So Frustrated
 

No self promotion. There is nowhere in the Villages where someone trying to provide services can get the word out. You can't post it here, you can't post it on Nextdoor neighborhood sites, you can't put anything up at the postal stations, you can't go door to door( no soliciting). What can one do to promote a new side job?

You can post it on several Villages groups on Facebook including Word of Mouth. You can become a sponsor of Talk of the Villages and post your advertisement. You can buy ad space on any newspaper, as long as your service is legal.

You can get a magnetized sign and put it on the door of your vehicle. You can have a bumper sticker made and put it on your bumper.

You can look up groups and clubs that have your service as an interest, and join those clubs. You can join the Chamber of Commerce and network.

The POA Bulletin has ads, the Daily Sun likely has ads, the online news that shall not be named has ads, and even this site has ads. All those are primarily for Villagers but there is a whole world of advertising for those outside the Villages. Free advertising is going to be harder to find.

If you want to provide a service at no charge then you might look for a club that matches your interests. You could also try contacting the admins for this site; they might not object to a post about offering free help.

You can create a business page on Nextdoor.

The BEST advertising is word of mouth. I was self employed for more than 40 years, and the best jobs always came from, referrals. When ever you do whatever it is you do, simply ask your customer if they could leave a review for you on here or Nextdoor or on Google. Ask you current customer if they know anyone that might be able to use you and get a telephone number, followup with a call letting them know "their friend" referred you to them.

Lots of free (no money required) advertising is always available, be creative.

Oh, I DO NOT put signs along the sides of roads or at corners or street pole. It annoys as more people than you will get. And it's illegal to post signage on public property.

I like to help out folks with irrigation issues so whenever an issue like this comes up on Talk of The Villages I'll reply or send them a private message. Works well.

This is NOT meant to be a smarta_s answer, but...

How about hiring a pilot to fly a banner advertising your business around and over TV? I've seen a couple of them. Something along the lines of "for _____, call ____. 000-000-0000.

Probably be a one-time only thing because of the cost but it would be a pretty powerful and memorable way to get the word out.

I would definitely advertise on my vehicle. I often see a vehicle with a business name and phone number, and take a photo of it so I can add it to my phone contacts.

I do the same but also ask my neighbor their thoughts on the service provided

Good advice. It is the way I recruited a provider to service my A/C. Saw the name and number on the van, did some online clicking which was quite positive, called them and established a relationship with them. Quite satisfied.

Some folks give Retirement a bad rap..

All great ideas!!

Good ideas - and CraigsList?

Maybe you should have dropped a subtle hint on what services you provide in your post.

Starting a business is hard. The question, no need to answer here. Are you looking to start a business, for money, or is a hobby? Everywhere, perhaps more so here, there is hey you do........... would you do mine for FREE.

A business structure. TAXES and RISK OF BEING SUED are MONSTERS waiting to eat you alive. Employees? Increased TAXES, RISK OF BEING SUED and PAPERWORK.

Ads and free articles. Typical, based on past experience, not here, but, likely here as well. You discuss placing an ad. Either the person you are talking to or you should say how about an article. Everybody wins.

Oh, I was self employed. You are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The BOSS, the boss is NUTS and people wonder if you scream at the boss why you seem to be talking to yourself. Benefit package. If your work for someone else typically 40-50% possibly more of your income is untaxed benefit package.
Self employed-benefit package is ZERO unless YOU pay for it. Social security,
the largest tax many pay is 7%. Your employer matches what you pay-tax free to you, by the way. Self employed you pay 13%

Newspaper ad

You can buy ads on Talk of the Villages. This form here.

I see folks “hawking” themselves on NextDoor all the time ……

Fliers in newspaper, also door to door is legal.

Craig's List. It's always the first place I look.

Use the newspaper. Enough posting things all over TV.

I’ve had five business in my life and sold the last two. Best way to grow your business is to start with social media (Facebook works great in the villages), referrals and lots of networking. Go to group functions and when people ask what you do. Give a card if they are interested.

Takes time and effort to establish.

I'm not acquainted with Next Door. Clue me in what is it and how do I access Next Door?

I come from a long line of family own retail business and my dad always said:

"If you really want to know what people are like, start a retail business."

Best personal life experience you can get.

There is no such thing as a free lunch: spend $$$. Advertise.

Nextdoor.com. You sign up with your local address and email address.

Door to door has a VERY BAD reputation in TV. Many of them are scammers, so the result is guilt by association. I personally would high recommend NOT being a door knocker.

Nextdoor is another social media platform. Google it. It is targeting "neighborhoods" and in national (international?). When you sign up you provide and address, and how many posts you want to see - nearby, around may neighborhood, etc. It is also free. And it also has many of the same posting rules you see here. I think it does allow "private groups" and one is political.

It is not JUST for The Villages, and some posts will be from neighbors living outside TV.

What news paper use to be for till Craigslist took over.

Craigslist free lunch as long as you can deal with baggage.

Thank you all for your suggestions. I just want to perform my service for a price as a way for extra pocket ( golf) money. I have no intention of going in to business. Just something I'm capable of doing.
Times have changed I remember when it was common practice to self promote on these forums

The only way forums like this are able to operate is either with donations, charge a fee to participate or the selling of advertising. This one chooses to sell advertising. Unfortunately advertising is just part of doing business.

"THESE" forums are Talk of the Villages, which offers paid advertising.

You can go to Facebook and join the Villages groups, there are several that allow word of mouth self-promotion.

In addition, had you spent a moment to mention the TYPE of business you're talking about, someone who might be interested in that service, would've sent you a direct message to ask for further details.

It would probably help a lot if you understood better what forums are. There are millions of them on the internet. Some allow self-promotions, some don't. This one will let you self promote for a fee.

Also, all those folks posting their REAL NAMES and LOCATION on Nextdoor are (IMO) totally nuts, Takes 30 seconds to find out exactly where anyone lives especially in FL if you have their name. I think that is totally nuts doing that on The Internet. Yes, you can use a fake name. Easy to do. Of course if you want to offer a business that's another story. I find it remarkable seeing (mostly) all real names posted there. Much worse than folks using their email on here as their username. Aside from the public records here in FL just Google yourself. You may be very surprised.

That is known (especially to the Feds) as a business. :)

There is a group called Villages Workers in FB you can post on.

Facebook!!!

I share your pain but the reality is all businesses require money to make money as the saying goes. But there are great ideas above in various posts and all it takes is some effort to get the word out. As an example my wife dog sits and went around the first year with lots of business cards in her golf cart and whenever she saw someone walking a dog would give it out. Another idea not currently being mentioned is simply the fact of the local activities directors and homeowners office people knowing what you do as many people will call the office to get recommendation. PS my wife is booked through September.