Any marketing tips for a new business?

"Rainbow" (rainbeaux) 08/20/2019 at 22:24 • Filed to: None

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I’ve been wanting to start my own junk removal company for a long time. It’ll just be me and a friend; I don’t care to expand or become a real competitor in the field. But anyway, two things just hit me tonight: I’m getting a truck, for one. But also, in my current job, I do the hardest work and get paid the least. We make a couple grand every day and I see pennies of it. That’s just not right. But if I’m getting all (or half) of the profits, then I can get by on 10% of the actual work just as well as I do now, if not better.

So, what are some tips you might have for getting my name out there if and when I make this a reality?

HammerheadFistpunch > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:38

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first, obviously, keep a close eye on overhead and expenses.

can’t help you much on marketing except to say that based on what little i know of your business i would say to use your local classifieds heavily for ads

Nibby > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:42

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give me all your money

Poor_Sh > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:42

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Craigslist is a good start going by what I found when I moved and was looking around. Free to post I think, lots of people search there, and it's not really expected that you're a professional big business with a nice website or the like.

AestheticsInMotion > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:46

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The absolute best return on advertising for a business like this is a truck wrap. By a large margin.

Also I strongly reccomended setting up a separate phone line, you can even route it through your current cell. This will help you stay organized, and when you’re at the point of having many different forms of advertisement, you can give each one a separate phone number (routed to your cell) to easily track how well each method is performing. 

Just Jeepin' > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:46

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Put your contact information in big letters on the truck, obviously. Make sure you’re discoverable on all the social networks.

I’d make sure you’re legal (bonded, etc) and then go talk to companies that have to deal with this sort of thing on a regular basis . Construction, etc. Seems like they’d have more frequent needs and instead of trying to advertise to every random stranger you’d be more focused.

Plus businesses are less likely to flake out on payments, unless they’re owned by megalomaniacal cheapskates who shall remain nameless.

B ut of course I have no actual knowledge, so for all I know that’s the worst thing you could do.

AestheticsInMotion > AestheticsInMotion 08/20/2019 at 22:48

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Oh and make a Google business p age immediately. It’s 100% free. Fill out every section, take nice pictures. You can even make a nice website via Google, again for free, although you'll have to buy a domain name. 

AddictedToM3s - Drives a GC > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:49

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For small local businesses word of mouth and Yelp will help you. Facebook Marketplace will be a free way to list your services. Open a facebook page for your business and use that on your business card in addition to the contact email and phone. Give all your customers your card and ask them to write a review on Yelp if they had a good experience. 

Spanfeller is a twat > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:52

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Be on as many sites as possible.

The university  facebook group I kidnapped is filled with former students that use it to promote their brand new businesses, I don’t know if there are any community groups in your town that might have a space for you

koawaft1 > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 22:58

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I see requests on Nextdoor a lot. Lots of responses and then I see a repost because the first one didn't show.  Showing up and being consistent is 85% of it. It will be slow at first. Grow right don't grow quick. 

My bird IS the word > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 23:12

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Make a commercial where you say how crazy you are, and how crazy low your prices are. Do some crazy things as well to really sell the whole thing.

DanZman > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 23:13

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Yelp is amazing. One of my businesses is almost entrain off of yelp. We do service plumbing.

You need to be on top of getting only 5 star reviews. Then responding to those reviews. We spend very little with yelp. The business just comes organically from the algorithm. I keep 2 trucks on the road full time with less than $500/mo spent on advertising.

When you have a good foothold with yelp you can move onto google.

PyroHoltz f@h Oppo 261120 > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 23:14

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Here are just a few tips;

Customer service is your top priority, word of mouth will be your best way to get new busines s and an unhappy customer will do damage but a happy one will pay dividends.

Dress respec tably (obviously within reason for the job).

Be on time and communicate if you’re running late.

I would suggest tal king to the pro counter staff of your local home improvement stores, along with any property management companies you can get in front of.

W e all have shit that needs to get removed, good luck!

CRider > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 23:16

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Take out a big loan to start you off, get a bunch of publicity and hype, make promises you can’t possibly keep, increase hype even more, get investors to give you money, then make more promises, get more investors, use words like "revolutionize" and "app" and "growth" ... IIRC this is the way to start a business these days.

66P1800inpieces > AestheticsInMotion 08/20/2019 at 23:23

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And have everyone you know search Google for your type of company in your local area and skip pages until they find it and click on it. Do that everywhere you are, apple store on their devices, etc.  Helps move your name up. 

