What are you doing to grow your business?
~
This is a very basic question. Let everyone know what you are doing to promote your business or how you plan to do it.
Paul Bryant of PDQ Assembly Services knows where ROI come in at it's highest... SIGNS! You buy a sign one time and it advertises as long as you have it, in this case, on his truck. So again... what are you doing?
Here is a short video of PDQ's Truck:
By the way... Thanks for sharing Paul!!!
~
This is a very basic question. Let everyone know what you are doing to promote your business or how you plan to do it.
Paul Bryant of PDQ Assembly Services knows where ROI come in at it's highest... SIGNS! You buy a sign one time and it advertises as long as you have it, in this case, on his truck. So again... what are you doing?
Here is a short video of PDQ's Truck:
By the way... Thanks for sharing Paul!!!
~
~
At this point I am still looking into the best ways to market our services.
Still trying to develop a referral network locally.
~
Reply to this
~
If you want a good 30-Day program to help you learn about marketing your small business on a budget while you are on the road going from customer to customer doing assemblies, then & recommend checking out Guerrilla Marketing in 30 Days (Audio book) by Levinson and Al Lautenslager . Audio books are a great way to get “brain-food” while sitting in traffic. Make all your little time you may have… count!
We are really pushing our local presents with our previous "end-consumer" customers this time of year. This is the time to follow up and thank them for a great 2009 (even if it was not so hot for you) and that you appreciate them for choosing you as their assembly company or person. Offer your customers some sort of incentive to use your services again this year and give them a reason to hold on to your direct mailer, flyer, business card, work order, etc.... This is the premise of consumer direct marketing... REPEAT BUSINESS!
As part of your 2010 campaign, be sure to build new business on the reliable source that is your existing business. Never treat your customers as if they are a one-time shot! We never work to just get the job done... we work to get the referral! Someone who is willing to refer your services without being compensated says a lot for you as a person or business. Be a solution provider and a problem solver.
The competition is especially tuff these days with thousands of "labor" type persons out there out of work with tools in their trunk looking to make ends meat. You need to figure out what makes you stick out from the crowd, makes you different, makes you the best choice... and trust me, pushing that you may have "the lowest price", is NOT the way to go about it. We have not and will NEVER promote our business with this ridiculous cop-out strategy. This is OK if you are selling products (and can still turn a profit), however as a value-added on-site “service provider”, this should never be your angle.
We are here to provide a premium quality, professional on-site assembly service to the consumer (and business of course). You want to strive to be that "value-added" service provider that doesn’t have ANY competition in the eyes of your customers because they want to do business with YOU! They want to have your kind of personality & integrity in their home or office. When you have customers calling you to do work for them and knowing the price is just as a formality because they are going to use you no matter what, says more then words can say about YOU!
God bless and good success!
Todd
http:///www.AssemblyMasters.net
Reply to this
~
Venues for advertising are very limited in my area; there are few places to post ads or business cards, and few people with the money to spend on furniture. Most of the work I've had over the past year was from people who saw either the United Assemblers website or my own. Although I live in New Jersey, I'd like to be listed (on the United Assemblers site) under "Philadelphia" as well; I'm within easy driving distance, there's more money in Philadelphia, and I now have a GPS device to help me get around there.
Reply to this
~
Looking into getting back into the delivery end of the business also. While trying to keep cost down at the same time. Referrals, this site, and web site are my main things bringing in business. I found out that the radio is a good source of getting business if you can keep on the air for a long period of time. Lots of net working on the net also. Cards and cold contacts are a must and the follow up and follow up and follow up til they get tired of looking at you or you make a friend out of them. Cards can be put on any car in supper markets, shopping centers, Targets, Walmarts, or restaurant tables when you have lunch. You should have them on you at all times never know whom you might meet grocery shopping or just eating out.
~
Reply to this
~
Okay guys, lets get with this program. Look at what you see before you...nothing but opportunities that can be knocking at your door if you really want to be successful in this industry. Look at a few things and do your homework as it is a no-brainer to be on your own. Some basic questions need to be answered by only you as to how you want to be successful.
Who / What / When / Where / Why / How ???
Yes I have competition in my area and I know how they operate and most all of them are or have been short termed businesses. They are in my area for "peak season" only or it might be a so called "National company" having the hardest time keeping long termed employees..much less trying to hire someone with a dependable vehicle / tools / and basic knowledge of the industry.
Diversification is the key as I stay busy year round with no slack time. for those of you that want to specialize in just furniture thats great.....swing sets....thats great as well....but diversification is the key to make good money year round.
Market area??? What is it that you want??? We've established ourselves as a Regional company and have done quite well with our account base.
How much do you want to make??? it's up to you also...FYI...starting my own business back in 1985 I did about 17K my first year...good enough for me to live on for the first year....now here it is 2010 and we're on track to do over 300K this year and I do not have the first CONTRACT with any of my customers.
How did I do it??? Professionalism...Live phone contact...Professional Appearance....24 hour turnaround on service calls...and a vehicle with advertising on it for all to see while on the road / parked / or at a job-site. BTW....you have to keep it cleaned / washed at all times.
I've had a few of you call me personally over the past year and I'm always giving good sound clean advice for anyone who is really wanting to know more about the business.
So take the time to sit back and really ask yourself...do I really want to do this??? Can I really make a living and prosper??? Do I have anything to worry about??? Do I have a plan for this to work???
Everyone has local resources in the area in which you live with tons of support for the small business group but you have to do your homework. Most of the information is free for you to use so there is no reason NOT to be successful. but it is only for you to do.
I wish each of you great success in whatever you decide and remember...The only way to stop worrying about the competition...Is to BE the competition !!!
~
Reply to this
~
I have others that I will post later, but here's one that we may all benefit from:
Recently I donated my services to a local church group that was helping a family that was displaced due to a fire in their home (short term, but...).
They raised funds and purchased a bunk bed and a couple of mattresses, as well as a chest of drawers for the two little girls - - I picked the items up, delivered and assembled them, and they were thrilled all the way around. But, they were not aware that services like mine were available...which got me to thinking.
I began searching for out-reach type programs and found a few where Impact Resource Group donated a couple of bikes and the assembly service to families to help get them back on their feet. (I'll post the links I found later).
Well, if they can do it...
Now, I'm not in a position to buy items for 'everyone', yet I will be approaching these types of service organizations to offer mine....but why not make it more national?
Think about it, if we found a national outreach program and each of us (UA members) donated just $30, with the company going out to do the work donating his/her services in the name of the United Assemblers to help a family/individual in need....it will draw attention to all of us and not cost that much...
Admittedly, there are logistical flaws to the 'national' idea currently (major one being we don't have companies in all areas) but this will be an area that I will be pursuing in my locale.
Michael Noble
Assembly Solutions
(800) 330-6395
Reply to this
~
Really like the truck. I have signage, but that is so much more!
_
Reply to this