[geefree]

hi everyone.
am sure you used to me now,
i am dropping 2,to 3 hundred leaflets per day and door knocking at nights.... its bloody hard work when nothing happens,
i have a background in sales..even canvassing... yet still nothing.....
im polite and persistent yet not not overpowering, yet something is wrong !
so my point here is , to all newbies same as me... are we being laughed at by all the pros ?
do they know how hard it is and think .. go ahead sucker because you wont succeed.....
i think to myself.. oh the advice here is fantastic...then i think .. hang on a mo.... i ask for a trip out in my local area.... suddenly it all goes quiet.... so come on guys if you really want to help.. then please help.... or is it that the real way to do it is to buy buy buy..?? then build!

because it seems to me that the newbies here try and build what they can.... then the real big boys snap up the bargains.. in other words ..when the newbie gives in through sheer exhaustion and pittance of a wage.. they have to sell !... so the big boys get bigger.... ..you may say i could be in an area saturated.... but i will tell you like i see it..... and that is ..the help is in abundance until you hit a brick wall.........then its a massive stop sign. !

that is my massive whinge for the day. thanks for reading.

gary.

[supernova77]

Gary,

I only started in January 2006, and I also started from scratch. It was VERY hard work building a round. I doubt anyone on here has ever told you it would be easy?

You have to keep canvassing and canvassing and canvassing... Knock on every door, don't just put leaflets through.

The people you talk to... Do they already have a window cleaner, or are you quoting them and then they say no?

As I said I started building a round in January and its only now that I'm earning a "livable" wage... I still need to double what I have now to be comfotable really, and I plan to do that by the end of this year.

Andy

[geefree]

cheers andy.
i am doing both at the mo.. all to no avail... its not getting me to the point of jacking it all in ... but i really think it must be an area where its slightly saturated .. i really dont know yet... but i wont give up until its hopeless.

[geefree]

but you have given me more confidence.. iyou have done fantastic and that is a real credit to you.. i hope you achieve your goal by xmas .. good luck with that.... a true example mate of how its done.   

[geefree]

still ped off tho, lol  i could canvass every day could i not? and nothing happens... the leaflet drop rate is less than 1% on average.. the door to door rate is not much better for me... should i just commit the big sin lol.... feel like it sometimes... maybe i am going thru the lesson.. and one day i will be able to give others advice.... so i will hang on in there.
 i HAVE to... so shall we watch this space

[Mike George]

Hi gazza

As I posted elsewhere, the response to my leaflet drops has started to dry up so I tried door knocking again last night and picked up 5 new customers in half an hour. I think a couple of them are going to be unreliable but if I just get 3 I'll be happy.

My round is pretty well spread out over two towns 15 miles apart and a couple of villages, so I've got plenty of choice of places to canvas. Maybe you could spread your wings a bit?

[Ian Gourlay]

I feel sad for you.

It is good that someone has said that it is not easy.

I believe that sometimes these Forums make it seem  so easy, and all you have got to do is put a few leaflets knock doors and you will succeed.

When you were in Marketing or Sales how  good were you at Knocking doors.


Some People can do it otherss not that is why The big  Window companies are always advertising.  They sack you if you do not get a lead. I was told once that only 3% of population have the right personality and inner qualities needed to succeed  at this method of marketing over a prolonged period.

You have said you are geting a !% response on leaflets.


Only if this is genuine why not spnd the next wee kputting out 5000 leaflets this will give you 50 customers.


In my opinion a !% response is not realistic but 20 customers might be a realistic result..


This  means using this method you need a ten weeks to get 200 customers.

If you paid someone put ot leaflets it would cost you about £150 to £200 a week for 5K of leaflets solo dropped.


How much would you pay for 20 customers.


Why not contact  Job Centre for Canvasers  and pay say £10 per customer.


Just  a few ideas and thoughts

[pylofm]

GAZZASP8 canvassing....mmmm...this is my big problem/challenge...I am like yourself and am just starting....I am however at a slight disadvantage in that I am a English guy in Holland and my conversational skills are not all that at the present.....This also leads me into further problems if I were to put out leaflets...How would I talk to them if they phoned?..The language skills will come but at the moment...as you can see..a slight disadvantage

So I am having to find different ways to crack this nut....I have put out advertisments in the local supermarkets to find local ladies (mums) that I can have as canvassers....I inturn will be paying them 66% of the total for the 1st cleans for each customer they bring...once they have been cleaned.

