One thing I have found out with this internet world of advertising is that you can never have enough of it. From blogs to videos, social forums to PPC advertising and the list goes on.
Because of my hustle with what I know I have been able to accomplish getting the Fix-A-Fence LLC videos on three pages of google. Free fence estimates Portland, OR, fence estimates Portland, OR and Wood fence estimates Portland, OR. I have created a google adwords account for some paid adverting and have ranked in the eighth position.
Really that isn't bad for what and how I go about my advertising. All has been pretty much from the school of hard knocks and hands on training. I have also learned what ASAP really means, Always Say A Prayer. I have purchased some courses on internet affiliate marketing and applied what I learned to Fix-A-Fence LLC and it's business plan.
Craigslist postings are pretty much a daily ritual after the daily devotion to God. I am truly grateful for all that the internet has to offer and am learning how to get the best out of what there is for free or next to nothing to get the results necessary to survive in this techno world of internet advertising.
People ask me if all this has gotten me any business, and I tell them if it hasn't already then it will eventually because of way I have gained exposure. Besides it will only help me with other businesses I start and my friends that need a little help with getting theirs noticed or exposed. There is a vast opportunity on the internet so don't let anything stop you from your goals and dreams coming true. If being a internet guru is on the list then you can not let any of this techno shit bother you.
The thing I like to do is work at one way of advertising until I have it pretty much to a science then go to another and learn that one and then incorporate the two together and so on and so on. Until your head is so full of internet knowledge that you get board because it doesn't take as much time as it did when you first started.
So anyway my first PPC adword campaign has been running for seven days now and I have had over 1100 impressions and one click. The click cost a big $0.52 but even that is pretty good for being in the eighth position on the page where it is found.
If you haven't started advertising your business for free may I suggest that you try some of these free tools that the internet has to offer. Youtube is a magnificent way to advertise for free, who knows your video may be viewed enough to monetize and collect from other advertisers. The possibilities are endless with the internet. FB has paid advertising, yahoo, bing, myspace and did I mention google?
The sooner you get started with this binary codes the sooner the search engines will find and rank you according to your relevance. So don't forget key words that pertain to your business and what people would be searching for, that is very, very important with the internet and all of this paid advertising.
Good luck and check in later for more updates on the Fix-A-Fence LLC blog where the motto is Mending Broken Fences.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Free Fence Estimates Ranks No.1 On Google
Fix-A-Fence LLC has been ranked no.1 on Google fro the last four months now for Free Fence Estimates Portland, OR. That has come from hustle and reading books on how to enhance my internet marketing strategies. A lot of how this has happened is from the free advertising that the internet has to offer.
Youtube, craigslist, backpages, Facebook, Twitter, and blogging and some of the free services the internet warehouse has to offer. I am not going to say it isn't hard work, so the best thing to do is to master one at a time. Research, read and apply with hands on knowledge because it is all about repetition. The more that you do something the better you get at it and therefore the faster it becomes.
For instance, I have a file of different posts to copy and paste so that saves time. I have several videos to copy and paste the URL into the posting so advertising Fix-A-Fence LLC on Craigslist in the morning takes me all of about 5-7 minutes per post. That's the thing about repetition, at first when I was a newbie at this it would take me twenty or thirty minutes because I didn't have a file of posts I was typing every post. I didn't have video's nor did I have a blog such as this one. All this took time and research and now I have companies calling me asking me to spend $169.00 per month on what I have already accomplished on my own. Nice thing about this is that I now have friends that would like me to help them accomplish this for their business.
Because fencing is seasonal, I may just have to help my friends out with there business just to make ends meet during the off season for fencing. That's what is nice about having a bit of internet knowledge. My friends see that I am No.1 on Google and now they want a piece of the action. I tell them that it takes time and hustle. It is a learning process and with today's technology the internet just keeps getting better. What difference does it make how many people look at my videos when they pop up on the first page of Google? This is what free advertising is all about. The only thing I have paid for are the books and the time that it took for me to apply the knowledge of others. All this advertising that I have been doing is all free. The sooner that you get started the sooner Google will start ranking your results. Action speak louder than words, so get going and make yourself No.1 on Google with free advertising.
Youtube, craigslist, backpages, Facebook, Twitter, and blogging and some of the free services the internet warehouse has to offer. I am not going to say it isn't hard work, so the best thing to do is to master one at a time. Research, read and apply with hands on knowledge because it is all about repetition. The more that you do something the better you get at it and therefore the faster it becomes.
