How to get customers to call me , new biz ?

Question

I have started a drain cleaning business and i have spent like 3ooo$ on online directories like yellowpages etc. I clean peoples drain pipes in their home like a clogged sink line or a business with a clog like a restaurant. So I need some advice on how to market my service without spending more money. And please dont tell me to put up cards in grocery stores because i might get one call and that would just cover my gas drivin around. I need some real expertise here, some creativity on how to get one call every day atleast. Any ideas
thanks

Answer 1

Have you tried stopping in and talking with restaurant and hotel managers through the area, leaving your card? How about stopping in and talking with the managers and staff of the local home supplies dealers like Home Depot and such, or realtors, giving them a bunch of cards to hand out to their new clients?

Answer 2

Well, you pretty much wasted your money on anything on the internet. You don't need to market to the world for your services. Business cards are worthless for getting new business, too. Here are some ideas:
1) Join your local Chamber of Commerce. You will be able to go to their luncheons or breakfasts and be able to tell other business people about your drain cleaning business then.
2) Run some radio advertising. You need to let everyone know about your business. Here is a sample ad. Voice it yourself:
Do you own a business and some fool has clogged up the sink line drain? Don't you hate getting that call at 10 at night?
Call me. I'm Joe Hansen with Joe's Sink Service in New Hampton. I'm waiting for your call and ready to get that clog cleared day or night. Clogs are my specialty. Just call me at 775-3400 or see my ad in the yellow pages. Why wait until morning? Remember it's not going to unclog on it's own. Joe's Sink Service. (have another commercial that runs during the day)
3) Voice the commercial yourself. Go with an AM station. Use talk radio. Business people listen to it. It shouldn't be too expensive. You will set yourself apart from other people that do this job.
4) Call the big restaurants and find out the owner's name and address. Send him or her a letter. Address it to them personally. Don't use Dear Sir: or Dear Madam: The first sentence should offer them a "Get Acquainted Special" that you will clear any sink link clog for only $25. (or something really cheap). Tell them you want to be the man they always call when they get a clog.

Answer 3

Keep a whole bunch of business cards with you when you go out. You don't need to make special trips to build your business (although it does help). When you're paying for your groceries hand your card to the cashier, you don't have to say anything other than a simple "You've done a service for me, if you need help with your drains I'd be happy to repay the courtesy". Same at restaurants, no talking necessary here at all (again, its a plus though), just leave your card on the table with the tip. There are plenty of places people go in the everyday grind that would make for an awesome marketing opportunity. Give your cards to your friends and have them keep an ear out for anyone who might be interested in your services. As long as you can back up your word with the work you'll be set.

Answer 4

Your best bet in word of mouth. Who have your past customers been? Did you do a good job?
What is the name of your business and how are you different from the competition?
You need to be very personable, easy to reach by phone, on time for appointments, smile alot, and do a great job or don't charge the customer.
Do you advertise in local papers? Did you join the local better business bureau? Contact or visit your local hardware store so that they can recommend you. Visit restaurants and meet the owners - leave your card. Use an introductory coupon in the local paper .The secret is to make a great impression! Make eye contact and smile with each visit.
Don't get discouraged. It takes awhile to get this going.

Answer 5

If you want to use the internet then you have to think about the phrases that people would type into a search to find people like you.

So if I suddenly got a clogged drain and needed a quick fix I would look for plumber, emergency drain repair, 24 hour drain repair, etc...

Then you could use Yahoo Search Marketing or Google Adwords to create an ad that is specific to your geographical area and keywords.

Best,
Angie

Answer 6

Maybe work with a septic tank company if they subcontract. You may get more calls on the yellow pages ads it isn't something people need often I think I have only had it done once or twice when a snake didn't work for us.
If you are a plumber you should have that on your truck. You may have better luck in an area with more septic tanks roots in the lines is one of the hardest things most homeowners don't know how to fix or don't want to rent the heavy equipment.

Answer 7

I hope that you've spent some of your start-up dollars towards quality advertising on your vehicle. The next time you're out and about, look at the differences in trucks & vans. Logo & phone # sizes, ease of reading, and other info.One of the most important places I've seen so many people forget is the back of the vehicle. People have more time to write your info down at stop lights or if you're parked in a customer's driveway.

Answer 8

Some low-cost ways:

Craigslist -- totally free! Unbeatable for return on investment (10 minutes to write your ad and post it once a week or so!)

Angie's List - I don't know what it costs to get on this list (if anything) but it's a service company referal list. If you use this, you need to specifically ask people to rate their experience with Angie's List after you've done something for them. (make sure they heard about you through Angie's List of course. It costs money for them to join angies list.)

Visit HomeDepot and Lowes, and put your business cards out on the shelving around the plumbing section. Most of them have some areas where they put those cards. Make friends with them employees in these sections and ask them if they would mind handing out your cards to people who need help. Most employees are really very happy to help. This gets you targeted marketing to people who have plumbing problems. Also plumbing supply houses have bulletin boards. You get better response when you advertise where people go to solve the problem they are having! :) You should consider printing special cards for this application -- you know you are selling to people considering doing it themselves. So, mention your methods are safer than chemicals or that your customer can keep their hands clean by hiring you, that your customer needs your experience. Whatever.... But you'll be more successful if you can sell your service combined with the benefits!

Yellow Pages -- talk to your local rep. Most of them will you give you a FANTASTIC introductory price for a small ad to help you build your business. It'll only last a year usually, but they understand you need to get started and if they land you as a customer and you're successful with them, they know you'll buy next year. They are like crack dealers, "hook 'em with a cheap sample and make 'em customers for life!" Take advantage of it!

Call home renovation GC's. Just the price of the phone call may land you with more work than you can handle. These guys are an potentially easy market because you know (A) they land the work (B) they need someone to do the work. They are usually sort of pass-through entities who hire specific pros for specific jobs. But selling to them will require you understand their needs :: Usually Low Price and reliable service. They don't care that you're the best thing since sliced bread and that you've been doing this for 50yrs. If they can get a monkey to do it for $15 cheaper but get the job done and on schedule, they'd take the monkey (usually anyway)

Answer 9

Print out your flyers (at home to save money)....then find a mailman and give him $20 and ask him to deliver the flyers to each house for you...You do this with a couple of mailmen (yeah you will spend a couple of hundred dollars but it's worth it) and your business will spread quicker than you driving around aimlessly...good luck..
P.S. Don't give the mailman 1000 copies because he will only do about 1/3 of them...Plus new businesses takes time to grow..

Answer 10

Just on the online effort, maybe you can take time to post on DIY forums, and help answers some of the queries on this area. Build up a reputation and promote your service.