anyone else struggling for work??

[JCplumb]

I'm busier than I want to be, have been for about a year now.
I tried leaflets but didn't get a decent response from them, tried local newspaper, it was pretty costly although it did work.
The best return (for leads) I've had is from my website, it cost me £10 for the first year to register the domain, every year since it costs £26 to redo the domain and pay for the hosting.
I don't pay anyone to manage it or do the SEO on it, I do it myself. 20 minutes every couple of weeks making changes and adding bits to it keeps it on page one of Google, whenever I lapse and ignore the site for a couple of months it drops down off page one.
The higher up on a Google search it goes - the more the phone rings.
Also get plenty of work from the google places listing and that's geographical so the closer people are to me the more likely I am to be at the top, got enough 5 star reviews to be a 5 star on that too which helps a lot.

But the key to being busy for me isn't just getting the leads, it's doing a good job at the right price, turning up on time, being pleasant, tidying up after myself etc. and becoming what the customer calls 'their plumber', when you have enough customers who trust you enough to recommend you - they do your advertising for you

 

[plumb_know]

Thanks JC for that very thorough reply, yes i have been very busy for 4 years just gone really slow all of a sudden bit strange.

I will try doing the SEO on my website more as did not think about that.

Thanks

 

[Ric2013]

Just a bit of advice on your leaflet.

PLEASE completely ignore YOUR needs in the leaflet. Write it like you are someonevwho needs a plumber. What do you want that person to be like, offer & to deal with.

Talk about reliability, takingbresonsibility, doing the right thing, respecting peoples time and helping them live their lives more easily.

HTH

What do you mean by 'YOUR needs'? You mean don't mention that you are looking for more work, or something else?

 

[Welder]

Mostly when we write ads we write them from OUR perspective. "I'll do this, I won't do that" However customers couldn't give a fig about us. All they are interested in is them. So, if we write like we have THEIR needs front and centre then they are more likely to call YOU.

An example.
"It doesn't matter whether it's a dripping tap or a full bathroom. If it matters to you then it matters to us and we guarantee to answer the phone when you ring, turn up when we say (or ring you before), to do a professional job for a fair price and respect both you and your home."

What you are doing is giving people an opportunity to connect with the human being behind the ad and to gauge you and your standards.

Oh one last thing. Always, always, always put your full name, full address & both a landline & mobile number if you can. Doing it shows people you have nothing to hide.

 

[jtsplumbing]

I think it's gone very quiet for alot of folk round my way. Not got much on myself and hearing lots others twiddling their thumbs.

Same out in the Tavi area gone very slack, only odd jobs, maybe to do with the hot weather ! But this year seems to be very quiet