Ratedpeople.com

[Deleted member 1779]

Good to read one where it has worked out. Yes agree with you Andy all advertising is about "Return on Investment" The work and jobs should reflect and pay back the cost of advertising.

I guess a positive point about using this style of marketing is that is it very easy to work out if its a success (or not). You can soon tell.

For those who spent money and it didnt work out then its a shame. But its great to read stories / testimonials from those who it did work for.

You are right for those who already have a reputation its less of an issue. For those without the network contacts its all about how much they are willing to pay and gamble. I think your post has at least show that with the right responses it can work.

 

[damo21184]

thanks for the messages guys

 

[ian158]

IT DOES WORK!!!!!!! dont use rated people, however im on mybuilder and myhammer, and I have got all my work from these since i started last year. However i don't just tile, some may consider it a waste of time but since i started last year I have had about £15k worth of work, but also customers then tell there friends and family and got work from word of mouth, so in my experience its been my lifeline, People can moan it cost money but how much does it cost to advertise, I don't, I pay for leads, some you win some you don't, but if your an established tiler etc then you dont need the leads i suppose. It takes time to get reviews but get lots of photos of your work and post in your profile , you may need to come down on your prices to get the work, get the reviews but its worth it in the end, worked for me, and i have 2 months work in front of me because of these sites, and repeat work from customers that I initially got from both sites, so I disagree with the negative comments that have been posted here !.

Some of my first jobs were fitting loft ladders and cat flaps for heavens sake, this has progressed to bathrooms, countless in the last 6 months, 3 kitchens and total house decortation. What clients do is read the reviews given, it works and continues to work for me.

Ian

 

[ian158]

I have found most people don't go on the cheapest price, except some ethnic minorities, they first see if they like you !, then reviews and pictures of your work. I live in Huntingdon but I have travelled up to 40 miles for work, but its work I would not have normally had starting out. id rather earn x amount, build up a portfolio and reviews which in turn could potentially get you more work, than sit at home moaning !

Also what I will add is due to these sites, I have got more work, which in turn has required extra labour, using painters, plumbers and tilers to cover some of the work needed, so not has it given me work, its given others I have used because of my work load. every ones a winner :hurray:

 

[Dan]

I'd concentrate on getting your own web presence sorted out with a website of your own and whatnot. Get it ranking for the areas you cover. And then if you're getting no work from it, then consider other avenues.

A website is a one-off payment and you can have all your own review systems integrated with it. If you are always giving a % of the job or a lead price or whatever to these other types of websites and never investing in your own I think you're missing a trick.

 

[AliGage]

You can get setup with your own website cheap enough nowadays. Never used any of the websites people are mentioning in here. I always used to just advertise in the local rag. Have to ensure you are in it every week though and can be expensive.
I also find that most of my suppliers will put your cards about to retail customers. Some even have areas in store dedicated for displaying cards.Get your portfolio on your websites and your website name on the card and you soon get your name about.

Ian158 - did you say you only started trading a year ago? Is that £15k net? If so for a start up business in it's first year thats a pretty good net profit.

 

[ian158]

You can get setup with your own website cheap enough nowadays. Never used any of the websites people are mentioning in here. I always used to just advertise in the local rag. Have to ensure you are in it every week though and can be expensive.
I also find that most of my suppliers will put your cards about to retail customers. Some even have areas in store dedicated for displaying cards.Get your portfolio on your websites and your website name on the card and you soon get your name about.

Ian158 - did you say you only started trading a year ago? Is that £15k net? If so for a start up business in it's first year thats a pretty good net profit.

no thats gross, but I reckon if it keeps going as it is it will double this year, I have advertised in the local shops, suppliers and papers, and got no work, i got more work from my van sign written than local advertising.

 

[AliGage]

Still pretty good figures for your first year.

 

[ian158]

well proof that mybuilder and myhammer works then, Most of that is labour to, I reckon £1500 for materials overall as I get client to get materials

 

[mhtiler]

Stay well clear of any companies like these,all they want is to make money,after all they are a business,i have used this method of trying to get work,but all i found out that you pay and pay and pay oh and also pay to them monthly and for the text messages,plus all the fuel you`ll need to run all over to do the quoting,but never get the jobs,all a big CON,stay well clear or you will lose out.

 

[ian158]

Stay well clear of any companies like these,all they want is to make money,after all they are a business,i have used this method of trying to get work,but all i found out that you pay and pay and pay oh and also pay to them monthly and for the text messages,plus all the fuel you`ll need to run all over to do the quoting,but never get the jobs,all a big CON,stay well clear or you will lose out.

im sorry but i disagree, yes you do pay a fee, but I make it back somewhere along the line, and until ive got a few years behind me were ive been established I really cannot complain.

 

[DHTiling]

im sorry but i disagree, yes you do pay a fee, but I make it back somewhere along the line, and until ive got a few years behind me were ive been established I really cannot complain.

We are all entitled to our opinions, what works for one might not another... so simply state that and leave others to sate their opinions..

I see above you have been trading just over a year, it states 20 yrs + on your web page...

 

[ian158]

We are all entitled to our opinions, what works for one might not another... so simply state that and leave others to sate their opinions..

I see above you have been trading just over a year, it states 20 yrs + on your web page...

ive been doing up my own houses , and learning the trades needed for over 20 years, self taught, inbetween the times of coming in and out of the industry I have work in the film and tv industry building sets, having had enough of travelling to london for the last 8 years, i decided to channel my work back into the building game, so trading as image services for 1 year yes ? is that a problem ?

 

[DHTiling]

Not a problem at all, just asking a simple question... is that ok

 

[ian158]

it was the way you said it, but you can never tell when its in a text you never know, i assumed you thought i was a liar, anyway we are clearer now