Chances are you already know some of those tips and tricks about picking up more courier jobs such as joining a forum, building a website, commenting on other blogs and the like. You probably also know about the importance of building relationships with other delivery companies who may be needing an extra hand (and set of wheels) during peak season, as well as joining an online exchange.

Still, if you really want to grow your business, you will need to go the extra mile in finding those jobs. Here are a few more surprising tactics we’ve discovered have been working for some independent couriers. Read on- perhaps you’ll find a few very useful.

Your Business Card.

You know about the importance of having your business card with you at all times, in case someone asks for it. For some reason, however, studies show that having more business cards on hand helps make it easier for business owners wanting to network to actively give them out. Those who only keep 10 or so at a time usually only wait for people to ask for the card before they hand them out, which may seem normal, but it is not the pro-active attitude you need to build your business.

Use every occasion as a chance to network and hand your card out at every opportunity. Protip: If you join one of those “drop your business card into the fishbowl” contests in pubs restaurants and similar establishments, always make sure to leave an extra one in the hands of the business owner, barkeep or the receptionist. You never know when they might need a courier.

Go The Extra Mile With Local Business.

Sure, you’ve probably done the initial rounds with the local industries but why not take the extra step and join a local business group? Your participation in local projects, particularly for bake sales, fundraising events for local causes and projects, will help build the relationships that will give you more jobs. If possible, join local activities such as business breakfast meetings, and get to know your locale.

Advertise and Mail Online (and Offline).

You probably already know the importance of building yourself an online presence in the courier exchanges, forums and the like. You may already even have built yourself a simple website complete with a good picture and relatively complete profile page to introduce yourself.why not try these out Now go the extra mile and advertise yourself. There are free classified ads you can use to advertise your services, as well as paid ones if you want to make more of an impact.

Do email blasts to introduce yourself as a reliable courier driver to the local and nearby businesses, and be sure to follow up with telephone calls. You may even want to have a sales letter written in order to present yourself in the best way possible. Don’t forget to include something about your vehicle and the kind of jobs you are willing to do and how far you are willing to deliver.

Sometimes, old-school is best, particularly for potential clients who do not usually spend a lot of time in front of a computer. Post your contact details on bulletin boards at local supermarkets, truck stops and the like. As well, copy down a few local and nearby business addresses from the business pages and send a postcard.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day courier services in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe ‘wholesale’ environment.