Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Cleaning Buddy on June 10, 2011, 01:29:27 pm
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I have been canvassing for new customers for the last 3 days and hit loads of areas.
I have been knocking on doors and when not in I have been leaving leaflets.
I must have spoken to around 50 people on the doorstep and left over 300 leaflets (I can only canvass during the day at the moment)
I am so dissapointed that almost all the people I have actually spoken to have a window cleaner or are not interested.
interestingly though many of the people I have spoken too are very interested in the gutter cleaning service I state I will be offering as there current cleaner has not asked them.
My problem is do I concentrate more on this area?
My other problem is that I have not got the gutter vac and dont really want to invest any more money at this time.
Not sure what to do? ???
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Keep canvassing, mucka, 300 leaflets and 50 people is not enough. Leaflets need to go out in the thousands and thousands, and 50 people in three days worth of canvassing isn't a lot.
Sorry, but true.
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50 people not a lot but outta them 50 u should have got at least a couple of customers ?
what do u say to them ?
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I do just leaflets delivering them myself and i average about 5 customers per thousand which i think is ok plus i get a few off my website ;D ;D
Once you get a few customers you will feel better :D
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Sorry I should have said that I got 4 customers and have done 9 quotes.
Not one call from the leaflets.
I just say "Hi, I am expanding my round in this area and I wondered if you required a regular window cleaner"
Does that sound ok?
Dont get me wrong, I will keep going I was just anticipating getting a few more customers. My problem as I stated earlier is that I am canvassing during the day when I think early evenings or saturdays may be more productive.
On a positive note I have not had anyone slam the door in my face either!
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Sorry I should have said that I got 4 customers and have done 9 quotes.
Not one call from the leaflets.
I just say "Hi, I am expanding my round in this area and I wondered if you required a regular window cleaner"
Does that sound ok?
Dont get me wrong, I will keep going I was just anticipating getting a few more customers. My problem as I stated earlier is that I am canvassing during the day when I think early evenings or saturdays may be more productive.
On a positive note I have not had anyone slam the door in my face either!
sounds good to me 4 outta 50 is a hit rate of 8% so u need to canvass about another 3950 to get a full round ;D
what ur saying is basically what I say but remeber to smile and eye contact ... confidence breeds confidence.
not canvassed for a while but got to stage where just used to knock look em in the eye with a smile and say "HI do you need a window cleaner ?" normally get a yes or no.
Canvassed thousands and only once had a door slammed in my face but still got the job - lady of the house came running after me to apologise for her di##head husband and took me on ... still do her windows and she has since divorced him - she was in process of binning him and as he did the windows realised she would need a windie after she had done the deed :o
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Sorry I should have said that I got 4 customers and have done 9 quotes.
Not one call from the leaflets.
I just say "Hi, I am expanding my round in this area and I wondered if you required a regular window cleaner"
Does that sound ok?
Dont get me wrong, I will keep going I was just anticipating getting a few more customers. My problem as I stated earlier is that I am canvassing during the day when I think early evenings or saturdays may be more productive.
On a positive note I have not had anyone slam the door in my face either!
sounds good to me 4 outta 50 is a hit rate of 8% so u need to canvass about another 3950 to get a full round ;D
what ur saying is basically what I say but remeber to smile and eye contact ... confidence breeds confidence.
not canvassed for a while but got to stage where just used to knock look em in the eye with a smile and say "HI do you need a window cleaner ?" normally get a yes or no.
Canvassed thousands and only once had a door slammed in my face but still got the job - lady of the house came running after me to apologise for her di##head husband and took me on ... still do her windows and she has since divorced him - she was in process of binning him and as he did the windows realised she would need a windie after she had one the deed :o
Brilliant!
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In spite of what people say, leafleting works. I worked this morning and dropped around 300 leaflets this afternoon in an hour and 1/2. One woman came running after me and another called 5 minutes after I dropped the leaflet. I got them both.
I can absolutely guarantee that if I spent 3 days leafleting I would get many more than 3 customers. To me it seems the most efficient way, especially if you aren't able to canvass in the evenings when more people are likely to be in.
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over the years a load of wcs have popped up, how long they last is anyones guess mate.
just keep going at it!
think if you are out doing it then how many more are doing the same??
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In spite of what people say, leafleting works. I worked this morning and dropped around 300 leaflets this afternoon in an hour and 1/2. One woman came running after me and another called 5 minutes after I dropped the leaflet. I got them both.
I can absolutely guarantee that if I spent 3 days leafleting I would get many more than 3 customers. To me it seems the most efficient way, especially if you aren't able to canvass in the evenings when more people are likely to be in.
When we started up many years ago ::) we leafletted only and built a substantial business in a couple of months. Ok there wasn't as many window cleaners about then and perhaps we hit lucky on some areas, so if we were to do the same now, (which we aren't) I would not expect the same response.