For instance, I have a file of different posts to copy and paste so that saves time. I have several videos to copy and paste the URL into the posting so advertising Fix-A-Fence LLC on Craigslist in the morning takes me all of about 5-7 minutes per post. That's the thing about repetition, at first when I was a newbie at this it would take me twenty or thirty minutes because I didn't have a file of posts I was typing every post. I didn't have video's nor did I have a blog such as this one. All this took time and research and now I have companies calling me asking me to spend $169.00 per month on what I have already accomplished on my own. Nice thing about this is that I now have friends that would like me to help them accomplish this for their business.
Because fencing is seasonal, I may just have to help my friends out with there business just to make ends meet during the off season for fencing. That's what is nice about having a bit of internet knowledge. My friends see that I am No.1 on Google and now they want a piece of the action. I tell them that it takes time and hustle. It is a learning process and with today's technology the internet just keeps getting better. What difference does it make how many people look at my videos when they pop up on the first page of Google? This is what free advertising is all about. The only thing I have paid for are the books and the time that it took for me to apply the knowledge of others. All this advertising that I have been doing is all free. The sooner that you get started the sooner Google will start ranking your results. Action speak louder than words, so get going and make yourself No.1 on Google with free advertising.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Committing Fraud is Illegal
The last time I checked committing fraud is illegal. Over the past few weeks Fix-A-Fence LLC has experienced just that another company committing fraud by submitting a bad check for materials. I didn't find out that the check for materials was insufficient until the bank called me while out on an estimate. The contract is complete and still lacking labor fees.
There are three things that I have learned from this experience:
1) Always take the check to the bank where it was drawn from if possible.
2) How to file for a lien
3) My God is bigger than any problem I have.
Talk about putting the brakes on, the bank acct. was frozen and there was little cash flow. I felt helpless for the time it took me to get a loan and bring the acct. to working order. One thing for sure is that you can not keep a good man down. I am very thankful for the people in my life that have the means and thought to care for someone in a position like this.
Now it is just a matter of time before the check shows up. I have hired a company called RoHillCo. They specialize in liens and other business services. I was referred to them from a fence supplier that uses their services when they have a problem to solve.
This has certainly been a valuable and costly lesson for me to learn. I do hope that nothing like this happens to you. Remember to cash the check at the bank where it was drawn from if possible. Or wait until the check clears before purchasing the material. Especially on the larger jobs.
Another thing if something like this should happen, never give up and remember it was the other guy that gave you the bad check. You are just doing what you said you will do.
There are three things that I have learned from this experience:
1) Always take the check to the bank where it was drawn from if possible.
2) How to file for a lien
3) My God is bigger than any problem I have.
Talk about putting the brakes on, the bank acct. was frozen and there was little cash flow. I felt helpless for the time it took me to get a loan and bring the acct. to working order. One thing for sure is that you can not keep a good man down. I am very thankful for the people in my life that have the means and thought to care for someone in a position like this.
Now it is just a matter of time before the check shows up. I have hired a company called RoHillCo. They specialize in liens and other business services. I was referred to them from a fence supplier that uses their services when they have a problem to solve.
This has certainly been a valuable and costly lesson for me to learn. I do hope that nothing like this happens to you. Remember to cash the check at the bank where it was drawn from if possible. Or wait until the check clears before purchasing the material. Especially on the larger jobs.
Another thing if something like this should happen, never give up and remember it was the other guy that gave you the bad check. You are just doing what you said you will do.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Locating - A Free Service That Saves Time and Money
Sometimes waiting for all the utilities to be marked before starting the job can be a pain in the schedule. The wait time depends on their schedule mainly around a 72 hr window. So if you are a small contractor like me waiting can be a pain however on the other hand if you are a larger fence company then you have the luxury of scheduling in other jobs around the waiting period.
Now I can tell you if every fencing contractor calls for a locate every time they dig. Should they? I say that's up to them and the experienced digger. I mean come on if you see a gas meter, chances are that there is an underground pipe in line with the meter running out to the street. Now cable is a different story and can be very expensive repairing. Just as it is with any line that gets damaged caused from digging all can be very cumbersome and expensive. Not to mention just the shear headaches that come from the bureaucrats and politics that ensue the guilty party.
