Hi there,

I have just started my organising business. Now all I need is some clients! What are the best, most cost effective ways of generating new business and getting my phone to ring?

Hi Jacqui- Welcome to the forum.

My first clients were people I knew- or their friends. People who know you are the most likely to trust you even though you are new in business.

I called people I knew and said that I just needed a moment to pick their brain. That I was starting a new business and I was looking to see if they had any ideas of who might need my services. I explained that my services really helped people who were too busy and overwhelmed. My first two clients fit that description. One was remodeling and planning a wedding- thus disorganization. The other owned several businesses. Both busy. One was a person I knew. One was a friend of a friend.

If you can get a few clients that way, those people will refer you to others.

I agree with Lea...the best way to get your first few customers is to tell everyone you know that you are opening a business and tell them what you do.

Many of us did spaces for free for a little while to gain before and after photos as well as recommendations.

Thats excellent feedback. Thanks very much. Following on from that, what forms of marketing work best? I am working on a website at the moment - which I think is essential. What about flyers and leaflet drops etc? Or is it best to stick to word of mouth? I don't have a big budget and want to make sure I spend in the most productive areas.

Yes, I think that a website is essential. I don't see how any business gets by without one these days. When I want something, I google it.

There are some things that are universal, such as referrals from people you know and having a website. But, there may be some marketing differences and culture differences between our countries. I don't know if flyers or leaflet drops would work there or not- ask yourself if you ever respond to one. If someone leaves one on your door or car, do you ever call it? I don't see it working for me here. The reason is that it would be so hard to hit your target market. You'd spend a lot of time and money and not be really sure that the person who needs you gets the info.

Define who you think needs your services and try to get that info in front of them. For example, want to work with young moms and kids, then you look for mom groups or places moms frequent. If you want to do offices, you try to work with an office supply store.

After a website and referrals, probably the next biggest marketing tool done here is public speaking. Get out to groups and do a talk on getting organized. Gear it towards that group. Get a handout into each person's hands. When you are speaking to groups, pass around a sign up list for free emailed newsletter. Then you can email out tips on organizing and grow a reputation from there.

Does your newspaper have a community calendar- telling things going on in town? If so, you can clip out club or group meetings and use that contact info to send them some info on what you can speak about.

Don't forget to use and keep updated net working sites...think about any social sites you already use-can you convert your profile or add another for your business?

Online networking is a low cost way to meet up with all sorts of people you knew from college, high school, previous jobs etc!

Although I totally agree that a website is essential - professional organising is still relatively new in this country (from what I understand). I knew I wanted to do this sort of work but it took me 6 months to find out what it was called to then be able to do some research on it - and I only found out because I stumbled across a newspaper article. So I have to rely on people knowing that they need to search "professional organisers" for my website to come up!!!

I am trying to work the whole friends and acquantances angle at the moment (family live in another city). Just trying to let as many people I come into contact with what I am doing.

I have managed to get my first client (albeit a freebie) and she seems to be very happy with what I have done so far with her and has offered to give me a testimonial without me even asking for it!!

I am a wee way away from doing any kind of public speaking gig. Maybe in 6 months time when I have more experience and a website for people to refer to!!

I'm not on any kind of social networking sites at the moment - I guess I'll have to look into it.

There are a couple of business networking groups that meet once a week - but of course all this takes money and until I get some paying punters everything is on hold!

But great ideas!! Good to know that I'm on the right track. Cheers!!

Jacqui-

Sounds like you've got a great attitude. I heard about this profession in the same way- saw an article.

About your website- The key words that title your page drive the traffic. If you feel the industry is so tiny that people won't search for professional organizer, then don't use that as a key term- yet. Instead try some key words they might use like organize homes, organize offices, get organized in City name.

Jacqui- over in NZ it appears that the most effective method for advertising is radio. I'm not sure where in NZ you are, so I'll just assume that you're in a major city. The radio network has the most listeners according to stats but it is really effective, my husband uses it for his business and the amount of people that come into the nursery and say that they heard the ad is amazing. If you can't afford radio (it's cheaper than you think), why don't you approach a station like Classic Hits or Easy Mix (assuming your target audience is about 25-55) and ask for an interview? I know easy mix (98.2 is the frequency in AKL) are always having little interviews and is played a lot in offices and you could hit a range of too busy people that would love your services!

Best of luck!

Good idea Sammy and welcome to the forum!

Thanks for sharing. I did radio here in the US and I will say that I had tons and tons of people say they heard me on the radio....but I can't say it turned into cash clients. But, every market is different so you should try it.