I have been trying to expand my handyman business for about a year, you know, reach out to MORE folks. I tried Service Magic with very marginal results (they don't screen potential customers so you get some really weird requests that YOU get to pay for).  Then I tried a WEB HOSTING/WEB SITE BUILDING service. Well after $994 and 7 MONTHS I can say this is NOT the way to expand business. I should have known that in a small market I would NOT grow with this service but hey, I am ever optimistic.

Now I am reverting to tried-and-true magnetic signs and will test the waters for CRAIGS LIST. I had amazing results there with the old lathe I showed to Larry in the classifieds HERE.  3 days on Craigs list and I have a number of folks who want it.  I have a few other "things" in the shop after the "oil spill" that I decided to sell ... GONE! 

If you have a small market for a product you make for sale, such as craft stuff, it doesn't cost you a thing to offer it on CL.

In the MEAN TIME stay away from web designers and web hosting. While they may sell you on a "rosey" picture of out-reach their DATA on web searching is flawed; they look at major markets to create the picture of success.  I believe word of mouth and visible "drive around" advertising is more beneficial in small markets ... The IRS won't allow me to lose money forever - come to think of it neither will my wife!

I'd be interested to know what strategies some of you folks use in smaller markets to "get the word out" about your services.  CL is a new phenomenon to me (NEVER tried it before) so I'll play there WHILE using the other stuff. I'll be interested to see where it goes.

Craigs list is where most of my new work came from John, I was hanging doors and I had more business then I knew what to do with. After about 3 weeks of craigslist, I had to pull it and I could rely on word of mouth for a while after.

Times were good though, it might be different now. It's definitely worth a shot.

Now that I think about it, Dad4Taylor over at WOOD turned me onto Craigslist, he has a sure fire way of getting business and placing ads on Craigslist, it might be worth a shot to contact him. Your position on CL can get lost pretty quick if you don't know the ins and outs. Meaning, you can appear at the bottom of the list pretty quick unless you take some easy steps, and Dad4Taylor is a wiz at that.

As I understand CL you don't generally sell DIRECTLY but rely on people contacting you THEN YOU make arrangements to get paid/transfer goods. 
I don't know about "services" but I'll read a bit more on their "rules". 

CL recommends people buy LOCALLY so they can SEE-TOUCH-FEEL-SMELL the goods. They're NOT an e-bay type system at all.

Charles Nicholls said:

The only place I have had any luck other than word of mouth is eBay, and of course they eat you alive in fees of all sorts.

I have not tried CL because too many people had trouble with it that I know and some didn't even get paid. Still even eBay hasn't had that good of a result I guess because people don't want a $20-$50-$75 pen when they can go to walmart and buy one for 99 cents. I dunno, maybe I'm being a grump but seems to me that a lot of people that make the same %^&* things I do have a lot better sales for reasons that I apparently don't understand.

I'll contact John and see what HE says.  It's just that it's NEW TO ME. On the other hand I just recieved my new magnetic signs and they look great. I think they should make some impact. What the heck, if it does nothing else it gives me a tangible TAX DEDUCTION that the IRS can see and touch (notice the tactile thread I seem stuck on today?)
Thanks for the heads-up
John Morris said:

Craigs list is where most of my new work came from John, I was hanging doors and I had more business then I knew what to do with. After about 3 weeks of craigslist, I had to pull it and I could rely on word of mouth for a while after.

Times were good though, it might be different now. It's definitely worth a shot.

Now that I think about it, Dad4Taylor over at WOOD turned me onto Craigslist, he has a sure fire way of getting business and placing ads on Craigslist, it might be worth a shot to contact him. Your position on CL can get lost pretty quick if you don't know the ins and outs. Meaning, you can appear at the bottom of the list pretty quick unless you take some easy steps, and Dad4Taylor is a wiz at that.

Diversify and do cleanouts too.  A big sign on the van or truck and an EASY phone number is great for people who need your services.

 

And a bunch of pics in a book with addressess and job descriptions to show them is a definite plus.

Handyman.  And others..

 

A few comments about Craig's List.  I have had very good results using CL.  But I think there are some things that folks should do.

 

Price it RIGHT!  Do your homework and find out what you want to sell is really worth.

Write a good, thorough ad.  Describe your things that you want to sell very well.  Details, details.

Post up to four images.  Make sure your images show what you want to sell very well.  Different angles, lighting, etc.

Phone number with area code first only.  No visible email address.

Price it RIGHT!

 

A personal opinion..  The more complete the ad is, the less "unqualified" callers and buyers you will get.  Do your homework and spend time on the details that sell.

 

Larry