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24 Replies Last post: Mar 6, 2008 6:27 AM by yMladenov

Need help getting the word out

Feb 12, 2008 6:38 PM

Click to view HandyHerman's profile Mogul HandyHerman 32 posts since
Jan 14, 2008

All,

My company has created a web site which allows small businesses to freely create a business profile that customers can search for. The site is www.HandyHerman.com. We released the site in January and have had pretty good luck drawing businesses by posting on forums. The feedback we have recieved from the businesses has been very helpful in updating our site. Can anyone give us suggestions on what marketing techniques we could use to get the word out about our site? We had an add running on Google AdWords but it didn't seem to be working to well (and it was pretty expensive).

Our goal is to create a completly free, centralized online comunity for small businesses and customers to come together.

Thanks in advance.

Drew Arney,

Co-Founder
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
1. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 12, 2008 6:44 PM
*Handy, Welcome and good marketing. We are a QUICKBOOKS Consultant Firm
with Onsite Support in the New York,*
New Jersey Region.
*Will help manage your Accounting and Bookkeeping tasks easily and
accurately,in person, by phone or email. First consult is FREE. We can
teach you or your business how to effectively use Quickbooks.*
LUCKIEST
Click to view puzzleman's profile Mogul puzzleman 293 posts since
Oct 11, 2007
2. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 14, 2008 5:18 PM
I think that you should post ads in the handyman sections of local newspapers. That is where a lot of people look for help. Another is the business card section of small papers as well. Also since you current list is kind of regionalized, put up flyers in coffee shops barber shops or where people congregate. Another idea is to put yard signs at intersections. A local company can make 100 yard signs for $150.00

Jim
Click to view aallc01's profile Authority aallc01 26 posts since
Jan 9, 2008
3. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 15, 2008 7:57 AM
I have also found that Google Adwordsis very ineffective and costly.I would continue with that path but lower your cost per hit to about .50.
There are city business journals that work well for all sizes of businesses. I would advertise in the cities you want to hit on.
Also, this forum, I would post an add here and on citibank's small business forum.
Work with a direct marketing company to target your audience and get statisicalfeedback. I represent just that sort of company.
Call me to discuss and I will put in direct contact. My number is 856-437-6277.
Regards,
Bill
Click to view easylube4you's profile Start-up easylube4you 3 posts since
Jan 3, 2008
4. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 15, 2008 12:08 PM
I have a great idea that really works for several web owners I have dealt with. Business cards that only have your web address and give to everyone you come into contact with. (Black and White) Many people tell someone about a web address but by the time they get home they have forgotten the address or forgot to check. With a business card they place it in their pocket and empty their pockets at home where most people search the internet.

Also leave the cards anywhere you want and you will see an increase in traffic within a few months.

If you give this a try let me know how it seems to work for you. You can also get free or near free cards from vistaprints.com.

Sincerely
Easy Lube 4 You
Click to view 2go2Marketing's profile Mogul 2go2Marketing 24 posts since
Feb 15, 2008
5. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 16, 2008 12:41 AM
in response to: puzzleman
You will be limited to reaching one region. For $150 you can reach 3-4 regions on the internet and you can test your marketing strategy. For instance, you have to physically move the yard signs at intersections to see how your customers react to certain campaigns. With the internet, you can reach multiple countries, mulitple techniques, 24-hours a day. With your idea, you are much more limited.

Brandon
2 go 2 Marketing
Click to view HandyHerman's profile Mogul HandyHerman 32 posts since
Jan 14, 2008
6. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 16, 2008 7:39 PM
in response to: puzzleman

Jim,
We attempted to post small signs without much luck. 100 yard signs for $150 is a pretty good deal. Can you please send me this business' contact information. Thank you.

Drew
Click to view HandyHerman's profile Mogul HandyHerman 32 posts since
Jan 14, 2008
7. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 16, 2008 7:42 PM
in response to: easylube4you
Easy Lube,
That is a great idea. I made business cards using a family friends equipment. They turned out pretty good. I'm going to start by handing these out, post on local corkboards and leaving in the windows of automobiles with business logos displayed. Thank you for the input.

-Drew
Click to view HandyHerman's profile Mogul HandyHerman 32 posts since
Jan 14, 2008
8. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 16, 2008 7:43 PM
in response to: 2go2Marketing
Brandon,
I am interested to hear what this $150 will get us. Thank you.

-Drew
Click to view 2go2Marketing's profile Mogul 2go2Marketing 24 posts since
Feb 15, 2008
9. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 17, 2008 1:42 AM
in response to: HandyHerman
Herman,

Go to our website (http://www.2go2marketing.com) and go to the "Contact Us" area. With any business it taks money to make money but we can work with you on what your budget may be. Searcht he forum here as there amy be other people in the same businss focus as us. But if you like what we are trying to offer, let us try it out for you and see what we can do.

Best Regards,

Brandn

2 go 2 Marketing
htttp://www.2go2marketing.com
Click to view 2go2Marketing's profile Mogul 2go2Marketing 24 posts since
Feb 15, 2008
10. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 17, 2008 1:43 AM
in response to: 2go2Marketing
Any way to edit posts, my last post I fat fingered a ton :)

Regards,

Brandon

Click to view 2go2Marketing's profile Mogul 2go2Marketing 24 posts since
Feb 15, 2008
11. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 17, 2008 11:11 AM
in response to: HandyHerman
Drew,

I did some thinking. Before you spend any money on paid for services. Try listing your business on Google Maps. It is free and all you have to do is put your companies info in, operating hours, phone number. The google will call you will an automated service and you will put in the code they give to you on the webpage.

That in my opinion would be the best case scenario for you.

Another thing I would try is those magnetic signs on the side of your car/van. Those reach more people than yards signs but are cheaper than paying for a strictly internet marketing campaign. I look at those signs all the time when I am parked at a stop light waiting for a green light. You can do all those yourself and won't have to pay anyone but the company that makes those magnetic signs for the side of the car.

Regards,

Brandon
Click to view HandyHerman's profile Mogul HandyHerman 32 posts since
Jan 14, 2008
12. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 19, 2008 9:30 AM
in response to: 2go2Marketing
Brandon,
We are starting to see more traffic on handyherman.com. Thanks for your input. I will sign up on google maps, but what will this do? Will this just make it so that if someone searches google maps for our business, they will find our address?

I don't know if you can edit a post...someone should make gigantic key boards.
Click to view Bemore's profile Mogul Bemore 33 posts since
Feb 10, 2008
13. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 19, 2008 11:03 AM
in response to: HandyHerman
Handy,
I was just reading over this thread. Is there one area of the country that is more active than others on your site right now?

I am in the process of sending out an email marketing piece to clients and am thinking about referring them to HandyHerman to leave a testimonial or rate our service. Can I see who rates me on the website?

Steve
Click to view Bemore's profile Mogul Bemore 33 posts since
Feb 10, 2008
14. Re: Need help getting the word out Feb 19, 2008 11:42 AM
Handy,
A technique that we have used, recommended and seems to work as well as being inexpensive for the number of impressions is a small sticker on a car or car of you customers. A good friend who's business is "Noobie" was trying to drive traffic to his website. We did "NoobieInc.com" on his vehicle windows. It has driven business to his site.

A simple HandyHerman.com would create curiosity. This could be a bumper sticker or vinyl decal displayed by Handy Herman users on their vehicles or store front windows.
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