What different ways do you know of marketing a business?

[robert m]

Think it would be really helpful for you to find out where your existing customers come from - try and break them down and see if there is anything similar or different about them - e.g:

1) You might find 20% customers come from word of mouth - so adopt technique to build on that by providing business cards to your customers to hand out, or encourage then with a 10% discount if you refer us etc

2) You might find xx% use you because you provide 24 hr service when others book the next day - build on that by telling everyone you provie this value added service

3) You might find it people in one area who know you - find out how they know you and copy that in other areas

4) Maybe a lot of your customers are elderly (they can't do DIY) or maybe they're young professional (don't have the time but do have the money) - Just try and think of ways you can find more of that type of person.

This will save time and money on doing "marketing stuff" because with this info you will now know what you need to do, when and how much it will cost. Just ask every customer from today on, why they chose you, how they found out about you and ask if they would chose you again!