Yes I have had my experiences at either damaging or breaking a line from not having the job located. Even when I was a laborer I found several hidden lines buried. One time on a Saturday at a trailer park all the holes were dug and we were just dropping posts in the hole getting ready for cement when all of a sudden after I dropped the post in a hole a 4" geyser of water shoots up out of the hole and starts the flooding process. Now as I mentioned it was a Saturday and the grounds maintenance keeper was not on site that day so the rush to find someone who knows where all the shut off valves are located was frantic and the panic from some of the trailer residents was evident.
Calling for a locate is a free service and quite easy to do. Here in Oregon just call 811 with all of the information where the digging will take place and wha la in about 72 hrs depending on when you place your ticket request you will be digging your way to China or to the depth necessary for the work you need to accomplish.
Safety should always be a number one priority with any task and when it comes to digging calling for a locate is a safety precaution and should be implemented and exercised. If you don't call for a locate and happen to damage or even break a line I do hope that you have insurance to cover the cost of repairs and what ever other kind of liabilities are tacked on as a result from not calling first before you dig.
I am not going to sit here and tell you how to do your job because I am not the perfect call before you dig person either. I am just saying that it is a good idea to do so. I am not sure if it is a law as of yet, but who knows some day it just may become a law, there are sillier things that are a law then calling before you dig.
Be careful and use common sense, if the customer is wise to locating services use them, if you are in fear of legalities use the service, if you are unsure of witching sticks and your common judgement then by all means use the service. Represent your company with good standards, calling before you dig is just good quality customer service.
Now I can tell you if every fencing contractor calls for a locate every time they dig. Should they? I say that's up to them and the experienced digger. I mean come on if you see a gas meter, chances are that there is an underground pipe in line with the meter running out to the street. Now cable is a different story and can be very expensive repairing. Just as it is with any line that gets damaged caused from digging all can be very cumbersome and expensive. Not to mention just the shear headaches that come from the bureaucrats and politics that ensue the guilty party.
Yes I have had my experiences at either damaging or breaking a line from not having the job located. Even when I was a laborer I found several hidden lines buried. One time on a Saturday at a trailer park all the holes were dug and we were just dropping posts in the hole getting ready for cement when all of a sudden after I dropped the post in a hole a 4" geyser of water shoots up out of the hole and starts the flooding process. Now as I mentioned it was a Saturday and the grounds maintenance keeper was not on site that day so the rush to find someone who knows where all the shut off valves are located was frantic and the panic from some of the trailer residents was evident.
Calling for a locate is a free service and quite easy to do. Here in Oregon just call 811 with all of the information where the digging will take place and wha la in about 72 hrs depending on when you place your ticket request you will be digging your way to China or to the depth necessary for the work you need to accomplish.
Safety should always be a number one priority with any task and when it comes to digging calling for a locate is a safety precaution and should be implemented and exercised. If you don't call for a locate and happen to damage or even break a line I do hope that you have insurance to cover the cost of repairs and what ever other kind of liabilities are tacked on as a result from not calling first before you dig.
I am not going to sit here and tell you how to do your job because I am not the perfect call before you dig person either. I am just saying that it is a good idea to do so. I am not sure if it is a law as of yet, but who knows some day it just may become a law, there are sillier things that are a law then calling before you dig.
Be careful and use common sense, if the customer is wise to locating services use them, if you are in fear of legalities use the service, if you are unsure of witching sticks and your common judgement then by all means use the service. Represent your company with good standards, calling before you dig is just good quality customer service.
Friday, June 24, 2011
CCB Makes Continuing Education Easy
After renewing my CCB license there was a post card type of advertisement with a question, "Did You Know?"
What I didn't know is that the CCB now requires residential specialty contractors to take continuing education courses. So now I do and have started my CE with the CCB. One thing for sure is that the CCB has made online CE so very easy to use. Videos that have the class broken down into segments with a few questions on the topic after every short video. This kind of CE can be done in the comfort of your living room, bedroom, or even at the office. The point here is that CE with the CCB has been made really easy for us to use.
I was able to print off my first certificate of completion, I can manage my CCB license from the comfort of my living room with just a couple key strokes on the keyboard, I can even sign up for a e-newsletter delivered right to my box quarterly, also see up to date information as it happens. It's like having all the latest news updates that the CCB has to offer right at your fingertips.
