Where do you get your customers from

[Leo]

hello forum participants
we all advertise in different places and using different resources.
here is an idea, if you read this thread, reply to this post and share what are your advertising resources, where do you get customers from, and what source do you believe provides the best return on investment.


Leo
RestorationSOS.com

[dplummer]

32 views & no replies. Well let me start. Hopefully others won't be shy & share some idea's to start 2007 off with a bang. Over the years I've tried yellow pages, direct marketing, telemarketing, wine & dine adjustors & for me the best I've found is to directly visit Property Managers & Plumbing Contractors. The cost of lunch is much less then the other forms of advertising. I do place a small yellow page ad just to be represented. O.K guys share some idea's. Doug

[Norm]

Hi there,

I am part of a very large marketing team that services the US restoration market place as well as the Canadian market place. We also subscribe to many different forms of marketing, first of all let me start by saying are you a franchise? If so how much brand recognition to you get? What sources of "Finger Ready" advertising to you do? Such as Yellow Pages, News Paper, Magazine etc...
I agree with the last blog that stated the they would rather take out the PM's and plumbers directly as they are on the front lines of any loss within their scope of resposibility. I find the very best form of advertising for a small company is the hands on approach, that is to say when you work on a loss, of any size, you should always look at it as a marketing opportunity! Have you workers in properly identified uniforms, clean and well ID'd vehicles, clean equipment (the right equipment) let the insured know that they are being serviced by the best of the best, they will tell their adjuster about you...thus starting you on your way to the beginings of a preferred contractors status with a carrier. If you are reluctant to invite an insurer into your warehouse, thats an issue! We always try to work with our people to be ready for anything, as there may be an adjuster coming through the warehouse or looking into one of our service vehicles at anytime...these are all opportunities to market you company.

If you want to grow fast get into the mainstream of advertising e.g. Trade Shows - PLRB, DRC, OIAA etc... get involved with your local brokers and adjusters meetings and get togethers, hand out your cards...shake some hands!!!

I hope this helps...good luck.

Norm

[dplummer]

Hi Norm! Thanks for your input. I'm not part of a franchise so I don't have the benefit of Brand recognition or a big ad budget. I just keep banging away on my own. Cheers! Doug

[Norm]

Hi Doug,

I see that you are from Collingwood, I worked up there for years! Great area...let me know if I can help further, have a great day!

[servicemasterops]

for 12 years I worked for a co, that had a half dozen adjusters a couple of property managment co, and a few cities and towns using our service on a daily rutine .lots of work for a non franchise co to handle. I recently changed to a franchise co we have a larger region and more staff to feed .I have found that not only providing a great service and quick responce to losses .But you have to keep your paper work tight and provide readings and details details details. to the adjusters .in our industry we get a call we respond work quickly and off to the next loss.its nice when each day that your covering a loss someone stops by to check on the drying status the work in general and for the exposure .every day that my truck is parked at a home or comercial property people notice and the customer feels your on top of there needs ,when I tell people we will be here each day to follow up on there loss they are thrilled that we have a handle on there loss this gets passed to there neighbors ,friends insurance agents and hopfully the adjusters.

I know this is not a marketing tool just giving some feedback
thanks for the time
Mike
southeastern Ma

[RickB_EXM]

Absolutely, servicemasterops!

I yearn for the day when business is that steady.



To the topic at hand, I've been working to design some marketing programs directed at independent adjusters and local insurance agencies. We (my company) have come to believe that by approaching these subjects directly and providing them with brochures and some "toys"—coffee mugs, notepads, pens, etc.—we can leave them with the impression that we're standing by to provide quality and prompt services.

We have been skeptical to buy into networking programs promising work for fees. It's personally not my style

Phone book advertising has been a good source for us. Here in Western New York we face the challenge of advertising in two directories: Verizon Superpages and The Talking Phone Book. Both are filled with full-page ads in the corresponding restoration category. We've found that by manipulating placement according to consumer research, and by carefully examining the logical process of a consumer in need of our service we have been able to achieve acceptable results. Could be better, but, it's better to cast two lines than one.

Internet advertising CAN be a good source for work. With a general shift in the search for information leading towards the internet I can see a mild demand for attention there; however, how many people will go to their computer for help if the computer is knee-deep in water.. or sludge? Or a car has driven through the dining room? Our sense of urgency doesn't really bring Google's convenience to mind. Maybe in time ...



Smart advertising doesn't mean being first, or the biggest.
It's controlling your costs while thinking outside of your service.
What would you do in the shoes of the customer, stricken with disaster?

Basic advertising questions come into play;
Demographics are important;
The effects that your image might have on targeted markets.



Sadly, securing jobs in this industry is often controlled secretly. The people whom we serve are often unaware of the actions to take place that determine their restorer.


Any restoration marketing should always start with limited education and a promise. 24-hour availability and uniformed staff can often speak volumes about your company. Promote these articles through any medium necessary!

[Denver]

We get majority of our clients from our online marketing (search engine optimization) which I pay a monthly fee to local SEO's to get my website at the top of all major search engines.... Referalls are always good and I also have a yellowpage ad that brings in 25% of my business
_________________
Water Damage Denver |
Denver Property Restoration

[localpuroclean]

I have had success with internet ads when people search for keywords on google or yahoo my ad would show up.
_________________
Visit us online at http://local.puroclean.com