[Xenonsoft]

I'm at that stage where you have to spend money to make money. I've been discussing advertisement, SEO or leafleting with the other lads and we're not really sure which direction to go in.

We will probably go for getting business cards and leaflets printed, then move onto SEO of our site.

However, I really wanted to know how YOU promoted your business/yourself as a freelancer.

It's a very important situation that will make or break any business, and just wanted to get an idea which ways some of you found business, and which ways you found most useful.

[Boss Hog]

For us it was recommendations via word of mouth and LOTS of networking on MANY business forums.

Now we don't really rely on the forums as much as we receive quite a lot of traffic from search engines and our existing customer base.

We have recently targetted local businesses to us as this is an area we have never explored before (being an online business), it seems they have been getting ripped off left right and centre so they have welcomed our competitve pricing.

It depends where you are looking to get most of your business from, if you are looking online then get your SEO done straight away as you won't stand a chance if nobody can find you, if you are looking to target local businesses then flyers and business cards as you have mentioned are a good start, get them dropped through doors in the new year.

This offer we have running for members may be of interest to you and a cost effective way of trialling a door to door campaign (or similar)

5k Business Cards only £65.00 delivered!

[Pixels Ink]

Likewise, most of my business is from referral and word of mouth and has been from the start. I was lucky in that a business I worked for went bust and I was able to start with a few 'ready made' clients.

The other thing I did was join the BNI for a year. This was great for getting really good business contacts and also improving my own skills in promoting my services and dealing with other companies. Quite expensive at about £900 a year (I made £5k from BNI in that year), but they only let one person from any particular trade join so you can lock out competitors. I was lucky because every business in the room required my service at some point.

BNI isn't for everyone. WOrth popping along to your local chapter though to check it out, you get to go for free twice before having to make a decision on whether to join or not.

I am now into my 3rd year ( as of 3 days ago ) and its only now that I'm looking to maybe start doing some printed promotion to try and boost the business to the next level.

[Xenonsoft]

Cheers lads, I'll look into both of those.

Boss, I find it interesting that you got quite a bit of business from forum posting. Not that I doubt this in any way shape or form, just that I'm surprised that there's much room for business these days on forums, as they're jam packed with offers.

I'll have to start posting around on forums as well as this obviously. If you have any in specific you hold in high regard then a link will be welcomed.

[Boss Hog]

You are correct, things have changed on forums and they are full of "busy fools" now, making a couple of quid here and there, hence I don't really bother anymore, however to get your name out there try...

UK Business Forums - the UK's most active help and advice forum for owners, managers and entrepreneurs of small businesses and startups.

Business Forum - UK Business Labs

Shell LiveWIRE Discussion Forums - Shell LiveWIRE

Business Networking Forum

[Xenonsoft]

Thanks Boss. I'll check those out tomorrow.

[dores]

It depends where you are looking to get most of your business from

Exactly!

Don't target the whole market you will fail, specialize in something and you will be successful.

[Xenonsoft]

Interesting point dores. Something that I'd never thought of. I guess we're aiming at the local market, but surely there's no harm in doing SEO of our site aswell?

[Boss Hog]

Originally Posted by Xenonsoft

but surely there's no harm in doing SEO of our site aswell?

Not at all but don't sit back expecting the orders to flood in, for example if you solely concentrate on SEO and wait for online orders you will more than likely fail as it takes a LOT of time and work.

Personally I would focus on my local market to bring in some money to start and at the same time have somebody working on my online presence which you can look to progress with further long term.

[Xenonsoft]

Yeah, that's the plan Boss. Cheers for the advice.