I don't expect much attention on this thread, but wanted to start it as my progress thread and also a way for all the local service guys on here to brainstorm and share ideas with each other for best marketing, software, hiring, and customer service practices. I am launching my business in the next couple of weeks so currently working on getting everything ready. And I am currently not going to share what the business is yet. If all goes according to plan, there will be an e-commerce side to the biz as well with our own private label brand of products that are complimentary to the service we provide. We will be able to upsell service customers with these products and also sell online and be able to have a ton of videos and content like social media posts of us using the products.
About the business:
Without disclosing what I will be doing, what I can say is this: it's a service that pretty much anyone can use, but they aren't actively searching for it. So, adwords won't really work. There are companies all over the country that do this, but literally none in my area. Is there a big need for it? I am going to find out by engaging the market.
What I've done so far:
Thought of a good name for the company, got a logo made, built the website, bought most of the supplies needed to do the service, formed the LLC.
What's left before/during launch:
Business facebook account, instagram, set up GMB location at a friend's office building (because I won't actually have a location besides my house), take a few more pictures to put on the website, start running FB and instagram ads and google ads, get on yelp, angie's list, homeadvisor, rakuten, and other local discount websites. Going to do this service for family and friends for free and get them all to post about it on their social media with specific coupon codes for each person.
The plan:
Do service calls on the weekends until I get so busy that I have to quit the day job or possibly keep the job longer and hire somebody to do the work and quit the job later. Time will tell on that. Have a family to feed first and foremost.
The tools I'm using:
Wordpress website. Hello Elementor theme with the Elementor Pro plugin
Zenbooker for online booking, scheduling, payment processing (stripe integration), dispatching, CRM, etc. Been testing that vs. Housecall Pro for what I need. Can't decide
Fiverr for the logo
Probably Grasshopper for the phone system. Don't like Google Voice even though it is free
MailCheat(Chimp)
Current costs are right at about $600 for supplies, logo, website, etc. before any advertising.
What I need advice on:
What would be the most effective and affordable form of advertising? Since people aren't actively looking for the service but could definitely benefit from it, I'm thinking FB/instagram ads, try to get in a local publication, all my friends and family to share it on their social media, possibly bandit signs in the higher end parts of town, possibly direct mail, local influencers, radio, etc. Any creative ideas?
@Johnny boy @minivanman @Andy Black @IceCreamKid @rjrobbins2
About the business:
Without disclosing what I will be doing, what I can say is this: it's a service that pretty much anyone can use, but they aren't actively searching for it. So, adwords won't really work. There are companies all over the country that do this, but literally none in my area. Is there a big need for it? I am going to find out by engaging the market.
What I've done so far:
Thought of a good name for the company, got a logo made, built the website, bought most of the supplies needed to do the service, formed the LLC.
What's left before/during launch:
Business facebook account, instagram, set up GMB location at a friend's office building (because I won't actually have a location besides my house), take a few more pictures to put on the website, start running FB and instagram ads and google ads, get on yelp, angie's list, homeadvisor, rakuten, and other local discount websites. Going to do this service for family and friends for free and get them all to post about it on their social media with specific coupon codes for each person.
The plan:
Do service calls on the weekends until I get so busy that I have to quit the day job or possibly keep the job longer and hire somebody to do the work and quit the job later. Time will tell on that. Have a family to feed first and foremost.
The tools I'm using:
Wordpress website. Hello Elementor theme with the Elementor Pro plugin
Zenbooker for online booking, scheduling, payment processing (stripe integration), dispatching, CRM, etc. Been testing that vs. Housecall Pro for what I need. Can't decide
Fiverr for the logo
Probably Grasshopper for the phone system. Don't like Google Voice even though it is free
MailCheat(Chimp)
Current costs are right at about $600 for supplies, logo, website, etc. before any advertising.
What I need advice on:
What would be the most effective and affordable form of advertising? Since people aren't actively looking for the service but could definitely benefit from it, I'm thinking FB/instagram ads, try to get in a local publication, all my friends and family to share it on their social media, possibly bandit signs in the higher end parts of town, possibly direct mail, local influencers, radio, etc. Any creative ideas?
@Johnny boy @minivanman @Andy Black @IceCreamKid @rjrobbins2
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