Shametra L. Thomas of Dallas, Texas writes:
“I have a new concierge business, The Savvy DFW Mommy, in Dallas, Texas. The business targets professional/working moms.
“It serves the Dallas/Fort Worth area and specializes in on call personal assistance, corporate concierge services, home organization, home improvement project management, event planning, personal shopping, and style and decor consulting.
“How do I get the word out to potential clients and keep them coming in?”
My first suggestion would be to narrow your focus. Then to create a buzz about what you choose to do. Once you decide which niche, post and we can help with that. Personally, I think that the concierge service would be most valuable – and have the least competition – but you may want others to weigh in as well.
Collect email addresses from events, networking, etc then start an e-newsletter and flyer campaign to make sure everyone knows what you are offering. (I can help you set that up if you are interested email me directly at LMD@LisaMarieDiasDesigns.com)
Good luck!
Vis a vis collecting names. I think it important to get permission to send your newsletter. Too often, I attend functions, meet someone briefly and am astounded to find myself subscribed to their newsletter and it is worse if they have just picked up my card and not even met me. If I meet someone, I ask permission to add them and if for some reason I haven’t I might send an e-mail telling them I enjoyed meeting them and a copy of my newsletter is attached if they would care to sign up for it, to let me know or go directly to the sign up. Either way, they had a say. An exchange of cards is not permission.
Hey! Nice to see another person from the Dallas area. Go to http://www.neighborsgo.com and post a story about your new business — try to find an angle. Remember people don’t care you started a business (unless you can make them care) — so focus on the reader. Think about it this way — if someone else opens a business and posts a story, what can they say to get you interested?
You can also start a blog on neighborsgo.com. Maybe give reviews of good dry cleaners and so on. Don’t worry — people may not live near the dry cleaner or just can’t get to it. You’re giving them valuable information and gaining their trust.
Web site: Stop the animated GIF — people view it as less professional and it’s distracting. The site’s design could use a little lift. For example, all of the content is centered, which makes it hard to read.
Use LinkedIn to announce your service to the people you know. Use Twitter to update people on the services you are providing. On both these sites, people will find you, believe me.
I’d also consider changing the reverse type on your website so that it is more legible. White type is not reader-friendly.
A business like this will rely more than many others on personal, one-on-one contact. Visit your likeliest customers/clients personally, take small gifts along with business cards and/or brochures and get acquainted with as many potential users of your service as possible. Word will spread the old-fashioned way!
Shemetra, Congratulations on your ambition! As a person who has sold real estate, and also organizational and design services, I can relate to your challenges. As you know, you are selling the SIZZLE, not just the steak. Please, especially in a “one off” stand-along image only share images of the peace and tranquility your service provides, not the chaos the customer has as what she considers a shameful secret at home. I cringed at the image you attached- of the messy laundry room chaos!
The customer who can pay you what you want considers herself Better than that unfortunate mess, even if, like everyone, she sometimes is living with one. I am not sure I’d even use it for a Before and After page, but absolutely NEVER on its own.
When I had a small cleaning service, one of my motto’s was “Enjoy your CLEAM! We’ll Make More!”
Best Wishes, let me know how you do! Patricia Barnes Wulfson,
Artist’s Choice Portraits Online
Low-tech ideas here:
Your target customer is the home decision-maker, most likely a woman. If she’s too busy to do her own errands, more than likely, she’s a businesswoman. So, look for her where businesswomen congregate: networking groups like Le Tip, Chamber of Commerce mixers and business card exchanges, and businesswomens’ organizations. Send press releases to their newsletters and websites. Since you’re local, watch the newspaper pages for “Ladies Nite” promotions for local taverns — businesswomen often linger after happy hour with their colleagues to stay for these events. Find out if any local restaurants run specials targeted at working women.
You local gym probably has a program for them. Target a mailing to local hair salons and day spas. Offer a finders fee for referrals – everyone’s looking for a little extra cash-earning opportunities these days.
Some of your prospects are also working moms, so hit up the daycare centers to allow you to leave brochures and business cards. Find out if you have a local welcome wagon service and get your materials into their welcome baskets.
Offer some free half-hour seminars on getting organized and efficient, and connect with local venues as a place to hold them. Hand out your materials to attendees. Don’t overlook churches as a place to do this and to advertise. Many cash-strapped churches are now allowing advertising (very cheap!) in their Sunday bulletins and rent out space cheaply to neighborhood groups for their gatherings. A plus for this is that if someone learns about you through church, you kind of have the extra credibility of implied endorsement by a trustworthy organization. Good luck!
Might be worth hooking up with highly trafficed areas in your town. “Personal shopping”, could you place some fryers in a few popular shops to catch the eye of potential customers? “Decor consulting”, would you be able to do the same to attract families buying DIY tools for home?
Perry Jamal
frosted window film