Finally!!! - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

KHagland · Veteran Member

Finally!!!

Amanda · Expert

Well done, nice to hear some good news.

Regards
A

Marky65 · Guru

Congratulations Kelly, it is good to hear that businesses are still gaining new clients

Regards

Mark

RossDunn · Veteran Member

Thank you for some morning cheer and great news on your new clients.

I have noticed that your website was built by mediacert and from looking at bookcert in the past (I still haven't bought the kit but keep telling myself it will be a good investment) I am guessing this was part of the orignal kit fee. If this is the free (ish) website then I would say that is great in terms of price of the kit and helping to grow your business! Anybody got any thoughts on this?

Hope everyone has a good day!

Kind regards,

Ross

kjmcculloch · Guru

Well done Kelly.

Ross - As far as bookcert goes, if you know what your doing regarding bookkeeping then the first section will be of little use. The second section is useful to focus the mind on actually starting and marketing your business. Although it is a useful read, I would not pay full price for it. There are a few second hand copies that come on here from time to time, and they're good value. Obviously you don't get a website, but if that's what you're after give me a shout and I can put something together for you. It'll only cost you the hosting (£1 a year) and the domain name (£6 for 2 years).

Kris

KHagland · Veteran Member

Hi Ross, My Website was designed and set up by Sugar Designs. They also designed my logo, business cards and flyers. It was quite a reasonable price and a great investment as they all look really professional and indirectly give people an idea of who I am and what I am like.
I decided not to buy bookcert, for no other reason than I didn't think I would use everything they offered.
Since July I have posted flyers in my local area - no enquiries, put flyers in my local shop windows - no enquiries, paid Google and Facebook £200 for sponsored links - no enquiries, been to a local Business exhibition and handed out business cards - no enquiries.
So getting two clients from very little expense was great (if a little annoying!).
My next set of advertising is having my business cards displayed in the local Tesco Extra on their local businesses board approx £250 for two years. I will let you all know what kind of return I get on my investment. Then in December I plan to start Google and Facebook Adwords.
If anyone has any other suggestions I would love to hear them!

Thanks
Kelly

Zoe · Senior Member

Hi Kelly

Congratulations on your first clients.

I would say networking is one of the best forms of marketing for bookkeepers. If you think about who you use for business contacts or plumbers, electricians etc, it is for most people, normally people you know or people who have been recommend to you. Therefore, if you go to networking events and meet people, the greater chance you have of being recommended.

You say your first client came through BNI and hopefully this will lead to more referrals. Are there any other networking groups in your area that you can get to to meet local business people?

Kind regards

Zöe

Blacker9999 · Veteran Member

Kris
I would be interested in you quote for hosting and domain, i have a template that im building at present.
I am with vista and they are charging me 10 per month so im giving it up.

send me your email address to talk futher thanks
Ronnie

-- Edited by Blacker9999 on Wednesday 27th of October 2010 05:35:08 PM

ADAS · Guru

Well done Kelly.

PaulC · Veteran Member

Hi Kelly

Good news for you on the new clients. That's disappointing to hear that you had no enquiries from posting flyers, displaying flyers, going to exhibitions and giving out business cards. I was going to start distributing flyers but perhaps now I'll reconsider this.
The best way I'm finding of winning new clients is from using Google Adwords but you do need to be prepared to spend a certain amount of money before it pays off. I have gained a few clients from Google Adwords and providing these are retained then the money spent will have been worth it.
Also, having a well optimised website is of course a great way of attracting enquiries but this costs quite a bit unless you have strong SEO skills.
Networking and getting to meet local businesses sounds like a great idea. What's the best way of discovering about networking groups in your local area?

Zoe · Senior Member

Hi Paul

There are several websites for finding networking events in your area which include:

Alternatively, the FSB and the Chamber of Commerce in your area will hold networking events and you often don't have to be a member to attend.

Other national networking groups include:

4Networking - http://www.4networking.biz/
BNI - http://www.bni.eu/uk/

Women Only Neworks:

Women in Business - http://www.wibn.co.uk/
Athena - http://theathenanetwork.com/

I hope these help.

Kind regards

Zöe

-- Edited by Zoe on Friday 29th of October 2010 09:46:48 AM

kjmcculloch · Guru

Hi Paul,

The interesting thing about marketing is that something which works really well for one person will bomb with someone else.

This can be due to a number of factors that differ in all of us. Geographical area, target market, skill base, wording and so much more.

For example I ploughed what I considered a fair bit of cash (£200) into adwords and got nothing, but it seems to work for you. I find that direct mail works well for me, and costs £29 per 100 letters, but it doesn't work for others.

I don't think you can discount trying some form of marketing because someone else had little success. For me the key is evaluation and refining.

Kris

Tom McClelland · Senior Member

kjmcculloch wrote:

For example I ploughed what I considered a fair bit of cash (£200) into adwords and got nothing, but it seems to work for you. I find that direct mail works well for me, and costs £29 per 100 letters, but it doesn't work for others.

Wording is absolutely critical, even when the message is identical. We found that split-testing different wording (and differently worded website landing pages) has a very large effect on the value of adwords. I suspect that something similar applies to all media, and different approaches may work for different media. On the internet you've got 5 seconds to grab someone's attention when they land on your site.

kjmcculloch · Guru

I have about 10 different letters I use when I do mailings, and your right, even when they say the same thing different wordings appeal to different people. Unfortunately, I have drawn no conclusions other than sending many letters works better.

Kris

PaulC · Veteran Member

Thanks very much Zoe and Chris. Your advice is much appreciated. I'll check out those networking groups you suggested Zoe, and Chris, I think you're right, I will try a few other forms of marketing to see if they work for me.

Also, has anyone tried phoning businesses to try to win new business or is this perhaps not very time productive? I was thinking that perhaps targeting new business start-ups may be a good idea and I'd be interested to know anyone's thoughts on this.

Thanks

Paul

Flex Accounting Services · Senior Member

Kelly congratulations. £250 for advertising with Tesco's seems a little high though. I know it only equates to just over a tenner a month but do people really look in Tesco's if they want to look for a business ? Have you advertised in the local shops/post offices ? Usually free or 50p or so per week.
Bev