How to advertise and get clients

amother

OP ↓

Yesterday at 6:03 pm

Hi
My husband has a service business, we advertise on a lot of WhatsApp chats and statuses every week, we had an ad in a newspaper for a while. He has very good prices but doesn't get a lot of business. How can we get his name out more to get him more business? He was thinking of making flyers to put into mailboxes in new developments, if you got a flyer in the mail would you look at it or just throw it in the garbage? Anyone have any other ideas? We're in the Lakewood area
Thank you

amother

Wheat

Yesterday at 6:11 pm

I think word of mouth are the best type of recommendations. Is his service one that relies on repeat customers? Can you offer an incentive for repeat customers? Every x service is free. Or a free component?
What about if you refer someone you get an incentive?
Anyone who puts a bumper sticker on their car can get a special?
Is the service that you offer reliant on someone else that you can have refer you?

amother

Sage

Yesterday at 6:47 pm

First of all, he would probably benefit from speaking to a business mentor which he can get for free.

If it's a service that everyone uses and nobody really cares (like an exterminator) then the challenge is visibility. So the more frequent people see your name. If it's the last name they saw they'll probably call you. That could mean a small ad in the weeklies every week, or maybe a magnet or something.

If it's a service that people want "the best" (like a therapist)... Well I'm not even going there. Lots of patience and networking skills.

If it's a service that people don't even realize they need (He comes down to your house and gives haircuts), he needs to create a compelling story and that definitely needs help from a coach.

amother

DarkRed

Yesterday at 7:26 pm

Who would the ideal client be and figure out where the ideal client would find you- is it a weekly paper, published magazine, WhatsApp status, LinkedIn, social media?

For example, if it was easy fast food and perfect for a busy mother or yeshiva guy, then you can put it on your status and ask friends to do as well, and then also put papers up around the yeshivas, so you can get it in front of the right audience.

giftedmom

Yesterday at 7:29 pm

1. If his prices are below average it makes people think he won’t do a good job.
2. Word of mouth is best.
3. The economy isn’t great now and many established businesses aren’t doing so well

amother

↑ OP ↓

Yesterday at 9:20 pm

amother Honey wrote:

Word of mouth works best imo.

What type of business is it?

Thank you everyone!
It's a custom closet company so it's not the type to get returning customers

amother

Junglegreen

Yesterday at 9:26 pm

He should contact interior designers and make some sort of deal with them. Same goes for the developers. He needs them to recommend him or even have his services included in the cost of the house. Then when a customer wants a higher end job than what is included your business makes money.

amother

↑ OP

Yesterday at 11:49 pm

amother Junglegreen wrote:

Thank you, he tried that a little, reaching out to the developers, didn't get much of a response, maybe he has to be more pushy. About my question with the flyers in the mailboxes, do you think that would work or it's a waste of time?

amother

Celeste

Yesterday at 11:56 pm

If you're targeting people with lower budgets, if you have a really good flyer it might help somewhat.

Something like professional photos of actual closets he's done and a price on each one. Then someone who might have never considered custom closets because they're too expensive might reconsider.

If his prices are good but nothing unusually low, then I don't think I'd bother. A flyer just to put his name out there is probably a waste of time IMHO.

Most people do closets as part of a larger home renovation, so you really want to get in with the people who are involved with those. Offer a free closet reno to a decorator and if you do a good job she may recommend you to her clients.

(disclaimer: I don't live in Lakewood)

amother

Springgreen

Today at 12:06 am

Probably best to reach out to decorators, instagram influencers, etc and have them promote him. He will probably have to do some discounted or free work to get them to promote him. Hatzlacha!

amother

Brunette

Today at 12:08 am

Work with a a copywriter and/or a business coach to find your target audience and best way to reach them
It really isn't one size fit all

amother

Seafoam

Today at 12:17 am

amother OP wrote:

He can offer people a percentage commission for any client they bring him.

Most people I know hate flyers and throw them out. The more pushy flyer people, I know some who davka would never go with them for disrespecting a no junk mail sign (even though it's usually a hired person distributing fliers). But you need to know what works in your industry in your area. I agree with the person who said hire a business coach.

amother

Oldlace

Today at 12:18 am

Flyers is a waste of time for custom closets.

He needs to work with contractors, that’s the best way to build a network. Ditto for Space planners etc. A business coach can really help here.

Has he gone to the OJBA shows? Maybe do a booth there and give out swag?

He can pay a local publication to run an article on custom closets and feature him.

My husband is in the home service industry. He started off by taking subcontracts from people
With overflow clients. Took about 2 years to take off fully where he was busy full time with his own calls. His service though is also necessary, so it’s a much broader audience with repeat customers, so not exactly comparable.

amother

Waterlily

Today at 12:35 am

amother OP wrote:

Thank you everyone!
It's a custom closet company so it's not the type to get returning customers

but it's something that does go by word of mouth. When one neighbor put in closets all the other neighbors asked who is doing it and if she is happy. And the closet guy ended up working for a few neighbors and those recommended to family etc. On the other hand I made one closet by someone and was very unhappy. I didn't recommend him further even though a few people asked. So that might also be something to consider. Are people happy with his work? Is there something he needs to improve in? People like getting a good price for quality but they wouldn't go for cheap work cause a closet is not something they want to have to replace within a few years.