your thoughts on this business idea please...

Originally Posted by GordonJ

On a 5x7 postcard there will be 7 listings (splitting the difference with you)

Their listing will have a biz name, but no phone number, people have to call you to get the referral, right so far?

These are leave behind cards alerting the homeowner (if not at home) the service was done, say the pool cleaner.

The 6 other guys could be a carpet cleaner, deck cleaner, roofer, carpenter, plumber and an electrician.

So the pool guy comes, cleans my pool, leaves the card.

Why do I not just throw it away? It is the hit and mostly miss approach like the 9x12 guys, the coupon booklets, the valpaks or just the landscaper with his own 5x7 card to leave behind with a referral offer, some cash for his current customer.

So I have to be in the market for another service when this is left behind.

As for referrals working, absolutely, which is why Angie's list is one of the first stops millions are going to for reliable referrals.

Now, you've got 7 businesses paying 19.95 a month, you taking in 140 bux per month per area, and you have 350 postcards printed 50 each.

Now you have to contact the 7 businesses, sell them on the benefit of being on one of these drop off cards. If it is free for them, you may find a few who figure one lead pays the monthly fee. Is it month to month or a signed contract for a given length, cause if 2 drop out then you need to print newer postcards.

Imagine you have 5 areas in your town, N, S, E, W and Central city.

7 businesses become 35 unless they get all the areas, and do they pay by the "neighborhood" 19.95 a month per area?

Who mans the phone when someone calls in? And who calls or emails the lead to the business?

Having spent the last two years testing this very niche, let me be candid...

I think you had a better idea a few months back, but gave up on it just a little too soon...the 9x6 with 6 advertisers, and email solicitation...

this idea is going to be a nightmare if you do it, TEST heavily before you invest much time or money into.

Being in this game, not a 10 foot pole away would I consider it,

But good for you for thinking about things

GordonJ

PS. You might want to take a look at what you were doing and see if you can marry it with this one.

Thanks again Gordon...I owe you at least a 6 pack for all of your awesome advice/input!

For some reason, every time I get into the "marketing for local business" game...I quickly get out. Then I get back in with another version of the same concept..."marketing for local business". Must be some weird addiction.

I'm going to follow The SumoApp methodology of business ideas...which is to do something manually for free. And if it works- scale it up from there and charge for it.

Something has got to get me out of the corporate world...way too boring!