I need ideas to get more business. HELP!,,!!!

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Neilthecarpenter

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Aug 9, 2014
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I am a interior trim sub in charleston sc. I am relatively new to the area and am having a terrible time landing builders for more work. My ultimate goal is to work on Kiawah island exclusively.
    I am very good at what I do, we'll spoken clean cut and have a long list of accomplishments references etc.
    So how do I get in the door? I have sent out hundreds of introduction letters,postcards with very few responses. Pens? Magnets? Any ideas I'm getting frustrated!    Thanks Neil
 
You should try going directly to clients also. Perhaps thats not what you'd prefer but its seems like theres always someone in your network that needs something done. Get established, meet more people… the rest writes itself.
 
Hi Neil

I have no clue about the places that you mention but there are several things that will help....

Get yourself on the www - either get your own web site or set up a YouTube channel (perhaps both) and then do your best to direct people to them.

At the start piggy back on the builders and get custom through them. As soon as you can, try and establish your name with your (builder's) clients and encourage them to recommend you to their friends. Once you get a good client base of your own the snowball effect should kick in.

All of this assumes that your work is absolutely spot on.

Peter

 
Call all the architects and interior designers who do work in the area. 

The way it works with the above people is they get in a bind and need something small done and the people they have used can't do it or can't do it on a tight schedule, so you get your foot in the door that way.  If the economy is dead and the work isn't being done at all, there's not much anybody can do but if things are picking up or in full swing, being able to step in and troubleshoot can be a good way to get new clients. 

I started blogging about my work, explaining techniques and things like that and it seems to impress people.  Nobody is going to call you when they don't need you, but if you can be near the top of their list, that's something.

I know a great deal about marketing, but in the end it has to hit the area you want to work in.  Pens and all that stuff are unlikely to hit the right clients.  A few ads run in weekly papers will though.  Craigslist is free of course but it doesn't have the same effect as a print ad people can cut out and put on the refrigerator. 
 
I agree with Peter.  Also, ask your satisfied clients to write a quick review of your work for Angie's List and those kinds of referral services.

angieslist.com
 
Hi Neil,

Keep your head up. I would echo the recommendations the guys have made and add a few specific things:

- Write a quick one page plan with your goals and how/where you think the business will come from. As you get jobs you can track where they have come from.
- I really like Peter's idea of getting your satisfied customers to write some reviews. As you are new the area building up your reputation takes time and getting customer testimonials should help speed up the process for you.
- Web-presence. I am a bay area guy so we are up to necks in technology out here. My recommendation is to create a Facebook page, yep, a business Facebook page.  The benefits: 1. Its free. 2. If you get your customers, friends and family to "like your page" or posts they are all connected to lots of people who might be in need of work.
- I'd add real estate agents/brokers to your list of people to reach out to.

I hope this helps. 
 
Maybe there's some opportunities through a historic or preservation society who restores old buildings. Might get you some local exposure.
 
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