[TechAssist] Re: Off-Topic: How Do You Advertise Your Shop?

  • From: "Gerald Gill" <gillcoelectronic@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 15:11:33 -0500

Interesting, the general members here feel the yellow pages are just an
expense....

Here we actually ask people how they heard about us and we have been
charting this for over 15 years. Most local repairs are repeats and
referrals therefore we keep the ad here (locally) about double the size
of a business card.  
Outside our area most customers come to us because of our ad in the
yellow pages therefore the ad size is much larger. I can tell you from
facts based on our chart it Pays Back Big Time. (We tried smaller ads
outside our area and for dollar to dollar the smaller ads were just a
waste of time and money)  

So it goes, know your market!! Base your decision on facts not that it's
just an expense. Usually 1 or 2 repairs pay for that ad. If you take it
out how much business are you really missing (if you are never tracking
on paper how would you really know anyways until you see your accountant
then usually its to late by then).

Remember, you must do a business plan, set goals, research your market
and your business has a much better chance to prosper in the New Year. I
can't imagine not knowing were I'm going without a road map, can you?

If something breaks down, where do you go... newspaper or yellow pages?
Sometimes we ask our friends or family (how did they find you?) 

If your area offers more than 1 yellow page directory, were you tracking
which one brought in the most business?

Running your business is just as important as knowing how to fix
consumer electronics. Don't let the business run you or you are doomed.

Something for all of us to think of before the New Year 
How about 5-15% increase in revenues in 2006, how will you get there?

I think we have a strong membership here and I would love only to see it
grow... keep up the great work everyone and have a great Christmas and
New Year!!!!

Cheers 
       

Gerald Gill
Gillco Electronics Inc
113 King St East
Bowmanville, Ont.
Canada
(905)623-9312



-----Original Message-----
From: techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:techassist-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Larry
Sent: December 22, 2005 1:54 PM
To: techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [TechAssist] Re: Off-Topic: How Do You Advertise Your Shop?

word of mouth is hard to beat.
make customers feel welcome, dont let them feel they are 
bothering you.
and if you fix their tv at the price you estimated, they and 
their friends will come back.
Larry


Armando Guerra wrote:

> At the present time the ad is paying for itself because we get alot of
the 
> "snowbirds"that come in around october and stay here until april or
may.They 
> find us in the book unless they are told by one of our customers that
have 
> done business with us (word of mouth).As for the phone co.,they did
not 
> mention to me that I could cancel my contract and keep the same # even
if I 
> had to wait until the renewel time.Thanks for the info.
> Mando
> AZ
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "becyn" <becyn@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:35 AM
> Subject: [TechAssist] Re: Off-Topic: How Do You Advertise Your Shop?
> 
> 
> 
>>Armando,
>>That only applies if you try to cancel durring the contract period.
All
>>you have to do is NOT RENEW the CONTRACT.
>>You are not REQUIURED to have yellow page advertizing if you have a
>>business phone. However, you DO get a free name listing, just because
>>you are a commercial customer.
>>
>>As an ASC I get mfr referals, as well as making myself known to the
>>local retailers. I have not been in the (paid) yellow pages for 5
years
>>and have more than enough work.
>>
>>There are too many books both on the net and in circulation. You could
>>spend a fortune on that confusion.
>>Besides , I find that we got a alot more "finger shopping" calls that
>>only wasted our time. Now 90% of calls result in $$.
>>
>>Jim McVey
>>McVey Alltronix
>>327 Broadway
>>Newburgh N.Y. 12550
>>
>>"If it doesn't play...
>>CALL MCVEY !!!!!!"
>>Factory authorized
>>service for over 20
>>major brands.
>>845 561 8383
>>(Last of the Mohegans)
>>Armando Guerra wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I have used the yellow pages for about 25yrs and I remember that
about 
>>>10yrs
>>>ago,I tried to cancel them due to them getting too expensive but the
phone
>>>company told me that If i did cancel,I would have to get another
telephone
>>>#.I have had this # since I started and hate to give it up since my
>>>customers are well familiar with it.
>>>Mando
>>>AZ
>>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>From: "Al L" <alleathe@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 7:25 AM
>>>Subject: [TechAssist] Re: Off-Topic: How Do You Advertise Your Shop?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Good post. Does anybody have the Cahunas to cancel Yellow Pages,and
run a
>>>>nice ad every week in some different newspaper?Maybe offer a coupon
good
>>>>for
>>>>a month, or indefinitely? I think I will try one of the mail out
coupon
>>>>deals soon.
>>>>
>>>>Al's TV
>>>>Al Leatherman
>>>>973-361-5796
>>>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>From: "Robert McPherson" <rm502@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:07 AM
>>>>Subject: [TechAssist] Re: Off-Topic: How Do You Advertise Your Shop?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I agree that the Yellow Pages is not a satisfactory method of 
>>>>>advertising
>>>>>anymore.  The Yellow Pages is expensive for the size of ad you get,
you
>>>>>have
>>>>>no control over the geographic area that you are reaching, it is a
year
>>>>>before you can revise your ad to reflect changes in your business,
and
>>>>>since
>>>>>there are so many competitive "Yellow Pages" published by other
>>>>>companies -
>>>>>the customer owns several directories and could miss your ad in the

>>>>>"Real
>>>>>Yellow Pages"
>>>>>
>>>>>Customer Referals, referals from other shops that are overloaded or

>>>>>don't
>>>>>service a particular brand or type of item, Weekly newspapers, and 
>>>>>direct
>>>>>mail flyers are a better way.  Also, I am seriously thinking about
>>>>>advertising on Google.  I've heard it is quite reasonable and a
search
>>>>>for
>>>>>"TV Repair" from a particular geographic area can bring up a right
side
>>>>>of
>>>>>the Google page ad bought from them.
>>>>>
>>>>>Robert McPherson
>>>>>Computer & Television Service
>>>>>1322 Durrett Lane Louisville, KY 40213
>>>>>Telephone (502) 367-9324 Cellphone (502) 298-6997
>>>>>Email  rm502@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>
>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: "tvservice" <tvservice@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>Sent: Thursday, December 22, 2005 9:41 AM
>>>>>Subject: [TechAssist] Re: Off-Topic: How Do You Advertise Your
Shop?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Best: word of mouth
>>>>>Next best: manufacterer referrals
>>>>>Worst: yellow pages/phone book
>>>>>
>>>>>Robert
>>>>>tvservice@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>>H & H Electronics Inc
>>>>>http://supertek.igniteinc.biz
>>>>>
>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>>>From: "William E Miller" <prototech@xxxxxxx>
>>>>>To: <techassist@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>Cc: <repair@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>>>Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 10:52 PM
>>>>>Subject: [TechAssist] Off-Topic: How Do You Advertise Your Shop?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Feel free to take this to private e-mail (and I can summarize) if
you
>>>>>>lik=
>>>>>>e,
>>>>>>but I'm wanting to get your input on advertising.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>What has been your most effective advertising medium / venue?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>What has been your least effective advertising medium / venue?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Any horror stories?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Any slick tricks you've discovered?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>This should be interesting! *grin*
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>William E. Miller, ASEET
>>>>>>prototech@xxxxxxx
>>>>>>Indiana USA
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
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-- 
Schneider TV & Electronic Inc.
5415 N. Wooster ave.
Dover, Ohio 44622       www.geocities.com/schntv2000/
330-343-0768         FCC. first class & Extra class K8WLY
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