Feast and famine?

[michael12]

Some self-employed electricians, plumbers and builders I know are going through some difficult times finding work in this recession. Sometimes it's really busy then nothing for days or even weeks. I suppose we all experience a bit of this 'feast and famine' in business.

Just wondered what you experiences were on this and how you deal with it. Is it normal? unusual?

I send people to Comcero - What you want. The way you want it. - it's a new service market place and I think better than screwfix and myhammer etc - really good - be interested to know what you think.

 

[RWJ]

^^^^ Thanks for the blatant ad!

Just what we need another myhammer!!!!

 

[michael12]

Wow - sorry to have upset you so much RWJ. My comments and question were genuine and I'm a fan of that site - it's better than Myhammer which is why some prefer it. Actually, I'm new on this forum but feeling a bit unwelcome now - thought I was helping. Guess not!

 

[Electricalserv]

Wow - sorry to have upset you so much RWJ. My comments and question were genuine and I'm a fan of that site - it's better than Myhammer which is why some prefer it. Actually, I'm new on this forum but feeling a bit unwelcome now - thought I was helping. Guess not!

Welcome, RWJ is a good bloke. Sometimes we get annoyed with marketing companies though, they are like flies around crap...Really annoying. Maybe it would have been better to introduce yourself first.

 

[RWJ]

I'm just a bit cautious of some one who's only two posts have contained an advert for a website.

 

[Adam W]

Wow - sorry to have upset you so much RWJ. My comments and question were genuine and I'm a fan of that site - it's better than Myhammer which is why some prefer it. Actually, I'm new on this forum but feeling a bit unwelcome now - thought I was helping. Guess not!

IMO this is a friendly and welcoming forum, but to be fair since you joined you have made 3 posts - 2 starting threads advertising the same website and that one I replied to, so I can see how it would look like you're only here to sell your own service.

We like to think of this forum as more of a community than an advertising board, although we have one of those as well.

 

[michael12]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies, (and you welcome) they are helpful. I can understand your thoughts and I am genuine in my apology.

I won't pretend that I don't have any interest in that site - I do. But I didn't intend the posts as ads. Far from it, I meant them as helpful links. I am genuinely sorry if I have contravened any protocol here - consider me chastened!

You see, when I included the link in the earlier post I sent, I'd heard quite a few clicked on it and signed up to the site. I suppose I just wanted to give others the same opportunity (who hadn't seen my first post) to expand their marketing opportunities for their services.

I was assuming anything that could help struggling tradesmen, freelancers and small business to promote, market and spread the word of their electrical services for free in a recession has got to be useful.

If there is useful stuff at the site I may well do it again - not to advertise but just to share info. I'm warning you just in case you want to ignore me - that's ok!

Thanks for engaging.

 

[i=p/u]

you have the right to marketing cause sounds like thats what you do, fairplay but id shaft ya, im all for the electrical contractor/electrician, just my views and welcome

 

[Johnny-G]

Myhammer>Comcero, probably.

 

[Adam W]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for your replies, (and you welcome) they are helpful. I can understand your thoughts and I am genuine in my apology.

I won't pretend that I don't have any interest in that site - I do. But I didn't intend the posts as ads. Far from it, I meant them as helpful links. I am genuinely sorry if I have contravened any protocol here - consider me chastened!

You see, when I included the link in the earlier post I sent, I'd heard quite a few clicked on it and signed up to the site. I suppose I just wanted to give others the same opportunity (who hadn't seen my first post) to expand their marketing opportunities for their services.

I was assuming anything that could help struggling tradesmen, freelancers and small business to promote, market and spread the word of their electrical services for free in a recession has got to be useful.

If there is useful stuff at the site I may well do it again - not to advertise but just to share info. I'm warning you just in case you want to ignore me - that's ok!

Thanks for engaging.

It's great that you genuinely believe your service is beneficial, but AFAIK the correct protocol if you wish to advertise (or share the benefits of) your product or service on a retail basis is to become a forum sponsor, then you can help the forum at the same time as we help you by supporting your business.
If you PM 'Dave' or 'Jason.S' they should be able to help you with this.

 

[michael12]

you have the right to marketing cause sounds like thats what you do, fairplay but id shaft ya, im all for the electrical contractor/electrician, just my views and welcome

Ha me too really Actually, I would be seriously interested in what people do to market themselves. Is it all face to face and referrals? Does anyone use Yellow Pages or Yell.com any more?

What are people's top 3 ways of marketing themselves?

 

[Dunc]

Top 3 ways of finding work is word of mouth, word of mouth and more word of mouth. Signed up for a Trust Our Trades website thing and didn't get enough work from it to even cover the cost of the advert/membership. Advertising in an area like the one I live in is a waste of time and money, if you do a good job then other tradesmen you work with will throw you work or put your number about then your new customers will do the same. Even my local wholesaler are happy to recommend me just because it benefits them as I spend more plus I always pay them on time.

 

[michael12]

Thanks Dunc - really interesting networking/referral strategy - Good for you - payment on time is so attractive to people. I've known people wait four months for payment for a job - insane !!!

 

[RWJ]

Ha me too really Actually, I would be seriously interested in what people do to market themselves. Is it all face to face and referrals? Does anyone use Yellow Pages or Yell.com any more?

What are people's top 3 ways of marketing themselves?

Me.... I just offend people lololol No hard feelings Micheal12... We just have lost of people peddling stuff, so we're abit cautious...

 

[michael12]

No probs RWJ. Thanks for your honesty and some good, healthy exchanges.