Just starting self employment

[IST]

Hi again everyone

I am trying to ween myself away from building sites and other agency contract work, and work for myself full time.

I have a few jobs in the near future, but unfortunately not enough to keep the ball rolling.

Does anyone have any constructive ideas on how i can generate more business for myself. I have placed 3 adds in local newspaper, with no replies. I advertise with cards and fliers when ever someone asks.

Am i overlooking a major avenue of advertising?

I know most of it is recommendation, but that takes a long time.

Any ideas welcome!

 

[REDSAW]

dont know but love too,
its the same for me after all theese years, but agencies?.

 

[WHPES]

Parish mags - cheap and people tend to actually read them.

Door to door fliers.

Think local. Can you sponsor a local charity event and get your name all over the promotional stuff?

 

[mark.brazenor@b]

As you know recommendations is key. One thing that really has worked for me is putting my cards in a local butchers, (would work equally well for local small hardware stores, etc too) I now have to supply them with around 50 cards a month, for them to be happy/confident to continue giving them out meant that I had to get good reviews from their customers that they had given a card to.

It's not rocket science in getting a good reputation (assuming the quality of your work is good), turn up when you say you will, create a 1st good impression, i.e. lay dust sheets from the door to the work area when you 1st get there (it always make me wonder why people will spend a fortune on advertising but won't spend a fraction of this on a supply of sheets), clean up properly, etc.

I'm not cheap, but don't take the **** on pricing jobs either, too cheap and you'll create an impression that your work is sub standard, too expensive and you'll create the impression that you don't want the work.