21 Ways for a Gas Engineer to find work

1: Get a Website (only £25 per month)

You can get a website from Gas 101 for only £25 per month.

No matter what your business is, you should have a website. In today’s modern world, there is an expectation for any reputable company to have a website. Potential customers would likely be distrusting of any business that didn’t have a telephone number or a physical address, and the same can be said for not having a website and email address.

Gas 101 offers a website for £25 per month. They supply a mobile responsive template filled with sample content and pictures. You can change the content and pictures to make your website unique to you and help it rank on search engines like google.

Order a website from Websites For Gas Engineers here.

Or

2: Google Business page (FREE)
Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to promote your business profile and business website on Google Search and Maps. With your Google My Business account, you can see and connect with your customers, post updates to your Business Profile and see how customers are interacting with your business on Google.

3: Corgi (FREE)

Corgi is a great company to work for to fill the gaps.

How does it work? 

Once you’ve signed up, they send you a text asking if you want to accept a job, you either reply Yes or No. They pay around £50 per hour. When I was doing work for Corgi, I was getting about 5 hours of work a week.

 To join call 01383 628705

4: SOE (Search engine optimization) By Gas 101

With SEO every job has different requirements and requires a different approach. We would first need to assess your current website and rankings then provide you with a quote. On average, our SEO packages start from £350 per month. Click Here for more information or call 01424 233635

5: CheckATrade (Around £90 per month) Mention RSD HEATING with membership number 815069 to get a £50 voucher when you sign up (We both get one).

 *Update- CheckATrade is no longer recommended by Gas 101. 

CheckATrade is by far the best trade directory in the UK, they dominate search results on google (Test it for yourself, go on google and type ‘Gas Engineer in your area’ see if CheckATrade is on the first page.)

How to sign up and what do they check?

Qualifications – proof that you are qualified to undertake your chosen profession

Insurance – proof that you hold public liability and combined insurance if you employ people

Utility Bills –at least one utility bill that shows you live/work from the place you state you do

Identification – photo identification (passport/driver’s licence)

Trading Standards – permission for them to talk to trading standards about you

Referees – We recommend that all new members supply at least 5 of their previous customers which we personally telephone to find out about their experience.

Code of Ethics and Conduct – to sign and agree to follow them

Credit Check on Limited Companies – They perform a Credit Check on applicants that are Limited and Limited Liability Partnership companies to check their financial history.

Sign Up Click Here  or Call 03301626328 remember to mention RSD Heating & membership number 815069 to get a £50 voucher when you sign up.

6: MyBuilder

With MyBuilder it’s free to send an introduction message to a homeowner. You only pay a fee when the homeowner shortlists you and verified contact details are exchanged. Their shortlist fees typically range from £2 to £35 depending on the size of the job. There are no joining fees or membership fees and no hidden costs.

Click here to sign up 

7: Rated People (From £35+Vat Per month)

Customers post jobs, and you as tradespeople buy these leads.

Every month Rated People give your money back in credit, which you can use to spend on leads.

The average cost of a lead is £15+VAT, and depends on things like location, size of the job, and demand.

It’s a 12-month contract, and there’s a cooling-off period so you can decide if it’s right for you.

Three tradespeople can buy any lead, so it’s high competition and very completive on price.

Click Here to sign up

8: BOXT

Boxt is an online boiler installation company. They pay around £400 per install (straight swap). Choose when and where you want to work. Get a steady flow of jobs, audited by expert engineers. Get paid automatically, and say goodbye to tedious paperwork.

You sign up to Boxt via their APP. Here’s the link to sign up Click Here 

9: Local Estate Agents

This is a simple one, go in and talk to the person in charge of maintenance. Don’t just post your business card, go in so that they can put a face to your business.

Tips

• Have a photocopy of your Gas Safe Registration and insurance already printed.
• Give them a printed copy of your prices.
• Remember working with estate agents isn’t for everyone; they generally take 30days to pay invoices.

