spent the last 10 years raising my children and now I'm trying to get back.... I feel soooo far out of the loop. I work from home and I'm hungry for truck and boat lettering jobs. I'm located just outside of Boston, Ma. Anyone willing to share tips on what works to bring in business? Have a website and am paying for search engine optimization. Have sent mailings to boat dealers, etc. I can't help feeling there is something glaringly obvious that I'm just not thinking of... Any imput or advice is greatly appreciated...
Posted by Kelly Thorson (Member # 2958) on :
It seems like client referral is my biggest advertising. It will take a while to build that up if you have been out of the loop though. I'd seriously consider getting a big batch of nice business cards made up - some of bigger companies do them pretty cheap (~$60/5000). Leave them on bulletin boards or by the cashier if they will let you at all the gas stations, truckie type restaurants and motels, marinas, clubs, sporting goods stores, dealerships etc. If you want to go a step furthur do up either brochures or post cards. It'll take a bit of leg work, but I'm always amazed at where some of my work shows up from.
Posted by Bill Wood (Member # 6543) on :
A friend of mine has a nice set up in a flea market here in Winston-Salem.When he started, his business was not all that great but as time passed his patience and being noticed, business has grown tremendously.I don't know if you're doing painted signs or vinyl,whichever either will sell.One item that sells well here is custom lettered auto tags(avoid the pictures)and magnetic vehicle signs.Also there is a good market for banners.Easy sizes are 2x4 or 2x8. Sometimes you might have to hustle pricing for a little less profit but this will boost your recognition.Number one objective is...Don't Give Up. I Hope I've helped.
NOTE: Look in the portfolio section and check out my mobile studio. Thi may give you a setup idea if yo choose to do auto tags,
Posted by John Arnott (Member # 215) on :
You must have your vehicle lettered up nice. No magnetics. This is your very best permanant advertising. Do your best on this one! A Web site is necessary these days.
Tisha...It will not be an overnight thing, nor will it be "instant gratification".
The other suggestions are right on.
Existing client referalls are the BEST!!!
The only other thing I could suggest would be cold calling. It is a tough thing to do but it does yeild results if you can handle rejection!!! LOL
[ April 23, 2011, 07:02 PM: Message edited by: Dave Grundy ]
Posted by Preston McCall (Member # 351) on :
Nothing beats shoe leather marketing. A smile and a shoeshine always results in so new work...just remember to pull out your business cards and not your pack of rolling papers, like I embarrassingly did one time 32 years ago! (True story)
Posted by Dennis Kiernan (Member # 12202) on :
Do your work out where the clients can see you, like at a boat marina. Everybody gets interested in seeing you do this amazing stuff and they want one just like it.
I hate selling and I'm no good at it. I have to have the business coming to me.
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
People that have boats also have trucks and businesses. Walking the docks with a smile and a portfolio and being able to knock of a sketch right fast can land a sale. The first often opens a door.
I don't think your name will land you jobs around the north end though....
Posted by Kevin W. Betz (Member # 4133) on :
I would suggest wearing a T-shirt that says: "Boat Lettering". 1 or 2 Days during the week, have lunch at or near a Marina. Spend an Hour. Someone should ask: How Much?
Posted by KARYN BUSH (Member # 1948) on :
do your vehicle up right!!! and big boobs....just kidding! I had to go with the vehicle lettering myself. Posted by Tisha S Sullivan (Member # 2999) on :
Thank you so much for all the great advice. I'll be doing cold calls and car as suggested and Kevin, the t-shirt idea is brilliant in its simplicity. Karyn, thanks for the laugh-especially fitting with Kevin's t-shirt suggestion! Have to thank Ricardo from Oklahoma who called me a couple of weeks ago with great ideas on getting boat jobs. And Rick, things are changing in the North End-you'd be surprised.
Posted by Tisha S Sullivan (Member # 2999) on :
Thank you so much for all the great advice. I'll be doing cold calls and car as suggested and Kevin, the t-shirt idea is brilliant in its simplicity. Karyn, thanks for the laugh-especially fitting with Kevin's t-shirt suggestion! Have to thank Ricardo from Oklahoma who called me a couple of weeks ago with great ideas on getting boat jobs. And Rick, things are changing in the North End-you'd be surprised.
Posted by Tisha S Sullivan (Member # 2999) on :
Thank you so much for all the great advice. I'll be doing cold calls and car as suggested and Kevin, the t-shirt idea is brilliant in its simplicity. Karyn, thanks for the laugh-especially fitting with Kevin's t-shirt suggestion! Have to thank Ricardo from Oklahoma who called me a couple of weeks ago with great ideas on getting boat jobs. And Rick, things are changing in the North End-you'd be surprised.
Posted by Sandy Baird (Member # 4773) on :
Karyn, I went out and did that big boob thing. Maybe I should have gone the false ones first, now I am not sure that this fits in with what I am trying to do sign wise, although, I guess they are 3d.
monk
[ May 05, 2011, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: Sandy Baird ]
Posted by Preston McCall (Member # 351) on :
I send out many emails and direct mail pieces to clients, but I have very specific clients (new car dealerships). I enclose a sketch of their showroom and a drawing of what I envision on their windows. Sometimes with Google maps, I can get a pic of the front that looks even more impressive. I find the direct mail piece has to go to the right person and getting that info is hard as hen's teeth to extract, sometimes. A small name and return address on the envelope and a hand stamp slightly off angle to make the mail look like iot is not just some commercial pitch... Then a follow up meet and greet is vital for the success of new client development. Seems like no one anymore is polite enough to just send back an email saying they are not interested at this time, but will keep the info. Typical sales rejection deal. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
In your case, I would imagine showing up at the dock (if you can get access) with business cards, a flyer and even some pics of your other boat jobs, would help. Ask your customers for referrals and leads. You could throw in some super priced deals to get in the club, if that helps. Boat owners are a prosperous lot and are not cheap chislers, as I am sure you know. Someone who pays that kind of money for a boat, obviously has expendible income.
Another sales call could be to the boat dealers. Persistence and politeness will help. Go in when they are not busy? Maybe mid morning or 4 ish in the afternoon and introduce yourself. Not cool acting like a boat buyer and then springing your sales effort on them, but maybe going to the parts department and asking them who they use to sub out boat graphics might get your some leads. The General Manager would be the best lead, though. On a big sale, they can mark up the fee to letter the transom, I would imagine, so it could be a good add-on sale for them, if they like your work.
And of course, the most important thing to always do is to simply show up when you say, even if it is raining. Nothing beats reliability as far as establishing professionalism. Everyone seems to have the idea that we signmakers are drunks or flakes and only show up when we feel like it, so I have found many, many times just the getting there when you say is impressive to many....then just kick you empty beer cans into the water and roll your own cigarettes to look like doobies....just kidding. Gotta look like a pro.
Just my thoughts and hope it helps. Good luck with the niche. Smart to go after niches, I have found.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
My on premise signs and word of mouth have sold most of my projects by far...more than the phone book and more than the internet.
Posted by Jake Lyman (Member # 3280) on :
Plan a day or two off, I usually can't keep up for a week or two before I have planned time off coming.
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