A few Questions for you guys

[Amphrax]

I have my own business now and would like some info from some of the more experienced marketing people here or any ideas from others.

A short description of what I do.

Design and Print
(Setting up Leafletes, B/cards, booklets, manuals, publishing books and printing)
Website Design
Translation
(Using customers artwork to put in the translation of the booklet into any language the customer requires)

We currently have flyers and business cards printed.

I have been to numerous Industries around certain area's. So basically I have delivered a fair number of flyiers and business cards to lots of companies.

So the real question is... Now I done the above... How exactly would one go about actually getting the Potential customer to come to you?

 

[Ch3tan]

It's not about getting the customer to you, you are going to have to sell it to them, so cold calling. It's not nice, but it gets a higher response rate than flyers, they tend to go in the bin. Make sure you get e-mail / address details of customers or potential customers for mail shots to remind them you exist.

Word of mouth is useful, encourage your current customers to tell their friends; offer them discounts for every new bit of business they bring you?

 

[cHodAX]

Sorry I have no idea, not my area of expertise really. Very best of luck with it though, total admiration for anyone starting up their own business.

 

[liloe]

Well first of all you want to know what your competition takes (money wise). Then - as Ch3tan already wrote - you're best off sending offers to potential clients. Make sure you send the offers to the right department, if it's a bigger business.

If you make websites, mention yourself as author in it. This will point interested people to you.

Make interesting offers, but don't prostitute yourself. You want to eat more than potatoes, so you need to make profit

Some papers at uni have to be printed and bound, so make special offers for students. Also students are slackers, so offer an overnight service (for an extra charge of course) for those who hand in their stuff at the last possible day.

Are there any bigger restaurants near you? If so, then try looking for business partners. If they often organise weddings, funerals or other festivities, then they might want a fixed partner for printing all their stuff. Give them a discount if they sign a contract for at least X festivities or Y cards.

Oh and always remember: A word means nothing: paper and signatures are win

Good luck with your business =)

P.S.: Relations are win, trust me. If you know someone who knows someone else, then your chance of getting the job is much higher. Just don't get to know everyone too well, or they will want a friend discount

 

[xomer]

First of all,

Gratz to Liloe, he gave you some very usefull info about your company promotion and building.

Moreover, there are some very helpfull books that they can help you a lot and gives you some instructions and steps that a company should do in order to succeed. i think if you go to the nearest book store you will find something.

I wish you good luck to whatever you will try dude.