<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16735" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Thank you both.  After reading a PTJ article in last months issue I decided to get a yard sign and 2 car signs.  I just put them on display a little over a week ago and have gotten 2 calls from them.  I figure that 1 appointment will pay for the signs and after that its just free advertising.  Mike like you have stated word of mouth is the best and most reliable form of advertising.  I find that if I get a call from someone who has been referred to me by one of my customers I can always get an appointment made with ease.  The folks who call from advertisements are a little more shaky and need a harder sales pitch.  I guess the objective is to try to reach more folks and put more words in more mouths.  And so it goes... </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Shawn Brock, RPT</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>513-316-0563</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><A href="http://www.shawnbrock.com">www.shawnbrock.com</A></FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=wimblees@aol.com href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">wimblees@aol.com</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 20, 2008 9:41 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Best approach for acquiring new business.</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><WBR>Speaking of "lawn" signs. I put one on a major highway close to my house about 3 weeks ago. It cost me $40. I've gotten at least 8 calls from it. I also put a "piano teaching" sign for my wife in the median of the same higway.She's gotten about a dozen calls. I also have Piano Tuning, my name and phone number on three sides of my HHR station wagon. I get calls while driving, and when I park in front of a house. The signs cost me about $800, but it has more than paid for itself. <BR><BR> <DIV style="CLEAR: both">Wim<BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: Mike Kurta <mkurta1@comcast.net><BR>To: Pianotech List <pianotech@ptg.org><BR>Sent: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 3:26 pm<BR>Subject: Re: Best approach for acquiring new business.<BR><BR></DIV> <DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_f79df135-9cc5-4b88-a72a-3d1660c27bff> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>    Shawn:  Over 20 years time I have done all ideas mentioned, but word of mouth was still the most productive and longest lasting.  However a close second for new business was this:  I had a sign made up similar to the "For Sale" signs realtors use.  Knowing passing motorists had only a second or two to read it, the sign read, "PIANO TUNING"  and the phone number below, both in large block letters.  Nothing else.  I placed it on the lawn near the road in front of my home.  After about a month, I began getting 3-4 calls a week.  Apparently it took awhile for the words to sink in to passersby, but it worked amazingly well.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>    Always ask new clients how they found you as it will indicate what method of advertising works the best for you.  </FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=2>    Mike Kurta, RPT</FONT></DIV></DIV> <DIV class=aol_ad_footer id=MAILCIADA015-5bc048fd3358199><BR><FONT style="FONT: 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black"> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> </HR>McCain or Obama? Stay updated on coverage of the Presidential race while you browse - <A href="http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1211139166x1200680084/aol?redir=http://toolbar.aol.com/elections/download.html?ncid=emlweusdown00000002">Download Now!</A></FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>