Need Advice.

[snakeblitz33]

Hypothetically, if you were to start a tank consulting/setup/servicing business as a side job, how would you advertise it to get it going?
I've thought about doing some Facebook stuff. I just don't think I would put very much money into flyers, brochures and mail, when I could use it more effectively elsewhere. Does anyone ever look in the classified ads in the newspaper anymore? Is that something that someone would expect to see in it? I'm at a loss, I suck at advertising.
Help please!
Name ideas also appreciated.

 

[2quills]

Have you considered pitching your idea to animal planet? Perhaps they'd be willing to give you your own show. That's all the exposure you need right there.
Personally wouldn't waste my time with the paper anymore. C. List and the online classifieds, facebook, local forums, local fish stores if they don't do it already. That type of stuff would be where I'd start.

 

[spanko]

Have you checked out the competition yet? Seems like a lot of them in my area are at least hooked up with a local fish store, if not run exclusively by the local fish stores. Probably gonna be a tough business to get into, especially trying to take established business away from the competition. Maybe you'll have to hit some doctor's offices, restaurants etc. to try to establish new ones. Complete first time setup along with ongoing maintenance.
When you were around before weren't you thinking about something like this then also?

 

[mantisman51]

The trick, as I see it, is to reach the noobs and the wealthy. Noobs (like I was nearly 30 years ago) always go to LFS's. The LFS here has 3 contractors that do installs and maintenance and point the noobs to them. Same with wealthy and commercial customers. Let's look at who traditionally uses a professional service: Chiropractors and doctors offices; consulting firms and construction companies with waiting areas; people with custom homes. I think putting a portfolio together to showcase what you have to offer-small and large-to literally go door to door would be terrific. The local nursing home has a 125g cichlid tank that one of the contractors maintains and it is really special. He told me he did what I just said and went and said for $X I can install and maintain a show tank and they popped. The elderly there literally gather around the tank day after day. So I would go traditional newspaper on occasion, but hit Craigslist and other social media hard as well as wear some shoe leather. Now I'm not saying I'm an expert, but being a frequent visitor to the places I mentioned, I saw a lot of opportunities for someone wanting to do what you're thinking.

 

[gemmy]

Definitely c-list. Everyone has suggested some great ideas. Perhaps, working out a contract with a LFS would be the best form of advertising. If you could work out a deal to purchase most of the livestock from them (at a discount) and they could advertise the business.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Well, I have a good rep with one pet store that is already cutting me a deal on maintenance stuff. They also said that I could put some business cards in there and some brochures. I think I will go ahead and post on c-list and stuff like that and hit facebook pretty hard. I need to do something to make some extra money, and I would like to use my knowledge to do it.
I think that putting together some kind of flyer or brochure or something and actually going to places that have tanks would help a whole lot. I guess all it takes is leg work.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Seriously though, how effective is Facebook, you think? I know there's a boutique that I do some work for and her only form of advertising is her facebook... She told me to do that first... lol.

 

[spanko]

Really depends, how many of your "friends" are business people and how many contacts can you get through those and other "friends" that you have? the best thing about it is it is...........wait for it...................FREE!!! Then once you start o make some contacts and maybe get some business through your personal account you could set up a business account and start "friending" potentials there.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Yeah, you're right. I'll really look into it. I just posted a c-list ad. Maybe someone will contact me. I know I got one client from a newspaper ad. I think I might post a classifieds or something along those lines. Business cards are next, and I know the exact business that would help me out to get started. I might have to put together some nice brochure with some tanks that I've done or something and hopefully try to get em' to the people who make the business decisions. It's hard to get in contact with dentists and doctors. Most businesses have nurses or secretaries that screen the mail... then it's just in the trash. heh.
I know that I can do the maintenance side of it no problem. I just am at a real loss for advertising. Maybe I can get my sister in law to help with the facebook thingy. lol! I just need some extra cash to get by while my day job hours are cut...

 

[smartorl]

The only thing about FB is that it's not exactly what comes to mind when I think of seeking out a service at all. CL, to me is a better route, but I think I would have a hard time taking a CL exclusive business very seriously.........just saying.
I agree the best thing to do is to to network where the business is and that's at the LFS's in your area. Just getting a job or two that way could give you the credibility to be look at other options for networking yourself. That way when you present to a lfs, you have leverage to offer them in exchange for them promoting your services (ie, fish and supply sales and referrals).

