I would like to try and kickstart my business by marketing locally. I really love bookkeeping and I have a lot of experience in the construction industry and think I would like to target the small business construction industry locally.

I am not excatly sure how to go about this? I would like to target small business owners like plumbers, or electricians, HVAC contractors and such that only have a handful of employees and no real office.

I would love to hear your suggestions on how I could market to this audience locally. I was thinking about putting an ad in the local town paper like the Yankee Trader or PennySaver (a small publication local to the area that has help wanted and small business ads for home contractors and such) for those of you not from the area but I am not sure if this is the way to go.

I have also ordered some post cards because I thought I should do a mailing as well but was not sure how to go about this either.

I welcome your suggestions and look forward to your responses.

Thank you,
Kim

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Kim Beckers
Online Business Manager

Kim, If the local print ad is inexpensive, you might try it. However, I don't think the industry you are targeting is likely to look there for your type of services.

I think the postcards are a great idea. Do your research and find the names of the owners of these local businesses. You may check the Chamber of Commerce. Personalize each postcard by handwriting the name and address. Make sure you leave the bottom edge free of any writing since the post office puts a barcode down there. Write a personal note using the owners first name offering your 'special'.

Then follow up in about 10 days. Give them a telephone call explaining you had sent the postcard and offering your services. Remember in everything you send or say to emphasize the benefit to them.

Hope that helps! Sue

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Sue L Canfield
AwesomeAssistant.info
My Blog

I work with some construction companies. They are an interesting bunch that definitely need a lot of help. If you can do some very inexpensive or free print advertising then you can try that but I highly doubt you'll get much response. I would see if you can find a builder's exchange or another construction association and see if they have networking events. That would probably be your best bet. I know here locally they had a networking dinner cruise last week.

In this industry the hardest thing is to get in with your first client. After that they'll start referring you. If you have any contacts in the industry be sure to talk to them and make sure they understand what you do and have your business cards. If you know people who work at building supply stores talk to them too. I get referrals from the salesman at one of the local supply stores sometimes -- he knows the owners of these companies really well.

You can try the postcards...I think they are a better use of your time and money that print advertising. But meeting people in the industry is really your best bet.

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Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

Thanks Sue and Lanel,

This is kinda what I figured regarding the print ads; thanks for validating that.

I think I will give the post cards a try because for $35 I can send out a 100 of them, even I got a 1% return that would be worth my effort.

Thanks for the tip on the builders exchange, I am going to see if I can locate one in the area.

Thanks again,
Kim

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Kim Beckers
Online Business Manager

I print my business card on the back of my post cards as a return address w/a dotted line around it and 'cut out and keep for future reference' printed under the line. The post office said that this was fine and I actually got a client who received the card in November, cut out my business card, and called me in February after talking to his CPA.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Thanks Lily,
That is a great idea.
Kim

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Kim Beckers
Online Business Manager

That is an awesome idea about having the business card on the back of the post card. I love this board! You guys are so helpful for all the newbies like me

Thanks agan.

This might be a little much for you, but what about going directly to job sites and introducing yourself directly with your business card? I really think that getting face time, even if it's just to hand over your card is the best thing you could do.

I do bookkeeping for two electricians (they were referred by other clients) that have less than 5 employees each. Both of them don't look at their mail. They throw it in a bag to give to me. I could imagine one of them taking a phone call and the other would not. Both say they are in the construction business because they hated school, and now hate anything that has to do with the business aspect of their business (like the paperwork and bookkeeping).

This is just a suggestion, as I don't know if I would even do it. But if I ever came into contact with a contractor while I was going about my day I would definitely hand over my card, even if it was on a job site.

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Sarah
Accurate Office Help

Originally Posted by sfdbooks

This might be a little much for you, but what about going directly to job sites and introducing yourself directly with your business card?

My only comment on this is that the owners aren't always on the job site. I know for all my construction clients the chances of finding the owner on-site are slim to none. You also have to be careful walking around active job sites as they often have stringent rules about being on-site because of safety issues and you could get in trouble.

I'm not saying DON'T do it I'm just saying be careful and that it might not be your best bet.

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Lanel Taylor, CVA ~ Virtual Bookkeeper
Taylored Office Solutions
Custom fit solutions for all your office needs.

Originally Posted by lanelt

My only comment on this is that the owners aren't always on the job site. I know for all my construction clients the chances of finding the owner on-site are slim to none. You also have to be careful walking around active job sites as they often have stringent rules about being on-site because of safety issues and you could get in trouble. I'm not saying DON'T do it I'm just saying be careful and that it might not be your best bet.

I guess I was thinking more of little rehab type jobs. Where you could catch someone at lunch time at their truck. Those are the type of small business people that I thought the OP was talking about. Not like new home construction or something like that.

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Sarah
Accurate Office Help