I run a virtual office company and was wondering if anyone had some advice on getting new clients?

Question

We have a strong base in Tunbridge Wells, but people are leaning more towards using their home address and mobile phone instead of us answering the phone (and making it more professional) for them.

Any ideas would be great...

Answer 1

Have you thought about pay per click programs? The two biggest, I think, are Yahoo! and Google

A few free resources – check out the sources box for links:

1) Create a blog pertaining to your field

2) Use Yahoo! Local & Yahoo! Groups – Be sure to read the TOS for each one!

3) Write articles pertaining to your field and/or expertise.

4) Advertise on Craiglist

Also, consider signing up for an affiliate program. These programs enable you to advertise on other's sites (your affiliates) and once a sale is made to you, your affiliates & the program are paid a commission.

I listed a few handy sites & articles relating to marketing, promotion & advertising. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* 301 Do-It-Yourself Marketing Ideas: From America's Most Innovative Small Companies by Sam Decker
* Off The Wall Marketing Ideas: Jumpstart Your Sales without Busting Your Budget by Nancy Michaels, Debbi J. Karpowicz
* Guerrilla Marketing for Free: Dozens of No-Cost Tactics to Promote Your Business and Energize Your Profits by Jay Conrad Levinson
* Entrepreneur Magazine's Ultimate Small Business Marketing Guide: Over 1500 Great Marketing Tricks That Will Drive Your Business Through the Roof by James Stephenson

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 2

Its often no good aiming questions like that at Joe Public. Speak to your existing customers and asking them what else could you provide to make the service you provide better? Write a customer satisfaction survey, can be completed with or without naming the company completing it for confidentiality. Where are you advertising your services? just in the local area or nationwide? Think about a national advert say in Exchange & Mart, do you have a website? having a website and paying to go on the search engine listings could be a wise investment

Answer 3

ebulletins via email have up to a 7% return rate, against sub 1% on postal mailers (depending on the products).

You could capture email addresses from your web site or buy in email lists (search the web, there is a myriad of people that sell these - some cheap some expensive).

Answer 4

Networking. Go to groups like the property networking club in London. Chambers of commerce etc. but have your marketing basics soundly in place.

Answer 5

This is a good start... Send me your url... I'm interested, depending on services offered...

[e-mail]

Answer 6

advertise?