the_stig 6,614 Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Iv spent massive amounts of time on my website and it now ranks top for quite a few searches. For wasp nest removal in a local town I'm top of the organic searches, yet some numpty has just put a pay per click ad just above it stating 'wasps nests £24'. is he getting more wasps nests than you ,,,, Even if he isn't, what he is doing is devaluing the service in that area Most folks are more interested in price than anything else, and even if they don't use the cheapies, they use it as a negotiating point. whats the normal / standard rate ? under cutting happens in every game ..and in some cases pays off from re call and recommendations you need a bread n butter earner that puts your dinner on the table The 'normal' rate is around £40-£50. Having said that, the nationals charge anything up to £200..... Wasps are the kind of job where you don't really got a lot of repeat work. You rock up, do the job and you may not go back for years.... I've even done jobs where the client is convinced I've been there before, when it was in fact a competitor. well that does sound cheap my point was if he`s doing volume and raking a living be it small out of it, its sometimes better to do that than do fook all ..I do the antique fairs I can put 10 chest of drawers in a trailer and sell the lot @ 100 quid a go the man next door brings 2 @ 140 and ends up taking them home --whos got it right, 2 Quote Link to post
dytkos 17,799 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 Many go under because they do not know how to run a business, ie, effective advertising, they're not customer facing, can get the leads but can't close the deal etc. Being good at being an operative doesn't necessarily follow that their a good business man/woman. Possibly one of the biggest hurdles is the level of commitment needed, if you have a family they will have to be 100% behind you as you won't switch off, you won't be around much and you're going to be constantly focused on what needs to be done. In my case that went on the first five or six years, my only time out I would hit the bottle, my Mrs put up with a lot of sh it! Now sixteen years in and it's a doddle, turn away loads of work, dump slow payers and whiners. It's great. You both do still put the graft and the hours in as well though mate Cheers, D. Quote Link to post
Mr Muddy 141 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 some numpty has just put a pay per click ad just above it stating 'wasps nests £24'. Bad luck having a f*****g idiot like that working near you. I honesty recon that’s why there’s less and less wasps around: as soon as someone spots a nest a wild scrum of drop-outs with dirty white vans and duststicks rock up, offering to do the nest for £24!!! If everyone stuck to their guns and charged £50 – or what the council charge, at the very least – the people willing to pay would. The people not willing to pay £50 would harbour a nice crop of new queens. And in a couple of years time there’d be enough wasps for everyone to charge as much the Nationals. Basically, if you’re charging £24 for wasps, you’re a twat. I hope a wasp flies right up your a***hole. 5 Quote Link to post
Phil Lloyd 10,738 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 (edited) @ Mr Muddy... Edited July 2, 2014 by Phil Lloyd Quote Link to post
Rowan 308 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 I am already self-employed so understand the pitfalls , but I am not affected by some numpty in Westminster with nothing better to do , so perhaps it is a case of put up with what i'm doing and enjoy my fieldsprts for what they are a hobbie, not a potential income. Quote Link to post
DIDO.1 22,838 Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 check out the competition in your area and take it from there. Quote Link to post
Dirksdonuts 79 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 check out the competition in your area and take it from there. Why check out the local competition.......... Go one better than them. Its too easy to sit back and say that there are too many Pesties in an area i won't bother. Market yourself correctly and the business will grow....Dont worry about who else is around you. 1 Quote Link to post
Matt 160 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 check out the competition in your area and take it from there. Why check out the local competition.......... Go one better than them. Its too easy to sit back and say that there are too many Pesties in an area i won't bother. Market yourself correctly and the business will grow....Dont worry about who else is around you. Establishing that there is a market for your business is the first step in any business plan If the area is already saturated with pest controllers, it's worth considering whether it's worth investing time, money, blood sweat and tears in a business that is going to struggle. Quote Link to post
Rowan 308 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 One other , yes just one for miles around that advertises , usually people phone one of the nationals in , because they do not know who to get , this has me really thinking though and I have asked several people , ( potential customers dare I say ) , the main thing they are looking to have controlled is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, moles. Maybe , to start?? , I could concentrate on mole control alone, . Quote Link to post
Dirksdonuts 79 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 check out the competition in your area and take it from there. Why check out the local competition.......... Go one better than them. Its too easy to sit back and say that there are too many Pesties in an area i won't bother. Market yourself correctly and the business will grow....Dont worry about who else is around you. Establishing that there is a market for your business is the first step in any business plan If the area is already saturated with pest controllers, it's worth considering whether it's worth investing time, money, blood sweat and tears in a business that is going to struggle. We can only presume he has checked out if there is a market for the business...... And yes he must consider if the area is saturated but is it saturated with cowboys who never get called for the second time. I work in an area that is more than flooded with pest control firms from the biggest to the smallest yet i do rely on good advertising to bring in the new customers. Once I have them on the phone and then follow up the call with a face to face meeting I do my utmost to please them and get them either to call back next time they need someone or to recommend me to their friends. My diary is full from week to week. Quote Link to post
Dirksdonuts 79 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 One other , yes just one for miles around that advertises , usually people phone one of the nationals in , because they do not know who to get , this has me really thinking though and I have asked several people , ( potential customers dare I say ) , the main thing they are looking to have controlled is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, moles. Maybe , to start?? , I could concentrate on mole control alone, . Moles are a great foot in the door to introduce yourself. I used to hate mole jobs but now I actually like catching them as it always gives me chance to meet new customers and then its down to you to sell yourself and let them know what a great guy you are and all of the other pests you can help them with. I was always told its hard to sack someone you really like even if he is not as good at the job as the next guy who hasn't got a personality 1 Quote Link to post
