Need advice, please. Best place to advertise in the area

[Pam Rodey]

Hi there,
I am asking advice from the Forum on where I should be advertising my small business for the most exposure. I have a small residential cleaning company (small, as in just me) and want to attract several more clients in the lakes region. I've tried Salmon Press and the Laconia Sun papers and here under the Classified section and have gotten no response - and I have made sure I have the correct contact info! Help?

**I have updated my ad according to your good advice. Thank you!**

[ApS]

Is this your classified ad?

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...y&categoryid=6

I'd leave your contact address as West Alton, so we know you're local.

It wouldn't hurt to add your business name to one of the classified's rental ads.

[birchhaven]

If you 10 dollars or 10 million all of it should be spent on Facebook ad campaigns. It is the best bang for the buck and you can target locations, interests, age, groups, etc. If you are a small company you probably don't have a crm, Facebook has a lead capture tool built in. Look into HubSpot and inbound marketing, the give away tons of free tools.

[Pam Rodey]

Originally Posted by ApS

Is this your classified ad?

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...y&categoryid=6

I'd leave your contact address as West Alton, so we know you're local.

It wouldn't hurt to add your business name to one of the classified's rental ads.

Actually, this is my ad...

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...do=ad&id=10965

I'm in Center Harbor; however, will travel to Alton! Thank you for replying!

[Lakeboater]

Originally Posted by ApS

Is this your classified ad?

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...y&categoryid=6

I'd leave your contact address as West Alton, so we know you're local.

It wouldn't hurt to add your business name to one of the classified's rental ads.

That ad is seeking someone to clean a cottage. Pam you should reach out to them 😁

[codeman671]

Facebook for sure!

[Mr. V]

Put your ad in the "services" section at craigslist.com.

[Descant]

Welcome to the Forum.
Yes. Definitely Facebook. The ability to focus FB marketing by age, ZIP etc. is a huge asset. Although you may be willing to travel, you can spend a lot of time building your business in an area that isn't as convenient. My first try on FB, I paid a fee for click through to my website. That worked well--not a lot of clicks, but I just wanted people to see my name and contact info. The next time, I marketed paying a fee for "Shares" based on advice from somebody I thought was knowledgeable. A disaster. I got lots of shares including some from Puerto Rico. The first effort cost me $11.00. The second cost about $140. The best part is, you can set the total that you want to spend and turn it on/off whenever you please. Use good quality photos, not stuff you took with a cell phone, and run a few different ones. No extra cost.
I agree with the suggestion about contacting vacation property managers, however, this may fill up your weekends and not spread your business out over weekdays. Other services? I connected on FB with somebody who runs errands for me.
Good luck. Forum members love to get feedback, so please let us know how things work out.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Lakeboater

That ad is seeking someone to clean a cottage. Pam you should reach out to them 😁

Oh yeah...it's this tiny cellphone.

Put another ad in, under "wanted".

In town, a small paper (business card style +) ad can be placed near community businesses. In Wolfeboro Falls, one bulletin board is next to the TD bank.

Come to think of it, we could a house cleaning in Wolfeboro, but would Pam spend an hour giving us an estimate?

[Pam Rodey]

Hey everybody! Thank you so much for giving me some great ideas for where and how to advertise, hone my message of just what type of jobs I am looking to do, and build my business! I will update in a few weeks and we will see how I do...

[Pam Rodey]

Originally Posted by ApS

Oh yeah...it's this tiny cellphone.

Put another ad in, under "wanted".

In town, a small paper (business card style +) ad can be placed near community businesses. In Wolfeboro Falls, one bulletin board is next to the TD bank.

Come to think of it, we could a house cleaning in Wolfeboro, but would Pam spend an hour giving us an estimate?

Hi! I'd love to talk with you about cleaning your house in Wolfeboro - if you would, reply to my ad (link above in my comments - or under classifieds) so I can see how this works! Thank you, Pam

[tis]

I agree with FB. The town forums all seem to have people looking for cleaning people. Join the groups you are allowed to join and do a search for cleaning.

[TiltonBB]

Originally Posted by Top-Water

Have you given any consideration to promotions like free coffee and a 90 day money back guarantee.

I would recommend against offering free coffee. All you will end up with is some local pervert hanging around trying to get you to change his watch battery. (for free)

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by TiltonBB

I would recommend against offering free coffee. All you will end up with is some local pervert hanging around trying to get you to change his watch battery. (for free)

HAHA, you read my mind!

[The Real BigGuy]

One place not mentioned is Google. You can set up a plan that limits the geography that you will be charged for clicks from, set a bungee for the amount you want to spend per month, and get really good data on how your ad is performing and where you are showing up on a search page. Facebook is great but there are a lot of people in the older generation (I’m one) who don’t use Facebook but do search for stuff on the web.


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[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by Pam Rodey

Actually, this is my ad...

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...do=ad&id=10965

I'm in Center Harbor; however, will travel to Alton! Thank you for replying!

I just looked at your link for a cleaning service. My opinion....

You show a picture looking at a lake from the bow of a wooden boat. What does that have to do with cleaning homes?

