How do I start clocking revenue for my new business?
March 22nd, 2010 | 
Author: I have set up a new professional services business in Melbourne CBD. How do I get some orders in and make the business gain momentum.
you havent told us what is ur profession and how much hands-on experience you have. never mind, as the rules for promoting a professional bureau or a police force (both service industry) are the same. if u have handson experience, yu will be having professional contacts also. first and foremost you network your users by personally contacting them.as a bonus for hiring you, you should be prepared to throw in some extra odd jobs in your portfolio.(not a reduction in your fees) limit your advertising to yellow pages. if there is a melbourne specific website, you can advertise in it by taking inexpensive but visible ads. dont overspend your money on useless promos. you know your clients, make sure they know you too. hire people one person less than you need. normally for a business of your type it takes six months to stand up, so conserve your cash initially. you will prosper later on.
Posted in new business
Advertising, Advertising, Advertising! You must let people know you’re out there and what you can do for them. I hope you put together a business plan with a marketing strategy but if not, you must put together a marketing/advertising plan. You don’t need to spend a ton of money. You can actually do alot on your own without spending any money. Networking is the first key. Here are some of the basics:
Get a website, get it loaded with key information about what you do. You can advertise on the web 1000 different ways.
Get professional looking marketing materials – business cards, logo, postcards, flyers, brochures etc. Start leaving them everywhere you can. In the malls, community centres, coffee shops, anywhere in your town that people go. You can also use some direct, hand to hand advertising and actually hand them out door to door or business to business.
Speak to your local newspaper. Get a good relationship started with one of the ad sales reps. Find out what advertising works the best in your area. Remember that if you put out 1000 pieces of advertising you aren’t going to get 500 responses. You may only get 10 but that is a good ratio for advertising. People need to see your stuff an average of 7 times before they act. DIrectories online for your town can be good but be aware that most people looking for professional services don’t look in the yellow pages.
You can also join your local chamber of commerce, local networking groups, or committees. The more exposure you get directly for you and your business the better. If you want to be online only, web ads are expensive so be creative – web is a huge topic all on its own.
Good luck! If you want help with any of your advertising or marketing stuff, check out our website and contact us. Our prices are fantastic and the quality is great.
http://www.dubois-sbms.com
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I am the owner of a successful business providing sales, marketing, and operations related products and services to small businesses.
you havent told us what is ur profession and how much hands-on experience you have. never mind, as the rules for promoting a professional bureau or a police force (both service industry) are the same. if u have handson experience, yu will be having professional contacts also. first and foremost you network your users by personally contacting them.as a bonus for hiring you, you should be prepared to throw in some extra odd jobs in your portfolio.(not a reduction in your fees) limit your advertising to yellow pages. if there is a melbourne specific website, you can advertise in it by taking inexpensive but visible ads. dont overspend your money on useless promos. you know your clients, make sure they know you too. hire people one person less than you need. normally for a business of your type it takes six months to stand up, so conserve your cash initially. you will prosper later on.
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That’s a great question.
Send me an email and I can send along a great Link that will help.
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I can’t believe someone gave a thumbs down to Dee Dee’s answer, I completely agree! That is exactly the type of stuff I did to get my consulting business off the ground and I am very successful a year later. I spent $400 on my printed materials and did all the legwork myself. Her ideas are spot on.
As for the one person who said to only advertise in the yellow pages, that is the worst idea you can have. Most people don’t even look at them anymore and they are sooooo expensive for the maybe 1 call you will get from it every 6 months. Companies don’t check the yellow pages for the pro services they need, they ask someone "Do you know anyone who…". As Dee Dee said, it is all about advertising and getting the word out there, online and offine, about your business. You need to have small, inexpensive ads running for a good period of time so that people can see your name everywhere. That’s how you will gain momentum.
Whoever booed Dee Dee is crazy, her answer is really good and I have used most of that in the past. I love how when people on this site don’t agree with an answer they just give it a bad rating forgetting that the answer may be very legit!
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