I am aiming to have 4 distinct areas worked over the coming months...the aim is that I in the initial set the area's first....I have been around to prospective areas and photographed the style of houses in said area's, this is then put into a folder for them to carry around with prices etc.

These are my thoughts, hope it works 

So, if anyone has any super,cooli idea's that would help out...don't be shy, step up and shout it out loud 

Cheers Dave

[geefree]

well done dave .. great idea.. i wont give up... i used 1% as a guess guide but the figures you put out do make sense and worth thinking over re;canvass team.... yes it is hard and i guess people will read this and be put off, thats not what i want... but i will now post my progress to you all who have replied..(hopefully i will progress lol.)

thanks once again.. i wish you all a prosperous day.

Gary.

[pylofm]

Hey GAZZASP8, how about we have this same conversation in 6 months...I currently have 0 customers, thus no business....

I would love 150 customers by then....

Cheers
Dave.

[Mike George]

Another idea for getting lots of flyers distributed is to speak to the people who deliver the local free papers and see if they'll give you a good price to include your flyers with them.

[ok cleaning]

hello new be my advice is go for where no other window cleaner goes for instance for a start go to the cancel estates prices might be lowish but you get lots in and that gives you some point to built up your round and you can change your area later onfor somewhere more better priced and dont go door knocking to the newly built estates becouse many window cleaners gothere try to choose the ones been established for awhile all the best good luck

[john tomkins]

Hey GAZZASP8, how about we have this same conversation in 6 months...I currently have 0 customers, thus no business....

I would love 150 customers by then....

Cheers
Dave.

I'm in the same boat as you Dave...0 customers... just getting my head around everything involved.
I'm off out with a kind person off this forum tomorrow for an idea what's involved. (what's the betting it pee's it down again).
Just keep the faith 

[pylofm]

Hi John....Good to hear the a fellow window cleaner is taking the time to take you along....Every now and again it is good to hear things such as this...it goes to show that the world is indeed not such a bad place afterall...

Good luck and keep us all posted of how you get along...I know I shall be on this forum bleating on about this and that..

Good luck to you...

Cheers
Dave.

[geefree]

hi all.
good to hear a few newbies chat , its hard out there eh guys? but if i have the same desire you guys have then i wont go far wrong, ...... good idea dave and it will all act as more incentive for us both.. or all of us... thanks for everybodys imput and help, and thanks for the lift when i was down.. to all of you

gary.

[Ian Gourlay]

Just a few more points.

Are you knocking the same roads as you are leafleting.


Does your leaflet say you will be calling tonight to give a no obligation qoutation.


I have heard some Window Cleaners have a two sided leaflet which asks householders to put it in their Windows. if they want a window cleaner.
Im sure the idea has been covered and you will find further detailsi f you do a search.




How good are your leaflets take a look at www.leafletsforyou.co.uk The last samples are window cleaning leaflets.

Carpet Cleaners find Solo  Leaflet drops work better.


Better Practice what I preach off to put out leaflets

[Fast 1 *]

persistance,persistance,persistance.And try to become a bit thick skinned at times.If your flyers are of good quality,you look smart and confident,act friendly and polite,the work should eventually come in.Remember,everyone had to start somewhere.Relax,it will happen.

[pjulk]

The last samples are window cleaning leaflets

And my pic is in two of them. 

I know the guy used to work for trade print warehouse and they did mine but i hope my pic is not being used by anyone else else as in the samples. 
But if they are only examples i dont mind

Paul

[supernova77]

persistance,persistance,persistance

Yes, that is the key!

Today I went out canvassing from 2pm - 6pm (not the best times to canvass).

For the first 2 hours I didn't get anything   I felt like giving up and going hoime...

But I carried on and acquired another £102 of definate x6 weekly cleans + £67 of maybe's (the wife checking with the husband etc...) AND to top it all off in the last close I canvassed I got a conservatory roof to clean next week for £70!

So... Canvassing is not easy. But if you are persistent you will come across areas that need a window cleaner and then you're laughing! 

Andy

[john tomkins]

Thanks to jon TC for taking time to learn me the ropes today, I learnt loads about Trad & WFP and had a good few hours trying each, and if my neck, shoulders and back recover in time I may try it again

Now for the hard part....Getting customers.....arghhhhh

[farkam]

not canvassing anymore, enough is enough...let others do for you or it is always better to buy established round rather than going every bloody day out for canvassing...

[Fast 1 *]

yes,but the advantages of getting your own work far outweigh buying it.i wouldnt pay 3 and a half times the cost for possibly underpriced work.If you get stuck in,it doesnt take that long.

