How best to promote new plumbing business

CJ1

My hubbie just set out on his own as a plumber (possibly worst timing ever but needs must), please advise on how best to advertise/promote the business in Dublin City/County. Does anyone know any good newsletters/papers etc that offer good value advertising rates. We already use the Lucan Newsletter and every available shop notice board we can get to.
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated

CBFi

I think this thread would be better suited to the marketing forum but here is some PR advice.

If you have a budget to advertise, that's a good thing because newspapers will be more open to providing you opportunities for PR. Choose the papers with the highest circulation for your catchment area. Make sure they give you an editorial along with Ad.

These figures and a list of local papers is available on http://www.medialive2.com/ and it's free.

Be careful not to blatently 'sell' your company through PR- it must be news not an advert. Take some time first to get a list of the local papers together, their weekly deadlines, and email and phone numbers. If you have NEWS then email them and follow up with a phone call.

Maybe get some flyers done up with a special offer/ discount and do a leaflet drop around the local housing estates.

Make sure you are listed in online directories like QYPE, yourlocal.ie etc and that you have an online presence either using Facebook or a website. This is crucial as most people use google/ web search engines to find services. If you have a website think about your search engine optimisation- goodle this for advice.

That's all I have think of! Again, I'd bring this to the marketing forum as they are the experts on promoting a service.

From a brand management point of view, think quality and service, return business will be crucial so the business should try and harness the impact of good word of mouth. do what you do well.

CBFi

kevin99

Newspapers will not provide FREE editorial just because an Ad is being placed.
The advertiser will be offered an 'advertorial' which is different from editorial and they have to pay for it.

Secondly, it is a plumbing business not something of great interest.

CBFi

kevin99 wrote: »

The advertiser will be offered an 'advertorial' which is different from editorial and they have to pay for it.

Secondly, it is a plumbing business not something of great interest.

Indeed I should have used the word "Advertorial" but most papers WILL throw this in with an ad, or so is my experience in any case.

I agree plumbing is not something of interest to a newsdesk which is why I've directed this person to the marketing forum which will be more helpful to her. I'm a PRO and I've given the best advice I can based on my area of expertise and given this is the PR forum.

Do you have constructive advice to give today or are you just criticising my suggestions?

tombull82

Just wanted to point out that the Marketing Forum is actually closed.
Much to the disappointment of many but either way its closed for posts,

Just the old thread are left in there.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/announcement.php?f=585

CJ1.
First and Most important IMO would be to get his Van sides and rear fitted with GOOD signage.

I know many Local Trades people who swear that they increased their customer base largely after getting signage fitted on their vehicles.

CJ1

Thanks so much for the replies. It seems quite expensive to keep advertising but hopefully a few jobs will result.
Really appreciate the posts though.
Thanks again

sandin

soufan wrote: »

I know a foreign Web site about a website that promotes both a tool, like a free advertising platform, ah, you can go and see (crap removed)

6 posts in 6 threads promoting the same crap.

I see deletion and a ban coming.

sandin

CJ1 wrote: »

My hubbie just set out on his own as a plumber (possibly worst timing ever but needs must), please advise on how best to advertise/promote the business in Dublin City/County. Does anyone know any good newsletters/papers etc that offer good value advertising rates. We already use the Lucan Newsletter and every available shop notice board we can get to.
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated

We're coming into summer, so one of the more popular items needed is an outside tap.

My suggestion is to use this as a loss leader and offer to fit an outside tap for €49 or whatever price that people would see as great value. Then whilst this is being done, ask the householder if he can place a sticker with his contact details on the inside of a kitchen press or other place so that they have someone to call if there's ever an emergency or other plumbing requirement. Also show the householder where the stop cock is and possibly put a flouesent piece of material on it to make it easy to find

This will make the householder remember him and bring good business down the line.

Advertise the outside tap servcie in local papers - they will do great deals on multiple advert entries and also get a high quality leaflet printed and put them door to door in selected estates where you know a tap is not already fitted.

abouttobebanned

This may sound silly and a tad easy...but set up a Facebook page. Give a Facebook discount and offer the service up for free online advice as well. Your name will she fresh in people's minds when it comes to needing someone to fix their plumbing and they'll also know how to contact you.

chelle355

I agree with the above comment. Social media is huge and lots of people use facebook. Get all your friends and family to like your group/page and suggest to friends.

Word of mouth, as previously mentioned, is also very good so excellent customer service is a must. Do everything you can and more for your customers so they reccommend you. If someone has a bad experience with your company they are likely to tell as many people as will listen so this is something to avoid! hope this helps.

jim69

your better off getting out of plumbing,dead end,tesco,s a safer bet at this stage.trades and construction are dying on its feet

casabien

u did plumbing business and u do selling faucets products also?

CJ1

Thanks for all the replies, i must try find some facebook plumber's page and make one up. Several people have suggested this but I am not overly familiar with facebook at all.
I do not know what the last comment means ....sorry.

ted1

Onlinetradesmen.com is a good place to get buisness

ThePinkCage

It's still possible to get free press/radio coverage, but you'd have to be clever about it.

At the moment, you could get in as a new business local success story in the new business slots that sometimes come up in papers like The Sunday Business Post.

Otherwise, the trick would be to go down the advice-opinion route, on radio in particular. For example, he might have an opinion on the new water rates and on how people can keep those rates down. If he put his thoughts together and formulated them into a press release, that might catch some attention. The idea would be to marry your expertise with an awareness of current trends and how they affect customers.

It isn't the most immediately newsworthy business, I agree, but he could just think about these questions.

What does he want to achieve for his customers?
What's he doing that's different?
Why has he gone into this business?
How can he advise people on the best way to keep their home running efficiently, from a plumbing point of view?

Long winded, but hope it helps.

mikemac

If I want a plumber or any tradesman, I go the golden pages
But reading this forum, I seem to be in a minority and not many use it any more. Plus even if you signed up now, it could be October before we get the next book

You have the local paper covered
So if not done already, get signage for your van.

Mr. G

mikemac wrote: »

If I want a plumber or any tradesman, I go the golden pages
But reading this forum, I seem to be in a minority and not many use it any more. Plus even if you signed up now, it could be October before we get the next book

You have the local paper covered
So if not done already, get signage for your van.

Whenever I want to find a trademan I use mytown.ie and goldenpages.ie, I couldn't be bothered looking up the book but it is very important to have a good professional name and logo. Show appreciation, give a lot of your professional advice, what to do temporarily if a customer gets a leak etc.

Facebook page and a website is important. People trust .ie a lot more then any other TDL.

Don't over sell yourself, and don't undersell yourself. Be reasonable.

johnmerchant

CJ1 wrote: »

My hubbie just set out on his own as a plumber (possibly worst timing ever but needs must), please advise on how best to advertise/promote the business in Dublin City/County. Does anyone know any good newsletters/papers etc that offer good value advertising rates. We already use the Lucan Newsletter and every available shop notice board we can get to.
Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated

Hi , First of all congratulation for newly started business my best wishes with you. Now internet marketing is best way to promote a business and give advertisement in every newspaper which is available in you area so these are the best way to promote a business. Thanks