Other than the standard 'yellow pages' advertisements, what sort of marketing do you find brings you the best results in terms of quality andquantity of paying clients? Where do you get your best draws from? Thank you. -M
From Community support. Such as sponsoring Girls Softball teams, Boys baseball, giving scholarships to school kids. I sponsor 2 or 3 ball teams a year. Much less than a good newspaper ad. No one reads the newspaper ads anyway. But the whole town and visiting teams and other towns when your team goes out of town to play. Will see your T shirts with your name and phone number. Give it a try. -WR
Hello, I find that the first most important place to advertise for PI's is the yellow pages and small ads in out of state markets and out of city markets. Then, the next layer of advertising is sponsering sports teams like hockey, baseball and soccor teams etc. That gives you local reconigition with the community. I dont think the chamber helps much but like sports teams lets people see your name in another place. Now joining groups like ours and ASIS and other PI groups is very valuable but we all forgot the telephone elect web sites also is great because most people look into the computer first to establish who or what companies are around. Hope i helped. -BR
Where you advertise really depends on what type of services you aremarketing, and you many want to advertise in different places for different types of services. For instance. We do a fair amount of Pre-employment background checks for local companies. Last fall we had a nice heavyweight multi-color flyer printed. Our local Chamber of Commerce sends out about 2000 newsletters every month to local members. For the cost of the flyers,and $150 to the chamber, they insert the flyers in their newsletter. I have received a ton of new background check clients over the past few months fromthat. Another thing WE do, but may not work in your market is the following: We have two local college sports play by play announcers that have a 6-9am morning talk show. They basically just sit around and BS, but they have a huge following of business owners and middle aged men. I go on there live twice a week. We BS, talk about local events, and then talk about my business. It is pretty cheap, and I have built quite a following locally to where I run into people I know on the street, and they talk to me about what they heard on the radio that week. The other thing is, I get a lot of calls from business owners, and some from the public calling to hire us because they heard me on the radio and "felt like the know me". It makes them much more comfortable calling someone with their problems when the feel like they have a connection.
We also advertise on the radio in certain markets and situations, State Bar newsletters and magazines, just a name mention in the yellow pages, and several other areas. Other areas you might look into, depending on what you provide, is that Every year they have a statewide Para-legal convention, and we always sponsor that and they hand out our brochures and business cards. I also keep good connections with some of the newspaper reporters here and whenever we do something that is of interested to the news, AND is ok to talk about publicly, we get together and they write a story. You can't beat the free advertising you get in those stories of reuniting siblings separated 20 years ago, or the interview on how to protect yourself from identity theft, or why do background checks, etc. there are a ton of ideas to get you good FREE press, but be careful with that. I have been doing this for 16 years, and it has taken a long time to cultivate relationships with reporters to where you know when and what you can talk about and when to keep your mouth shut. Also in 100% of my marketing I make sure and refer them to our website for more information. If you have any questions, feel free to email me privately. Hope I may have given you at least one idea to help out. -RH
You shot gunned the group on that question, so maybe if you narrow it down you'll get the answer you are looking for.
1. What area (if any ) do you specialize in?
2. Some investigators don't even have a number in the phone book.
3. Others place a huge quarter page ad in the book and does nothing but government contracts, ( go figure)
4. If you are a jack of all trades you will have to resort to outside marketing. Mass advertising, i.e. phone book, newpapers, flyers, business cards (and a lot of them to everyone you see, give one!)
5. If you narrow your list of work to one or two areas you really like, for example looking for people, push skip tracing. People are always wondering "what would of happened if......" then are curious as to where they are.
6. Homocide investigations. (go after criminal defense attorneys)
7. Insurance: go after insurance adjustors
8. an on and on.
