Marketing ???

Hire a copy writer.

Look at what your competitors are doing, especially the ones who are kicking your butt in sales.

One of the key things, and you mentioned it, is that the other guys are older, which equates to being established with a good following. I'm sure they, just as I had experienced, a rough time getting started. I had to pick through the work, did jobs that no one else would touch, but it not only kept the name out there, but gave me experience. This business is not always champagne and caviar; we had to eat a lot of crap along the way.
For you, look at some of the unconventional things. I've done pre-surveys (I'm not a licensed surveyor), but a former mechanic who still know his way around an engine. And I've reviewed boats down here for potential buyers who were out of state. Good luck.

Hi,

I did my Apprenticeship of 9000 Hrs as a Diesel Mechanic and worked in a few other places and then was lucky enough to get to go off to sea through someone my father knew.

It was like starting another apprenticeship I worked hard and spent leave time doing courses and exams. I was 32 by the time I got my Merchant Navy Chiefs ticket.

I have continued to educate myself to this day.

I have a good reputation in the business and have had my best breaks through word of mouth.

I have never used a Crew Agency and do not advertise, I have a select few clients but am always open to additional introductions/clients.

I am not self-employed. I work for someone else but I got my current position by marketing my background and skills as did nearly everyone else with a job. I keep this job by marketing my product to our clients in person and through written reports. Everything you say or do is marketing in one way or another.

Regardless of the type of employment several things are critical to your success. I was not being rude when I wrote "hire a copy writer." Image is all-important when selling yourself, and when your first contact is through a written medium grammar and spelling has to be absolutely correct. It is a demonstration of attention to detail and indicates pride in the finished product. When I see a badly written advertisement with spelling errors and bad grammar I usually stop reading. If the business can't even get its advertising right what kind of job will they do for me or my client? Is that a fair or accurate appraisal of a contractor? Maybe not, but there are enough around who make the effort to keep themselves presentable that I don't have to deal with those who apparently don't care. None of us can do everything so don't hesitate to hire a specialist to help you when you need advice or assistance. Do what you do best and pay a pro to do what you don't do well ... after all , isn't that what you are asking your client to do?

At this early stage, word of mouth is your best marketing tool. I always ask around the yards and boats for recommendations when I am looking for a service for which I have little or no personal local experience. I (generally) trust a former customer. Considering your range of products, a satisfied customer is your cheapest and best marketing tool. If you want something more substantial than "good will" ask those satisfied customers for letters and endorsements that you can use in your written material. It is a good way to get word of mouth to those out of hearing range.

Have you contacted boat dealers in your area to submit your name for their 'portfolio' of delivery captains ? That would get you out in front of additional clients and you can use time with them [soft] selling yourself.

When I started out I worked in old time boat yards and later ran an LCM cleaning up oil slicks. From there I did anything and everything that was needed, and when no opportunities were offered made my own. Over time you get known and get a reputation. All of a sudden you read something like: "It seems that guys like Marmot, Nycap, and K1w1 are very established how did you guys start out?" and you think 'Wait a minute. Somehow I've become the guy the young turks want to emulate. How come I still feel like I have so much more to learn, and when will I finish paying dues?' I think the answers you're seeking are simply look for ways to say yes, work hard, don't let quiting be an option and get old. Let us know if you can figure out a way to fast tract that last one. Saw a comic recently where young musicians were saying they want to be a legacy band but that could only be done by playing together for as long as the Stones. Keep plugging away. It sounds like you're on the right track.

Fast track to getting old? How about SIDETRACK that one!

Ah, if I had known then what I know now I would probably have screwed it up anyway.

I agree, in the begginning I washed A LOT of boats, polished A LOT of stainless, compounded and waxed gelcoat, varnished, cleaned teak decks, changed oil and fuel filters, fixed mechanical issues....... the trick was, if I didn't know how to do something, I found out how to do it, and how to do it right. I take pride that I know how to fix just about anything on a yacht from electrical, plumbing, engine, etc. etc...... so if I am on a delivery, the only thing that would keep me on a dock with an owner on board would be a lack of parts or major engine breakdown. I specialize in yacht management and take care of all aspects for each owner, so they have no stress or hassles in their ownership. Some yachts I take care of the provisioning, dry cleaning, etc etc.......

But, it's the contacts you make along the way, and you have to strive to make a great impression on each and every one of them.

.....

Hi,

I am planning to reanimate my company, but I will change business or location (Munich, Ft. Lauderdale, New York). There are too much media agencys in Germany. For this I plan a new website and business cards (what you have) and also some brochures with the service offering, which you can give to the clients.

Printing should be not be expensive, when you have online printers in the U.S.

Good luck for your business

Well if you are that busy, then how are you going to market for more business? I don't get it. 1 Person can only do so much.......I focus on the things I enjoy doing such as Captaining, Deliveries, and some Mechanical Maintanence, and sub the lesser things out to my guys such as washdowns and this and that....... but even still you can only manage so many boats and so many customers.........

This would be a great business if it weren't for the boats and it weren't for the owners. hehehehhee

DK if it's the "right" track, but it's about the same as the one I traveled. It's called paying dues. Actually, the right track may be to get an MBA, work on Wall Street then hire crazies like us to take care of your yacht. Or you might want to like and respect yourself in which case you're doing just fine.