In Field Service Business, like any other small business, success depends to a large extent on the new leads they can generate and customer calls  received. This is especially true for independent contractors like Builders, Cleaning services, Computer Technicians etc. While these businesses traditionally used to generate leads by being available on Yellow Pages, Local Ads, Word of Mouth etc, this is rapidly changing to online visibility where customers are searching for their service requirements.

Here are few pointers which a small business can use to generate more jobs for their field service business, and most of them are absolutely free.

1. Create Your Own Website

For field service business owners, no matter how small or large the business, having a website is an absolute necessity. Customers search and find your services online. They find and compare credentials, your work, testimonials, service hours and costs with your competitors before deciding to give you a call. Having a website also makes it easy for customers to recommend you to their friends easily.

Creating a Website is also very simple and you may be able to do it yourself without help of any designers or software developers.

Google Sites (http://sites.google.com)

Google Sites is a free and easy way to create your website. With its easy to choose templates and integration of other Google Apps like documents, calendar etc. this is one good simple service for small businesses.

2. Get Listed in Business Directories

Traditional yellow pages and local directories are replaced now with online business directories. Most of these directories give you a free basic listing and an enhanced listing for a fee. Getting listed on these directories will take only few minutes of your time, but can generate sufficient number of leads for your business.

Google Local Business Center (http://google.com/LocalBusinessCenter)

Google Local Business Center allows Small Businesses to get listed with their service details. Listing includes business contact details, map location, business hours, services offered, payment options you offer. You can also maintain multiple listings if you have offices in different cities. Yes, its free.

Similar Options
Yahoo.com Local Features
http://listings.local.yahoo.com/

Bing.com
https://ssl.bing.com/listings/

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Craiglist (http://craigslist.org/)

Craigslist is a supremely popular listings site, especially in US. It provides local classifieds and forums for jobs, housing, for sale, personals, services, local community, and events. You can list your field service business in this directory as per the location you operate. Payment is per classified.

Yell.com (http://www.yell.com)

Yell.com is UK’s local search engine, providing access to classified business information, including business website, addresses, phone numbers. A very detailed listing site with service offering ranging from free listing to classified ads etc. Recommended.

3. Join Field Service Market Places

One of the new ways of generating business leads is from Field Service Market Places. Market Places allow customers post specific requirements, or search for contractors. Service Providers can list their services and also bid for these opportunities. Typically Market Places charge a transaction fee or monthly fee for these services.

ServiceMagic
http://servicemagic.com – For US
http://www.servicemagic.co.uk/ – For UK

ServiceMagic allows customers to post their requirements and match them with field service professionals. Listing is free, ServiceMagic charges for each customer lead generated depending upon the service category.

MyBuilder (http://mybuilder.com)

UK based field service, independent contractor market place. Service Companies need to register to access the work profiles posted. Fee is 40 Pounds per quarter.

4. Internet Advertising

You can also advertise your service offerings on the Internet without any outside help. When customers are searching for specific requirements on search engines like Google or Yahoo, your business can appear with the search result listing. Payment is for the number of clicks (leads) and the type of words you have bid.

Google Adwords (http://adwords.google.com)

Google AdWords is the most popular form of pay per click advertising for small businesses, partly because of Google’s popularity and prominence.

Yahoo Ads (http://advertising.yahoo.com/smallbusiness/ysm)

Similar to Google, delivers highly targeted customer leads to your business by showing your ads within paid search results across the Web. Both Cost and Traffic generated is slightly lower than Google.