[Steve Rothwell]

Perhaps Ian it is because you do not seem to put a marketing idea in place and see it through....

You seem to jump on the internet way of marketing as it is probably easier than pounding the streets with leaflets etc..

However I would suggest that the majority of the successful carpet cleaners on this forum and in the Country did it buy old fashioned hard work.

Leaflet distribution of 2000 - 5000 per week..... every week.........

and when you have done that

leaflet distribution of 2000 - 5000 per week ....... every week.

Adwords etc is the way forward, but it is not and will not take the place of the old fashioned leaflet in the hand.......

There is still a lot of the "gladys" generation (elderly) who want their carpets cleaned and do not have the interweb.

They cannot read through all the "tips"
They just want to know what you will do for them.... and these days more and more "how much"

So for my tips Ian

go back to basics....

[Steven Lawrence]

adwords, leaflet drops all very well but not enough! you have to network, check to see if you have a local BoBclubs.co.uk in your area or 4networking or any other type club, much cheaper than adverts plus guaranteed work

[The Carpet Cleaning Pro]

twitter@CCleaningpro

[cannon]

Looks like everyones on this twitter i went to sign up and it appears im allready on it.

Cannoncleaning1       i think

[Mike Halliday]

Ian do you have a google place page for Southend-on-sea?

I've just looked and can't see one.

I've just searched Southend-on-sea carpet cleaners and can't see you on the 1st page but half the results are directories which tends to tell me there is not enough real companies trying for the top.

Perhaps you are over thinking the whole Internet thing and should just have a decent relevant website optimised for were you live rather than gambling on what could be unproven ideas.

I'm no Internet expert but this is how I see it

[davep]

Surely the longer you have been established the easier it becomes with the build up of repeats and recommendation?

[Mike Halliday]

But adwords cost money, a places page is free so is an organic listing.

Whether you are getting a response or not Why pay for a top spot if you can get it for free

[Craigp]

As well as your site being found. You need a more traditional website.

Sure people search  'dog wee carpet'. and  'How to remove red wine carpet'

But they are looking for home remedies. You want to target people looking for carpet cleaning. Sell yourself hard on your website.

Address is a must!  I can't stress that enough!!!!!!  are you mad.

Landline is also a must!!

0800 and mobile to be added second

PS. Jim is like that with everyone, don't take it personally. Your just only noticing when it's directed at you.

[Ian Gourlay]

Ian

If you are spending hundreds on marketing each month and not getting what you want something is wrong.


 
Or with respect are you living costs too high, and you need a substantial income.


Not my place to ask but as I have said before I know you to be a trier .

But I know it aint easy.

I am out of action at the moment with Cancer  have been since September and I realize I will have a major struggle on my hands when I  relaunch. but my personal cost base is low .

So I wish you well

[Craigp]

Sorry to hear that Ian. Best wishes, I hope you get better soon,

Craig

[wynne jones]

Sorry to hear that Ian. You sound optimistic about the outcome, all the best.

Whilst I am a big fan of the web, when people say 100% of their new business comes from the web I think that's very risky.

You need your work from many different sources, referrals, advertising joint projects, paid web and free etc etc.

Free web stuff is great if you have no work and lots of time, later you will want to pay as well so you don't end up having a cyclical income.

Things will always keep changing but with that comes even more opportunities.

[mike roberts]

Ian,
Wish you all the best.

Nice post Mr Jones

Ian ,
Just quickly flicked through posts interesting - Maybe I have missed something?

Surely it would make sense to spend on SEO for website as opposed to adwords ? After a few mths SEO would be 'setup' reduce spend.. adwords ongoing spend !  

Seems a strange idea you are pushing social media as an ongoing marketing tool yet you choose adwords ... I view that in the same way as YP. As there seems to be no progression with relation to spend, marketing and selling your company / services.

Dont take posts personally !

Mike

[Mike Halliday]

saw this on TMF and thought it was funny..... and a little bit relevent

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

Mine is @DougHolloway

Cheers

Doug

[Ian Gourlay]

Hi I do not want to hijack Ians post but thanks for good wishes.

I have some sort of Lymph Gland Cancer number 4

I have had four treatments of Chemo involving a week long stay in hospital.

I have to watch my immune system and my doctors consider  even if I had the strength  cleaning peoples carpets or drilling into walls too risky due to dust etc.

I am being scanned in two weeks time to see what progress has been made but I do know a lump the size of a golf ball has gone.

If all is well this will be followed by two more treatments so hoping to be back inaction early summer.

Unless I decide to do something completely different

Ian

[garry22]

Best of luck Ian

As well as your site being found. You need a more traditional website.

Sure people search  'dog wee carpet'. and  'How to remove red wine carpet'

But they are looking for home remedies. You want to target people looking for carpet cleaning. Sell yourself hard on your website.

Craig,

You are not giving Ian enough credit here. Clean Gene is not about carpet cleaning, it's about selling puppy potty training ebooks / courses. Quite a clever approach.

[Steve Rothwell]

But is it Ian??

This is probably one of the reasons that you are sat at home looking for more ways to "sell without selling".

It is not working for you at the moment, this does not mean to say that it will not in the future, but if you were out cleaning, then you would not have the time to sit and try to think about indirect ways to clean carpets.

Sometimes you just gotta ask for the work.

Iwill send you the leaflet that works for me 5 - 10 responses per thousand delivered, and no address.........

if you put up an email address that I can send it to....

[wynne jones]

What's a reasonable amount of tweets to do per day or week?

[Craigp]

Garry22,

I think you have that wrong, its not selling ebooks, it offers a link to puppy training ebook and states he's getting no money for that it's just helpful advice. and that's only one page.

Have a proper read through.

[Mike Halliday]

Ian just because someone disagrees with what you are doing doesn't  mean its an 'attack' or being 'unkind & rude' its just another opinion....... don't take it so personal