I need marketing help!

[Gaulkin]

I need some help about marketing to Miami and directly to the public. Im looking to get my name out about my junk removal service. My budget is 1k a month all to just marketing. All suggestions are welcome.

[Creadiv]

If you are selling locally I think the best way is to target local markets, via radio commercials, television ads, billboards, flyers, handouts, mailings, and signs. Since you are looking for sales in a specific area in makes sense to advertise in that area. Don't look as much toward the web if the product isn't available world wide. There is no point in spending money advertising to people who can't get your service.

[Young Spark]

^^ I beg to differ. Lets assume somebody is interested in your business BUT they have questions. Its 2am in the morning and they have a busy daytime schedule. Well, then they can go on your website and possibly find the answers to their questions at 2am in the morning.

I would suggest finding events or public bulleting boards. Go to a festival or something and hand out flyers or you can post a small piece of advertisement on a bulletin board with available business cards.

But the best method is "creativity" - let your mind wonder and your sure to come up with some very imaginative ideas.

[crackah]

I think flyers and a letterbox drop would work well.

But, i guess you have to define the market.

Who are the people most likely to use your service.

Is it the richer people, poorer people, good part of town, sex? etc

[DempseyRoller]

Yeah, Crackah is right, you really need to define the target market.

Living in Australia, junk removal services are often taken up by local councils, this may work in Miami (I wouldn't know). Also, offering your services to local businesses may also widen your market. The strategies listed above are good for public attention. Good Luck

[ripsaw]

The service you offer is an "up and commer"...there are even franchises that have popped up in the market place.

There is always a system needed when looking for new business.

When you think about it, even if advertising is successful, generally a company or person is only able to do a certain amount of business.

One glarring problem with advertising that people forget, is that it is "so public".

So, you need to target your customers, and advertise accordingly.

Consider a plan where you start by defining how many and what kinds of jobs you can perform in a four week period for example.

Place a value on each segment of the work.

Project a total income, and expenses for that work.

Assume you will need new customers each month....since "junk" takes longer to accumulate than one month.

So, then widen your scope of "customer territory potential accordingly.

Now, you have a geographic area of a community and or area that you can operate and more importantly profitably.

From your numbers you should be able to see whether the $1000 you have said is a "advertising budget" is adaquate, or not.

Rado or TV is not possible with that amount.

Neither is "direct mail".

Flyers are possibe but there is an image impact if you go that route.

I would suggest newspaper, and definitely a website.

Using newspaper, and doing it consistently, usually buying a contract with a guaranteed pricing in return for a total number of column inch publising schedule will get you into a position to negotiate a placement in the paper where your target audience is likely to see your advertisment. Sometimes in makes sense to have more than one ad in one issue of a paper. check for alternate newspapers in section of the city you want to operate. In my citiy, the main newspaper also pumlished 12 other "area newspapers" where ads only for that section of the city show up".

Now you put your website address in the advertisingments and design your ad to include a reason to get people to go to your website. Once they go there you have all kinds of ways to keep their attention, and to sell them on the idea to call you. Also you can sell "future need".

I would also make it a goal to identify those who naturally generate junk ( you don't say this is a refuse removal service ) and call them on the phone...or better yet cold call them until you get in to see the person who can say "yes".

[LookingforSuccess]

I have noticed through my own business providing cleaning services to property managers of apartment buildings, that when tenants move out, they often leave behind a lot of junk that the property manager pays a junk removal service to take away, this junk removal service also rips out carpeting and take it away when the property manager decides a carpet just can't be cleaned. I am sure there are other possible customers you could target but get in with as many property managers as you can and I assure you that around the first of the month, you will see decent profits.

[CiD743]

1-800-got-junk started by advertising in local newspapers and the pennysaver. If you join the franchise, that is what they still recommend. They only did classified ads that read:

Have truck, will pick up junk. Call ______

The franchise is huge now, so I would imagine the ad works.

[tori]

For a service bussiness the biggest response i have recived is from beening in the phone book ( lowest cost ad or free ad in yellow pages) and also in newspaper in a section for bussiness, a 1"x1" for $40 dollars a month. Bussiness will let you leave fliers or bussiness cards on thier counters. Don't forget the bulleton boards. It is amazing I have recived alot of bussiness from that too. Spend some money flyer and bussiness cards look professional that is the key. Leave your card at realist offices, cleaning supply stores, hardware stores, the utlities office. people often call these store for recomendations on who to use, or who is good. you may be the only one in your town doing this service or other competitors are to buzzy doing big jobs to have time for the small ones.
THIS IS FORM MY BUSSINESS EXPERIENCE.

[Gaulkin]

Wow thanks for all the advice. Im currently working on completing the website and opening the business. Keep the ideas coming and i will update everyone as soon as possible.


Ps. My edge that distinguishes me from other junk removal businesses is cleaning the planet and using the junk to stop global warming. Even though we aren't the ones doing this we are turning the junk and garbage over to people who are(waste management). Since everyone seems to agree now that global warming is very real it seems to me as a good image. What do you all think?


pss. Heres what i have so far in terms of a website. Its not finished but here you go www.junkonwheelz.com all suggestions are welcome. The grammar is not perfected either.

[Aletheides]

Ps. My edge that distinguishes me from other junk removal businesses is cleaning the planet and using the junk to stop global warming. Even though we aren't the ones doing this we are turning the junk and garbage over to people who are(waste management). Since everyone seems to agree now that global warming is very real it seems to me as a good image. What do you all think?

I think thats a freakin awesome idea especailly since Al Gore just won the Nobel Peace Prize for spreading that same message.

[Gaulkin]

Thanks alot, on the other hand i dont know if this will set me apart enough in the long run. 1800 got junk and college hunks hauling junk control the industry as the top two franchises. In order to over come them i will need something that sets me apart as my own category to get people to say "hey id like to own one of those franchises and not one of those".

I will need to capitalize on 1800 got junks proven system but at the same time change something that will set me apart.

I think thats a freakin awesome idea especailly since Al Gore just won the Nobel Peace Prize for spreading that same message.

[Gaulkin]

How about selling products with advertisement on them(shirts, cups, ect.) and giving a % of the earnings to the fight to stop global warming/waste to energy production?

[stand856]

Let me know if you would be interested in a list of people broken down by their income level, radius for a specific zip codes, house values and so on.

[skyjoe76]

You can save your money on marketing. Go find as many Realtor as you can. They help their clients to sell and buy house. House owners who are shifting will have junk they want to clear from their house.

Offer a referral fee to those Realtor who refer their clients to you.