I prospect for work ALL THE TIME.
i have a 30+ year career as an artist, designer, and finisher. I have always been way busier than I can handle. The econami has changed some of the elements. Many design firms that ALWAYS used me are slow and some out of biz. Some of my contacts are layed off or had to find work in other fields.
I've created a postcard that i use.
1 empty spaces
I put one in EVERY for rent for lease or empty space. regardless of if it is going to be a restaurant, salon, retail or unknown. The cards are often picked up by prospective lessees...perhaps not even of that space.
I know that sooner or later somebody is going to do something and it's my best shot at a chance to bid.
2 restaurants
I give 50 or a 100 postcards to restaurants we have done work in. i ask the manager or owner for their approval and ask the servers or hostesses to hand them out if people compliment any of the work. i don't want a tip dependent server to have to go in the office scramble for my number and lose momentum. people often ask who did this floor.
3business cards
I keep them with me and hand them out instead of business cards as I go through my day.
4 job sites
i ask other tradespeople for THEIR CARD. i say it's been a pleasure to get to know them and I look forward to working with them again...in fact i'd reccomend them to my future clients...at that point they always ask for my card. the best place for a tradesman to have my card is in his truck. fabulous source of leads
5 tradeshows
i am an exibitor at one tradeshow a year. of course I give them out at the hospitalikty design show in las vegas. but I always get their card and follow up.
6 attending tradeshows
as an attendee. i take my postcards because you never know what small company will be opening a showroom and need stained concrete or finishes
7 contact i use them as mail peices to jog old customers memory...we are still here, I sent them to prospective clients and after I've made an intro phone call
ssstast
