Advertising and website help

[AJR Firewood]

Hi everyone this is my first post here but I've been following the forum for many moons now. This is my second year selling firewood and really I just wanted some advice on how to step things up a gear sales wise. Last winter was my first attempt and I already have had a couple of enquires from previous happy customers which can't be a bad thing! All my wood is sourced from a tree surgeon for free and is coming in copious amounts which i have seasoned all year...

 

I have designed my own website A.J.R Firewood & Kindling and just wanted any input from fellow firewood sellers on their first impressions. Is there anything which strikes you as glaringly obvious that I've missed out? The content isn't all there but you can get the gist of it! Any pointers on design are also appreciated

 

Also, what advice do people have for spreading the word? Good customer service should advertise for it's self but what else can I do? I've got myself on google maps and am planning a big leaflet drop (lots of good exercise if all else fails ) in my local area with a couple of notices in local shops. What should be my next step in increasing sales? Newspaper adds seem a tad expensive for the return I'll see...any ideas people?

 

Thank you for any help in advance - this place has been a great source of information and I'm really appreciative of any new ideas!

[Marko]

Website layout looks OK but no pictures are showing at the moment so it definitly looks 'draft'.

 

I would also not indent new paragraphs to the same extent and would justify blocks of text to tidy it up.

[Steve Bullman]

ive passed a few times recently a very larger sign in a farmers field, approx 12x8ft, very nicely done and mounted on a trailer. id consider going this route if you have a fairly farmer local to you.

[farmer_ben]

ive passed a few times recently a very larger sign in a farmers field, approx 12x8ft, very nicely done and mounted on a trailer. id consider going this route if you have a fairly farmer local to you.

 

Steve, where in Suffolk?? Could u get a picture of said sign....I'm toying with doing the same thing on my land.

 

Ta,

 

Ben

[farmer_ben]

Hi everyone this is my first post here but I've been following the forum for many moons now. This is my second year selling firewood and really I just wanted some advice on how to step things up a gear sales wise. Last winter was my first attempt and I already have had a couple of enquires from previous happy customers which can't be a bad thing! All my wood is sourced from a tree surgeon for free and is coming in copious amounts which i have seasoned all year...

 

I have designed my own website A.J.R Firewood & Kindling and just wanted any input from fellow firewood sellers on their first impressions. Is there anything which strikes you as glaringly obvious that I've missed out? The content isn't all there but you can get the gist of it! Any pointers on design are also appreciated

 

Also, what advice do people have for spreading the word? Good customer service should advertise for it's self but what else can I do? I've got myself on google maps and am planning a big leaflet drop (lots of good exercise if all else fails ) in my local area with a couple of notices in local shops. What should be my next step in increasing sales? Newspaper adds seem a tad expensive for the return I'll see...any ideas people?

 

Thank you for any help in advance - this place has been a great source of information and I'm really appreciative of any new ideas!

 

Target the village shops notice boards etc, normally free or low cost to advertise and gets the word spread around that particular village. Village/parish newsletters are great too i have found, especially if you supply the editor with logs!!

 

I have also sponsored quite alot of events this year, only young farmer events and local village ones but people appreciate seeing a local young business man putting something back into the community etc

[Steve Bullman]

Steve, where in Suffolk?? Could u get a picture of said sign....I'm toying with doing the same thing on my land.

 

Ta,

 

Ben

 

well actually just into cambridge, swaffham bulbeck, think im passing again in a weeks time

[AJR Firewood]

Thanks for all the ideas! I'll have to look into the local parish newsletters could be on to something there!

 

Regarding advertisement boards; we hold car boot sales every sunday and previously had a board by the road which was held up with a couple of pieces of timber. Low and behold after a few weeks of making the thing a complaint had been sent to the local council and we had to remove it as it constituted a structure requiring planning permission! Keep any big signs on trailors - council can't do a thing if it's on wheels

[Marko]

I have an old sign trailer for sale - sign size is 8' x 4' on a frame on top of an old trailer (not roadworthy) photos are a few years old but must be worth £100? PM if interested.

[WoodenHead]

AJR - appreciate it's tough getting going and well aware from my own business that every penny counts.

 

BUT - imho - there is no substitute for a proper website that loads quickly and is optimised properly in order that most people who google in your area will come up with you.

 

Four pages or so should cost well under £1000 but look at it as the same sort of investment as a saw, a vehicle, trailer, processor etc.

 

In the arb world, happen to know that these people doubled their sales in a year due to revamped website Hycrack (Hy-Crack) the screw type log splitter - The Safe, Fast & Efficient way to split logs plus get a good logo (not loggo ) and badge it on your website, paperwork, polo shirts, business cards, give-away mugs etc. People like Vista are cheap as chips on business cards provided you don't get suckered in to add-ons on their site when you order.

 

Also think that parish mags etc are a good idea - usually free and read by most in the parish - and there will be several parishes in your delivery area.

 

Finally it's word of mouth of course. One local lad started but soon ran out of decent wood and started filling the truck with damp and mossy cr*p and old fence posts complete with wire. He's back to his day job. On the other hand the contractor that supplies our pub (at a decent rate) with decent wood gets recommendation after recommendation via the landlord.

 

Logs are no different to any other business - it's all about corporate image and doing what you say you'll do

[Steve Bullman]

scrap business cards...best thing i ever did was get fridge magnets for firewood customers.