Really you need to learn how to market your business, which starts with defining exactly who you think your ideal target clients are. Work out what the value is for your product or service and how you are going to communicate that effectively to them.

You then need to think about where these potential clients might go, what they might read and who they might associate with. Where would they look for a book keeper if they needed one, online, in a telephone directory – who would they ask?

If your target client is the small business owner, networking events can be good source of new leads.

Making contact with people that already have a relationship with your potential clients can also be a good way to get the word out, (business advisers, business start up services, virtual assistants, secretarial service - make a list). These people may well be happy to recommend you and potentially you could do the same for them. 

Business link's supplier matching service is free and works well for certain businesses.  Putting up a few post cards advertising your services in local newsagents and on the local post offices notice board is inexpensive and might catch someone’s eye.

A small regular linage advert in the classified business service section of your local paper might also generate some enquiries. If you get one client and they are happy with what you do for them, ask them to recommend you to someone else who might need your service.

My book ‘85 inspiring ways to market your small business’ explains all you need do to market your services effectively.

I was in the same position last year and have tried various forms of advertising. Advertising in local newsagents got me my first client. Another came from answering an advert in a local newsagent. The majority came once I set up a website through Customer Street/ufindus. I also joined the FSB and attended their networking events successfully getting a couple of clients.I am now turning down work I'm so busy - the website was money well spent. I didn't have any success advertising in the local paper and surprisingly haven't had much response from being in Yellow Pages. It may also be worth contacting other local bookkeepers to see if they can direct any work your way as this is what I'm having to do with any enquiries I get at the moment.

Try fax advertising. its not for every business but for something like book-keeping it could well work for you. I use FireStormLtd.co.uk. You could probably saturate your local area for very little cost. Tip: Do a sequence of 3 shots though.

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