Startup with questions about marketing

[Airgunner]

Hi, firstly I've been a reader for a while now and now I'm about to launch in the new year!!
Right I'm going to be selling our services as a specialist flooring contractors installing floors for wet rooms, I have years of experience fitting floors in bathroom adaptions but now I'm wanting to try my own hand at business and wondering if anyone on here has any ideas of the best way to advertise this service particularly the wet room flooring as I'm not planning to open a shop, are there any mobility type business owners, plumbers or builders that could help?

Thanks for taking the time to read.

 

[finleydesign]

Although I don't wish to sound biased, the first investment would be a decent website, you don't need to go mad, but of course it's a great way to advertise your business and use it to refer potential clients to the type of service you will be offering

Potential clients are always going to want to see what's on offer as such, with a website set up and running then its a question of getting out there and pointing potential clients to your site

 

[Berics Accounting]

I would have to agree with Finley Design. It would perhaps be worth contacting a few different design / marketing agencies. Most will offer a proposal detailing what they would recommend. Agencies like Boom Absolute offer specific 'start-up' packages which could be a place to start​

 

[CPSMedia Carl]

I would agree with the other comments. As a starting point a website is going to be essential, if you are targeting a local area make sure you get someone who knows about setting up sites to rank well in local search.

If it were me and I am biased here, I would look to start promoting via PPC you can just target people who are searching for the exact service you provide, in the areas you want to target.

 

[sambarnes90]

What about finding some other industry websites which you could contribute to?

Relevant forums or communities you can find?

Any trade shows in the industry that you could attend? (This is pretty expensive but I think in a sphere like this could be very effective)

I'm guessing if you've been in the industry a while you'll already have some contacts. Maybe try and contact them and see if they know of any websites or publications that you could share your expertise with.

All of this builds your credibility within the industry and helps expose you to more people. Building that initial network would be a great start in my opinion.

 

[The web design girl]

As the others have said you will need a website, but dont neglect the social networking sites either, get a Facebook page for the company and a twitter account as well as your Google Maps listing and Google+ accounts all set up.

 

[ben@hewoco]

Websites, social media and all the other stuff mentioned is important but it is rather passive.

In a more active sense, I know that local Social Service often pay for the fitting of wet rooms (I wouldn't be surprised if they were the largest buyer of such services at the local level). I'm not sure if they have a list of approved suppliers or let the families themselves find the supplier - well worth an explore!

Also, I think you had a good idea on contacting mobility business owners. Why not talk to local mobility shops (and even care agencies with offices near you), ask to put some leaflets (or something more eye-catching) in their sites and offer them a percentage referral fee?

 

[The Byre]

Read this - http://blog.subscribermail.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ogilvy-advertising-that-sells.pdf and then read 'Ogilvy on Advertising'.

 

[businessfunding]

Before looking at the medium you need to work on the marketing basic

Who is your target and what are they buying from you (its not the same as what you think you are selling

The more tightly you define your target the more precisely you can direct your promotion and benefits

As most people have suggested a website I would say that your promotion strategy may or may not revolve around web presence, but the act of building s site does not constitute a marketing strategy

Mobility and care homes have come up as potential targets so would be a very goods starting point for your research

 

[businessprintinglondon]

do you think the beat thing to do with a website is to test the waters with PPC first to see which keywords convert the best then target those keywords via SEO ?

 

[webgeek]

Sounds like a 'local' business where you will be serving those within X miles of your location.

Classing the service as 'home improvement', a basic approach might include:
1) Website - as above, you need a place to refer people where they can see photos of what they can expect to receive, ballpark cost figures, an easy to use enquiry form, testimonials, etc
2) Non-Web Advertising - flyers/brochures hand delivered door to door, starting with the areas which fit your expected customer demographic (perhaps affluent neighbourhoods)
3) Partner Offers - letting people have a discount if they... get injury rehab from an area physio, get X service from Y business (a way of getting people to advertise for you by giving their patrons a discount)
4) Blogging - sharing with the world any insights, horror stories, tips on doing it themselves, product benefits (then sharing this via social media to help boost exposure)
5) SEO - done well, items 3 and 4 above can give a huge head-start to any search marketing campaigns

 

[JoshB92]

You don't need a fancy website, something simple and clear done properly would be more than sufficient.

What you need are strategic relationships with businesses that can bring you work. Look into:
a) Suppliers - do they have installers in your area? Build a relationship where you take advantage of their marketing by becoming a 'preferred supplier'.
b) Councils / Social Services - Presumably there is a need for some elderly or otherwise less abled people to have wetrooms fitted.
c) You must have a lot of contacts in the trade, which means the hard part is done. Network and share opportunities with them and you'll be rewarded with work back.

 

[theBagShoppe]

I would have to agree with most the people as all people ask you to focus on website, I will advise you same but I will add that you need to get a simple and cheap website and test the water with advertising that site on Facebook and see the result.

You need to add blog to your site as well and share your experience with the world, it will generate a feel in your site.

Walk in personally with a leaflet will do a great job in your business industry as well. Home improvement industry is very big but your local contractors will be main source for your passive income!