Business start up help

[kcds12]

Hello all,

This is my first post.

I am currently in the process of starting a pallet logistics and delivery business situated in Yorkshire but servicing the whole of the U.K.

I need help in finding customers outside of my main territory, what is the best way of contacting potential business customers?

Phone, email, letter, leaflets, networking events?

any help will be very much appreciated

Thank you

 

[lisa-giselle]

Are you a member of LinkedIn? I find it very helpful for getting business out there. Social medial targets people alot better than the old method of pen and paper.

Networking events are great for meeting potential customers. Have a look at the Yorkshire Enterprise Network, they hold free networking events which always have a really good turn out.

 

[Mike W]

Email marketing can work well. I've done similar for other companies, helping source data etc.

If you'd like some further info, PM me with your details and we can have a chat.

Regards

Mike

 

[WolfStores]

Hi There,

Are you online in any way? Your own website, Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In? Could you sell a product or service on eBay?

Cheers,

Tim

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Was this not fully covered in your business plan!!!!!!!

 

[telemax]

Hello all,

This is my first post.

I am currently in the process of starting a pallet logistics and delivery business situated in Yorkshire but servicing the whole of the U.K.

I need help in finding customers outside of my main territory, what is the best way of finding and contacting potential business customers?

Phone, email, letter, leaflets, networking events?

any help will be very much appreciated

Thank you

A bit of all of the above, just don't give up to easily. Often it takes more than 6 contacts to gain a customer.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

OP why would I come to you and not use the company I have used for 8 years?

 

[LMDServicesUK]

Welcome to the forum,

Hopefully you will find it quite useful.

Re generating new accounts for your business, I cannot recommend getting into Networking enough, it will take time but once you establish relationship with your fellow members, you will start to get warmed up leads, which are always more valuable than cold call generated ones..

BNI is the oldest, but probably the most successful organisation, but there are plenty of others as well, google and you will find some local groups that meet either weekly or monthly, to suit all types.

Whereabouts in Yorkshire are you based ?

Good luck with the business

Rgds

Mark
LMD Services

 

[noo81]

Hi,

I'm no expert on the pallet market but generally all of these can generate more business and reach a wide range of people. It is probably best to test which one or combination works best for you. Online marketing such as emails and social media is relatively inexpensive compared to traditional methods and with more people discussing their business choices online, you can hit a larger target that way. If you haven't already, add an opt in form on your webpage, offer incentives to get people to join and refer you.
Good luck.

 

[fisicx]

TV adverts, magazines, local radio, PPC, billboards.

What's your marketing budget? £10K might be a good start but it's probably going to be a lot more than that.

But as suggested you need to have a really good USP to get people to even think about changing providers. And it's not about being cheaper either.

 

[Tin]

Just for information, I've merged 3 separate threads, all identical into one here so all responses are now in one place.

 

[Davidcooper]

LinkedIn can be a great source to market your business to other business. Also a well thought and created email outreach with a "call to action" can reward you with many benefits.

 

[umamidesignforfood]

I can't emphasise enough the importance of a well designed website with good SEO so that you appear in top few results. It may be difficult with a logistics business as you'll have the big boys to contend with (Eddie Stobart etc)
Networking and linkedin will be great for you, as you're aiming b2b (I assume?). Twitter may also be handy, but facebook not so much (that's a more b2c market).
Not sure how useful an advert would be, unless you get into a logistics directory or business newspaper. Perhaps try contacting manufaturers? Cold calls can be awkward, but if you can genuinly offer them something new and a great service then be confident that your business will sell itself.

If you need to talk a bit more then PM me, always brimming with ideas for marketing!