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At 06:51 PM 4/18/2002 -0400, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite cite><font face="arial" size=2>Hi, <br>
One good way of advertising is a magnetic sign for your vehicle.There is
no telling how many customers I have gotten at the grocery store parking
lot over the years. <br>
Also,yellow pages are a must.When riding through the country side
tuning,I use to stop at every little church,and stick a buisness card in
the door,it works. <br>
Hazen Bannister</font><font face="arial"> </blockquote><br>
By far and away, the best advertising is word of mouth. I've placed ads
in newspapers and radio with less than desired results but<br>
those people told others and business was gained through that. Your
appearance, presentation and performance is your<br>
best advertisement. Do the best you can and the work will follow. Tell
other techs that you are interested in the work they don't want.<br>
Call dealers and offer your services. Don't give too much away, those
that get something for free might just want something for free.<br>
Discount, maybe; a freebee is reserved for established customers on an
emergency basis; PR.<br>
<br>
A good piece of advise I received when I was starting was: Don't worry
about the money, do your job and the money will<br>
take care of itself. That kept me broke for a long time but I
surely gained a wealth of experience. I have not advertised<br>
for over ten years now and the backlog of repairs insures my
income.<br>
<br>
In jest I say that I'm easy to find... I'm the only piano tuner (sic) who
doesn't advertise in the yellow pages (never did...too cheap).<br>
Then again this is a fairly close knit community but it has expanded
exponentially in the last five years. For people who come<br>
by looking for pianos, I encourage them to check out the 'new guys",
they come back and buy. They find they get a better deal with<br>
the individual care given to each piano, rather than the
truckload-sale-o-rama-dealer.<br>
<br>
Consider reconditioning pianos for resale for the times where tuning
calls are slower.<br>
A home-based shop is a great experience builder as well as a great tax
write-off.<br>
<br>
Also if you have able bodied friends <g>, move pianos with a
trailer; low overhead and low lift for a ramp.<br>
<br>
Sure beats a real job...<br>
</font><br>
<br>
<div>Regards,</div>
<br>
<div>Jon Page, piano technician</div>
<div>Harwich Port, Cape Cod, Mass.</div>
<div><a href="mailto:jonpage@attbi.com" EUDORA=AUTOURL>mailto:jonpage@attbi.com</a></div>
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