[david@zap-clean]

In my previous life I was an IT consultant.  I thought I knew a lot about IT and t'internet until I started looking at marketing my business on it.  

Internet marketing is a complex minefield and I have to admit to being at-a-loss in deciding the best marketing strategy, on a budget.

I do knwo this:
1. It's really easy to waste a LOT of money on internet marketing, if you're not very careful.
2. It's really easy to get a LOT of free advertising on t'internet if you know what you are doing

...here's a tip: Find out where your competition are advertising (just search hard for them), check out if their listings are free (often they are), then add your company their as well (for free).

I've spent very little money on internet marketing - but check out where I appear in internet searches (hopefully you'll find me in lots of places), but remember: I've only been at this (internet marketing) for a few weeks, and I have not (yet) done any SEO on my website - though I will be spending a little cash on that.

Check out your competition - what does their website say to you? Is that the message you want to send to your customers?

[garry22]

Garry how do you get those exact figures as I get different ones on google keyword tool?

Richard,

I set it to exact search mode for google.co.uk

I would add that these "official" figures are pretty unreliable according to marketers who have done testing in the past. All in all, they are pretty small numbers to work with.

[garry22]

i have spoken to yahoo reps and google reps bot say the key word ones are right unless u are on about this month garry

Well there's a first, rep's telling the truth    So some keywords do get exactly 18,000 searches each month?

Seriously, this should explain about the difference in numbers  http://support.google.com/adwords/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2497836

[Joe W Brown]

How many jobs do u get per week from your website .

we tend to get 1 a week and some good commercial jobs .
 
but im a bit disappointed with the response


Cheers Neil
 

I spent around £1000 on a (quite advanced ) online quotation and booking system for my site. Since I started trading 6 months ago not a single person has used the online system. Not 1 person.


My diary is quite busy these days, since I did a number of free cleans for promotion and had an offer on groupon. Still none using the website quote system though, despite it being advertised on my cards and flyers etc.

[david@zap-clean]

Joe,

The on-line booking system will add to the professional feel of your website -  I'm sure you've captured some extra business because of that, even though you may not have had any bookings through it.

So, not entirely wasted money.

[neil 47]

David I think he is saying hes had no bookings from the website

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Neil I have a website in the Barnsley area and I get no response from it same as Rotherham and Doncaster I think it's down mainly to google maps.

Shaun

[Joe W Brown]

David I think he is saying hes had no bookings from the website

None with the online booking system.


Im not sure if ive had any through the website until today, but a lot of people tend to comment on my site and quote the information on there.

I say until today because just 5 minutes before writing this post I had an email the email address displayed on the my website requesting a quote. My first one!

[david@zap-clean]

Part of my marketing strategy is to ask new customers where they heard from me.

Rather than saying 'google adwords, or 'my google search found you on yell's website', they'll often just say 'the internet'.  So, I'm never too sure which on-line campaign is working best.

Joe, maybe a potential customer sees your web based booking system, thinks you're a good, professional company, and calls you anyway (rather than use the booking system). 

[neil 47]

Shaun we come up as no one on google maps i see yours all the time , i think its facebook thats to blame as everyone seems to get everything off there and ask each other for recommendations .

Also with f/b all they want is the cheapest but we have found if you go in cheap it ofton leads to more work at higher prices and as we arnt fully booked we might as well be doing something.

web pages are ok linked to something else

[mick doherty]

Hi David,

How do I contact you?

Mick

[*Hector*]

Hi David,

How do I contact you?

Mick

try his email address at the bottom of each of his posts..   

[mick doherty]

hector, I can't see his e-mail address at the bottom of his posts, if u know it what is it? please

[AshWhite]

David@zap-clean.com

[clive ware]

Neil - good video. You work much quicker than me!

[neil 47]

Clive cant take credit for that it is Russ Chads creative work .

[*Hector*]

David@zap-clean.com

thanks Ash 

[garry22]

Clive cant take credit for that it is Russ Chads creative work .

Hey, what about me getting some credit for the headline on your commercial page? 

[neil 47]

ah gary cheers  i never said 47 mins  . im not proud if its good ill use it change it , and ive let loads use mine i would never use anyones who was close by like pennywise 

[garry22]

LOL...  At least you could have corrected my spelling mistakes!