Drum up business...

[DNA_Vinyl 262]

How do I get a little business? I know it's broad dumb question but. Ive passed out all my cards, cut several free thing to show what I can do...sold small $5 things here and there.

 

I need a steady something...anything...

[suz1234 24]

I face the same thing here.  The competition is extremely high and I am trying to find my place in it.  Hard to compete with radio ads and a store front. 

 

Try checking the paper for Public Notice applications for new businesses.  Try to call or get there first.  Landing a new account could at least get you going since they need a lot of signs for vehicles and the building itself.  Maybe even drive around for "tired looking" signs and offer to update and freshen them up.  Have an idea before you go in.    Car Dealerships here use a small 1" sign in the back window of all their cars and trucks.  It's a start.

 

The hardest part is asking for the business...You can do it so don't give up.  I'm going to follow this posting to get some encouragement myself!

 

Suzanne

[joker 618]

It is tough nowadays.. Like herein my area there is some big people with store fronts that have been in business for years. Just have to keep chugging along

[mabscotthandyman 1,410]

It is like any business you have to build a business based on quality, trust and integerity. Construction based business has always been very competitive it seems that every one that ever swung a hammer becomes or trys to become a contractor we used to call them hook and ladder contractors if they had a truck and a ladder sooner or later they would hook someone. But then i started the same way but i had a lot of experince by that time i was only 20 years old when i first started contracting that was 45 years ago and i am still at it. I have built a customer base over the years and have not even advertised in years. So you have made the right choices starting out and never worry about someone competeting against you just do quality work be honest and treat every customer as you want to be treated and the business will follow customers that build a trust relationship with you will continue to use your service.

[djque 246]

Yeah its hard and with the economy and people getting in this business every other day also makes it hard. Your price and quality has to be very good cuts has to be neat and clean. I run a decal on my back window of mt truck what I do. It takes up all of it. My etsy account has slowed to but thats my fault since im looking other places.

[slice&dice 2,450]

Before I opened my little retail sign store, my days were spent literally driving around and knocking on doors, wherever I saw a sign that needed upgrading or their sign was not doing a good job of representing the business.

 

I quickly realized that my job was not a 'Sign Maker' but rather, a marketing guru.

[mac6986 93]

network, network, network.

 

Word of mouth is more powerful than any type of media advertising. Continue passing out business cards, talk to people, and be specific about what you can do. I cant tell you how many times I get in a conversation with someone and I tell them a specific product or service I offer and their reaction is "Oh, I didnt know you could do that."

 

What may seem like common place for us in the industry, isn't to the general public. You cant sit around and wait for the business to come to you, you need to go out and find a customer that might need something, and offer them items that they might not have even thought of.

[gcextreme 475]

Theres alot of competition out there, there must be 5 or 6 places within 20 miles that do vinyl graphics.

Alot of people already go to just one place and dont take a chance on a new place.

You have to start with friends and family and even then its hard. So many times I see my wifes cousins and aunts buying decals and shirts for stuff and I just get pissed that they didnt bother asking me. Was at my wifes cousins wedding last week and he gave all his groomsmen these glass boot drinking mugs with their names etched into them. I went up and asked how much he paid for them he said $45 each. I told him that the glass mug was only worth $15 and I could have done all those for him for cheaper than $45 each.

Then later at the dance all the wedding party had custom vinyl tshirts....again this made me mad. He had ordered them online for $35 each...wtf.

So sometimes its even harder to get friends and family to come to you for business

I recently put an ad in the paper, all month of July and August for custom vinyl graphics shirts etc....not one phone call yet.

[Moody Blue 505]

Find a special niche that nobody else around you is doing. Something you are passionate about. I love trucks and 4x4's in general so my niche was reaching out to other truck guys through forums and social media. It put me in a position with several car clubs and now the "go to guy" for any of their vinyl needs. Be weary of the "old school" advertising too...phone book...news paper...people don't read that shit anymore. Too many people rely way too much on what's happening on social media...get on there and be the "happening".  I created a FB page and linked it to instagram to post customer photos of my decals...1000+ followers now and steady request for one-off decals.  

[slice&dice 2,450]

"Be wary of the old school advertising too...phone book...newspaper...people don't read that sh!t anymore."

 

I wonder how those paper table placemats work? You know, the ones you see in diners, with about 15 little squares of advertising for different local businesses?

 

[gcextreme 475]

No no..go with the "stare advertising"...thats where they have the advertising ads framed and hung in front of the urinals in the bathroom!!

Now when a customer comes in and u ask "howd you hear about us?" They can say "well I was in the bathroom holding my junk and taking a piss and I read your ad on the wall."

[jaybyrd 3,770]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="slice&dice" data-cid="368662" data-time="1408485318"><p>

"Be wary of the <em class='bbc'>old school </em>advertising too...phone book...newspaper...people don't read that sh!t anymore."<br />

<br />

I wonder how those paper table placemats work? You know, the ones you see in diners, with about 15 little squares of advertising for different local businesses?<br />

<br />

<span rel='lightbox'><img src='http://www.pocketbookmarketing.com/images/sportexas_menu_300x191.jpg' alt='Posted Image' class='bbc_img' /></span></p></blockquote>

I've thought about getting in on these myself.

[slice&dice 2,450]

Jaybird, you mean to insert your own business on an existing one, or to go ahead and create your own and sell advertising and get restaurants to use them?

[jaybyrd 3,770]

Insert on existing. Let the print guys make their few bucks but I would like my name on them. I'm closing on a new building Friday and things like this are a reasonable way to promote us and get the new address out there.

[mabscotthandyman 1,410]

Why not use some coro yard signs you can actualy get 50/100 printed very reasonably and put around town where you can,., but ask permission first. When i do a sign i offer a small discount to put my name very small in a lower corner. I also on lighted signs

put a For Service or Face Replacement call Dan's Sign Service @ xxx-xxx-xxxx