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 23:23

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Well one thing I can think of is become memorable to the people in the area. I work on shows, we use various companies for all things show related. When we do corporate shows we get rental furniture. I noticed their trucks at one of our shows and then I saw them everywhere and I would probably think of them first if I needed that kind of thing. I don’t know how big a truck you want but maybe get an classic one with a new engine swap for MPGs and then people might enjoy seeing it, when people like things they remember them. The truck is your tool. Maybe you can’t do that right away but it can be a goal. I know a knife sharpener who goes all over SF and Marin with a crazy cool truck and everyone knows who you mean if you mention it. This is a Bright truck, memorable for obvious reasons and I can see all the rich moms saying oh I like those cool trucks :

It wasn’t even hard to find a picture of this guy’s truck:

66P1800inpieces > CRider 08/20/2019 at 23:24

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Sounds like the Theranos model. 

SiennaMan > CRider 08/20/2019 at 23:25

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 That method only works if your name is Elon..

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Rainbow 08/20/2019 at 23:36

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Do all the easy free/cheap stuff:

Social media pages and connect with your target market(I’m thinking get into Facebook neighborhood pages and next door)

Have a google map location and page

Maybe look into how to get onto Angie’s list

If you can make the name and branding good but don’t feel like it needs to be kitschy.

Work on getting  referrals.

Bman76 (hates WS6 hoods, is on his phone and has 4 burners now) > SiennaMan 08/21/2019 at 00:27

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Even then, it seems to be turning on him too.

!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Rainbow 08/21/2019 at 01:51

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I agree with the wrap idea, excellent advertising. Fun can always be professional too. Anything to make people notice your vehicle/location, even little unrelated things. Example: a small hardware store near me leaves an intermittent (5~second)  strobe on in their window overnight. First place I though of for bolts, and was very busy and often recommended

wafflesnfalafel > Rainbow 08/21/2019 at 02:44

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fireworks!

N o, seriously, for something like that web presence likely is key. Other than that, establishing some relationships with property managers probably would be very helpful as well.  We have some clients doing that sort of thing.  

pip bip - choose Corrour > Rainbow 08/21/2019 at 05:23

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don’t fuck it up

nafsucof > Rainbow 08/21/2019 at 06:31

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facebook marketing is really good for this sort of thing. you can set up coupons and boost posts for as little as $10 for a week to put it into specific peoples  views.  i’d give that a shot as well as facebook marketplace.  i’d also set up an instagram account and post all the cool junk you find

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rainbow 08/21/2019 at 07:57

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Tons of good advice in here. My dad owns his own business so I grew up around that, so here’s my advice based on my experiences:

If you’re serious about it, get liscensed, insured/bonded, etc. Look into starting an LLC (Limited Liability Corporation) to protect yourself. Last thing you want to do is have something happen on accident (hit someones car, knock over a priceless Ming vase, etc.) and get your pants sued off and lose everything. Having all your ducks in a row, insurance, etc. will save your bacon. There are also other advantages to owning a small business such as tax breaks, cheaper insurance, etc.

As far as advertising, lots of good info on here about using Facebook, Craigslist, Google, Nextdoor Neighbor, etc. Angies List may also be good but I don’t know that much about it. Most of it is free and cheap. Also signage on your truck. If its your only vehicle, get a magnetic one so you can take it off if you’re concerned about appearances (i.e. going out on a date or something like that). Do the sides AND the tailgate.

Another idea I’ll parrot that Just Jeepin’ mentioned - construction site cleanup. As mentioned, my dad owns a business, he’s a contractor and I used to work for him on my summers. He’s meticulous about keeping a clean jobsite, but not all contractors are that way. But keeping it nice makes the customers happy (if you’re working in someones existing home/business) and makes the jobsite safer and more organized. It may be hard to make it profitable but it’s at least an idea to get your name out there.

Most important - word of mouth is huge for these types of businesses. Be on time, polite, helpful, etc. and people will remember you and pass your name along.

Rainbow > My bird IS the word 08/21/2019 at 08:02

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“Just call Crazy Rainbow's Discount Junk Removal! I will literally EAT your garbage!"

Rainbow > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 08/21/2019 at 08:03

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Yeah, my plan is to start with the Colorado that I'm getting next weekend and then move up to a used daycare bus. You know, the van-based short buses. That'll be eye-catching for sure, especially if and when I have it painted pink.

Dogsatemypants > Rainbow 08/21/2019 at 08:12

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Don't ever issue coupons. They just bring in disloyal cheap customers with many demands.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Rainbow 08/21/2019 at 21:47

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I would have to find a larger hauling size truck cab, 30's-50's, throw it on a modern frame with a Cummins in it, good brakes... Clean or original patina depends on the truck.