He needed a web site making, so we swapped services with no money changing hands.

I built him a web site for his surveying business and the enquiries came in at a time when the UK government introduced new asbestos at work legislation. Talk about timing!

My friend couldn’t handle the volume of business so I took a training course – it was only a few days.

I passed the exam, got qualified and started doing the surveys with my friend – strangely, going two-handed to each job substantially cut the time on site, so we found we could do more work than our competitors.

The enquiries kept coming and we split the asbestos part of the general surveying business into a separate limited company that trades in it’s own right.

Then I went to work on the general surveying side of the business with a few new web sites promoting that aspect of the work and the same thing happened, so now, although I am not qualified, I make from building surveying than most professionally qualified surveyors.

The enquiries we get online would excite even the largest surveying practices and would put their sales teams to shame – as it is, the big boys don’t even get a look in most times.

So, the answer to your question is that you don’t have to go looking for business. Look closer to home and promote somebody else’s business.

That way, you have no overhead and you pick and choose what work you do. It’s a good way of using your domain portfolio too.

Any suggestions on how to go about setting up a referral business? Did you canvas/approach other services companies first, or did they come to you? And if we’re not experts in the field (ie. like you are with the asbestos license), do you think it’s still possible to succeed?

BTW, having been a follower of yours for a little while now, I’m really impressed with how you’ve turned the asbestos idea into a full-blown business! It seems like it’s really taken off. Congratulations.

Today has continued in much the same way, with two new asbestos surveying clients on board, so I’m happy.

The point of the post was to demonstrate the fact that web sites and domains can be used effectively to bring in customers, though few businesses seem to understand that.

Talking to the owner of a glazing company the other day, he wanted a web site, but just an “online brochure”. He couldn’t see that his site should be doing the selling.

Some people will never get it.

Hope this isnt the end much more comes your way, Are you seeing things picking up in the UK market, Im here in Scotland and things seem to be really slowing down in the construction industry.

I know Nov,Dec, Jan are typical quiet months but really think things are worst than they sound but anyway good luck to your projects.

Rob