What ways do you get your clients if you have a service business? -

What percentage is from advertising? word of mouth? or other ways? Do you get clients from just giving your elevator speech or random talking to people you meet as you go about your day?....I would rather not advertise was wondering if I could be successful with just talking to people at the grocery store or attending community events or parties. I would like some insight on this. If you do have results from just meeting people, how do you do what you do to get the client to set up an appointment?

Depending on your business. You attain clients by knowing your niche, knowing your target market, and knowing every aspect of what your selling. You know these things you will know how to start. Try doing a business plan outline. Cut and paste this and print it out. Answer all the questions you can and then you will see what you need and what you need to know. Once you see it on paper its totally different.http://www.business-plan.com/outline.htm��

Direct contact is good, but also putting up signs in schools, supermarkets, church bulletin boards as well as advertising on the internet and ads in local newspapers could help. If you wanted to maintain your privacy though, have a dedicated phone number that you would only use for business, and on the ads I would only put the phone number but not your address until people call you and want to do business.If somebody calls tell them you are on the other line and that you will call right back that s what taxi service do and it avoids problems Good Luck PS I wouldn t use your real names for your firm but something generic like Here to Help, or Home Beautification, Inc. That ll ensure you even more privacy