Your phone number is Massachusetts yet your location is Center Harbor. I realize in this day and age people do carry a cell phone, but perhaps a business phone with a local number would make people more at ease.

VERY little information about you, your business or your experience. Really nothing at all that would make me trust/want to contact you. I see more "red flags" that would prevent me from calling you.

Just my thoughts.

[Descant]

This person just joined a local town FB forum (not in the lakes region) and made this posting for free.

🏠CLEANING SERVICE🏠

Having a hard time keeping up with all life's demands on you?
I will help you with your housecleaning so that you'll have time for important things like actually enjoy your family, relaxing with a good book or a night out.
I can provide weekly, biweekly, monthly or just one time cleaning. I'm comfortable with pets
If you're looking for someone punctual, reliably, responsible and also have good references.
I will be more than happy to assist you as much as possible.
I'm an individual business owner.
House Cleaner, House Cleaning, Maid, Housekeeper

🏠🏠(978)967-xxxx🏠🏠
Thank you

[phoenix]

Pam where are you located. I have a house in moultonboro that would be nice to get deep cleaned in jne before grandkids show up and again in late august after all have left. I plan to be up late april for a few days jerry

[Pam Rodey]

Originally Posted by phoenix

Pam where are you located. I have a house in moultonboro that would be nice to get deep cleaned in jne before grandkids show up and again in late august after all have left. I plan to be up late april for a few days jerry

Hi Jerry! I am located right next door in Center Harbor - I will Private Message you and we can set something up for when you are here in April. Pam

[ApS]

Originally Posted by Pam Rodey

Hi! I'd love to talk with you about cleaning your house in Wolfeboro - if you would, reply to my ad (link above in my comments - or under classifieds) so I can see how this works! Thank you, Pam

You've been sent a message using your forum ad/link.

[Pam Rodey]

I have updated my ad according to your good advice. Thank you all for your good advice - and all the ideas for additional advertising.

[Pam Rodey]

Originally Posted by Descant

This person just joined a local town FB forum (not in the lakes region) and made this posting for free.

🏠CLEANING SERVICE🏠

Having a hard time keeping up with all life's demands on you?
I will help you with your housecleaning so that you'll have time for important things like actually enjoy your family, relaxing with a good book or a night out.
I can provide weekly, biweekly, monthly or just one time cleaning. I'm comfortable with pets
If you're looking for someone punctual, reliably, responsible and also have good references.
I will be more than happy to assist you as much as possible.
I'm an individual business owner.
House Cleaner, House Cleaning, Maid, Housekeeper

🏠🏠(978)967-xxxx🏠🏠
Thank you

Hi There!
Thanks for this info - I used it to revamp my post - I 'wrote a book'... but another person had mentioned I didn't have enough info and it waved some red flags... so check it out and see what you think - and again, thank you for the comment and the assistance.
Pam

[Pam Rodey]

Originally Posted by Outdoorsman

I just looked at your link for a cleaning service. My opinion....

You show a picture looking at a lake from the bow of a wooden boat. What does that have to do with cleaning homes?

Your phone number is Massachusetts yet your location is Center Harbor. I realize in this day and age people do carry a cell phone, but perhaps a business phone with a local number would make people more at ease.

VERY little information about you, your business or your experience. Really nothing at all that would make me trust/want to contact you. I see more "red flags" that would prevent me from calling you.

Just my thoughts.

Hi there,
First, thank you for commenting, and second, thank you for your honest opinion! I have revamped my ad per the advice I have received from the Forum and have been inundated with inquiries! So, thank you.
BTW, I had sent you a private message that said 6 years house cleaning - but it's really 10 (an elderly client I continued to clean for for near 5 years while I worked full time in corporate) - and time flies when you do what you love!
Thanks again,
Pam

[Pam Rodey]

Originally Posted by Top-Water

Welcome to the forum Pam.

Have you given any consideration to promotions like free coffee and a 90 day money back guarantee.


On a more serious note good luck in the lakes region.

Thank you for the welcome!

I make horrible coffee - but have discovered a new place in Center Harbor that has WONDERFUL coffee - Gusto Italian Cafe! No, I don't deliver...

As for a promotion - I do offer a free 3-hour clean if a current client finds me an additional client for a year-round weekly or bi-weekly clean... That I do honor within 90 days...

Thank again!
Pam

[Descant]

I sent a PM

[pressman247]

Originally Posted by birchhaven

If you 10 dollars or 10 million all of it should be spent on Facebook ad campaigns. It is the best bang for the buck and you can target locations, interests, age, groups, etc. If you are a small company you probably don't have a crm, Facebook has a lead capture tool built in. Look into HubSpot and inbound marketing, the give away tons of free tools.

IMO... putting all your eggs in any one basket is a mistake. There are perhaps a lot of older people, who need help with cleaning, who aren't on FB. An old boss of mine used to say... "Advertising is like manure, you gotta spread it around."

[thinkxingu]

Through my town's Facebook page, a few cleaners are jammed. Do you even need to spend money these days?

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