10: Leaflet drops

Leaflet drops can be a great way to get your name out there.  

Tips

• Don’t put too much information on the leaflet; keep it short and straightforward.
• When you work in a house, deliver leaflets to the neighbouring houses.
• Get the timing right, for example, in September when customers start turning their boiler on.

Check our Fiverr to get leaflets designed and Vista Print to get them printed.

11: Local Papers
There isn’t much to say about this, contact local papers and see how much they charge for ads. They typically cost between £50 to £100 per month. Remember to ask your customers how they found you, so you can track what’s working.

12: Search Engine Pay Per Click
Search engines like Google and Bing operate on a pay-per-click model, in which users bid on keywords and pay for each click on their advertisements. Every time a search is initiated, Google digs into the pool of Ads advertisers and chooses a set of winners to appear in the valuable ad space on its search results page.
Gas 101 will soon have a tutorial showing Gas Engineers how to set up Facebook Ads.

13: Facebook Paid Ads
Social network advertising, also social media targeting, is a group of terms that are used to describe forms of online advertising that focus on social networking services. One of the significant benefits of this type of advertising is that advertisers can take advantage of the users’ demographic information and target their ads appropriately.

Gas 101 will soon have a tutorial showing Gas Engineers have to set up Facebook Ads.

14: Networking like BNI
Networking is a great way to connect with potential customers. By joining BNI, you’ll increase your exposure to like-minded professionals, gain referrals from a global network and sharpen your networking skills with exclusive member resources.
The biggest disadvantage to BNI is its very time-consuming.
You will need to check your Local Chapter to see if they have a space for a Gas Engineer. Here’s the link https://www.bni.com/.

15: Vehicle signwriting

Here are the key benefits of having your van sign written.
Low-Cost Advertising
Contact Details are always on show
Makes your business look more professional
Can sometimes lower your insurance.
DISADVANTAGES OF SIGNWRITING YOUR VAN
Increases the risk of theft
You are continually representing your business, so if your driving isn’t up to standard, maybe, signwriting isn’t for you.

16: Conveyancing Solicitors (FREE)

Conveyancers deal with property sales, so if you can get them to recommend you to their clients, it could bring you a nice flow of work. Simply go in and have a chat with them, maybe offer them a referral fee for each client they find you.

17: Foreign Language Schools (FREE)

All host families need a landlord gas safety check, getting the language school to recommend you will bring you in a nice flow of work. Simply go in and have a chat with them, maybe offer them a referral fee for each client they find you.

18: Subcontracting to other engineers–

If you’re struggling to find work, contact other local engineers and let them know you have availability and what your charges are, it will most likely be lower than your normal rate, probably between £130 and £300.

19: Posters

Posters can be a cheap way to get good brand awareness for your business. You can hang them up on local community boards, Cafes, and local shops. Most Co-ops have a free notice board, and One-Stop charge around 50p per week.

20: Email marketing (FREE)

Emailing your current customers is by far the best way to get work. From service reminders to upselling things like Smart controls and system filters.
Gas 101 will soon have a tutorial showing Gas Engineers how to set up Email Marketing.

21: Local Heroes (FREE)
Local Heroes is another excellent way to fill gaps. It’s very flexible, you can pick the jobs you want when you want them.
To join, Local Heroes will check the following:
Your Gas Safe Registration
Your public liability schedule or certificates
Your employers’ liability schedule or certificates (if you have employees)
Reviews of previous work showing your experience (web links are accepted)
Your profile picture
Your DBS check (this isn’t essential)
Your proof of bank account (statement, letter or screenshot)
We also ask for some specific qualifications and experience
For more information or to join click here

22:Facebook business page (Free)

Facebook business page (Free)
Marketing a business on Facebook requires a “Business Page.” It’s actually against Facebook’s Term of Service to have a personal profile for a business, so don’t make the mistake of using a Personal Profile for a business. Setting one up is free and only takes a few minutes, watch the video below if you need help setting one up.