Because I am over 70 years old and therefore considered a moron by everyone younger, perhaps some of you young folks ( that would be anyone who isn't collecting Social Security ) can help me out.

After several tries, I finally was able to remember my log-in to Mike Hurley's site. His site had a question about, and I quote, "Which Advertising Works Best For You?"

While they gave a number of answers, I guess I had a problem with their choices. Hence, my answer; And this is it, word for word:

"Sorry, but this poll is for those who make more than several million dollars a year. There is really no way that a small business ( Less than a million dollars a year )can take the time during their busiest seasons, to track where all of the customers are coming from. We're still working on our first million, so let me get back to you on that.


Don't know why this post was denied but it was and I want to take my own poll;

1. Winkelmann, you're a moron and you should be barred from the Internet
2. You were obviously misunderstood and your post was right on the money
3. You drive most of us nuts and your wife is right: Stop drinking
4. If you wouldn't spend so much time on your computer, you could make the million bucks and answer the stupid question
5. I can't wait to start collecting Social Security so I can waste as much time as you do
6. If I have as much fun at 70 as you have, I will no longer dread old age as much as I used to

#6, You go Paul!

Paul:

My vote on your poll = 1-6.


--Eddie

Paul, why do you think this is true?

"Where did you hear about us?" is a very easy question to ask your customers.

experience

I had the same problem, my best advertising method
Wasn't on the list, newspaper adds! But for
You Paul #6

sqs, I just finished 11 rabbit jobs and I believe I talked to 4 out of the 11. And this is the slow time of the year. We do take advantage of phone services that keep track of our calls but when our guys get real busy they can't even remember which house they left their ladder at.

I am not sure how one can pay for advertising without tracking the performance. Don't you need to know your customer acquisition cost?

I tried to comment on that poll also Paul, it's restricted to moderator comments only. us little po' folk's opinion don't count.
I voted yellow pages, it still out classes all other advertising methods here. and apparently my website isn't up to snuff with Robbs passing, a new client the other day said he went on line and I never showed up, he found me in, drum roll please, the YP pages.

Yellow pages is still our number one referral service, with customer referrals being second and internet ads being last at this time as of last fall.

Its a Poll, No way to comment on a Poll, You can start a discussion on anything you want there. No big bad wolf looking over your shoulder..I don't really know, I didn't make that poll

But to answer your question, We track every job lead, be it the internet, the phone book, newspapers, etc.. I have 3 office people, if you don't have time to track job leads, they should look for other employment, Job tracking is the most important way for you to grow your company, How do you know where to apply more money to grow your company if you don't know where the good jobs are coming from?
Whats wrong with making a million dollars a year?

Dave/Bob:

How are you listed in The Yellow Pages? Ex. Wildlife Removal, Animal Removal' Pest Control, etc.


--Eddie

"Pest control" is the only one that really works.
I tried "animal control" all you get is, my neighbors dog is barking, do you have any puppies/kittens, and in the spring 6 calls a day for I found a baby bunny/bird/coon etc.
and under "trapping services and equipment" maybe two calls a year for people looking for DIY equipment.

Hey Dave
Glad to see you back!

We all seem to be grouped under "Pest Control" listings as far as I can tell in this region. That is the mind set of these publishers.Consumers obviously find us under that listing so it obviously works for us. We do have listings under Wildlife Control as well in several publications. But our primary prescence is large display ads.

We recently took another website for our business a couple of months back late in the year through verizon so it is too early to tell how it will work for us. Robb also had done some work for us as well in the past and we did get some calls from his listings for us. We are quite busy until Dec. then the phone stops ringing for the most part. But that works out well because I am on the road trapping for the next 3 months or so. Our employees keep things going and shipping orders in my abscence.

Hey Dave
Glad to see you back!

Our Yellow Page/Book people need to sock you for as much money as possible so they have Animal Removal and Pest Control and sell you ads in both headings. If they thought they could get away with it, the would have each animal and insect listed separately and try to sell you 200 ads.

Ditto Dave's post, although phone book ads have deteriorated to the level of TKO (Tire Kickers Only) and will not be renewed.

When we first started we used a pad of phone messages for logging calls. Got the basics on the call and at the end asked where they found our number.
We started by sending bulk mailings to every commercial contact we could find in the phone book that might ever have a need for animal control. Had a one inch collumm add in the Yellow Pages. And left business cards at every place that would take them in the service area.
After three years we stopped the bulk mailings and dropped the Yellow Pages ad. Not a single call said they used the Yellow Pages. Every call then and now came from a referal from either a customer, another business, or a police department.
Once we got established word of mouth did the rest.
We now just send a few letters to new businesses every few years.

My wife is starting out with a photography business right now, and she watches a lot of those webinars online related to developing that line of business. She watched one last week where the couple were saying their no. 1 source of advertising was Face Book. $300. Grand in sales last year.

Everyone except Paul Winkleman has a face book account . And face book sends the notifications straight to your phartsmone Paul.