Please share your advertising ideas!!

[d_Random]

Have you come up with a clever idea that gets new customers?
Even better, ways you advertise for free?!
Please share your tips!

[torontosafecracker]

This is probably something that is general knowledge for a lot of locksmiths, but maybe somebody will make use of it. But stamping key blanks with your phone number and company name can be a sure way to ring up some customers. This is especially true when it is on higher security blanks. If you specialize or work on safes, Make stickers, or metal plates to put on the safes. Sneaking your phone number in a discreet way near the lock or key is a good way for the potential customer to associate you and your company with said lock or key.


Just a thought. I know a lot of locksmiths put stickers on the doors they work on. But then again putting your name out there requires more than just a few stickers. The work must match the professionalism of the advertising campaign.


Over and out.

[ptlockguy]

I bought a box of self-adhesive magnets - same size as business cards. Stick them to the back of your business cards and you have a refrigerator magnet.
I also bought a pair of magnetic signs for my pickup truck. Recently, I traded for a van, so I transferred my signs to the new vehicle.
I just added a custom license plate KEYS4U and on the rear, I have a large decal for the locksmiths association.

If you have a state or local association, consider joining.

[bjornnrojb]

I bought some printed magnet decals for my truck, at $25 per. They are 24x36 and have my business, phone, and a slogan on them. I leave them on whenever I drive anywhere at less than 45 mph (they do fly off at higher speeds) and get really cheap advertising with them.
Second idea that is not often used: screenprint some t-shirts or get a coat embroidered. Wear that all the time. When you go into shops you will be surprised at how many people will ask for your card because they need some work done. So many people put off fixing their locks! Lots of guys will say, "I will fix that" when a lock starts malfunctioning or the key doesn't work very well and just deal with the problem, but then their wife gets tired of waiting and hires you to fix it behind his back.

[ARF-GEF]

Custom key blanks are not just for hi-sec locks.
It is wise to use custom key blanks for exactly the most common blanks there are, (like the 2-3 top most copied/most common ones) because that is why will hang on the keychain on most ppl and that is what they will want to copy the most.
Silca defo offers customised blanks which you can have you name and phone number on. They are not much more expensive than normal blanks, you don't have to work with stamping. But you have to order in bulk. But with the most common blanks that shouldn't be too much of a problem. Inducidualyl stamping the blanks is a better way for unique hi-sec locks though.

It is also common here to put adverts on the bulletin board of big house's advertisement/info board. So if one has a lokcout he will hopefulyl remeber that there was this flyer on teh bulletin board.

[Wizer]

This is not actually advertising, but good customer service brings people back with their friends.
If a customer asks for a key I don´t have, but I think I could find it in catalogue and order, I ask if they can come back in couple days.
This customer wants 1-2 keys, so I order 5 blanks. Next time anyone comes for that same key, they get it right away. And the first customer is very happy that I went the extra mile for his needs.
He will come back with other keys and recommend me to friends and relatives.
I´ve grown my keyblank stock maybe 400 blanks in 5 years using this method.

[Dan82]

Linkedin and other social media

[pick_fu]

Id say ads in the biggest newspaper in your area, its worth the investment especially the Sunday paper. Every one would at least know you exist.

[MSL]

Every year I get an envelope around Christmas time from my Realtor. I bought a condo in 2008, but I still get a little magnetic business card with a pull off calendar thing to stick on the fridge. In case I ever want to buy another place, I can look there and bam, got her number. Its small, free to me, and I actually use it on a regular basis.

I looked online and found that I can get them for less than a buck a piece when you buy at least 100. Closer to 50 cents if you buy 500 hundred.

You can get calendars or just little note pads which may very well last longer than a year. The way I look at it for $500 you can buy 500 hundred of them, along with 500 envelopes and stamps, and send them out. I'd always prefer a useful promo item or some good nonsense like a stress ball (but I have seen them in lock shapes, which I guess are kind of cool).

I plan to get the notepad ones, and send them off at the end of every year to anyone who hired me, maybe I'll luck out and get repeat customers.

[billdeserthills]

This is probably something that is general knowledge for a lot of locksmiths, but maybe somebody will make use of it. But stamping key blanks with your phone number and company name can be a sure way to ring up some customers. This is especially true when it is on higher security blanks. If you specialize or work on safes, Make stickers, or metal plates to put on the safes. Sneaking your phone number in a discreet way near the lock or key is a good way for the potential customer to associate you and your company with said lock or key.


Just a thought. I know a lot of locksmiths put stickers on the doors they work on. But then again putting your name out there requires more than just a few stickers. The work must match the professionalism of the advertising campaign.


Over and out.

My Dad started stamping the keys with our shop name and phone # years ago. I can't tell you how many times I picked up the telephone to hear "Hey, I found your key"
Truth is not many folks ever really see the stamping, or remember it is right there on their key. Same goes with the stickers left on the client's doors.

[billdeserthills]

How about some anti-advertising ideas, you know when You know what not to do, whatever is left might be OK?
Likely Potential Losers:
Chamber of Commerce Shopping Cart Ads Menu Ads in Restaurants Any School Advertising
Lil' kids sports advertising Bowling placemat ads

I definately Lost Money with:
Everytime I ever spent over $300 on Any kind of advertising per month

When You're Not Home: These guys kept track of home sales in certain areas. I paid them to send a pretty house type personal phone book to each new home sold. The books had coupons for a Free Key, more . I never received a single coupon for redemption??

The Better Business Bureau: They actually charged me $60 for a wood BBB Sign that they demanded back when I refused to pay for a second year of protection money. I could not find even One job that they referred me. Also over the years I have received several warning letters from them. As long as you answer the letter and carefully explain that the customer was Wrong they will remove any bad marks on your record, whether you pay them or not

Over the last 20 years I have noticed that unless your ad is where the client is when they lock themselves out of something or where they'll look when they need to rekey, you are wasting your ad money. Sure, they love to see your ad while dining out, but they won't remember the name or the number.
However You can likely put your business card into someone's hands at that restaurant who might give it to that client!

[1mrchristopher]

School sports/band/choir advertising likely won't get you much in the way of business, but if you are feeling generous and you've had a good month, they are worthwhile programs to help sustain. I'm in no position yet, but in a year or two I hope to do those sorts of things on occasion. I can personally attest that I have never acted on an advertisement I saw on a menu, or on a shopping cart, or in free publications like Tidbits. I'm not sure who they think their target audience is: When I've just sat down and I'm hungry, the last thing I'm looking for is a better deal on my car insurance, steel siding, or locksmith services.

[Caesarkid1]

Putting an ad on Google seems like a good idea in this day an age seeing as how a person will likely search google for a locksmith in their area.

Also, retractable keychain's or lighters. A person will always have their lighter on them and will likely light-up if locked out. The keychain would get used on a daily basis and is more likely noticed by others and by the person with the keys than any kind of lettering on the key.

Google Adsense I think you pay based off of times people click on the link so it seems like the best option. The keychain or lighter could be a 'thank you for your business' option.

[billdeserthills]

I noticed that Dillions, a favorite BBQ joint of mine also sells advertising space on their dining tables. This looks like a real loser for the locksmith.

[globallockytoo]

wear a polo shirt with both front and back screen printed.....so people see you coming and going.

wear it everywhere....

In winter wear a hoody with same

be different to everyone else.....give away the 1st 3 keys with any rekey (most only give 2)