[ecowasher]

.... its school holidays -  mums are at home!  get knocking through the day if you have the time.

I have found that in the evenings blokes are more likely to answer the door,  and they find it easier to dismiss you without really listening. 

Daytime knocking while mums are at home is more fruitful in my area.  (you will find that the women make most of the 'home' based decisions anyway.).

Grant.

[Fast 1 *]

ive just been canvessing and only got 1 small front only job for £5 every 4 weeks.I was a bit disheartened,as i thought id get more.still,never mind.

[geefree]

hi,
how long did you canvass for?

[pylofm]

Good luck to all that are just starting up, (myself included), keep us all posted how you are getting on, it is good to know others are in the same 'boat'.

Aprox 500 leaflets out yesterday and today.....4 calls (2 on same street), 3 quotes to do next week...

  Dave.

[geefree]

YES.. keep it up guys cos god knows you are all inspiring me.  thank you,...... ps. well done dave.

gary.

[petski2]

Gary,I constantly get calls from Eastmoor estate saying they need a window cleaner.We dont need any more residential so get up there mate.

[geefree]

thanks pete., is the estate ok for payers , or dont you know.... mind you i can give it a damn good go,

gary.

[petski2]

Read you emails young man.

[Fast 1 *]

hi,
how long did you canvass for?

only a couple of hours.But i do find constant rejection can get you down.Sometimes you start off really optimistic,then by the end of it you feel like sh**.Its so much better if you do it with a friend,or another window cleaner,as this keeps your spirits up,you can have a laugh,and it adds a competitive element to it.I am going through a stage of absolutely hating knocking at the moment,and have been doing building work to increase my income.The good thing is with window cleaning is building a round is inevitable,it has to happen over time.Sometimes you do a leaflet drop,and seven months later you get a phone call from it.Plus word of mouth will bring in work.So dont be too disheartened,it will happen in the end.

[geefree]

thanks fast one..
i know it is hard but to be honest now am starting to enjoy it... i get a buzz when the phone rings.... also , this may sound strange but , when i leaflet drop .. just before i post it, i run my finger down the glass on the door to see, and feel how dirty it is, and if i feel a lot of dirty ones ,, i go home feeleng confident that the phone will ring... ha ha im going mad !

[Fast 1 *]

thats how i felt when i first started.I hope you remain in that mindset.I still need to get more work.I have probably got £1200 every 4 weeks so far.i might go knocking tomorrow

[geefree]

thats still good but i understand that there is always room to build, even if your doing £2500 per month building will go on forever in some shape or form eh?

[Fast 1 *]

if i didnt do my bit of building work,i would be in trouble.Where are you from gazza?

[geefree]

up in west yorks.. wakefield

[Pat Purcell]

According to statistics the best person to send out canvassing besides yourself is a middle aged woman as most of the people interested in getting their windows cleaned are middle aged women and the canvasser has an immediate rappore with them most of you sound like young guys trying to get things going so whats your mother doing in the evening, that may sound kinda silly but by all accounts it works after the sale though the rest is up to you and was mentioned earlier in this thread it is definetly worthwhile learning the trade for a while before you try to work for yourself,its relatively easy for us old codgers because weve been doing it for years and we forget just how clueless we were at the beginning but a little experience can get you from doing a poor job in 2 hrs to doing a job your proud of in 20 min

[Fast 1 *]

how about a man in drag?

[mgba_78]

According to statistics the best person to send out canvassing besides yourself is a middle aged woman as most of the people interested in getting their windows cleaned are middle aged women and the canvasser has an immediate rappore with them most of you sound like young guys trying to get things going so whats your mother doing in the evening, that may sound kinda silly but by all accounts it works after the sale though the rest is up to you and was mentioned earlier in this thread it is definetly worthwhile learning the trade for a while before you try to work for yourself,its relatively easy for us old codgers because weve been doing it for years and we forget just how clueless we were at the beginning but a little experience can get you from doing a poor job in 2 hrs to doing a job your proud of in 20 min

Me and the Mrs have been out a few times, me looking thugish, her late 20's sweet talking lady type, she scores all the time when i fail, so i sent her out on her own a few times and last time she went out she got me 6 in a cul-de-sac and when i went to clean 3 others came out and said they talked to my Mrs and have decided they want theirs done also. i said i would pay her but as shes so damn good at it i may have to retract what i said

Andy

[Pat Purcell]

Yep the women get them every time but if you tell your sweetheart that you said she was middle aged youll have to pay her alot more