 

[bionicarm]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/387849/need-advice#post_3415757
Have you considered pitching your idea to animal planet? Perhaps they'd be willing to give you your own show. That's all the exposure you need right there.
Personally wouldn't waste my time with the paper anymore. C. List and the online classifieds, facebook, local forums, local fish stores if they don't do it already. That type of stuff would be where I'd start.
You haven't seen the show Tanked? Think it's on Discovery or TLC. This small family that lives in Vegas and manages/maintains all these exotic tanks in the big casinos. They do these "custom" tanks that remind me of an aquarium version of the Cake Boss.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Bionicarm, I think 2quills was making fun of the show tanked. lol.
No, I'm not doing anything like that. I don't want to be that big and famous and I don't even have those dilutions of grandeur. I want to make just enough to supplement my bills and maybe add a little savings for my newborn.
Thanks all for the reply's. I'm sure everything will go smoothly. I enlisted the help of my sister-in-law who does nothing but Facebook and other marketing. She's helping me for free, or next to free. I'm going to try to do as much free advertising as I can till I can get a couple of more tanks, then I'll consider doing some paid advertising if I feel it's necessary. Most of the time in this business it's word of mouth, but you gotta get your name out there first. I'm workin' on getting some business cards made up sometime this week. I'm going to post my card on every commercial tank that I do, that I get permission from...
Anyone else have any other advice maybe? I know there are some other gorilla marketing tips and tricks that someone can share?

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 http:///t/387849/need-advice#post_3415906
Bionicarm, I think 2quills was making fun of the show tanked. lol.
+1 I figured that with the wave of new hobbyists coming in from the show being aired that a few of those folks would be needing some help. And you might be the man for the job lol.
In all seriousness though...definitely try the networking route. Meeting folks at local clubs, fish stores or possibly try to get on as a sponsored link on any of the local forums. Those would probably be the folks that could help you the most. Facebook didn't used to let you have a business page back in the day. I think that might have changed now. I'm not sure, I never sign into my page. We have two local fish stores down here that offer that service...they do a lot of work out on Padre Island, lots of folks with money on the island, nice tanks and no understanding of how or the desire to take care of them themselves. So if I were to try it, I'd be hitting those neighborhoods with my own flyers. Might also ask Shawn...I believe he used to do this very same thing for quite a while.

 

[mproctor4]

There are some great ideas there. Just another thought---a local guy on our town donated his services for free to the main city library. The library paid for the set up of the tank but he maintains it for free in exchange for free advertisement. This is a huge library and it is about a 150gal tank in the children's section, very nice. You can view the tank from all sides and he has a nice plaque on each side with his business name and phone number. Pretty sure they hired him to set up/take care of some of the branch library tanks since the first one was such a hit with the kids. He did the same thing with a local hospital, he had one medium size tank in the lobby he maintains for free and over the years the hospital added more tanks and pay him to maintain those. He told me a few years ago that it was worth his time to take care of those tanks for free because he got alot of referrals from them. I think it took him awhile to convince the library and hospital to set the tanks up but he was persistant and they agreed to it.
I've seen several tanks around town now with his name on it. Most recently in a seafood restaurant. Might be worth focusing on some popular business to get your name out there.

 

[snakeblitz33]

I'm trying to focus on businesses and people that already have tanks, so I can immediately make some cash. Over time, I would like to convince places like that to install tanks.

 

[gemmy]

Oh, maybe you can do a saltwater tank seminar at your LFS (with their permission). This can help people to understand that you are a knowledgeable hobbyist.

 

[snakeblitz33]

That's a good idea except that i don't do any business at Lfs.

 

[slice]

Are you a member (or can be) of any local reef clubs? Are there local frag swaps?
That would be a good way for face time in your target market.
You might peruse CL and other like sites for folks selling off their equipment and ask if they need "tear down" assistance.
Who knows, you might evolve a sideline as a used equipment broker...

 

[snakeblitz33]

lol! There's that also I guess!
We had a small local reef club a few years back, about 8 people were in it. I think starting a new reef club would almost be as big of a feat as gaining clients for aquarium consulting and services. It's worth a go, but then again those people who attend reef club meetings tend to take care of their own tanks and want to learn more about it. I'll look into that CL thing that you suggested. There might be something in that. Thanks for the idea!