The Finished Look

Here are the images of, "The Finished Look"

Hopefully the rest of the neighborhood will want a free fence estimate for their fencing needs from Fix-A-Fence LLC.

Noticed during construction of the project there were some cars that drove by really slow. Maybe they were writing down the yard sign information from the authorized placement.

Just thought I would share the pictures of what Fix-A-Fence LLC has accomplished through the marketing techniques that have taken place lately.

It does seem like a good time to go out and place some more phone pole tear tag advertising. Sun is coming out because spring is almost here. To be honest the sun hasn't gone anywhere it is just that the clouds are in the way. 

Fix-A-Fence LLC Yard Sign Advertising

Just wanted to take a minute and talk about yard sign advertising.

This idea came to me while I was taking down my wife's sign for homecare support.

I took the signs off of the metal rods that held the shape of the plastic and turned them inside out. I found a paint pen that was white in color and laid the plastic pieces on the kitchen floor and began to write out the Fix-A-Fence LLC yard sign.

This is what the signs turned out to look like and this is the first one to be placed on a property of a fence contract that Fix-A-Fence LLC has landed. 

I have the other two out in my front lawn just waiting for the next fence customer that will allow                 Fix-A-Fence LLC yard advertising.

This fence contract just happens to be from one of the tear tag telephone pole marketing neighborhood saturation project that Fix-A-Fence LLC conducted not long ago.

Just wanted to share this nugget of information.

Fix-A-Fence LLC Marketing Material Idea's

One valuable take away from the continuing education class is value proposition. Being a specialty contractor options for opportunity are limited to one other related field trade.

So because I like to think I am good at formatting my own marketing materials I have created a Thank You card for customers. I am thinking about going one step further and making a bunch of t-shirts with the Fix-A-Fence LLC logo and give them to customers as a thank you gift. Then when things get really good here at Fix-A-Fence LLC I have already thought about coffee mugs with the logo and a few pictures of fence. If I really had the man power then the mugs would be personalized with the customers fence pictures.

Another valuable take away is graphing the companies gross profit margin. Where can I cut costs to improve the bottom line while keeping quality a high standard and pricing competitive and effective? This is just one of the many questions I will be asking myself as the days go by.

Posting and blogging are two of the biggest advertising features that can help any business if done on a consistent enough basis. That's how I have got the kind of stats I have gotten so far is by consistently posting and blogging. Of course there is the video campaign too.

They all play a major roll in today's market place on the internet. Especially when you only have three to five seconds to capture the attention of your target. Things to remember are make the subject line compelling with emotion and to capitalize each letter of every word even if the word is If. People really don't like to be shouted at and that is what you do when you capitalize every letter of every word. So set a web presence with little stuff like this.

So until next time keep smiling and dreaming big because all things are possible for those who believe.  

Fix-A-Fence LLC Filling The Funnel

Amazingly even through all the rain after the tear tag flyer campaign Fix-A-Fence LLC has received three phone calls for estimates. Only time will tell when one will fall through the funnel. The main thing here is to keep the hopper full. So I have been trying to keep the estimates coming in.

Today was a baseball field repair estimate. Apparently some kids have broken off fence posts and have damaged the chain link. However it begins with preparation, I feel that if whoever installed the baseball field fence would have used some heavier duty posts and chain link mesh then the damage would have been less than or have lasted a bit longer then it has. This diamond isn't that old.

This estimate came from when working on another project. A guy came up to me and asked me if I would be willing to go out to this high school and give him a repair estimate on the little leagues baseball field. There is five posts that have been broken or bent and the chain link is of 11-1/2 ga. really cheap stuff and shouldn't be used for a baseball field. Just like all the line posts for the fence are all 1-5/8" tubing. This type of post shouldn't be used for a six foot high fence, especially for a baseball field. Somebody was saving some money!

The estimate here involves more than just the small repair, as the little league superintendent wanted an estimate to remove and replace all of the 11-1/2 ga. chain link. This amounts to around 350' and he also threw in to remove and replace every other line post with a heavier duty post in the same circumference.

Gotta like these kinds of estimates, now to get it to fall through the funnel.

God will provide, it is all a matter of trust. Faith is the evidence of things unseen. That's how                     Fix-A-Fence LLC was formed, on faith.

The next blog will be on profitability and value of the business. Through the continuing education process I will be blogging on the things I have learned and the things I have implemented from what I have learned. So until the next blog stay strong and keep believing in faith.

 

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.

