[terrymaloy]

Created quite a bit extra work this month after getting quite a few replies from reminder postcards.
First time I've tried it...posted 50 cards to August 2005 customers and received about 7 calls to date.
This might not sound like a lot, but its generated about an extra £400

If you aint
already doing it, I would definetely give it a try.

Tel
Ps I only paid £40+vat for 200 full colour postcards

[Neil Grainger]

Hi Terry

any chance of seeing your postcard, doing it myself but want to see if you have something I dont

neilgrainger@acleantouch.co.uk

Cheers

Neil

[terrymaloy]

On its way !

[Ian Rochester]

Terry,

Likewise, can I have a copy

ian@lionheartcleaning.co.uk

I have spent the last couple of months setting up a database of work carried out over the past 3 years.  In the early days I didn't bother getting postcodes so now I've had to spend ages searching on the Royal Mail site for postcodes

[carpetclean]

register with vista print and they keep sending special offers free 100 glossy postcards to your design included

[Neil Grainger]

Hi Terry

thanks for that,

I use something similar

Regards

Neil

[jamesjames]

[Hey Terry, please could you send me also.
jsboyle@blueyonder.co.uk

[jamesjames]

[Terry, thank you so much.

James

[Jason Hedges]

Hi Terry,

Can you send it to me as well please.

jasonhedges73@aol.com

Thanks,
Jason.

[terrymaloy]

Seem to be getting quite a lot of requests to view my postcard.
If anyone would be so kind and tell me how to upload a photo, I'll be more than happy to post it on here.

I'm no whizz kid when it comes to computers.
Terry

[stevegunn]

Terry send it to me and I'll post it for you

[craigp]

when your on reply page, click 'additional options' (bottom left) click browse and find pic you want on your computer and post.

[Andrew P]

Hi guys

Every November i buy a load of christmas cards and send one to all my oven cleaning customers, no message but signed. The wife prints off all my customers address labels and off they go 2nd class.

Always have a good response and a busy december, sometimes even filling up the first few weeks of January .

Always seems to work for me, will try again this year.

Regards

Andrew

[davep]

£40 for 200 postcards is a lot, try http://www.1clickprint.com/   £80 for 5000 

[Jason Hedges]

Thanks Terry,

It looks really good.

All the best,
Jason.

[the red carpet]

I use "1click print" for my leaflets, but dont think there cards are thick enough to send as postcards,
They reckon there 300gsm, but there thinner than any other 300gsm cards iv brought

I get mine from these guys
Celectron printing

tel no: 01446 775 285

£99 for 5000, definatly worth the extra £19

[stevegunn]

Here's Terry's postcard

[Mike Halliday]

if a '.......' postcard like that can get a good response just think what a well thought out postcard would get


Mike

[David_Annable]

Meeeooww
Dave

[Mike Halliday]

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

if you want to delete words from my post please delete the full post,  am I to assume that 'crap' is a 'bad word' that i should refrain from using.

terry I'm glad your postcard bring in work, but it could be a lot better,

fro example I would add, " if at present you don't require my service please pass this card onto a friend or family member"

i would put a special offer on it with a expiry date to make them call straight away.



I have  a postcard on my reminder board from the gas engineer who serviced the boiler for the last owners of my house, do you think I kept it because it has a picture of him, his van & equipment?

I kept it because it has a funny cartoon about dogs which tickled me.

Mike

[Ian Gourlay]

Dear Mike,

I deleted the offending Word.


I did consider deleting the entire post, but decided not to do so in this instance as I did not like the picture and felt a Could do better was needed as you have pointed out in your second post.

[terrymaloy]

Mike, I think you need to brush up on your marketing skills mate ( and manners )
You have to remember after all, that this is just a reminder card...

You have limited space, so you have to get right to the point and keep it simple.
FRONT COVER : Theres ME "staring right at you "...customer automatically recognises the guy who cleaned there carpets last year...NOT a cartoon of a dog...pleeeease.

REVERSE: caption is STRAIGHT TO THE POINT AND SIMPLE...none of this pass to your neighbour rubbish and silly special offers...people just dont buy that !
I've been in their homes remember...they know what they're gonna get for their money.

Regards,
TERRY

ps   I do think the word "crap" was a little harsh. The people who were interested in seeing it actually thought quite the opposite as the posts indicate.

[Dave Parry]

I agree with Mike, a cartoon will generate more interest than a simple picture.
Also 7 calls and only £ 400 worth of work is not great, would expect far more than that.
Ian, Grow up crap is not an offensive word.

[Neil Grainger]

Easy Dave, you'll get banned.

How are you doing hope you are well.

[Phil Marlor]

Also 7 calls and only £ 400 worth of work is not great, would expect far more than that.

What!
£400.00 of work 7 calls from 50 postcards.

I would say that was a very good return!

Phil

[stevegunn]

I would say that is a good return too I had 3000 leaflets put out and not one call

[Phil Marlor]

Steve,

Have you had anything from Checkatrade with regards to the Business Cards we won.

Phoned them today, got some girl who new nothing and would ring back but never did.

Are they just hoping we will forget?

Phil

[stevegunn]

Never heard anything.Just another reason not to join if they arrived in my area 

[Phil Marlor]

I agree.

Phil

[gwrightson]

I would say the responce of 7 jobs from 50 cards is on the high side  and if this is indeed the the case , or just a one off   14 % not bad . think I would spend all of my marketing budget on postcards!!!!!!!!!

having said that, I must agree with some of the replies, an average . £58.00 per job , not a very good !!
I would expect a much higher average price. A `number of factors obviously will apply.

