Just about to start working for myself?

Question

Got the qualifications and experience, got my van and most of my tools. Hoping i will be Corgi registered on Monday, when i get assesed. Been Corgi registered through the company for a while now. Been plumbing and heating for many years, servicing boilers etc.
I am getting made redundant within the next nine months, not sure exactly when.
Whats the best way to advertise. I want to start doing small jobs to build a client base.
I really want to work mostly within the Harrow, Ruislip and Hillingdon area. Though i would look into other areas if needed.
Just need to know the best way to advertise to start off with.

Answer 1

Apart from being able to do the work, advertise the SAFETY FACTOR.
Get people thinking is my boiler safe.?
Ask the question is your family, elderly parents safe and point out why they may not be
Are you 100% sure your boiler is working to its full capacity, if not I can save you money.I can make your home warmer in the winter Everybody loves to save money and get benefits.
You have got yo sell the benefits of your service.
Don't try to be the cheapest as people may not respect you. Be the best. Get recommendations from people and keep them in a folder, along with any photos you may have of your work. If you can get photos of your clients even better because people buy people and you can put these next to your recommendations.
You know your area so go out and look at housing estates which are approx 3yrs old, any less than this and they probably wont entertain a boiler being serviced as they may have more urgent bills to pay.
Don't post leaflets through empty houses, only if they are sold.
See if you can offer your services to estate agents or builders, any business that you can link to, provided that they have a good proven track record.
Hope I've got you thinking
Best of luck

P.S. the reason I answered this is because a couple of friends of mine died over here in Spain due to a faulty gas boiler, it was not their fault and just a terrible preventable waste

Answer 2

The yellow pages is a good starting point, and local flyer drops. Try offering your customers a discount for a written statement of how good you are, then put the statements on another flyer and start posting that through peoples doors. After a while you'll get a large base of recommendation to promote yourself!

Answer 3

There are lots of places on the internet where you can get free listings in your local area try:www.ufindus.co.uk or www.uksmallsmallbuisnessdirectory.co.uk.Yell.com is well worth while and a prominent ad pays dividens this can be done with yell for as little as £200. Have a small web site as well you can do this yourself when you by a domain name for your buisness. I did all this and now get lots of work.

Answer 4

First thing - make sure you get into the Yellow Pages and Thompsons - the opportunity only happens once a year so don't miss it.

Second have a look at my article:

http://www.articleshut.com/article26934.html

It's all about guerilla marketing for the small business and will give you some good ideas.

Answer 5

Get a few business cards done up first and stick them in shop windows. After a while if/when you build up a bit of capital try Thompson Local. It's cheap and usually works well done this neck of the woods (Herts)

Answer 6

Join your local Chamber of Commerce. It is a great way to get your name out there, and market to other members. My chamber has member to member promo's , and will only reccomend a business if it is a member. They will also give you mailing labels for every member!
The local chamber here has helped me out a bunch!!
They also do ribbon cutting pics in the local papers for free!

Answer 7

ads in shop windows, yellow pages/local phonebook, business card posted through doors.

Answer 8

maybe try newspapers? there's always sections in newspapers for people within your trade and many others to advertise