Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: andy east sussex on August 18, 2010, 08:18:01 pm

Title: still very worried
Post by: andy east sussex on August 18, 2010, 08:18:01 pm
right i have now put ok 15k of leaflets basically no window work come in at all but plenty of carpet cleaning so i know the leaflet works but now got to a point of not knowing what to do im concidering going over some of the ground which looks like could do with a window cleaner, but need bit of advice of how to go about it any advise would be great as door knocking is the last step i can handle
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: leights on August 18, 2010, 08:20:22 pm
cant understand y people dont like knocking doors,
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: cleewindows on August 18, 2010, 08:21:30 pm
hire a canvasser!
im going to,leaflets are a waste of time!
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: darren clarke on August 18, 2010, 08:23:53 pm
knock a door,  i bought 10000 flyers waste of money,  got more from knocking and using them as business cards
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: lyndy on August 18, 2010, 08:59:57 pm
Try a flyer with just w/c on?
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: rg1 on August 18, 2010, 09:03:27 pm
Have to agree, door knocking has got me more work than flyers.
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: dave.e on August 18, 2010, 09:54:24 pm
hi guys i have got all my work about 800 customers all from flyers :P and i have never knocked on one door don;t see the point but thats just me :)
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: mci services on August 18, 2010, 09:58:04 pm
I really find it hard to believe that 15 thousand leaflets have produced no window cleaning, there has to be something terribly wrong with the window cleaning part of the leaflet to produce nothing, can you not show the wording at least so we can see what's wrong
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: tws on August 18, 2010, 10:13:32 pm
i would love to see the leaflet, i delivered a few hundred last week already had 2 jobs of them value £800 not window cleaning but same principle what's in it for the new customer ? are you giving them a reason to ring you ? business is a 2 way thing you,v got to hook em make them come to you i don't care if the first cleans free or charge for the front back done free any way you want to play it but give them a reason to use you, you can always adjust the price later ;D just wondering how did you get 15k leaflets out was thay delivered by you or with a free rag.
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Ian Lancaster on August 18, 2010, 10:18:49 pm
right i have now put ok 15k of leaflets basically no window work come in at all but plenty of carpet cleaning so i know the leaflet works but now got to a point of not knowing what to do im concidering going over some of the ground which looks like could do with a window cleaner, but need bit of advice of how to go about it any advise would be great as door knocking is the last step i can handle

Use your flyers as an introduction.  If the flyer says what it needs to about you, when you knock on the door all you have to do is show a copy of the flyer and say "I put one of these through your door a couple of days ago"

What could be easier?

Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Richard Neal on August 18, 2010, 10:25:31 pm
tws has a good point, did you deliver them yourself or were they in a free paper? are you sure theyre not dumped in a hedge somewhere?
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: mikecam on August 18, 2010, 10:31:19 pm
right i have now put ok 15k of leaflets basically no window work come in at all but plenty of carpet cleaning so i know the leaflet works but now got to a point of not knowing what to do im concidering going over some of the ground which looks like could do with a window cleaner, but need bit of advice of how to go about it any advise would be great as door knocking is the last step i can handle
If you don't like knocking doors the tell your existing customers that you need some more new buisness and do they know anyone else who might need theirs doing, at least you may get an address,name and an introduction, not quite so bad as cold calling. Might make it easier for you?
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: dazmond on August 18, 2010, 10:50:20 pm
for most of us andy we had to get out there knocking week after week after week!

when i started 16 years ago i went out every weekend for 6 months!

bite the bullet and start canvassing or stick to the carpet cleaning!!there is no room for shyness or "i dont like disturbing people" malarkey!obviously the leaflets are not working so you know what to do if you want to build a solid regular window cleaning round!

what is it thats holding you back mate? ???

