I do most of my advertising by direct mail - mailing out brochures and my business card to a targeted audience. I live in an area that has a large wealthy population and well to do middle class with, in my opinion, a great opportunity to do very well in this business. It's also an area where advertising rates are very expensive and I cannot afford to advertise in local media just yet.
At first I was using a national real estate web site (Zillow) to find new local home owners who just purchased homes in the area. I built a list and sent out brochures and used the HJB template homeowner letter addressed to "Homeowner" because this data base did not show names of the buyers. I got no replies from several large mailings so I started putting together a "Partner" list of Insurance agencies, realtors, contractors, and related businesses. I did several mailings and received one reply from an electrician who is very networking oriented. He invited me to a networking group as a visitor, where I met many local business owners - I got a chance to introduce myself and my new business and listen to everyone else talk about their business. Out of maybe twenty business owners, I realized maybe eighteen had something in common with my business...was very excited but nothing came of this either. Tonight I have an after work networking event, as a guest of the same electrical contractor...have to keep networking.
Right now I found another data base used by my city government that gives me a great source of new home buyers, including their names and addresses. I've rewrote my "Homeowner" letter and now type in the owner's name and actually hand write the address on the envelope to avoid using printed address labels. It takes more time of course but I think it "personalizes" it and improves the odds that they will actually open the envelope and read it before they toss it into the garbage (people hate receiving junk mail).
Lisa, being from a small town I think you should join your local Chamber of Commerce, you'll meet a lot of your neighbors and business owners, that's the best way to get the word out about your business. Also go to your local town, city or county to see if they have an online database to identify home and business owners so you can start a database of names for mailing brochures and introduction letters. Go to your local newspaper with a press release (I tried this several times and never got a response). Also try "Door Hangers" - I have not tried this because of the area I live in but being from a smaller town I think it would work for you.
Anyway, I hope some of this helps you, nothing has worked for me but I'm not ready to give up yet. Good luck and please let me know how you're doing.
Frank Krulish
Fairfield Home Inventory, LLC
P.S. Don't forget about a website, Facebook Business page and all social media.
I think my biggest issue is with the fact that I live in such a small rural area, I am unsure how to go about introducing my service. The advertising rates are not too large here and I did run a few issues of a local penny saver type paper with no hits. I am thinking that maybe I would have greater success if I were to go to each local business and introduce myself. I have left my brochures with my own insurance company in hopes of maybe partnering with them but so far I have not been able to strike a good discussion with my agent.
Any tips on how you introduce yourself, get your business before the masses?
I will NOT give up on this service because I believe in it and now that I am no longer with the company I worked with for the last three years of my life I am ready to put 200% into it. I just want to get some hints on where to get myself placed to let people know I am here.
I am also offering free Inventories to my local churches!
First of all, congratulations on your success! I'm very happy to hear about your successes but also happy that you took the time to write this post on the message board.
I am a HJB owner and have been since June 2012 - I watched this message board go from a trickle of posts down to hardly none. I too have been trying to get this business off the ground but so far have not had any clients. I started several months before I retired and now I am putting more time into the business but still need to get the word out and educate the public. Like yourself, I'm doing this on a limited budget but I'm following what the veteran owners did to establish their businesses by going through the original message board - there's lots of valuable information in there.
Everyday I expect to hear from a potential client in response to my direct marketing mailings or meet potential partners at a networking event but so far nothing has happened. I'm losing faith in this venture but reading your post has given me hope that I can get the word out to homeowners and businesses about the benefits of having a home inventory.
Thanks for your story - I wish you continued success.
I am posting this to let those who may be struggling to keep the faith and don't give up!
Today, I delivered my first business inventory package to the client and got my final payment. It was for a medium corporation that wanted to catalog their office assets. I got this "gig" from a client who liked the home inventory I did for his home on the water. It took 24 hours to complete (three days (8hr/day)) and a few weeks to get all that data entered as it was about 800 to 900 items. This also included the corporate guest house! It was a challenging experience as I also work a "real" job Monday through Friday. The client was happy and has ordered a couple more copies too boot! They also would like me to do another inventory for one of their other locations. That will make my 6th inventory I have done since I started. It may not seem like much as I started back in April 2011, but it is fine for me and my work schedule.
My clients have been an eclectic bunch, the first one was Me and then a country church, then a lake home, then a large country home, and now two businesses. I wish I could take all the credit for this, but the good Lord has blessed me beyond measure!! He has sent them to me as I have not had the time or the funds to do much advertising, tho' I do let people know what I do when I meet them and I make sure my website is up and running.
So, keep at it and don't give up.
I am more than happy to offer answer any questions anyone may have about my experiences. After all we need to support each other whether we live in different states, countries or even next door.
Wishing ya'll all the best and God bless! (Yes, that was a "Ya'll"..... after all I live in the country)
and then a country church, then a lake home, then a large country home, and now two businesses. I wish I could take all the credit for this, but the good Lord has blessed me beyond measure!! He has sent them to me as I have not had the time or the funds to do much advertising, tho' I do let people know what I do when I meet them and I make sure my website is up and running. 
