Word of Mouth

> I have heard people (a lot of surveyors) say they get their work by word of mouth.

I'm not sure the term "word of mouth" adequately describes what most intend. I think the more general word "reputation" better represents the situation in which a surveyor doesn't do any significant advertising yet maintains an adequate volume of business.

I dropped my small Yellow Pages ad years ago. I'm still listed, but the Yellow Pages company (AT&T?) still lists me anyway, just to flesh out the category, I suppose. I do have a 15-second underwriting spot on the local NPR station, but that's more to support the station than to generate business. Other than that, I don't advertise. I rely mostly on repeat business and reputation -- the appearance of my firm's name on various maps and reports that are floating around out in the world -- and the occasional cold-call from a mom-and-pop client in need of a boundary survey.

I am strictly by referral, and reputation. There are some who find my number in an Internet search and ask, "I need my lot surveyed and how much will it cost?" but I discourage that.

I have a simple web site that seems to be a good investment. I've had several out-of-town firms contact me through my website because they were looking for a local surveyor.

I also have a Facebook page, but it gets very little traffic.

I don't have a Yellow Pages listing, and don't want one.

That's about as far as it goes with me, concerning advertising.

Here's another-
Any business is foolish to run itself on anecdotes containing absolutes...

We advertise some, but as far as I know have no idea at all how effective it is, as we don't seem to ask potential new clients how they heard about us. I know for a fact that the majority of surveying clients come to us for two main reasons:

1. Repeat clients of the company.

2. Repeat clients of mine (I recently had a client track me down after working for him 28 years ago).

The rest picked us out of the yellow pages and are shopping for prices - I know this because we are near or at the bottom of the list alphabetically and they have talked to so many above us that they have all the parcel data, etc. at their fingertips.

Business cards and the information on my paperwork counts for all my advertising.

I've had clients that have faithfully followed me where ever I worked since 1974.

The number of clients increased as they told other people.

Title companies and attorneys have also told other people.

In 1987 I hung my own shingle from the front porch and have relied upon word of mouth and have never caught up to their requests for surveys.

"knock on wood"

Current and recent list of clients works out like this:

TI = Referral
KW = Referral
JW = Known for 40 years
TT = Referral
GB = Known for 35 years
WW = Referral
RJ = Repeat client
JJ = Referral
WD = Referral
BC = Word of mouth
RC = Word of mouth
CG = Referral
SS = Referral
LS = Referral
JB = Repeat client
VC = Referral
WL = Repeat client
LH = Repeat client

Have never been in the Yellow Pages. Don't plan to start.

> Have never been in the Yellow Pages. Don't plan to start.

I bet the "yellow page" in Squarebale, KS is printed on the back of the "white page" in the local phone book...;-)

Call me foolish...I do not advertise, do not use facebook or other social media. I'm to the point I only do what I want, when I want and am backlogged for months...I think the only reason is developed reputation over the years, doing things right the first time, cost or price has never dictated my responsibility as a professional and I treat each boundary as if it must stand the issues of law. I've been very fortunate to have clients that insist on using my services. It takes time and quality work to get to that point.

Pablo B-)

Pretty darn close. We have some small towns where they use a single sign post and put the city limits sign on each side.

I don't advertise. I used to when I first started but not anymore. I stay about as busy as I want to be. Sometimes it gets slow but other times we are so busy that I usually welcome the downtime when it comes.

As far as advertising goes I would never use Facebook or Twitter just because I don't like or participate in those things.