How do you find a service?

[John Keswick 119]

This might be a interesting topic for people who own their own business's. If everyone who uses this site took a moment to jot down how they find services (beit plumber, electrician, pest controller etc) it could help those that are looking for ways to get their business launched in the right way without wasting time and money and be more useful to those looking to find exactly what they are looking for.

 

So how do YOU find a service? Do you do a google search, yahoo search or other internet search, or just pick up the good old fashioned yellow pages? Or do you use some other method?

[PO CHING 0]

Word of mouth...

Get all my work that way

obviously depends what trade your in, get a few customers, do the job right, don't overcharge, and word soon spreads.

lots of my customers are people who have used me before, others have heard/seen the work i've done, get new customers up the pub etc.

for people starting out having sign writing on your vehicle is a good cheap way as you will pick up local trade, t-shirt printing is cheap as well, also printing your own leaflets and posting them in local area and putting on local shop windows/notice boards. for those looking to advertise on the net, to get featured on the 1st couple of pages of google takes a lot of work so start off by signing up for ad-words on google which is a pay per click service.

[Sighthound 49]

I agree word of mouth.

I had signs done for my van, business cards and a 1000 leaflets printed.

I never delivered the leaflets because one customer recommended me to her friend etc and it just snowballed. I'm fully booked right through until summer and 4 days work per week for the rest of the year.

 

So if I was looking for a trade it would be by asking around and getting personal recommendations.