Dan @ Cheltonian - Profile

Hi Keith,

I'm already populating my Facebook page like you've recommended.  Tips on moving, how to pack, lifting heavy things, intermittent promo for the company and recently the odd funny meme with reference to the weather! I'm kind of silently filling it to make it look active before I really actively push it to build up the likes with paid promo. The fact you can schedule posts on fb is very good. You can spend an hour or 2 loading posts then whatever for the week.

The tough thing is the target audience on fb. I can select age group and geographical location, but what interests? I doubt there's many people on fb that are interested in home removal! Except for other removal companies and I don't want to waste my money on them.

I do need to drive traffic to my site to build up the ranking so I'm happy to try all options.

I will contact estate agents, perhaps offer a referall scheme if it's the kind if thing they do. The hardest part there is competing with more established removal companies. 

I will have a blog page on my site, when it's up and running I'll post links to it on my social media. My Facebook looks good so far but I'm neglecting my Twitter and Instagram a bit.. so may to do!

Thanks, Dan

Hi Steve,

The is for your input. You're correct about references, the sooner I can rack up the 5 star refs the better! As long as my service is good I see no reason why I won't get them. Then of course from that simple word of mouth from happy customers 

I've looked at BAR, there's also the Property Redress Scheme which I've joined and it was relatively cheap and looks good! Same reason I'll have all the correct insurances in place, all good things to make the company give out a good first impression. 

I'll keep looking at other promotion avenues, any thing to get my company name out there. I'll make sure everything is in place so I can hit the ground running and push the company hard! 

Thanks , Dan 

 Hi all,

My name is Dan, I'm on the brink of starting my own removal company! I'm new to this forum, but from the threads I've read you all sound nice

My main backround is sales, so I believe once I can get myself in front of people I'll do very well at selling myself and my company.. but the trick I need to learn it getting my company's name out there and getting the opportunity to be in front of my poetntial clients.

I'm currently doing all the background work.. I've researched all my local and national competition intensely, I'm having a website built, ready next week. Softly building my social media profile and populating the pages, google proflie, free busniess listings, bank account, advertising avenues, flyers, vehicle search etc.. I've already invested a reasonable amount of cash so I'd say I'm past the point of no return! I believe I'm being very thorough, but if there's anything I've missed I'm happy to take advice.

I know the website will take a while to rank on the first page so I want to give it a head start. I don't have a huge amount of local competition so that will help.

I would love some advice on my best marketing strategy. Leaflets? Facebook? Google??

I want to give the impression of a professional established company.. fake it before you make it!

The obvious first one is to target houses for sale which I will do. Rather than just dropping a leaflet through the door I'm putting it in a branded envelope alongside an intro letter.. First impressions and all that.. but is there a better way than this?

I've read articles to steer away from Facebook ads, and I'd tend agree. People who want a removals company will be specifically searching for them, not come across them on FB and think.. oh yeah I need to move house next week! I think it would be hard to define my target audience.  But on the other side just getting my brand out there in the local community will be beneficial.

I'm thinking Google ads is my best option if done correctly, but I'm concerned about the cost of this? It's certainly towards the top of my list to use, as long as I do it correctly and maximise the benefit of it.

Yell.com keep pestering me since I set up my free listing, but is it worth paying them money to push my company? And the same for the other free listing sites.. are any worth spending money on for a 'premium ' listing?

I've got a local busniess network that seem to offer a good package, especially with social media work, but I'm concerned about the audience it will reach.. as far as I can see it will be just other local companies rather then the general public.

I know I will have to spend, but the budget is tight and I need to get it right first time.

So.... I think I covered most bases, but very happy for anyone to point out anything I've missed? Or any advice on the best advertising and promotion strategies

Also, I'm doing all this around a full time job, I have no intention of quiting until the my new company has a certain amount of enquiries coming in.

Thanks in advance, Dan