Advertising in the Yellow Pages

I listened in on a very interesting Teleseminar yesterday morning by Michael Hepworth of the www.StreetSmartMarketer.com who interviewed Dick Larkin. Dick is one of the best known guru's on Yellow Pages advertising and the info was well researched findings from years of studying the ads in the Yellow pages.

There is too much to cover in this short blog but I'll cover it all over the coming days because I think it is that important to every Trade Business.

The Yellow Pages is probably the ONLY place that every Trade Business around the world should be advertising in. Here are 3 things that every advertiser should know:

Rule no. 1 : Be unique. Don't follow 'the herd' and advertise the same way as everyone else in your Trade. Stand out from the crowd.

Rule No. 2: Identify yourself. A person who has a problem is the person who is reading through the Yellow Pages looking to find someone to fix their problem. They don't know you from Adam, so clearly identify yourself and what you can do for the person to fix their problem. That's all they want to know about you.

Rule No. 3: When people are looking for someone to fix their problem, the part of the brain they are operating on is called "the Reptilian" part of their brain. This area deals with basic instincts; the fight or flight of survival. The reader of the Yellow Pages has a problem they need/want fixed so that is their driving motive. If you want to 'snag' that customer, you have to let them know that you will and can, fix their most immediate need.

If you found this blog interesting, then please forward it on. There are many, many Trade Businesses who are wasting their money on Yellow Pages Ads that simply don't work.

Jan-ConstructingProfits
www.constructingprofits.com

Constructing Profits Blog

I watched a Handyman yesterday as he discussed a completed job with a client. It was just being in the 'right place at the right time' for me to see how he showed the client what he had done and why.

He had to prune back an over-grown Bouganvillea bush that had over-run a neighbouring fence. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bouganvillea, its a beautiful tropical plant that can grow extraordinary strong and has long, sharp thorns. This handyman had scratches along his bare arm to prove he had certainly been playing in the Bouganvillea bush! Still, he was unfazed and presented his client an unasked for bonus.

What was the bonus, I hear you thinking? A solution to save the dividing fence. She hadn't asked for it because she didn't know it could be done, but he did and he used his initiative and just fixed the problem to stop it recurring for a long time.

Needless to say he had delighted the client by 'over-delivering' on her expectations. The end result for him is good word-of-mouth advertising which is the best way of constructing his profits for some time to come.

He earned his 'guernsey' by doing the right thing.

Jan-constructingProfits
www.constructingprofits.com

Coming Together

Isn't it nice when things finally come together! :-)

I have been working consistently towards getting my constructing Profits website and blog coming together and today (thanks to my very clever computer guru!) it has happened.

My aim from here is to update this site as often as I come across info that will be helpful to someone or so many of my constructing contractors.

If there is something that you would like to see incorporated on our site, then please let me know what it is so I can search it out. I am a very good 'gopher'! :-)

Something that I am working on now is a handy little programme for estimating quotes/Jobs called "Estimaster2". This computer programme is adjustable for every Trade and was originally designed by a Builder for his own business. It comes with a free trial period and has a terrific support component built in.

Stay tuned for the next installment!

Jan-constructingProfits
www.constructingprofits.com

The simple things still work the best!

Isn't it reassuring to know that there are still some simple things that work the best?

Contractors who spend their working life working outdoors have to protect themselves more than the average 'joe blow' against the ravages of the elements. There is no excuse these days for construction contractors not wearing all the necessary protective clothing,sunscreen, hat and sunglasses.

But even that isn't enough to always protect us against eye disease.

But it does help to lessen the work of good Doctors like these who are researching cures for damaged eyesight.

Let's help them, and ourselves, by doing the simple things to protect ourselves.... like wearing protective clothing, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.

So go check it out: OptusNet News and remember to:
slip (on a shirt)
slop (sunscreen on)
slap(on a hat) and
wrap (those "sunnies"around those beautiful eyes of yours!)

Jan-constructingProfits

Post Cards and Easter

G'Day everyone,

An update on the postcard marketing technique. I can only recommend it.

Australia Post were terrific and I'm quite convinced we probably have one of the top mail services in Australia from around the world. Now I just have to wait and see what the results are, so ......stay tuned!

Today is Good Friday. A day of rememberance and gratitude.

My son came home for Easter and it's good to see him again. Besides, I'm "technologicaly challenged" and he is technically competent. A double blessing indeed :-)

We may remove ourselves from the chocoholic feeding frenzy long enough to do a few more additions to the site but...then again....it is Easter ....so Happy Easter everyone!

Jan - ConstructingProfits

Contracts and Professionals

If you are contracting in the construction industry, sooner rather than later, you are going to need to write up a contract. Here is a good resource to bookmark for future needs.

GC21 (Edition 1) General Conditions of Contract

I will always recommend you get advice from professionals. Get your Solicitor or Accountant's advice every time. It could save you a heap of money in the long run!

This is an information site and can point you in the right direction for many of your needs but I am not in the legal/financial/medical fields, OK? :-)

Be kind to yourself! You deserve it.

Jan-constructingProfits

Post Card Marketing

I have been very busy checking out different ways to reach my target audience which are, surprisingly, construction contractors! Apart from physically going around all the worksites in the Northern Rivers region of NSW Australia - and "yes" I have my green card - and speaking to each one of you personally to tell you about my hopes and aspirations for our site - how can I reach as many people as possible in the shortest possible time?

Ah Hah! I had one of those "Eureka" moments I have up until now only read about. Aussie Post. "Why not?" I thought to myself, so off I went to find out more info. And Oh boy, am I ever glad I did!

For the next exciting episode...stay tuned.....

Tradielady
www.constructingProfits.com

Tax Forms and the Internet

Taxation time is fast approaching in the US. Here in Australia it is only another 3 months off until June 30th, "T-Day"! But it has got me thinking.

I wonder how much longer we Internet workers will have before we will all have to fill in a US W8 form to join any affiliate programme based in the US? And the Australian Govt under John Howard won't be far behind.

The reach of the Taxman from whatever country is long and strong!

The only place you can start from, is from where you are now

And that's just what I have decided to do.

I am at the start of what I have always wanted to do, in the way I wanted to do it, so I'm doing it. And if your reading this, I hope you are a construction contractor because I'm here to help you with Marketing and Advertising ideas to grow your contracting business exponentially!

It can be done! And you can get more time to spend with your family. They want to see you. They want to be with you.

I want you to be with them and the only way I can help you achieve this is to help you make more money per hour that you spend working, so you don't have to work the extra hours.

You deserve to have recreational time. Time for yourself to do with as you will.

This is my first post. I want you to stay with me so we share this growing experience together.

Welcome to my blog.

Warmly,
Jan-Constructing Profits
www.constructingprofits.com
Showing Contractors how to make
more money ~working less hours!