Business Plan Consulting FREE - Page 2

Let's focus on the basic necessities for now. As your business grows and your marketing knowledge and budget expands the tools at your disposal will grow. For now we will focus on free and low cost methods. Before we talk about how we will market lets define what we are marketing. As a scrapper we want to get metals and take them to the yard. As the owner of a scrap metal business we have to focus on customer service. We will only get what we want when our customer gets what they want. The level of customer satisfaction we create is paramount to our success. To ensure long term profitable relationships we have to generate repeat customers and referals. Otherwise we just have to keep generating new leads.


The Basics


Business Name

You need a name to work with for customers to identify you. YourName Recycling

Phone Number

You need an easy way for customers to contact you.

Email

Again the more contact options your provide the better chance you have of offering an individuals preferred method.


List Of Services


What is your niche? What do you do?

Electronics Recycling, Metals Removal, Debris Removal, Clean Outs, Hauling.

The only suggestion I would make is to keep everything logically complimentary. A business that provides porta johns should not look to increase revenue by towing a hamburger trailer behind their trucks. As such stick within one well defined market segment and set yourself apart as the best. While you maybe be capable of processing scrap, installing windows and babysitting but if your card says all that who in their right mind will call you?

Now what know who you are, what you do, and how to contact you.

Basic Promotional Materials

Business Card

I may be a business card snob. I like a really good quality card. Heavy stock, glossy finish, and designed the way I want. I have experimented with many designs and have come to the conclusion the simple is best.


Front side: Who, what, where, and how.


YourName Recycling
Computer and Metals Recycling
We Pick Up At Your Location
412-555-1212
gotscrap@gmail.com


Back side: List of all services.

Computers Electronics
Cell Phones Wires
Batteries Motors

Anything Metal From Your Location

You can buy business cards in a million places. Prices vary widely. I have bought similar cards to the ones listed in the link below and have been blown away by the quality. IMO they are the best option. 1000 business cards for $30.00. Full Color, glossy stock, and free design. The whole process takes one email to tell the the above needs. A second email gives you a picture of design for your approval. Then it is just watch the mail box. At a price of $0.03 per card it is a no brainer. I couldn't write my name and number down 1000 times on napkins for $30.00 in time and materials. Not to mention the professional image these cards project.

1000 Full Color Custom Business Card Printing on A 16PT Gloss or Matte Finish | eBay


Flyer

8.5" x 11" Standard Size Paper

I prefer a color paper. However I buy my own paper at the office supply store and take it to a self service printer, copy machine. UPS or Fed Ex Kinkos. For under $15.00 a ream(500 sheets) it is cheaper than paying the color paper surcharge in store. Also if I am not mistaken the last time I printed flyers I took printer cartridges into Staples and got an in store credit for future purchases that was equal to almost the cost of paper.

Vulcan Green Paper $13.49



Neenah Paper Astrobrights® 24 lbs. Colored Paper, 8 1/2" x 11", Vulcan Green, 500 Sheets/Ream | Staples®

Flyer Design

Use whatever word processing program you have access to. I like Google Docs. Start a new doc and just start typing. Getting used to changing fonts, sizes, and layout can be a pain. It takes some playing around to get it right. If you have trouble PM me and I will help design it for you, that goes for all SMF Members. Once you get the hang it takes ten minutes. It's not the Constitution so just get a good working layout and go. Either print it out at home or save it and have one printed at the copy store. Use that one and make your copies.

Printing

I got to the UPS Store because they have good deals. I just called and the going rate is $0.11 per copy. However all month they have had a $0.03 cent special, so shop around. Ask for a discount for bringing your own paper. At eleven cents these little advertising pieces are great. I hand them out, tape them up, pin them to bulletin boards and give them out with cards. Once you have the paper even expensive copies of $0.11 will only be $11.00 per hundred. Print what you can afford hand them out and print more. ALSO remember to ask for the complimentary cardboard box to hold your new copies.This will keep them unwrinkled and safe under the seat of the truck.


This is a basic marketing package and will get you started for around $50.00. Good Luck

I will be posting the next topics as soon as possible. Free Internet Marketing and Telephone Marketing.

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

Mind if i add this?

Not sure how much, if any traffic I am getting from this, but I put a QR code on my flyers which directs people to my scrap Facebook page. On the same flyers I add tear off tabs, and also a # on the flyer should the tabs run out. On a side note, I was at a stop light awhile back and noticed the van in front of me had a QR code. I was able to scan it from where I was sitting. It was for a copy/print shop.

For those interested, Google QR code generator.

Great thread!

Nice Idea. I like it a lot and will be using it. The more ways you can be contacted the more people will contact you. Thanks for your input. The more ideas we can share the better our marketing will become.

For the sake of simplicity lets just keep this real simple. I went around and spent hours registering for free business listings. It is nice to have your name out there but I saw very little payoff for the time. The best results I have had have been by using these methods. If anyone wants to chime in and add theirs please do.

Facebook Business Page

Go to your Facebook Page and along the left there is a Pages category. Create a page and then allow the site to walk you through setting it up.


LinkedIn

Register for a free LinkedIn account it is a powerful business version of Facebook.


Google+

Google's version of Facebook. Not as widely used but will produce results. Same as Facebook set up. Go to your Gmail or get Gmail and set up a page.

Ebay

If your not selling on here your are just missing out on money as a scrapper. Anytime you can get more than scrap value it is a plus. Easy to use after listing a few items. Plus it is exciting to check and see what your auctions are doing. Take some time to really learn to post items. Check the completed auctions for similar items to see how others listed there items THAT SOLD. Unsold items can give you an idea of what not to do.


Thumbtack

Lead Generating Service

Thumbtack - Accomplish your personal projects

You can set up an account for your business and they will text or email you leads. There are some costs involved. I used it for the construction and did well. Hauling, Clean Outs, Cleaning, Etc. Take time to really narrow your leads to what you do best. Follow up om leads IMMEDIATELY after they come in. In most instances the early bird gets the work.



I would keep in mind that with any marketing you need to keep pounding away at your message. The more times people see your name the better they will remember and recognize it. I think I read somewhere your ad needs to been seen 7 times to be remembered. Update the pages. Network with others. Ask for business.