout of regulars that top the first few positions with weekly large adverts. Would we get noticed lower down? We only tried for one week without success and relectant to throw good money after bad

Yell.com seems to dedicate its first couple of pages to big national companys - followed by our of area people (who probably pay a premium for this position) and finally then local people. With the company name starting with an 'M' - again how far down will people look.

Have tried a leaflet drop in our area - resulted in aching feet from us and moaning teenagers but no work.

All advice appreciated - especially what has worked for you.

Thanks in advance

 

[sinclairsea]

Hello Clh16,

Internet, internet, internet, it's the future I have tasted it!. I do adverts in papers, and they are a fortune and you get little results - so I can sympathize with you. It is hard when it cost's money and you get nothing or very little from it.

I did a flyer run most recently and have got some work from that, so keep those fingers crossed you will never no! If anything it establishes your name services etc.

It's great you have sign written vans, boards at folks homes etc. I am a new business and word of mouth is the greatest thing. Can you ask some of the companies you sub contract for to do a testimonials etc?

Do you have a website? Perhaps tweek a few places to advertise yourselves to common folk.

I would personally avoid yell and alike, but that's just me. You may need to be with them as people in emergency pick up the yellow book that have no internet. But again, small ad so no huge costs.

Get yourself a free advert of on www.gumtree.co.uk

If you need help with a catchy design advert give me a PM as typing here I came up with an idea lol

Regards

Chris

 

[MJBMI]

consider producing a small booklet, nothing too fancy, giving top notch advice on all aspects of caring for your pipes, boiler, plumbing heating etc etc , FAQs, DIY repair/maintenance tips for small jobs . Get it dropped like a leaflet or if budget allows deliver better packaged, most people will keep it, its useful right, and when wil they pull it out, right when they need you most.
If you have a website /presence, you can save ££ and have an opt in form for this instead and just do a simpler cheaper leaflet sending people to your site to opt in and download the info, then continue building the relationship with them thru email/ social media (the latter is more time consuming, the first paragraph is done once and 'forgotten'

 

[clh16]

Thanks Chris,

All seems like fab advice there. Will look at internet website and also see how many free listings I can get.

Hopefully we will get noticed soon - need those householders as better and quicker payers than the big boys.

Once again thanks

 

[clh16]

Again thanks to MJBMI - more good advice and on the same lines. Looks like this is the direction to move in!!

 

[Ian Feingold]

try your local networking group meetings or the online version, step up your online presence, consider some promotional ideas to keep your name visible eg pen that you can leave in local communal areas eg library or door drop...