If I may post some suggestions ?
1) Contact your state's licensing dpt. or DOI and request a list of all of the bail bond companies, insurance companies, surety companies that are licensed in your state. Remember, not all companies are in-state. Some may be registered as a foreign company.
Once you have the list, put together a PROFESSIONAL brochure with a business card inside of it. Then mail the brochures to everyone on your client list.
Brochure make-up: A professional brochure is simple, clear, and easy to read. Too many companies use fancy fonts, too many bright colours, etc..making the brochure "too busy". A professional brochure is basically a resume. It should list your company's attributes, where you've been and where you are going. Should then list all of the services you provide, and of course contact information.
Again, a brochure is a letter of introduction. If you can even get anyone to read it, it will only command app. 15 seconds of the reader's time. Perception is everything. If your material is professional, then your company image is seen as a professional one.
Also include a personalized note card to that individual requesting a convenient time to call upon them. Market studies suggest that by actually handwriting (legibly) a simple request for a " meet and greet" increases establishing a higher clientelle. When meeting a potential client, dress professionally. Doesn't have to be a suit, but dress slacks, polished shoes, a nice shirt and a sport coat of some sort will suffice. Make sure you are neat in personal grooming.
Granted the above is kind of costly and labor intensive, but remember..you are establishing a business...not just catching bad guys.
2) Expand your services. The same skills and research methods you employ in skip tracing are also used in private investigations, civil process service, missing persons, asset searches, prisoner extraditions, etc. Caution: make sure you meet all regulatory and state licensing requirements for any additional services lsited.
3) Become a member of your local leo organizations: State Troopers, Sheriffs, FOP lodges..etc. Network within those groups to get your name out. A number of times a bondsman or attorney will ask a leo who he/she knows to perform a service. If you have plastered your area with brochures, flyers, business cards, etc..then your name gets out there.
4) Marketing Items: Brochures and business cards are only the tip of the iceberg. What do leo's like the most ?..coffee mugs, ball caps, magnetic calendars..all with your company's name and logo on it. Every time they drink coffee they see your name...every time they write a report they see your logo...every time they consult a calendar...there you are again.
You think this is costly...not really. Office Depot has some really great prices on all of this stuff. I have a personal relationship with my ods team here, and they have turned out some really great stuff for me.
5) Develop a website and get it out there. You don't know how much business you are missing because you are not internet accessible. Again, Market research shows that most people visit the internet between 0900 hrs and 1500 hrs...business hours. You need to pay the money to make sure you are on the "1st page click"....most people wont go through a dozen pages to see every provider listed. Most use someone on the first or second pages.
Phil Cross, the owner of this website, can build you a professional website, with internet hosting for a reasonable price. You can contact him directly through this site for service.
6) Take out an ad in your local weekly "rag sheet"..here it is called the "Thrifty Nickel"...for about $75 a week I can run a business card ad in it. It brings me alot of business.
7) Attend as many seminars, schools, and get togethers as you can. Hand out your cards, pens, caps, etc...you will be surprised who ends up with them. I give my pens out to the waitresses at all of my regular restaurants. Waitresses are a valuable asset in this business.
Always ask before leaving any marketing material anywhere. if you don't it is likely to be tossed out. No sense in wasting your marketing dollar. The sky is the limit as far as advertising goes.
Anyway, hope all of this helps. Take care and God Bless,