Matt 160 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 One other , yes just one for miles around that advertises , usually people phone one of the nationals in , because they do not know who to get , this has me really thinking though and I have asked several people , ( potential customers dare I say ) , the main thing they are looking to have controlled is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, moles. Maybe , to start?? , I could concentrate on mole control alone, . Take a look at the mole directory sites like GBM, APMC and of course mole-control.co.uk. I reckon there are quite a few who cover your area, perhaps you just aren't aware of them yet? check out the competition in your area and take it from there. Why check out the local competition.......... Go one better than them. Its too easy to sit back and say that there are too many Pesties in an area i won't bother. Market yourself correctly and the business will grow....Dont worry about who else is around you. Establishing that there is a market for your business is the first step in any business plan If the area is already saturated with pest controllers, it's worth considering whether it's worth investing time, money, blood sweat and tears in a business that is going to struggle. We can only presume he has checked out if there is a market for the business...... And yes he must consider if the area is saturated but is it saturated with cowboys who never get called for the second time. I work in an area that is more than flooded with pest control firms from the biggest to the smallest yet i do rely on good advertising to bring in the new customers. Once I have them on the phone and then follow up the call with a face to face meeting I do my utmost to please them and get them either to call back next time they need someone or to recommend me to their friends. My diary is full from week to week. Good for you chap It's always nice to hear of someone doing well for themselves Quote Link to post
Paterdaleterry 1 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I don't know about the online but I did mine in March,Cambridgeshire. The one big bit of advice I can give if you are doing the week course is not to go on the piss at night with the other lads because it makes you're life bloody hard when it comes to taking the exam!. Trust me ,i found out the hard way. Good advice , who did you do the course with? , didn't know the BPCA , ran a course in this part of the country , whoever it was with that would be closer for me . It was datas, but they are no longer trading. I could get hold of the trainers names if you wanted to chat with someone local. One thing I do remember from the course,up your way there are no companies who clear up after infestations, lofts, manky flats,council houses etc.If you want to earn a living maybe look in that direction and then offer the pest control on the back of that.Go in,clear up (which you have to do anyway to get rid of any pest) and then offer preventative control. Quote Link to post
Dirksdonuts 79 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 One other , yes just one for miles around that advertises , usually people phone one of the nationals in , because they do not know who to get , this has me really thinking though and I have asked several people , ( potential customers dare I say ) , the main thing they are looking to have controlled is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, moles. Maybe , to start?? , I could concentrate on mole control alone, . Take a look at the mole directory sites like GBM, APMC and of course mole-control.co.uk. I reckon there are quite a few who cover your area, perhaps you just aren't aware of them yet? check out the competition in your area and take it from there. Why check out the local competition.......... Go one better than them. Its too easy to sit back and say that there are too many Pesties in an area i won't bother. Market yourself correctly and the business will grow....Dont worry about who else is around you. Establishing that there is a market for your business is the first step in any business plan If the area is already saturated with pest controllers, it's worth considering whether it's worth investing time, money, blood sweat and tears in a business that is going to struggle. We can only presume he has checked out if there is a market for the business...... And yes he must consider if the area is saturated but is it saturated with cowboys who never get called for the second time. I work in an area that is more than flooded with pest control firms from the biggest to the smallest yet i do rely on good advertising to bring in the new customers. Once I have them on the phone and then follow up the call with a face to face meeting I do my utmost to please them and get them either to call back next time they need someone or to recommend me to their friends. My diary is full from week to week. Good for you chap It's always nice to hear of someone doing well for themselves Thanks Matt Its certainly no walk in the park its hard slog. I am on the road 10 hours a day and cover about 100-150 miles a day but it pays off and the repeat customers are great. But its worth it. I am the boss and I decide where and when not someone else like it was for years Cheers for now Quote Link to post
Rowan 308 Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 One other , yes just one for miles around that advertises , usually people phone one of the nationals in , because they do not know who to get , this has me really thinking though and I have asked several people , ( potential customers dare I say ) , the main thing they are looking to have controlled is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, moles. Maybe , to start?? , I could concentrate on mole control alone, . Take a look at the mole directory sites like GBM, APMC and of course mole-control.co.uk. I reckon there are quite a few who cover your area, perhaps you just aren't aware of them yet? check out the competition in your area and take it from there. Why check out the local competition.......... Go one better than them. Its too easy to sit back and say that there are too many Pesties in an area i won't bother. Market yourself correctly and the business will grow....Dont worry about who else is around you. Establishing that there is a market for your business is the first step in any business plan If the area is already saturated with pest controllers, it's worth considering whether it's worth investing time, money, blood sweat and tears in a business that is going to struggle. We can only presume he has checked out if there is a market for the business...... And yes he must consider if the area is saturated but is it saturated with cowboys who never get called for the second time. I work in an area that is more than flooded with pest control firms from the biggest to the smallest yet i do rely on good advertising to bring in the new customers. Once I have them on the phone and then follow up the call with a face to face meeting I do my utmost to please them and get them either to call back next time they need someone or to recommend me to their friends. My diary is full from week to week. Good for you chap It's always nice to hear of someone doing well for themselves I'm sure you are right there are others in the area but people I speak to are not aware of them either Quote Link to post
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