Fix-A-Fence LLC Positions With Google On Four Pages

Moving forward into this year of 2012. The Google advertising campaign has resulted in quite a few phone calls for estimates that have turned into work orders. It has also brought other marketing companies to my phone as well. Just today I received a call from some kind of contractor web site that said he was only going to allow four contractors exclusive positions. He wanted to know if I would be one of them for $150.00 a month? He is not the only person that has called me trying to get me to give in to their method of attraction marketing.

Fix-A-Fence LLC is positioned with Google on four relative pages for fence estimates. That has all been from my own personal efforts. Now other people want me to pay them for something I have already done. Hmmm

As I have mentioned before the winter months are rather slow but this year so far has not been the case. However I would like to invite you to view a dream of mine that has become a sort of reality.

The Turf Byrd's

The Turf Byrd's Blog 

I have to keep myself as active as I can even during the busy months. The Turf Byrd's can and eventually will be the next novelty craze since those rocks.

People have asked me why build fence when I have such a great product to sell. Currently Fix-A-Fence LLC makes quite a bit more over the year than The Turf Byrd's  have.

The Turf Byrd's  craze really hasn't hit full speed yet. I am sure there are a few kinks to get out as with any other venture. The biggest kink has already been unraveled. One step at a time.

A New Fence Blog For A New Year

This is the first blog of the new year for Fix-A-Fence LLC. Work has slowed a bit out in the field the phone rings but not as constant as the warmer weathered months. So during these winter slow months I focus my attention on my internet marketing businesses. Like last night for instance I built a new web site to promote my affiliate product from TriVita branded as Nopalea the wellness drink made from Cactus plants right here in America.

Here is the site if you are interested in checking out my internet handy work.

http://mypowerlinewealth.webstarts.com/?r=20120102012829

Sort of a long URL but what can I say for free. When I am ready to spend some money the URL will be shorter and it may even be a different name. I like trying to capture the audience and not lead them all over this internet dessert.

Last year Fix-A-Fence LLC has positioned itself with Google on four front pages ranking from 1st on the page to 5th and 6th positions on the pages of the category fence estimates Portland, OR. Categories such as free, wood, chain link and just plain fence estimates. I have learned quite a bit about how to position my company to get the phone call first before the larger fence companies in the Portland, OR and surrounding areas. For instance the last three out of four calls have been from as a result of Google searches.

Soon I will be using and applying the same tactics I have used to position Fix-A-Fence LLC on Google to my businesses on the internet. If there is anything I have gained from all of this knowledge is how to achieve a web presence. Some people say to me know I wish I could do that or how did you do that? I tell them it took me work and hustle. I show them how and it just boggles their mind at what I know. It kind of boggles my own when I stop to think for a second where I was a year ago, but that's all. Because my mind just keeps moving forward.

So until the next blog, stay safe - keep smiling and don't let anything rain on your parade.

Fix-A-Fence LLC Year End Blog Post

As previously mentioned in an earlier blog post, this has been the busiest year for Fix-A-Fence LLC. I believe it all stems from the activity that I have been involved with on the internet. Craigslist posting, twitter, Youtube videos, blog posts, and backlinks, are all just a part of the mechanics that have made this year the busiest so far.

Here are some great results because of the Fix-A-Fence LLC online strategies, the last three estimates have been from Google searches and one of the three have led to a work order. Whoever told to use the mixture of free advertising and PPC campaigns to market my little fence company was so right. So if you are reading this blog,...Thanks!

The efforts will continue to keep Fix-A-Fence LLC ranking on Google in some of the top positions with the fence estimate category, such as free fence estimates, fence estimates, wood fence estimates, and chain link fence estimates in Portland, OR. When I first started doing my Google searches I had no idea how effective this sort of marketing would be. I have used plenty of free advertising dollars that have been sent to the mailbox, one of my favorite ways to advertise by far has got to be making the videos for Fix-A-Fence LLC. I have always wanted to be affiliated with advertising in some sort or another. Now I have been able to use what I like to do for my little fence company called Fix-A-Fence LLC.

Being a business owner does have it's ups and it's downs, but it is by far better that being stuck at some dead end just over broke feeling everyday dragging time thinking I am actually getting somewhere doing someone else a favor by working for them. Sorry but I have spent a lot of time on the other side and I can honestly say that the life of a small business owner is way better than working for one. By the way I believe America is built on small business. I also like the fact that I get to make money, spend money, and pay my taxes on the money that is left over. If I were an employee I would have to earn money, pay taxes on that money and then get to spend whatever is left. I don't know about you but I like to spend the money I make. The more I spend the better off our economy is, I believe that is one of the major reasons why we business owners get to pay the taxes on what is left at the end of the year.