regards

dazmond
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: darren clarke on August 18, 2010, 11:03:14 pm
knocking doors is like pulling women the more you knock the more chance you have,  the worst any one every says is no,

just think of the money, i average 18 ph and i dont rush i am lazy really,  i have a bro in law who is a spark with loads of qualifications and he is only on 12 ph and he and his misses think they are the dogs, because he is so well payed  lol    they are in debt up to there eye balls,  i got no debt, car, van, system all payed for  she owes 35 on a catalogue and that is it,  not bad for a thicko window cleaner who couldnt get a proper job
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: tws on August 18, 2010, 11:22:28 pm
andy is it because you,v only got 1 arm  :D go on you can tell us we are  like family on here, no seriously i think somebody somewhere is sitting on your leaflets theres no way you would get no replies from that many i want an inquest  :o
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: andy east sussex on August 18, 2010, 11:23:54 pm
i deliverd them my self and help from my dad as well so i know all leaflets were droped proply so yes starting next week i will start door knocking and see how it goes
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Jackal on August 18, 2010, 11:29:54 pm
leaflets are a bit slow getting the work but thats taking the p**s, if you havnt had nothing from them window cleaning wise then it must be the leaflet you made,start again or go knocking,i hated door knocking personally so brought a round and just leaflet now and then when i can be arsed,i never wanted door knock incase i knew the person,for some reason id feel like a loser
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: mci services on August 18, 2010, 11:30:41 pm
i deliverd them my self and help from my dad as well so i know all leaflets were droped proply so yes starting next week i will start door knocking and see how it goes

andy how were the window cleaning part worded? I started a round with a black and white leaflet filled with mistakes and printed on tesco value paper, there has to be something wrong not to get a return on the windows

and yes I agree knockings quicker etc
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: andy east sussex on August 18, 2010, 11:37:59 pm
basically goes like this

100% pure water cleaning up to 4th floor

free quotes given

affordable, professinal & approachable

inside windows can be cleaned on request

fully insured

basically ive kept it simple and to the point
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: andy east sussex on August 18, 2010, 11:39:55 pm
i thought and keep thinking its because i only have mobile number at present for customers to call but if that was the problem i wouldnt get carpet jobs through
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: mci services on August 18, 2010, 11:46:43 pm
basically goes like this

100% pure water cleaning up to 4th floor

free quotes given

affordable, professinal & approachable

inside windows can be cleaned on request

fully insured

basically ive kept it simple and to the point

the fact you are getting carpet jobs is good and nothing to do with the mobile

on my last leaflet i offered extras like con roofs and gutter cleaning etc. and i get a lot of calls from that and i did not really want that. so next time it will be advertising my window cleaning only. as that worked for me in the past. maybe the carpet cleaning part just stood out more and thats what people noticed more on leaflets, but saying that i would have expected a few jobs
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: darren clarke on August 18, 2010, 11:47:41 pm
there has got to be something wrong,  what is the name of you company,  do they think you are just a carpet cleaning company
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: andy east sussex on August 18, 2010, 11:51:14 pm
andy's cleaning services
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Paul Coleman on August 19, 2010, 03:52:24 am
knocking doors is like pulling women the more you knock the more chance you have,  the worst any one every says is no,


I disagree.  It's very different from pulling women.  This is because sometimes the worst thing that can happen is that they say yes.
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Richard Neal on August 19, 2010, 05:33:15 am
Have you tried asking the carpet customers youve picked up if they want their windows cleaned?
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Smudger on August 19, 2010, 08:21:34 am
Andy, sorry to here your window cleaning leaflets arn't working, it's odd that the carpet cleaning side is,

i would defo try some door knocking, yes it's nerve racking and feels horrible, but once you get going and even better get a yes then it is great esp. when you have walked down a road and look back knowing you got 6 new custy's in less than 30 mins.

i think in the current climate there are lots of 'new' w/c's starting out as a squeegee and bucket is cheap to buy, not so for carpet cleaning equipment  so your w/c service is just one of many.

defo, offer window cleaninf to the carpet cleaning people OR offer a deal carpet cleaning + 20% off your windows,
 ie..  normal clean price £20  with carpet clean £16

Darran
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: chopsie on August 19, 2010, 09:01:56 am
basically goes like this

