112 replies to this topic

[slr-security]

Hi I am new to the forum.
I have been in the security industry now for 6 years, have just started up on my own. but not getting any new work.
My question is what have people found to be the best ways to get work?
I have got a website now and have just got it showing up in Google searches etc, have also posted around 1500 leaflets in local area?
Any help advice would be great.

[reidy]

Do you advertise in the yellow pages/local paper?

Do you do subcontract work for other companies?

Also have you tried joining a business networking group like the BNI etc?

These have all helped where I work grow into the company it is today

[Adi]

Not trying to be negative mate, but whoever done your website wants shooting.

I didnt get on with yellow toilet paper or yell.cum, so i wouldnt recommend them.

Leaflets have never worked either.

Unless you buy a ready made business it will always be a hard slog to start with. When i started, i used to do one off call outs and other silly jobs, i guess you need to at first - till your name gets round, until you end up in the right place at the right time, and someone you've work for recommends you to some chap with loads of property.

also link your site on google maps

[hpotter]

converted quotes from y pages etc just abt cover cost of ad though assuming you do good work the reckys are foc.

webby quotes tend to be messers esp those who cut & paste other quotes they've had.

leaflets work but if ever there was a numbers game thats it. 1 enq/1000 on well designed. need to be cheap to get good conversion rate. reckys from them will want cheap etc so spiral down.

its a 22. you need reckys to get better work, but you need existing customers to start with. thats why most start by being cheap, then live to regret it.

suggest you start with your circles of influence. ppl you know, ppl they know. dont be shy tell them all what you do etc..

[Specialist]

If your in Wales don't bother with leaflets they don't seem to work, we've done over 5,000 in the last few months & had 1 enquiry from a total muppet who wanted a top of the range Wireless system for virtually nothing as he's Disabled, Unemployed & Old. Good luck though & don't give up.

[hpotter]

if your getting 1 enq/5000 and you need (due to conversion rate) 10 enq/week then you need to put out 50,000 leaflets/week. as posted above - its a numbers game.

we used to carry 2 types of leaflet, 1st for new systems, 2nd for service/repairs. then went round all weathers, after every install/maint/call out etc and forced ourselves to put them out. became experts at letterboxes, nippy dogs and looking for hidden/dummy bellboxes. still get reckys from ppl who started out with us through leaflet donkey's yrs later.


what ever route you go - activity is the key.

[jnealon]

I got 5000 of the pyronix post cards delivered locally and got zero calls from them.
After every job I usually deliver to a few of the neighbouring houses and that has been more successful.
Out of 50 in one estate I got 5 jobs

[alterEGO]

we don't do leaflets for one reason if nothing else, every leaflet i get i bin it. If i needsomething doing and don't know anyone, i ring around mates, someone has always used somebody.

[hpotter]

alterEGO, on 01 September 2010 - 05:12 PM, said:

we don't do leaflets for one reason if nothing else, every leaflet i get i bin it. If i needsomething doing and don't know anyone, i ring around mates, someone has always used somebody.

that makes you one of the 4999 out of the 5000. did you order take away pizza off leaflet or did you phone mates etc.

numbers game.

tele sales ppl get it in ear ( ) are they bothered? they dont care abt you just the one person out the 1000's that say yes.

[MrHappy]

its very much chicken & egg.....one job leads to another,

[Specialist]

hpotter, on 01 September 2010 - 02:32 PM, said:

if your getting 1 enq/5000 and you need (due to conversion rate) 10 enq/week then you need to put out 50,000 leaflets/week. as posted above - its a numbers game.

we used to carry 2 types of leaflet, 1st for new systems, 2nd for service/repairs. then went round all weathers, after every install/maint/call out etc and forced ourselves to put them out. became experts at letterboxes, nippy dogs and looking for hidden/dummy bellboxes. still get reckys from ppl who started out with us through leaflet donkey's yrs later.


what ever route you go - activity is the key.

Aint it great slipping down peoples drives on your butt in the snow trying to deliver leaflets LOL

[alterEGO]

hpotter, on 01 September 2010 - 05:42 PM, said:

that makes you one of the 4999 out of the 5000. did you order take away pizza off leaflet or did you phone mates etc.

numbers game.

tele sales ppl get it in ear ( ) are they bothered? they dont care abt you just the one person out the 1000's that say yes.

There are much much better ways then leaflets, but to be honest, i ain't gonna post them on here am i?

Leaflets are for throw away cheap purchases IMO, our industry is much more suited to targeted mail shots.

[Specialist]

alterEGO, on 02 September 2010 - 08:05 AM, said:

There are much much better ways then leaflets, but to be honest, i ain't gonna post them on here am i?

Leaflets are for throw away cheap purchases IMO, our industry is much more suited to targeted mail shots.

Mate: I'm open to all suggestions (Polite) if you have any advice, please feel free to PM me.

Andy

[hpotter]

alterEGO, on 02 September 2010 - 08:05 AM, said:

There are much much better ways then leaflets, but to be honest, i ain't gonna post them on here am i?

Leaflets are for throw away cheap purchases IMO, our industry is much more suited to targeted mail shots.

agree better ways, not gonna be shooting own foot either other than by generalising, which i dont mind cos i know 99.99% wont bother.

also think better ways than targeted mailshots. like leaflets need to hit right person at right time. i mentioned we used to carry two types of leaflet which gives in effect targeted & 1 in 1000 enq rate. you dont have to be cheap if the maint leaflet going into existing systems homes

residential/business think small firms need a good mix if doing mainly intruder. leaflets are a proven (hard graft) way of building database to get all elusive reckys.

[Specialist]

Have another 2.000 Leaflets left to put out, so there goes another pair of shoes LOL, then it's time for a serious re-think.
Maybe it's time to take up something sensible, would have tried prostitution but my missus said no one would pay me for it anyone know any Bank robbers that need a system sorted?

[whistle]

We must have taken at least 60 monitored systems off the 2 big nationals by knocking on doors and selling our company to them.
I posted some info with our prices to a few domestics i once looked after many years ago while working for a very large local comapany that sold out to a national and got 70% take up on our maintenace services.

[Specialist]

Think i've been going about this the wrong way, i've been targeting normal property in high crime areas. Maybe I should have gone for the high end houses instead, did'nt bother doing these as most of the owners seem to love themselves & would'nt expect them to take notice of a leaflet.

[Adi]

Specialist, on 02 September 2010 - 09:37 PM, said:

Have another 2.000 Leaflets left to put out, so there goes another pair of shoes LOL, then it's time for a serious re-think.
Maybe it's time to take up something sensible, would have tried prostitution but my missus said no one would pay me for it anyone know any Bank robbers that need a system sorted?

Let biffa help ya.

[Oxford]

Specialist, on 02 September 2010 - 10:00 PM, said:

Think i've been going about this the wrong way, i've been targeting normal property in high crime areas. Maybe I should have gone for the high end houses instead, did'nt bother doing these as most of the owners seem to love themselves & would'nt expect them to take notice of a leaflet.

I think you are wrong in what you have been doing. Rich people are rich for the sole reason they are tight as ****! Waft a deal under their nose and they will soon perk up. I'm not saying you have to be as cheap as me! But just a little less than they are paying and you'll get their interest.

[norman]

Oxford = JPW trying to lift the stats?