I know, I know "word of mouth is best". But before word spreads, I HAVE to get that word to someone not in my circle.

I am considering either a radio ad, direct mail, or newspaper. Trouble is, out here not many people even know about WCO's. So I am trying to tell people about a solution they dont know about for a problem I hope they have.

Anyone have expirience with any of these options? OR a better option

Find yourself an IT guy that will work in your budget. Some fellas on here do website setups, talk to them as well. It's the only thing that worked for me. Takes time, so don't expect instant results.

Second the website. That's where people go when they have a problem. Google adwords (done correctly) will get you going faster than print or radio.

The other thing I have done that is very effective is offer a referral fee to companies that that come across your potential customers. For example, pest control guys that don't do wildlife, lawn care companies for moles.

What's your budget?

Throw Back, we still use ads in the yellow pages and they work for us here. I'm guessing in California, not so much. My son-in-law

designed a very workable web site for us and it's great. Newspapers were a waste of money and we haven't felt the need for radio yet.

I always thought that an ad on TV, where the huge pest companies had theirs, would be a winner but perhaps the cost would be

prohibitive.

well, I'm seeing that I'll have to spend around $500.

Radio is out....no sense doing it unless you can have a lot of repetition.

if I saw something great for more I would save. Do you think radio is worth it?

How much did some of your websites cost?

Initially got started for a few hundred but my website will never be done. There is always ongoing maintenance, seo, backlinks, blog posts to be done. Best thing you can do is get started and then put a percentage of your sales back in it every month.

I'd agree the website is one key thing, but most have their foot in a bunch of realms depending on their own experience.

Throw Back I can say that a local guy has been running pigeon radio ads here in ABQ and though I listen to my iphone tunes
most of the time I managed to hear his darn ad about two dozen times I swear.

Of course I also got many calls from folks who didn't write down his number or name but googled afterward and found me instead...

I was honest with every one, wasn't my ad, nope, but yes I can solve your issue...

Ultimately you need to decide if radio is the way to go. I tried it before...had a response. But, it is costly to maintain. I think that it is a long term commitment. Not likely to get a short term boost.

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I know you want sales but you need to look at it in several ways.

Radio and TV, in my opinion, are fantastic for branding. This is simply making the public aware of you and trying to be forefront in their minds when the need for your services does arise. But like Dave K so brilliantly pointed out, when they have a problem they wont always contact you. These type of ads make people aware that a professional service exists, it does not necessarily mean they will find you.

The big problem with TV and Radio is the call to action. If they don't have a problem, they don't need you.

With Web and Yellow pages you are actively advertising to someone who wants what you have. I am sure there is a guru out there who has a term for this but I just call it marketing. You will get a much better return on your investment putting it here. The only problem with this is you pretty much pay for each customer you get.

An even better form of advertising is to contact and cultivate relationships with other individuals and entities that will get the calls for service but do not offer them. The local Fire Department, Police Department, Humane agencies and other wildlife operators that may not offer something you do offer (pigeon removal, beaver work, coyote work). These relationships can last for decades and be very profitable.

Hope this helps.

Like Paul and Dirk said, YP.com. Get a hold of someone at Yellow Pages and get mobile premiere listing and metro internet listing. Monthly charge deal. DO NOT sign up for physical phone book on a pay per call subscription! You get charged for every call from the book! (These people are high pressure sales so be aware.) Most of mine, from the physical book, were non pay customers to report things like sightings, roadkill, lost dog,..... Having good experiences with the mobile and internet listing. I'm under $100.00 monthly. Doing it for a year and every customer I get I hand out 2 or 3 business cards.

Create a newsletter and send it to the politically influential. Examples (paid for by our tax dollars) can be found below...

http://agri.nv.gov/Protection/Resource_Protection/The_Trapline_Newsletter/

All that money "protected" and they use our tax dollars to write a vague newsletter... Disappointing but effective I guess.

Well, I'm starting easy working on relationships. I meet with two Pest controls this week. I may go buyy the animal rehabber, tough sell considering I euthanize. I plan on talking to animal control soon.

I suppose I will try getting a good website then either radio or direct mail.

I have been getting a few responses from Angies list, Home advisor, Networx these are pay per lead referrals. Most leads cost between $15 and $20 I have been getting about 50% of the jobs that I talk to. the biggest thing is to be the first one to call back. theses companies can set you up where they can text you the lead and you can call them immediately. Then you also need to get reviews. Angies has a page they will set up for you called a store front and you can offer a flat rate coupon that doesn't cost anything up front but they charge you 15% of whatever the coupon cost is.

I worry about the "pay per lead".

I just cant afford a bunch of dead ends. I have heard some bad stories.

IMO, with a $500 budget I would use Network Solutions or Go Daddy for a do it yourself website and mobile website. The domain name and package would probably run $35 a month. Any person with reasonably good English and spelling can do the content. It would take about 3 months for the web crawlers to do their thing but if you do it now it would benefit you this Spring. As revenue increases you can always have someone build you a better site if you feel the need to. Your rankings will depend on the amount of competition and if or much they're spending to promote their site.