Think about this, I have a feeling you haven't been a PI long and are taking anything that comes in. This is very normal and don't think otherwise. Find your own niche and work it till your nuckles are white. You'll make it if you have the creativity, ambition, drive and desire to eat. Be cautious in your quest to take files on. You take too many of different types and you are bound to make errors. Keep in mind this is a long term thing. Eventually word of mouth will be your best advertising. -BB
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Ballistics Information and Data
Group we are working an attempted homicide / suicide pro bono. Is anyone aware of where we could gather ballistic data for a 25 calRaven Arms pistol? Specifically how close the weapon can be to thetarget and not leave tattooing and the average distance the casingis ejected from the weapon after firing. -MW
You may try contacting a company called HP White located in Street, Maryland. HP White conducts a variety of ballistic testing for numerous agencies and may have information available for you, if not at least they could probably send you in the right direction,
Hope this helps. -MD
Your question about Tattooing would relate more so to the specific ammunition that was used less to the weapon. The distance that the casing traveled would relate to both the weapon and the ammo. BUT not all of the casings (from the same ammo lot) fired from the same weapon will land in the same area. -WL
You may try contacting a company called HP White located in Street, Maryland. HP White conducts a variety of ballistic testing for numerous agencies and may have information available for you, if not at least they could probably send you in the right direction,
Hope this helps. -MD
Your question about Tattooing would relate more so to the specific ammunition that was used less to the weapon. The distance that the casing traveled would relate to both the weapon and the ammo. BUT not all of the casings (from the same ammo lot) fired from the same weapon will land in the same area. -WL
Conducting Surveillance in a Hotel
Going in cold on a surveillance at a hotel with interior room entrances -need to watch a particular room's door. Wont know which till I get thereand check the layout. Anyone got a tried'n'true excuse for requesting acertain room from the desk clerk on arrival (assuming the one i'll want isunoccupied)? Or at the very least, a good excuse for wanting a certainfloor and certain side of the hotel?Its a major chain - I assume their records would show I've never stayed, sosome "sentimental reasons" bit won't work.Any ideas would be appreciated... -BG
When you're booking a room, just ask the clerk "Is room xxx available?" Itdoesn't matter if you stayed there before, there's no way they're going tocheck anyway, and they won't care what your reasons are (because you're notgoing to give them a reason), nor will they ask you for one. They're alsonot going to notify the person in the room next to you (your subject) that BG specifically requested that room.If it's not available, just ask for a room on the floor you want.No need to make it complicated or try to be sneaky. Sometimes the simplestway to get what you want is just to ask for it. -JP
I agree with JP that the less said the better. However, if you areuncomfortable with that and feel compelled to give a reason for requesting roomnumber (- - -) just say it is your lucky number. -SC
How about using the pretext that it was the room where you spent your_____________ (Just fill in the blank,....honeymoon, anniversary, specialbirthday, where you stayed while on a business trip and found out you weregoing to be a Dad/Granddad for the first time, etc.) If the hotel has acasino, I like the idea of "Its your lucky number." -DR
I found that $50.00 and saying it's my lucky number, has worked everytime I have used it. -TA
I fail to see why there is any need whatsoever for a pretext here.
B: Hi, I'd like to book a room please; is room 256 available?
Clerk: Let me check... Yes, that room's available, sir.
B: Ok, I'll take that.
End of conversation.
Slipping $50 to the clerk is not only a waste of 50 bucks, but no one tips adesk clerk $50. All that does is make the clerk wonder why you're sodesperate to have that room. Next thing you know, the whole hotel staffknows you're an awesome tipper and everybody's talking about you. They'llbe cleaning your room 12 times a day and you won't be able to get into yourbed for all the mints on your pillow. -JP
One thing that I want to emphasize here is that the people in the room thatyou are surveilling have the right to the expectation of privacy. Youcannot legally use a snake cam, nor can you use anything that recordsvoices. what you can do is log their comings and goings (no pun intended)and you can take notes about what you hear with the naked ear (again no pun) through the walls.
