Marketing Idea

[wvstephens]

I have been kicking around ideas to bring in new business, to my new company. I have received a few work request from onforce to repair or at least diagnose some laptop issues. These end users ended up being hotel guest, and they had problems accessing internet etc.. The company I do a lot of work for that contracts through onforce advertises in the local phone book here. I also have gotten into the habit of asking residential users where they found out about the company and they have all told me the Phone book.

Anyway my idea is to go to local hotels, and speak with the manager about putting a brochure in each guest room. In hopes of this bringing in business from travlers etc.. I am not real busy and I do not see a problem with having to run out on short notice, at a premium I might add.

Anyone had any experience with this method? Or maybe some suggestions on type of information I should leave in the rooms?

 

[cmonova]

Have had experience with it and it works. I even tell the Managers that I will give them a cut of what I bring in. Trust me does not hurt to give a little kick back to the front desk person for things like this. Tow truck drivers get a nice piece of green when they take a broken down vehicle to a garage and this is no different.

 

[wvstephens]

Thanks for the input, would you say it was worth your while to do this. I mean I don't care to give a kickback that is for sure. I just don't want to spend time that would be better spent doing something else.

 

[cmonova]

If I make money it's worth it and this makes us money. Most of the places are located together here so it was easy to take some materials to them and hit each of them. But, just take some with you and stop when you are in the area.

 

[callthatgirl]

Just did 40 hotels, many turned us down, many kept our brochures. No input yet on if it's working or not as we just did it.

Will report back in 6 months or so!

 

[vdub12]

I have been kicking around ideas to bring in new business, to my new company. I have received a few work request from onforce to repair or at least diagnose some laptop issues. These end users ended up being hotel guest, and they had problems accessing internet etc.. The company I do a lot of work for that contracts through onforce advertises in the local phone book here. I also have gotten into the habit of asking residential users where they found out about the company and they have all told me the Phone book.

Anyway my idea is to go to local hotels, and speak with the manager about putting a brochure in each guest room. In hopes of this bringing in business from travlers etc.. I am not real busy and I do not see a problem with having to run out on short notice, at a premium I might add.

Anyone had any experience with this method? Or maybe some suggestions on type of information I should leave in the rooms?

I would expect most calls late at night because most people using hotel Internet would not be in there rooms during the day.

 

[Onouris]

One thing I would be wary about would be accepting checks from hotel clients. Obviously this isn't their permanent address... and if they write a bad check, you may not have correct information to follow up with them. Or, in the very least, it would be a hassle... especially if they are from another state/country.

Am I just that paranoid, or has anyone run into something similar?

 

[wvstephens]

One thing I would be wary about would be accepting checks from hotel clients. Obviously this isn't their permanent address... and if they write a bad check, you may not have correct information to follow up with them. Or, in the very least, it would be a hassle... especially if they are from another state/country.

Am I just that paranoid, or has anyone run into something similar?

Oh it would be cash, or plastic only, I would not be taking a check.

 

[Xander]

You might also consider snapping a pic of their driver's license.

 

[BCC]

we're based round the corner from a hotel & they've got our leaflets in their foyer, we often get business customers who've booked in for anything from a single night, a week or more & got a problem with their laptop, usually they leave it in to us & we charge a premium or priority rate to fix it within 12-24hrs... the hotel staff don't get any kick-back but we do know the owner very well.