| As a courier, an empty or half filled van means you | | | | 3. Post classified ads in local newspapers |
| are losing money. Therefore, finding extra work to fill | | | | Many people look at the classifieds section in |
| your van's spare space is vital to a successful courier | | | | newspapers when they search for couriers or |
| business. The following tips should help you find the | | | | removal services. Having a listing there means you will |
| extra work that you need. | | | | have the chance to advertise yourself to many |
| 1. Have your own business cards | | | | potential customers. However, make sure the listing |
| This seems to be a very obvious practice but in | | | | fee is acceptable and check its effectiveness by |
| reality there are a surprisingly low number of couriers | | | | asking all of your customers where/how they heard |
| who have business cards. If you do not yet have | | | | about you. |
| your own business cards, please visit a local printing | | | | 4. Advertise on online classified and directory |
| shop and ask them to help you with this. If you do | | | | websites |
| have your own business cards, always carry a small | | | | With the increasing popularity of the Internet, many |
| business card box in your vehicle and a few cards in | | | | businesses including courier services have been |
| your wallet. | | | | brought online. Having presence on the Internet will |
| Customers are often forgetful and rarely save your | | | | definitely help you get more customers. |
| number so a business card serves well as a reminder. | | | | 5. Join online transport marketplace and courier |
| Besides, it also leverages the professionalism of your | | | | exchange websites |
| business. Always give each customer a few business | | | | These are currently the two most rapidly growing |
| cards so they can pass to their family and friends. | | | | trends in the haulage industry. Online transport |
| 2. Establish contacts with other local couriers | | | | marketplace's has not been around for long but have |
| In any type of business, relationships form a crucial | | | | been widely accepted as a very useful tool for |
| part of success and this is true also in the courier | | | | couriers to find backloads and return loads. Basically, a |
| industry. Creating a network of fellow couriers means | | | | customer posts a job on the website; you and other |
| you can get passed jobs which they cannot do or | | | | couriers then bid against each other and the |
| share jobs which they cannot handle on their own. | | | | customer will choose their favourite. Since a transport |
| Exchange business cards, email addresses and | | | | marketplace works similarly to eBay, you can build up |
| contact numbers with local couriers you know, as | | | | your reputation through feedback given by your |
| many as possible since any of them can potentially | | | | customers. Better feedback rating means you will |
| give you some extra work. Once business cards and | | | | have more chances to win jobs! |
| contact information are exchanged, do not forget to | | | | Courier exchanges are very much similar to the way |
| save their email addresses in your email address book | | | | you and your local fellow couriers exchange jobs with |
| and their phone number in your mobile phone | | | | each other. However, you are now exchanging jobs |
| contacts. That way you can tell who they are when | | | | with a larger audience, including other courier |
| they send you an email or give you a call without | | | | companies, freight brokers and freight forwarders. |
| having to look up your collection of business cards | | | | Courier exchanges are also very useful for helping |
| again. | | | | you to find backloads and return loads. |