100% pure water cleaning up to 4th floor

free quotes given

affordable, professinal & approachable

inside windows can be cleaned on request

fully insured

basically ive kept it simple and to the point
Does it actually say window cleaning/window cleaner anywhere i.e as a heading?
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: andy east sussex on August 19, 2010, 03:13:49 pm
ye window cleaning
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on August 19, 2010, 05:53:31 pm
what about offering free demonstrations? Just thinking that some domestic customers are suspicious of wfp and that might win them over? just a thought :)
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Lee Pryor on August 19, 2010, 11:59:58 pm
andy, I would like to see your leaflet if i may.  8)
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: cleewindows on August 20, 2010, 04:01:46 pm
Honest opinion is they might think your expensive as you clean carpets and per job would be much more expensive that window cleaning!
 Why not try leaflets with just window cleaning,cheaper the better single colour on white a5 paper!
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: andyM on August 20, 2010, 04:56:12 pm
Still very worried?
The topic of this post suggests someone who lacks self belief and confidence in what he has set out to do.
Why are you worried? Because you have put out 15k of leaflets and the work hasn't come flooding in.
Andy doubt is your worst enemy, and you have to take control and conquer it. The more you think about the lack of response the more your self confidence will be affected.
Your leaflets may not have been appealing for one reason or another. So what?
I would not sit back and wait for the phone to ring, I would get out there and knock some of the doors where your leaflets have been delivered.
Explain to them you are expanding your window cleaning business and ask them if they would like a quote for their property. By actually speaking to people you will be putting a face to your business and will receive a feedback (negative or positive).
Sometimes you just have to get one window clean in a street and others will follow. People will see your van around and feel more confident in you.
I've leafleted some areas 3 times and not got a response. I had one today, they never responded to any of my leaflets but I knocked the door while in the area and introduced myself and hey presto.
Regular 4 weekly cleans, a future upvc roofline clean and they even gave me a tip! 
While there another woman passing by gave me the phone number of her friend who wants me to quote for window cleaning.
If you are serious about getting more window cleaning work you should start this evening and tomorrow and sell your service.

 
   
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: Spruce on August 21, 2010, 11:12:37 am
The motor industry used to send out thousands of flyers. But you don't get them anymore for the simple reason that they don't work as they used to and they are expensive to distribute.

Existing customer referrals are an excellent way of building your customer base, but you tend to get business all over the place. This is my experience.

The best customer base we got was a new estate we knocked on at exactly the right time. All the houses together and very compact which is what you want. The only down side is that virtually all the owners work and it's difficult to get money from some of them.

The best advice given on here once was to knock a few doors either side of the house you clean as you clean. Try to work Saturdays as you will get more exposure from those who are at home over the weekend. In the summertime, work later into the evenings for the same reason.

It takes time and a lot of hard work to build your basic business. In time you will spend less and less time canvassing as your customer base grows. In doesn't happen over night.

Still very worried?
The topic of this post suggests someone who lacks self belief and confidence in what he has set out to do.
Why are you worried? Because you have put out 15k of leaflets and the work hasn't come flooding in.
Andy doubt is your worst enemy, and you have to take control and conquer it. The more you think about the lack of response the more your self confidence will be affected.
Your leaflets may not have been appealing for one reason or another. So what?
I would not sit back and wait for the phone to ring, I would get out there and knock some of the doors where your leaflets have been delivered.
Explain to them you are expanding your window cleaning business and ask them if they would like a quote for their property. By actually speaking to people you will be putting a face to your business and will receive a feedback (negative or positive).
Sometimes you just have to get one window clean in a street and others will follow. People will see your van around and feel more confident in you.
I've leafleted some areas 3 times and not got a response. I had one today, they never responded to any of my leaflets but I knocked the door while in the area and introduced myself and hey presto.
Regular 4 weekly cleans, a future upvc roofline clean and they even gave me a tip!
While there another woman passing by gave me the phone number of her friend who wants me to quote for window cleaning.
If you are serious about getting more window cleaning work you should start this evening and tomorrow and sell your service.


Hi AJM
I totally agree. When reading some of Andy's other posts he does seem to make things more complicated they they actually are.

Andy, no disrespect meant but as the Nike advert says "Just do it". Best of luck.

Spruce

 
Title: Re: still very worried
Post by: andyM on August 21, 2010, 12:34:36 pm
Yes Spruce, sometimes just that little bit extra motivation is enough to get the ball rolling.
It sounds like Andy has put some work in to get the leaflets out there but maybe sitting back and waiting for it to happen.
I believe that leaflets definately do get results but you can't beat getting out there and talking to people about the service you are offering.
I am definately not a natural born salesman and never will be. However I believe in the quality of the service I am offering and face to face canvassing has always worked better for me.
If Andy wants results badly enough im sure he will find the way that works for him.
Best of luck.