What is your minimum charge? What is your price for an average lounge,? h/s/l ?  3 pc. suite etc.?

Geoff.
Ps Yes better postcards are available.

[Mike Halliday]

Terry, I'll make you a promise,( the same promise I make to everyone) I will never lie to you and i will always be honest, unlike others on this site who will just say what they think you want to hear.

unfortunately this attitude will mean i often will say this that sound harsh, your reminder card could be better, lots people will agree with me but 'don't want to hurt your feeling' so will tell you how nice it looks.

i have no reason to be bad mannered towards you. my comments where meant to be truthful.

I used the word crap, in the same way I told my wife her Chili-con-carne was crap, or the way my son describes my football skills it just a word i use it wasn't meant to be insulting but with hindsight it was probably a crap word to use

Mike

[Phil Marlor]

having said that, I must agree with some of the replies, an average . £58.00 per job , not a very good !!
I would expect a much higher average price. A `number of factors obviously will apply.

Geoff.
Ps Yes better postcards are available.

It says 7 calls, not 7 jobs!

Phil

[gwrightson]

ok been presumtious Phil  
 if different what was the job ratio?
 the reason for assuming it worked out at 7 jobs, well having already worked for the repling custy "hence reminder cards"  the response should be hitting the 100% mark , after all they are not price seekers, they are custys you have already had, they know your work, they know your attitude, they know your prices   .
still presumptious Phil , Yes , but on facts that say 7 jobs

 Geoff

[Ian Gourlay]

Neil

The problem I  have is that Dave and Mike are my Heroes

I just thought that word was a bit harsh and tried to tone it down a bit.

At the time I had  not seen the picture as I have to move the post to another section to do this.

[terrymaloy]

Let me clarify...those 7 calls were indeed 7 jobs...they didnt just ring for a chat !

The cards I sent out last month have obviously worked...who knows next month they may not. Its always good to get repeat bookings.

Last week  I had 15 jobs... ( Mon - Sat )

7  Previous customers
3  Recomendations
5  New customers from YP, local press etc

This is pretty much the norm.
As you can see, almost 50% are PCs

I must be doing something right !!!!!!!!!

[Ian Gourlay]

If it works for you why change it?

[*paul_moss]

Terry
If it works for you mate dont defend it just carry on with it.

Mike you have too much time on your hands,go and have a look in your shed and see if you have a numatic 17 inch drive plate for me.

NOW 

Please 

[Mike Halliday]

paul, let me give you some advice, you might not like it

BUY A NEW ONE FROM NUMATIC!!!!

it'll cost you £50ish

end of search

Mike

[*paul_moss]

Mike you know i am more thrifty than thou.
So why spend 50 when I can spend 20.
Now stop being stubborn and go search the shed.

Or else I will come visit you in the early hours and put a bat up your nighty

[the red carpet]

My opinion,
They look good to me.

And if there working, great.

I agree with mike (not about them being crap) but more effort should bring in a higher return, i belive you should allways tweak advertising myself.

From memory i think my last lot sent out was around 60-70 and i got back i think 5jobs, so not quite as much but still a good return.

£400 from 7jobs is poor, but £400 from the little you invested is good.

Dont know about cartoons myself? think i preffer your approach.

why are you waiting a year to send these out? i do mine about every two months and allways get a good response, every year is to long and your missing out on a lot of work in my opinion.

I would post mine, but i only have it in a word document and dont think i can upload that hear, im gonna try and scan one but i aint got the hang of this scanner yet only had it a couple days.

If anyone can post the word doc, i will send it to them so they can post it.

And lastly, what are you doing with that wand? do you like it? i have the same one and cant stand it i think the results are terrible and its so awkward to use.

Have you tried there scrubba tool? it is so much better

[Dave Parry]

Ian, apologies. Maybe I was a bit harsh in my "grow up" remark. No offence meant.
Still think that £400 from 7 jobs or even 7 calls is a bit light.
15 jobs a week is ok, but at a average of £ 58 = £ 870. After expenses etc doesnt leave a lot. Hopefully Terry your weekly average is a lot higher

[the red carpet]

.

[the red carpet]

Oh well that didnt work great , but at least you get the idea.

[Dave Parry]

Hi Neil, I'm fine, very busy, which is good.
I see  Phil and Steve mentioned checkatrade. Just had some bumph from them, looks expensive, are they any good?

[the red carpet]

.

[the red carpet]

.

[Dave Parry]

Red
Hope they are a bit smaller than they are on my screen

[gwrightson]

not bad red, dont like the "hope you are well"  sounds very corny  bit like an american fast food waitress
 Geoff

[Buster Ingram]

For what its worth I have used reminder letters for many years now and have found them long winded i.e. paper folding and envelope stuffing.
I recently changed to post cards and found them more cost effective and user friendly; well that is what my clients say.
Like Terry, I use the same approach a quick reminder of my last visit no fanning around or beginning followed by a contact number, like Terry they work fine for me.
If I do not get a response from the client after the first card I sent, they are added to the next mailing list that usually does the trick.
There are no hidden secrets to marketing; it is all about keeping in touch.

Large companies do not waste money on flash cars and reps for nothing. They are there to go round reminding clients of the products they sell.

But for us we have the good old  POST CARD cheap and cheerful but hey they do work!

Dave

[Dave Parry]

Not only do they work for existing custies, but if custies move the new people see your details as well.