Tax deductions are so cool if you know how to utilize the system. Tax consultants are cool people to talk to and are generally there to help you out in getting the best dollar back for your dollar. I don't mind paying a tax specialist to get the paperwork in order for me to file. Again I don't mind spending the money I make, as long as I am getting something out of the money I spend, there seems to be happiness with that equation.

Fix-A-Fence LLC is looking forward to starting it's fourth year in business, with what I have already established in positioning content and ranking Fix-A-Fence LLC's relevancy on Google, Craigslist and other media sources the year 2012 should be a rather large year for this little fence company called Fix-A-Fence LLC.

Happy Holiday's From Fix-A-Fence LLC

Since Fix-A-Fence LLC has established the company in 2009 I have sent a small thank you letter to all of my customers that did business with Fix-A-Fence LLC. There really not much there, but that is not what matters.

The card was created from the Publisher 2003 version Microsoft provides and I have added a fencers touch to it with a picture of a wood fence.

Inside reads: Happy Holidays

                   Small business depends on people like you
                   Thank you for hiring Fix-A-Fence LLC this year
                   May your holiday season be filled with
                   Peace, Joy, and plenty of great memories

      Thank you for doing business with Fix-A-Fence LLC

On the back of the card is all the information necessary to pass on to anyone that may need a free fence estimate. Name, phone number, CCB#, etc.

Like I mentioned there really isn't much to the card, but it is jam packed with a big Thank You!

One of my cards was returned because of the address being wrong, so I hand delivered it and was surprised to find that the address matched the address on the mailbox. Huh?! The customer and I were sorta confused and got a laugh out of our postal service. It is a thank you card that the customer should never forget.

To be honest Fix-A-Fence LLC should have sent out more cards than what was sent out. At least that is the way my body feels, certainly not the pocketbook. Fortunately for this year there has been work every month this year. Got to do a small repair yesterday to start out the month of December with.

A previous customer had to move an Osprey perch off of city property so all I had to do was a center stretch opening up the fence line and removing a couple of posts to allow heavy equipment in to move the Osprey perch. There was only supposed to be one post removed but since the heavy machinery was there I took advantage and didn't break a sweat. Broke a come along cable trying to pull the set out of the earth but still didn't break a sweat pulling the posts. I love watching other people do my work for me.

Fix-A-Fence LLC The Busiest Year So Far

Wow, this has been the busiest year for Fix-A-Fence LLC since established in 2009. The phone has rang a lot more because of the marketing tactics I have learned from all of this down time during the off season. However the start of this off season has been on for the most part. More estimates in the funnel this year at this time of the season and more irons in the fire since established.

Craigslist, Backpage, Youtube, and this blog are some of the free resources used for marketing Fix-A-Fence LLC here on the internet. Then there is Google with PPC campaigns and if I was really rich I would use Facebook advertising. However I have found Facebook to be rather expensive and unresponsive from campaigns. So if you are looking to spend your money you can either let me have some or use Google to get the maximum PPC power for your buck or even your free credit from some of the junk mail that's laying around. That's how I use Google advertising anyway. I get a lot of what's known as junk mail, only I take a bit of time to open the envelopes that seem to pile up. Vista Print sent me $100.00 in Google advertising credits and I put that to use creating an account and placing a couple of ads for a campaign. Getting great results for that, just another reason that Fix-A-Fence LLC is up at the top of Google for Free Fence Estimates Portland Oregon.

I feel that videos are rather important with my advertising techniques because with today's internet attention span only lasting three to five seconds that is all the language I want to really use. So by having a video URL pasted in my posting it cuts the language reading down to the time necessary to capture the interest of the visitor. The best subject line is the most important part though.

With the subject line I have learned it is relevant to use all of the line with something that draws attention by capitalizing every first letter of every word in the subject line. Like one of my best lines goes like this, Why Wait For The Larger Fence Company To Give You A Free Fence Estimate Call. That one seems to work every time. I have more subject lines to use and the list I copy and paste from grows. So,... that way I can mix up the subject lines with the same sort of ad creating relevance with content.

To be honest as I have previously mentioned it is just plain hustle at getting the word out on the internet that there is a Fix-A-Fence LLC company here in Portland, OR that doesn't mind doing some of the small jobs the the larger companies either don't want to touch or are trying to gouge the customers pocket book. Mending Broken Fences is a motto and one I stand by. There is so much depth to that motto that few will understand and many will reject. Kind of like scripture from the Holy Bible one few really understand it and many, many reject it. This fence company called Fix-A-Fence LLC has flourished since it began, sure there has been the slow and even bad check time but prayer and devotion to God has pulled me through and out of any harmful situation that has come about to this fence company. So I am taking the time now to thank God for all He has done for this fence company. Thank You God!

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.