Getting business in your first year

[climbingmonkey24]

Just looking for some input as to what other business owners did in the first year to get jobs. Obviously when you start a new business nobody really knows about you and your presence online, etc. is limited or maybe non-existent compared to already established businesses.

For me the game changer has been utilizing HomeAdvisor. I would say 90 percent of my work comes from there. And with talking to customers I've found that more and more people are utilizing these third party sites to find companies or professionals for a service they are in need of. Obviously HomeAdvisor has it's pros and its cons and for some it may work for others it may not. Just looking to see what other people have done in the first year to get business while you are getting established.

Obviously Google ads, Craigslist, etc. are ways to advertise and generate jobs, but what are some other good ways that you personally have found successful in getting your company out there.

 

[TreeVB]

I went to a few networking meetings when I first started. On top of getting my name out to people, there happened to be a partnership there that own a local magazine. Did some work trade for a half page article for a month that is distributed to a wealthy part of my area. If I get too slow this winter I plan on putting another ad in that paper and a couple more. Not as expensive as you might think and its pretty easy to target the audience you want this way

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I had some door hangers printed on card stock with a cut out for putting on the door knob

Th copy read something like:

Today we worked atnyour neighbors house________
(Have the person with the best handwriting...not me!...write in the address) then deliver them to about ten houses in all directions

Most neighbors don't talk to each other but we all keep an eye on what's going on

As we were finishing cleanup one person would be detailed to do the hand bills. It paid off!

I bought a package of precut magnets with adhesive and stuck on my business card. One went in every billing statement. More than once I saw them on the fridge when I went in to get a check from a returning client

I never did this because it made me feel uncomfortable. When you're raised in Lake Wonegon you learn not to be too forward

Anyway...when you close the contract or when you get paid ask your client if they know any friends that need
Tree work. Pump them for referrals. Might be a neighbor or relative