It’s not ‘desperate’ to look for work. People like the fact you are interested and hard working.
1. Don’t cut prices, add value
For example say ”If you book now, I’ll do [PAT test five items for free, give you a smoke alarm etc] anything which costs you little but adds value to your offer.
2. Leaflets – a simple paper flyer
You can print these off at home using brightly coloured paper stating business name, what you do (painter, electrician, gardener etc) with perhaps five key services. Go around an area one evening and post through doors. It’s good to do this yourself as you can make sure they actually get delivered. Expect to do around 80-100 in an hour. You may only get 1-2 replies per 100 leaflets but the value of the work could be £100’s or even £1,000s
When you finish a job, put leaflets through the doors of the neighbouring properties. The occupants will have seen you working and your vehicle and know that their neighbour has trusted you.
For more on using leaflets
3. Contact previous customers
They have given you work before and they might want more done but haven’t got around to calling or lost your number.
4. Ask previous customers for referrals
See above – if they haven’t got work, they may know someone who does.
5. Buddy up
Trades can complement each other. I don’t mean admiring each other’s vans or tool boxes! If you are a kitchen fitter, have a list of complementary trades such as electricians, decorators, plumbers, you can recommend to your customers. Likewise, they can recommend you, which is you ultimate aim. The BNI networking group has a motto which is ‘Givers gain’. This means that by helping others, you will receive help in return.