Here is the web site address for those of you in Oregon seeking to file for your CCB license. It is www.oregon.gov/ccb
Contractors can monitor the license status of subcontractors online. This one here is huge for those general contractors having to sub the work out. Even in preparing the bid to get accurate numbers to place in the proposal. What if you used some numbers for a proposal from a said contractor that wasn't licensed as a sub and you used their numbers for your proposal. You get the job and now have to hire a more expensive firm because the numbers you used were from an unlicensed subcontractor. There goes the profit margin.
I was always told that preparation in 95% of the job. And preparation starts at the estimate. If the estimate is prepared properly nine times out of ten the job will go according as planned because even if there is the slightest of unforeseen issues there has been enough built in for the contingency.
Education is important and continuing education as we grow older is just as important as the continuing education provided on the CCB web site. Courses are affordable and there are plenty to choose from out side from the CORE classes needed to be taken. I have 15 hours to go before renewing my license in 2013. With the way CCB has made this CE that should be no sweat.
What I didn't know is that the CCB now requires residential specialty contractors to take continuing education courses. So now I do and have started my CE with the CCB. One thing for sure is that the CCB has made online CE so very easy to use. Videos that have the class broken down into segments with a few questions on the topic after every short video. This kind of CE can be done in the comfort of your living room, bedroom, or even at the office. The point here is that CE with the CCB has been made really easy for us to use.
I was able to print off my first certificate of completion, I can manage my CCB license from the comfort of my living room with just a couple key strokes on the keyboard, I can even sign up for a e-newsletter delivered right to my box quarterly, also see up to date information as it happens. It's like having all the latest news updates that the CCB has to offer right at your fingertips.
Here is the web site address for those of you in Oregon seeking to file for your CCB license. It is www.oregon.gov/ccb
Contractors can monitor the license status of subcontractors online. This one here is huge for those general contractors having to sub the work out. Even in preparing the bid to get accurate numbers to place in the proposal. What if you used some numbers for a proposal from a said contractor that wasn't licensed as a sub and you used their numbers for your proposal. You get the job and now have to hire a more expensive firm because the numbers you used were from an unlicensed subcontractor. There goes the profit margin.
I was always told that preparation in 95% of the job. And preparation starts at the estimate. If the estimate is prepared properly nine times out of ten the job will go according as planned because even if there is the slightest of unforeseen issues there has been enough built in for the contingency.
Education is important and continuing education as we grow older is just as important as the continuing education provided on the CCB web site. Courses are affordable and there are plenty to choose from out side from the CORE classes needed to be taken. I have 15 hours to go before renewing my license in 2013. With the way CCB has made this CE that should be no sweat.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
So,...your Honor,...whose Fence is it?
Being in the fence industry for nearly 20 yrs now I have seen a lot of issues with fence lines and have heard a lot about fence lines and even have defended against fence lines over whose fence it is or if the fence or even the concrete is on the property of who I am working for. The concrete being two inches on one side of the guys property was one that kinda sticks with me.
There was an estimate that I had went out on and the guy I was seeing asked me about the fence his neighbor had put in. Now his neighbor without getting permission cut up this guys Holly tree in order to put the fence in. The Holly tree was and is clearly on the property of the guy I was called out for and estimate with. The fence wasn't on his property, however the concrete was clearly seen on this his property. He wanted an estimate on what it would take to remove the fence and install it two inches.
To be honest I really couldn't believe it at first but then as I thought about it this guy didn't get permission from his neighbor to hack up his Holly tree to put a fence in. The guy I did the estimate for obviously won the case in court because the company went out and moved the fence over two inches.
Another time it was because of a fence that I was installing. This Vietnam Vet that I was working for decided to have a 7' high brown slatted chain link fence installed with the option of applying barbed wire in the future. The fence is really close to the neighbors boat and so the feud begins. The Vietnam Vet takes pictures and even to the point of leaving a concrete set in line with the post in place, and saving a concrete chunk from the existing fence line. I kinda thought that was a bit odd at first. After the evidence was brought before the judge and the jury deliberated the fence stayed in the spot where it was constructed.
So,...whose fence is it? The one with the most evidence wins in these cases. So if you ever have any questions as to whose fence it is, present your evidence before the judge and let him decide. Or just figure things out before hence the terminology, "Good Neighbor Fence".
Oh,.... I have more to blog about and more to come so keep watching for the Mending Broken Fences blog updates.