Having been down this road of renting the room next to such and such I havefound that it works well if you keep it in perspective. One thing I ialsorecommend is to get by however means you can copies of the room serviceorders and bills. At some point your going to want a copy of theregistration. Not possible without subpoena unless you make a deal withsecurity which is increasingly difficult. Be prepared with considerableamounts of cash to talk to maids, bartenders and other service people. -EH
I haven't used it yet (haven't had the need), but according to a friend ofmine in Las Vegas, who gets a fair amount of domestic cases there, he asks"has my friend (subject) checked in yet I would like the closet room tohim/them.please." At least if the adjacent/opposite rooms are taken you havechance of getting on the same floor, which could be important if the roomkey is necessary to access that floor. Plus it solves the problem of tryingto determine their room number, which can be difficult. The clerk couldn'tcare less and is very unlikely to say anything to the subject. -BT
When you're booking a room, just ask the clerk "Is room xxx available?" Itdoesn't matter if you stayed there before, there's no way they're going tocheck anyway, and they won't care what your reasons are (because you're notgoing to give them a reason), nor will they ask you for one. They're alsonot going to notify the person in the room next to you (your subject) that BG specifically requested that room.If it's not available, just ask for a room on the floor you want.No need to make it complicated or try to be sneaky. Sometimes the simplestway to get what you want is just to ask for it. -JP
I agree with JP that the less said the better. However, if you areuncomfortable with that and feel compelled to give a reason for requesting roomnumber (- - -) just say it is your lucky number. -SC
How about using the pretext that it was the room where you spent your_____________ (Just fill in the blank,....honeymoon, anniversary, specialbirthday, where you stayed while on a business trip and found out you weregoing to be a Dad/Granddad for the first time, etc.) If the hotel has acasino, I like the idea of "Its your lucky number." -DR
I found that $50.00 and saying it's my lucky number, has worked everytime I have used it. -TA
I fail to see why there is any need whatsoever for a pretext here.
B: Hi, I'd like to book a room please; is room 256 available?
Clerk: Let me check... Yes, that room's available, sir.
B: Ok, I'll take that.
End of conversation.
Slipping $50 to the clerk is not only a waste of 50 bucks, but no one tips adesk clerk $50. All that does is make the clerk wonder why you're sodesperate to have that room. Next thing you know, the whole hotel staffknows you're an awesome tipper and everybody's talking about you. They'llbe cleaning your room 12 times a day and you won't be able to get into yourbed for all the mints on your pillow. -JP
One thing that I want to emphasize here is that the people in the room thatyou are surveilling have the right to the expectation of privacy. Youcannot legally use a snake cam, nor can you use anything that recordsvoices. what you can do is log their comings and goings (no pun intended)and you can take notes about what you hear with the naked ear (again no pun) through the walls.
Having been down this road of renting the room next to such and such I havefound that it works well if you keep it in perspective. One thing I ialsorecommend is to get by however means you can copies of the room serviceorders and bills. At some point your going to want a copy of theregistration. Not possible without subpoena unless you make a deal withsecurity which is increasingly difficult. Be prepared with considerableamounts of cash to talk to maids, bartenders and other service people. -EH
I haven't used it yet (haven't had the need), but according to a friend ofmine in Las Vegas, who gets a fair amount of domestic cases there, he asks"has my friend (subject) checked in yet I would like the closet room tohim/them.please." At least if the adjacent/opposite rooms are taken you havechance of getting on the same floor, which could be important if the roomkey is necessary to access that floor. Plus it solves the problem of tryingto determine their room number, which can be difficult. The clerk couldn'tcare less and is very unlikely to say anything to the subject. -BT
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
What is Service of Process?
Legal process service refers to the rules of law prescribing the manner, and upon whom, a summons and complaint giving a defendant notice of a lawsuit, must be served. The person giving notice (process server) must be someone other than a party to the lawsuit, who is eighteen (18) years or older, and competent to be a witness. It is important to note that many jurisdictions and states also require registration or licensing in addition to licensure or obtaining a bond.
The delivery of copies of legal documents such as summons, complaint, subpoena, order to show cause (order to appear and argue against a proposed order), writs, notice to quit the premises and certain other documents, usually by personal delivery to the defendant or other person to whom the documents are directed. ...
The act by which a party is given notice, by delivery of a summons, of a legal proceeding in which a person is concerned, and an action which a person is commanded to take or not to take.
service: the act of delivering a writ or summons upon someone; "he accepted service of the subpoena"
Service of process in Pensacola is the term given to legal notice of a court or administrative body's exercise of its jurisdiction over individuals who are the subject of proceedings or actions brought before such court, body or other tribunal.
The delivery of copies of legal documents such as summons, complaint, subpoena, order to show cause (order to appear and argue against a proposed order), writs, notice to quit the premises and certain other documents, usually by personal delivery to the defendant or other person to whom the documents are directed. ...
The act by which a party is given notice, by delivery of a summons, of a legal proceeding in which a person is concerned, and an action which a person is commanded to take or not to take.
service: the act of delivering a writ or summons upon someone; "he accepted service of the subpoena"
Service of process in Pensacola is the term given to legal notice of a court or administrative body's exercise of its jurisdiction over individuals who are the subject of proceedings or actions brought before such court, body or other tribunal.
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