Need your advice

[linny]

Hello,

I am a stay at home genealogist. Which means I research people's families in Virginia for a fee. I need advice on how to drum up some more business. I have done some research for people but not a whole lot. I am running out of ideas on how to get the word out to people about my business. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Right now I only have a Facebook page for it. You can see that by clicking the link in my signature. Also while you are viewing my Facebook page if you think that page needs anything please let me know.


Thanks,

Linda

[MarcelinaWrites]

Hi Linda,

Have you use YouTube?

Have you done the SEO - backlinks - getting traffic to your website route?

Have you joined your Chamber of Commerce?

Have you done local marketing?

These are some ideas...let me know if you need some more help.

[drpurl]

Do you have an online paper...
Craigslist in your area...
Pass out business cards.
Just a few cheap ideas.

[angienewton]

Linda,
To be honest, you really need a website/blog. I would highly recommend just getting set up on Wordpress (.org) and blogging. You'll need a domain name and hosting account.

You have a ton of potential with a website. Your Facebook page could go away any day so you need your own web property.

With a website, you can then add affiliate marketing to your list of ways to build your business.

That is my best advice.

[EstherL]

Another idea - on your FB page, instead of just posting facts about history/genealogy, try posting sometimes about what genealogy is, how it can benefit someone to know this info, and what types of services you offer. Under your "about" section, provide more info. Instead of, "I research Virginia families", say something like, "I can help you uncover your family's rich history and provide you with a detailed written report."

Also, are you only interested in staying with researching within Virginia? You are limiting yourself to a pretty narrow target market that way. Perhaps you might consider surrounding states as well, or even the entire US? I guess it depends on how much time you have and/or your ability or interest level in researching those other places. I realize some of this research has to be done in person, which is why you might have to stay local.

Some of the other posters provided some great tips, but I also would second the idea of using YouTube, setting up a blog/website to provide value to potential customers. Also consider visiting local libraries and other local groups (Rotary, Kiwanis, etc) and offering to do free talks about genealogy! That might spark some interest. Then you could have a flyer to hand out to anyone who might want to connect with you later on.

Good luck!

[linny]

Thank you all for the feedback. As always I greatly appreciate it.

I am limiting myself to Virginia because of the time and travel it takes to go anywhere outside of Virginia. I will eventually expand to outside of Virginia as my business grows.

Thank you for the idea about putting more then just facts about Virginia on the FB page because there are many benefits about why you need to know your ancestry. I don't know why I hadn't thought about it.


I am looking at the wordpress blog about putting my domain name on it but I don't know if I need hosting if I am going to have my domain name on it.

Also I have two domain names which I am thinking of using both of them and having both be directed to the wordpress blog in case of spelling errors.

[angienewton]

You definitely need hosting for Wordpress. If you use the Wordpress.com blog you cannot monetize it so it's useless for what you are trying to accomplish.

Grab a hosting account at Host Gator and then change your name servers at your domain registrar to Host Gator's. Then you'll use your domain name for your blog.

You can definitely have one domain forward to the other, no problem.

[linny]

Thank you Angie for answering my question about wordpress I appreciate it.

[lindastacy]

Just to be clear ('cause I'm not sure it is often clear to new bloggers) starting a blog is just that... a start. You still have to promote your business. Blogging has some built in features and plugins that help with marketing, but blogging in and of itself is not magical - learn something about online marketing and SEO.

[linny]

I agree Linda it is a stepping stone into the right direction. You still have to grow your business.