Once you have the necessary qualifications and experience to become a self employed tradesman, the next step is to get the word out. OK that said, here are some strategies that should give you maximum bang for your money.
Traditional Marketing Strategies
Promotional Materials:
Even though this strategy is not new, it can still be used as part of a portfolio of strategies. You can have branded stationary such as business cards, pens, or notepads, printed and handed out to prospective customers by hand. Combined with this you can have leaflets printed to be distributed by direct mail.
Another tried and tested method is that of taking out adverts in local newspapers, local directories or listings. This will also allow you to target a particular catchment area at a time.
Joint Ventures:
Teaming up with other trades people that offer complimentary but different services can be mutually beneficial. It will allow you to access their customer base, providing them services that they can’t get from their existing trades person. In turn they will have access to your customer base. This way you don’t compete with each other, instead you cooperate to offer a wider range of trades services which will benefit both your customer bases.
Word of Mouth:
It is often said that the best form of advertising is word of mouth. With this in mind you can make use of your existing customer base to get referrals from them. This can be done by offering them either a discount or a small gift for recommending you to their friends or family.
Online Marketing Strategies
Website:
Currently most people look for products or services using the internet. So it is essential that you have a website that showcases your business and the services it offers. It does not have to an expensive custom designed site, it can be a simple do it yourself one. The main thing is to have an internet presence that is informative and well maintained. This will give prospective customers a feel for the sort of work you do. If you have the time you could add a blog that gives them relevant tips and news about your industry.
Social Media:
Having a presence on social media sites is also a must. You can do this by joining the likes of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. These sites will allow you to get your business noticed by large numbers of people. By providing regular content that you either create yourself, or have created on your behalf, you can engage potential and existing customers and in so doing create a community around your brand. It is this ability to communicate directly with your target market that makes social media so powerful for businesses.
Marketing yourself as a tradesman doesn’t have to be challenging. You can do this by combining traditional marketing techniques with new online marketing techniques, and it need not cost a lot. The key is to choose a few strategies and apply them consistently.
