Island Locks - Locksmith Courses - Lock Picking - Lock Opening - Locksmith Tools

Hi guys been a locksmith for nearly eight years now (since i left school) but i have always worked for other companys. then my dad got quite a big contract so started working with him as he is a locksmith too. Now it looks like the contract is coming to an end and we will have to go are seperate ways. Just wondering how everyone got started and any advice on what people think i should do first. From been in the trade for a while i know work can be hard to come by and just starting to get a bit worried as to where im gonna find work as ive always had a garenteed wage and like most of us have a family to feed. Do websites really bring in much work? Is yellow pages still worth advertising in or is internet taking over? All advice and suggestions welcome

Thanks Ben.

@Ben: I am sure you will get lots of advice on this topic, some contrasting, but all helpful I am sure. There quite a few topics about this on the forum so a scour through may also help as well?

This can be a real problem for tradesmen that have relied on contracts, or from companies offering subcontracting work, that when the contract ends or the subcontracting company ceases to trade, the work will simply stop. I have always advised that this type of work should never be relied upon solely as a source of work coming in, and that getting your own advertising and work is a must just for this reason.

I sound like I am 'tut tutting' you, but honestly I am not as I have seen this a lot over the years ans is all well and good in hindsight.

Hi Ben, I'm new to locksmith work but have run a couple of record labels and online stores over the years... so not sure if this will help, but having spent thousands in the past to have a website built and maintained for me , I looked into cheaper options and if you have some basic computer skills (if you can use word for example) you would have no trouble building a website using either www.mrsite.com or www.wix.com ... In my opinion Wix is better because you can have a basic website up for about $5 (US) per month and can cancel it at any time. Sorry if you are already a web programmer ;).... but if not this can take the expense out of at least being on the internet.

Cheers,

Adam.

Ben,

if you want to get started on t'interweb, have a look at the GBBO website.

You get a free domain name, webspace to host your site, Email and the tools to get it done for the amazingly low cost of £FREE.

I set myself up on there a week or so back, and while it's easy to set up a site, getting the content sorted can be the biggest hurdle!

Having come from an I.T. background into lock fettling, I found it quite simple to get things sorted.

While a website won't guarantee you get any customers, it's always good to have a web presence.

Have a look, you've got nowt to lose.

Cheers,

PAUL.

@adam. Thanks alot for the web advice i will check out both sites. Will they host the site for you aswell.

They will all host for you though most free websites will generate ad's on your site and templates, options etc are limited. For a small monthly fee you can have the ad's removed from your site and have more options. It's worth doing as if you have a locksmith web site the ad's will tend to show for your competition and can make people click away from your site.

The annoying adverts are an option on the GBBO setup.. You can turn them on or off at will. Costs nothing to do. The site is hosted for free on Google Sites, and you do get full ownership of any domain name for free, the hard bit is finding a name that is available..

The whole thing is a government sponsored initiative to get business online.

@ paul jay and adam, thanks alot guys for the advice and quick responses. Really like the sound of the GBBO.

@paul. sorry not really an IT person. When you say hosted on google sites do you mean it will appear in a google search for free?

Hello Ben the problem with a website is that its passive in other words people need to know the site before they can find you, you need to actively promote yourself and your site, a lot of people use the web to find locksmiths including yell.com, google and yahoo as long as your not in my area I will tell you how to get on page one of google local for nothing. Please PM me

Regards

Derek

@derek. Im in leeds

Hi Ben this is THE best place to get all info locksmith related .Im in security at mo but when i can get the finance this is where im training.I have researched lockies for 2 years.This is for me Good luck and a huge welcome to you from all of us

Ben,

Hiya again,

Without a shadow of doubt ( Yolasite ) is the best, make your chosen site, you can buy an ad free version for a few pounds or make a custom domain name - ie .co.uk / .com

£13.95 for a .com a year

£25.10 for a .co.uk for 2 years

Its always best to have a website even if its a free based site.

The GBBO site is only free for 2 years then you have to pay the question is how much??? Good site simple to use

I started working on a site last night using GBBO thanks guys.

Ben, I would also recommend getting some local advertising underway. It's all quite cheap to do and just takes a bit of time getting your ads right.

Think about doing small ad's in your local rag, local guides/directories, parish news letters etc. Get some business cards/fliers done and drop them into local business's, estate agents, letting agents, police stations etc. Well worth doing.

When you have your web site up and running spend some time putting your details on all the free local indexes which won't cost you a penny. Local, 020, etc etc. Get free listings on Yell.com, Thomweb, Bt.com etc.

When you are doing a job in a street, spend a moment going up and down the road putting cards through doors and business's. okay, 9/10 are binned but one will be kept?

Most importantly, think positive and know that you will make it work. With some time, effort and motivation nothing is impossible.

Thanks jay i didnt realise you could get free listings with yell.com or bt.

@Ben: Yes, you can do free listings with all three known phone directories. If you do though you will no doubt get calls from them trying to sell you advertising, but just politley say 'no thanks' and down the phone!

@Scotty dog .... Re the GBBO websites.. After 2 years the only fee is to renew your domain name, the rest is still free.

The last time I renewed a dot co dot youkay  domains, it was only £9.99 for 2 years..