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Post by NS'Creter on Jun 13, 2008 23:58:50 GMT -4
As far as I'm concerned, the very best advertising is good, old fashioned word of mouth. When folks are talkin' about you and recommending you things are good. Here's a couple of over-used adages that go with that...
"You're only as good as your last job."
"If you've satisfied a client he'll tell one person, but if he's not satisfied he'll tell a hundred."
...I find both of those to be basically true.
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Post by NS'Creter on Jun 14, 2008 9:06:26 GMT -4
That would be the least expensive advertising...the next least expensive and effective one (I think) is the truck. A good lookin', clean truck with sharp lookin' decals is the ticket...not to mention the trailer. I started without a trailer...quickly outgrew the truck...but folks notice it for sure. I think that every client and potential client I've visited has said that they saw my truck around. It's a small area but my truck isn't anything special...just really shiney...and white (I love white trucks).
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Post by NS'Creter on Jun 14, 2008 21:16:37 GMT -4
Going in order of cost:effectiveness ratio  ...in my experience anyway...the next necessity is a good business card...and lots of 'em. Apparently, the most effective biz cards have very little on them. There's the NAME...the WAYS TO CONTACT (ph#, email addy)...WEBSITE ADDY...and some say CONTACT NAME. Simple as that they say. Since it is representative of your company it should be clear and concise and if there's a LOGO it too should be displayed. They say that's all that should be on the front of the card. I'm looking at some folded ones that are really a mini brochure. Since what we do is so visual and I offer a few things I think the "mini brochure" is the way to go. Any opinions on that? Stop me if I'm wrong !! Heh,heh. ;D |
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Post by vanman27 on Jun 15, 2008 22:33:13 GMT -4
The rolling billboard is the way to go.Get a few eye catching photos on there along with your phone number as many times as you can.Between my van and trailer I have got quite a few calls.I use my van on most of my jobs and keep it at my house.Since my neighborhood does not allow commercial vehicles,all my photos and signage are magnetic.There easy to remove and it keeps the HOA off my back.
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Post by concreteillusions on Jun 16, 2008 22:46:19 GMT -4
You wouldn't have to worry about that damn HOA if you didn;t live in such a nice place!  |
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Post by NS'Creter on Jun 18, 2008 9:27:54 GMT -4
There ya go! I live about 4 minutes out of town, so that's not an issue for me. Seems like you've got it licked, though Vanman. How's that big Ford workin' Joe? Back to spreadin' the word ... my website is still down. I know that it has probably had some negative effect on my business. Not so much for private work, I think, but more for commercial and government work. It will be back running once the web-guy and I get things sorted out with our "artistic differences". I did create one for myself and didn't do a completely bad job, in my opinion, but I don't own the domain name and to throw another one out there wouldn't help. How effective have you folks found your websites? |
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alexwright
Seasoned Concrete Veteran
Engrave-N-Stain Concrete Solutions
Posts: 180
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Post by alexwright on Jun 19, 2008 2:53:36 GMT -4
My web site is very effective. I advertise on Concrete Network and people go to my web site and can see my work. If they get one of my cards or brochures it has my site on it. Some people get the site automatically from the trailer instead of the phone #. If I hand them a card I let them know they can go to my web and look at my work.
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cfs1
Concrete Pro
Posts: 14
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Post by cfs1 on Jul 1, 2008 23:01:41 GMT -4
Most effective fo me so far has been a press release in the local paper, and belonging to a BNI chapter here in town///press release= free....bni = very good networking
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Post by NS'Creter on Jul 2, 2008 17:16:39 GMT -4
Our local newspaper is tremendously expensive and ineffective. A friend of mine owns a small independant paper which is a fraction of the cost and I get calls everytime it comes out (once per month).
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xscash
Concrete Pro
don't settle for plain concrete, stain concrete!
Posts: 31
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Post by xscash on Jul 2, 2008 19:12:58 GMT -4
my stats at my site show that i have a 70% book mark to favorites. thats repeat views and most likely pass ons in the future. my site has a few unfinished parts, but ill get to them soon.
i think if you can get them to your site, you will have the chance to say things you may forget in speaking with them.
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Post by NS'Creter on Jul 2, 2008 22:42:05 GMT -4
It is a good reference and info thing (a website) for sure. When mine was up and running I did get some decent "new" traffic on it. I have a history with websites my first one was never what I wanted and that web-guy didn't pay to keep the domain registered so someone else grabbed it.  That address was on all of my cards, on my truck and in all of my advertising. Web-guy #1 had to compensate me in the end of that mess. Still, there's no way that it balanced. My second website got up and running and it was OK but needed some changes. Web-guy #2 refused to make changes until I renewed and paid for my next year of service. Well I dug my heels in and refused to pay and renew until he had something I wanted. I do not want a third address. I probably seem like a real jerk that's hard to please, but I bend over backwards to satisfy my clients and I want my website to show my company in the light I want it shown in. One of these days web-guy #2 and I will have to get together and make it happen. |
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xscash
Concrete Pro
don't settle for plain concrete, stain concrete!
Posts: 31
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Post by xscash on Jul 3, 2008 19:07:03 GMT -4
beleive it or not, i havent payed for my website. my designer is a good friend and will not take any money. he does large accounts for a commercial firm and said its easy. i told him he could make a few extra bucks on the side doing this. he impressed me. hell, he even made my ads for me to post. every thing looks so professional. helps out alot. now im buying all domains that are near or mirror mine. hopefuly it pays off.
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Post by concreteillusions on Jul 10, 2008 22:24:51 GMT -4
I think more of us need to add our websites to our signature under modify profile so it shows up. For some reason when you add your website in the profile where it asks for the website name and URL it doesn;t do anything, Add it to your personal signature and it will show up on your posts.
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Post by NS'Creter on Jul 12, 2008 16:29:44 GMT -4
Good plan Joe! I was browsin' all the sites again the other night. Man, there's some nice work bein' done out there folks.
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...in my experience anyway...the next necessity is a good business card...and lots of 'em. 
That address was on all of my cards, on my truck and in all of my advertising. Web-guy #1 had to compensate me in the end of that mess. Still, there's no way that it balanced. My second website got up and running and it was OK but needed some changes. Web-guy #2 refused to make changes until I renewed and paid for my next year of service. Well I dug my heels in and refused to pay and renew until he had something I wanted.