There was an estimate that I had went out on and the guy I was seeing asked me about the fence his neighbor had put in. Now his neighbor without getting permission cut up this guys Holly tree in order to put the fence in. The Holly tree was and is clearly on the property of the guy I was called out for and estimate with. The fence wasn't on his property, however the concrete was clearly seen on this his property. He wanted an estimate on what it would take to remove the fence and install it two inches.
To be honest I really couldn't believe it at first but then as I thought about it this guy didn't get permission from his neighbor to hack up his Holly tree to put a fence in. The guy I did the estimate for obviously won the case in court because the company went out and moved the fence over two inches.
Another time it was because of a fence that I was installing. This Vietnam Vet that I was working for decided to have a 7' high brown slatted chain link fence installed with the option of applying barbed wire in the future. The fence is really close to the neighbors boat and so the feud begins. The Vietnam Vet takes pictures and even to the point of leaving a concrete set in line with the post in place, and saving a concrete chunk from the existing fence line. I kinda thought that was a bit odd at first. After the evidence was brought before the judge and the jury deliberated the fence stayed in the spot where it was constructed.
So,...whose fence is it? The one with the most evidence wins in these cases. So if you ever have any questions as to whose fence it is, present your evidence before the judge and let him decide. Or just figure things out before hence the terminology, "Good Neighbor Fence".
Oh,.... I have more to blog about and more to come so keep watching for the Mending Broken Fences blog updates.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Networking - Building Exposure For Your Business
One of the biggest things for any business is exposure. One of the ways to expose your business is by attending a networking association. There are plenty of networking associations to get involved with. For instance here in Portland, OR, Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Executive Association, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network just to name a few. These network groups are made up of like minded people that share in each others business in one way or the other. This is a positive growth factor to be affiliated with in one way or the other, if you happen to be a guest of someone, or just decide to attend to check things out you are able to give a 30 second to one minute pitch about your business.
Now I don't know about you but I could use the business when ever possible. I really don't like sitting around unless I am sitting behind my computer screen working somehow whether it be posting on craigslist, making a video for the youtube acct., or blogging. The point here is to just stay active on the computer. There are so many distractions that the internet has to offer today that it is necessary to stay focused on what you are doing and what your really after.
I like the freedom of owning a business. I like telling myself what to do and when to do it and not having someone else telling me what and how to do what I already know how to do. Now if this was a customer telling me how they wanted their fence to look then of course I will be listening and complying with their requests. That is freedom of business.
If your now involved in some kind of networking association may I suggest that you seek one out and attend an event to see what is really happening behind the scene of business. There are a lot of great experienced and motivated people that attend these functions and they are a wealth of information once you get to know some of these people that are associated with these functions. Build exposure for yourself and your business, remember word of mouth is huge, because how will your business ever take off if you or someone else doesn't speak about it to anyone else? Even if you contact an advertising agency to place an ad your creating word of mouth exposure. Let your word be impeccable to your business. Help your business grow by attending a networking association event. Who knows you might gain a new customer or a new friend and the possibilities from there should lead to success and with that success it should demand more action to maintain the results your looking for.
Now I don't know about you but I could use the business when ever possible. I really don't like sitting around unless I am sitting behind my computer screen working somehow whether it be posting on craigslist, making a video for the youtube acct., or blogging. The point here is to just stay active on the computer. There are so many distractions that the internet has to offer today that it is necessary to stay focused on what you are doing and what your really after.
I like the freedom of owning a business. I like telling myself what to do and when to do it and not having someone else telling me what and how to do what I already know how to do. Now if this was a customer telling me how they wanted their fence to look then of course I will be listening and complying with their requests. That is freedom of business.
If your now involved in some kind of networking association may I suggest that you seek one out and attend an event to see what is really happening behind the scene of business. There are a lot of great experienced and motivated people that attend these functions and they are a wealth of information once you get to know some of these people that are associated with these functions. Build exposure for yourself and your business, remember word of mouth is huge, because how will your business ever take off if you or someone else doesn't speak about it to anyone else? Even if you contact an advertising agency to place an ad your creating word of mouth exposure. Let your word be impeccable to your business. Help your business grow by attending a networking association event. Who knows you might gain a new customer or a new friend and the possibilities from there should lead to success and with that success it should demand more action to maintain the results your looking for.
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