Introduction
Working as a self-employed van driver is a relatively new concept and offers an excellent and exciting way for anyone with a driving license and a roadworthy vehicle to earn money. More and more people have taken up the challenge of becoming self-employed and working as van drivers, which has resulted in a boom in the supply of delivery van drivers. This means that it can sometimes be challenging for van drivers to find a steady stream of jobs. While the ongoing pandemic has greatly increased the demand for parcel deliveries, the effects are likely to reduce again as the world returns to normality. Luckily, there are several different ways in which self-employed van drivers can ensure that they have a steady stream of deliveries and income. Read on to discover how you can keep your business growing:
Marketing
Many self-employed van drivers forget to think of themselves as businesses and not just van drivers. However, as a self-employed van driver, you are essentially running your own business and should operate it as such. No modern business can function without marketing and nor can a self-employed van driver. There are several different ways in which you can market your services to potential customers and not all of them cost money. Marketing is not always a complicated concept and despite what many people may think, it is possible to do your own marketing without spending a dime. Some of the ways in which you can use the internet to market your services include:
Social Media Marketing
Use tools like Facebook and Instagram to let people know that you offer delivery services. While these social media networks offer paid-for advertising options, it is not always necessary to use them. You can create a page dedicated to your delivery service and regularly place posts that advertise the services that you offer. In addition, ask family and friends to share your posts so that as many people as possible can see them. By doing this, people will become aware that you offer delivery services, which is the first and most important step to getting work. Later, when your business has grown a bit, you can also use paid-for marketing services to reach even more customers.
Have a Good Website
We all know that the internet is the busiest marketplace on earth and a simple Google search is the first thing we reach for when we need something, including delivery services. Having a good website is extremely important because it enables customers to find you and make contact easily. Every website should offer basic information such as a description of the services that you offer and the different types of goods that you can transport. In addition, you should use search engine optimisation techniques to make your website easy to find when people search for it on the internet. While you can easily create your own website with one of the many online website creation tools that are available today, it is often a good idea to get professional help involved. Your website is like a storefront so it should look professional and inviting to potential customers. You should also make it possible for customers to contact you directly through your website so that you can strike the iron while it is hot. First impressions count and your website is the first impression that customers will have of you and your delivery services.
Use Courier Platforms
There are several different courier platforms available and they all have one common goal, connecting self-employed van drivers with customers who need deliveries made. Registering on one or more of these platforms is a good way to gain access to more job offers. Many of the well-known courier platforms charge a small fee for using their service but this fee is well worth paying when you consider the number of delivery jobs that you can pick up from one of these platforms. However, it is important to make sure that you do enough research before deciding on a specific network. Look at things like comments from customers and drivers to make sure that the courier platform has a good reputation and that delivery drivers are treated fairly.
Use Technology as Much as Possible
There are several different applications and tools that are specifically designed to help self-employed van drivers manage their businesses effectively. Being able to manage every aspect of your business precisely is essential because it helps you to build a solid reputation. Applications can help you to plan routes and estimate delivery times accurately which is great for your reputation because it keeps customers satisfied. Applications can also help you to manage your costs effectively so that you can reduce operating costs and increase your profits as much as possible.
Partner with Online Retailers
Online retail is growing at a tremendous pace and this results in a much higher need for deliveries. Partnering with an online retailer and making deliveries on their behalf is an excellent way of growing your business and keeping your delivery van busy. Some of the large online retailers, such as Amazon, are known for partnering with self-employed delivery van drivers so it is well worth your time to investigate this option. You can usually find information about potential cooperation models and job opportunities on the websites of online retailers, which means that all that is required to get started is a little research.
Partner with Online Retailers
Online retail is growing at a tremendous pace and this results in a much higher need for deliveries. Partnering with an online retailer and making deliveries on their behalf is an excellent way of growing your business and keeping your delivery van busy. Some of the large online retailers, such as Amazon, are known for partnering with self-employed delivery van drivers so it is well worth your time to investigate this option. You can usually find information about potential cooperation models and job opportunities on the websites of online retailers, which means that all that is required to get started is a little research.
Browse Through Online Job Boards
Another way of finding delivery gigs is by browsing through online job boards. Many companies that are looking for delivery drivers might advertise on these job boards and it might be worth reaching out to them to check if it is possible to work as an independent contractor. While this option requires a little ingenuity and time, it can be well worth your while.
Be Reliable
It is important to remember that it is often much easier to acquire new customers than it is to maintain existing ones. By delivering consistently reliable services to your existing customers, your business will automatically grow thanks to word-of-mouth advertising. Since no other form of advertising can beat the results that can be achieved through personal recommendations, it is well worth ensuring that your customers are happy to recommend your services to other customers. By ensuring that you deliver reliably, your customers will usually be more than happy to recommend your services to other customers.
In Conclusion
Being a self-employed delivery driver can be a great challenge and a rewarding career choice. It offers flexibility and allows you to be your own boss but it also requires a lot of work in order to be successful. One of the most important aspects of working as a self-employed delivery driver is having a constant and reliable stream of delivery requests. This means that marketing and job acquisition is one of the most important aspects of being a modern self-employed van driver and you should dedicate enough time and resources to ensure that your business grows. With today’s modern technology and the internet, this is easier than it has ever been before and by creating a website and social media presence, you can make it easy for your customers to find you.