Fix-A-Fence LLC and Continuing Education

Last night I took a three hour class on High Impact Marketing as part of my continuing education to be a licensed contractor here in the State of Oregon.

There was a lot of great information that was laid out for a powerful marketing plan and strategy. Currently I have already implemented a lot of what was taught last night. As a matter of fact I believe that I was some sort of value and help to the rest of the class.

One thing for sure is that I need to get hooked up with some sort of networking organization that meets up every week for coffee and a chat about business. Sharing leads and referrals is a big part of growing any kind of business. Just as education is important being around people with like minds is just as important.

As you are well aware the internet is a huge factor in advertising from a soft sale to hard sale. The more trust you can create on the internet the better chances you will have at getting hired and that means getting paid in my book. As a result from my internet marketing, I believe mentioned in an earlier post, that the last several phone calls for estimates have been from Google search.

There are several traditional ways of marketing products, in the past and still today there are businesses that utilize yellow pages, The Oregonian, direct mail, signs and brochures. However with the shift in technology and thanks to the internet we now have at our disposal e-mail campaigns, spark interest with a web site, draw a following to a webinar, write fresh content on a blog such as this one, Facebook is a great social media service, and then there is the all so powerful Youtube videos that really help with the face to face advertising part of the sale, and then don't forget to keep people up to date with a tweet from time to time.

There are plenty more ways to market your product but the main thing is to get started.

Target Marketing In Today's Fence Marketplace

One thing for sure is that the internet is not the only source for advertising in today's market place.

Today I received a call for a estimate from an advertisement that I put up on the bulletin board at the place I bank with. Kind of nice that they let members do that sort of stuff. And it is because of that reason that I have an estimate scheduled now.

Every estimate is a potential job that is swirling around in the sales funnel. Right now there isn't that many swirling around so chance of this one coming down the tube is pretty good. I will take a sharpened pencil with me.

So may I suggest if you have not already done so is to create a advertising flyer with tears off strips that have your company name and telephone number on it and ask to pin them up on the bulletin boards that you do business with. Word of mouth is a very powerful way of doing business.

Another way of advertising is target marketing. For instance I know that the weather is a factor when it comes to fences so when I am driving around in the neighborhoods I see fence damage I stop and put a door hanging advertisement on either the fence or the door to the fence of the property owner. I have gotten lots of estimates and jobs that way.

I have often told people I will pick shit with the chickens to stay in business and fortunately business has not come to that, however it has come to me creating and starting up http://theturfbyrds.com/ business. Of course this hasn't taken off yet but the sales have begun. Again by word of mouth currently and the web site out here in internet cyberspace. Visit the web site and place your order for a Turf Byrd.

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.