Our thoughts about leafletting only, was that when people called they really did need a regular service :)
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It can take time, I know on one of your first posts I said it could be hard to do, building a round can take time, but in the end the rewards can be very decent. Try to stick it out, chances are for each job you pick up they will know at least one person who will want you and they in turn will know someone etc etc thats how it works. I have picked up over £200 worth of monthly work from just one £5 job in the past so try to keep going and things will get better.
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I must have spoken to around 50 people on the doorstep and left over 300 leaflets (I can only canvass during the day at the moment)
My leafletting guys manage 120 leaflets an hour overall. By their standards, in three days, you have delivered as many leaflets as they manage in 2.5 hours.
My response rate from leaflets is steady at 0.4%. So, from your 300 leaflets, you could logically expect to get 1.2 customers. That's going to fluctuate, so zero customers from 300 tells you nothing. If you're going to leaflet, do it in bulk.
Vin
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I must have spoken to around 50 people on the doorstep and left over 300 leaflets (I can only canvass during the day at the moment)
My leafletting guys manage 120 leaflets an hour overall. By their standards, in three days, you have delivered as many leaflets as they manage in 2.5 hours.
My response rate from leaflets is steady at 0.4%. So, from your 300 leaflets, you could logically expect to get 1.2 customers. That's going to fluctuate, so zero customers from 300 tells you nothing. If you're going to leaflet, do it in bulk.
Vin
Quite. I get around 1% return rate from leaflets, but obviously this will vary. It is a method that works. Especially if you can't canvass in the evenings when people will actually be in.
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Sometimes leaflets can take a few days or weeks before they generate a response.
Try to canvas later in the afternoon, 4.30 onwards, and Saturday mornings.
Plan your canvassing sessions - I don't like doing more than an hour & a half - unless I'm picking up shed loads of work.
Well done on what you've got so far.
Dave
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When i first started out i thought i would get 1/4 of the houses on my estate (about 500 houses on the estate) - i got 2.
Two years on and i still get calls from leaflets i dropped then (ask Star M as im passing onto him now cos ive moved).
Knocking is best in the evening really, but just keep at it and you will get there.
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You will have to be prepared to face the fact that to build up a round that will give you an average income will prob take 2-3 years. I would be impressed if someone could get together an annual workload of say£25-30k in less time than that.
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bluefrog is right,
I did a leaflet drop of about 2500 earlier on this year and i still get calls from them now,
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You will have to be prepared to face the fact that to build up a round that will give you an average income will prob take 2-3 years. I would be impressed if someone could get together an annual workload of say£25-30k in less time than that.
it would take me 3 months to build a domestic round with an anual turnover of £25 to 30k a year
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I know there's a few over that in far,less time.I've been part time and Ian is well over that.many others are too pal.
You will have to be prepared to face the fact that to build up a round that will give you an average income will prob take 2-3 years. I would be impressed if someone could get together an annual workload of say£25-30k in less time than that.
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This was bound to happen, we have been encouraging people to set up as competitors to ourselves on this forum for many years, more and more people have started up as window cleaners as a result, and of course with the current economic situation less and less people can afford to pay for a window cleaner!! This is madness, I for one am not going to encourage/advise anyone to set up as a window cleaner in what is becoming more and more a saturated market!! Sorry to sound so negative Cleaning Buddy, I wish you good luck.. but it is definately getting much tougher out there!!! :-\
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geoffreyspecht I see you started in 2003 you might be surprised it will take you a lot longer as times have moved on Mate.
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£30,000 a year in this economic climate!!!!! starting out with all the job losses!!!! you would be crazy!!!! go for £37,000 with no door knocking. I have had more saturated socks!!!!
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geoffreyspecht I see you started in 2003 you might be surprised it will take you a lot longer as times have moved on Mate.
loads of work gut there if u look for it
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here here ;D
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geoffreyspecht I see you started in 2003 you might be surprised it will take you a lot longer as times have moved on Mate.
i started in 1973 not 2003 and time always moves on and i can still build a window cleaning round with a tunover of£25000 to £30000 a year within 3 months
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You will have to be prepared to face the fact that to build up a round that will give you an average income will prob take 2-3 years. I would be impressed if someone could get together an annual workload of say£25-30k in less time than that.
it would take me 3 months to build a domestic round with an anual turnover of £25 to 30k a year
If that's true I'd be impressed however I guess its 'Keyboard bravardo' If this was the case you would be advised to build 2 or 3 rounds per year and sell them on for mega profit. Maybe you already do that, who knows.
However, back on planet earth, 99% of new startups will not be able to get to that sort of turnover in the time period I stated. To canvass £2500 and have it ready to work in just a few months is beyond their capabilities.
The problem is, as has been said, prospective cleaners read this forum and think its easy. Spend money they dont have and wonder why they either dont make a living or cant get the windows clean!!
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Contary to a lot of comments. I will make this work
I have a can do attitude.
I never thought this was going to easy, its been better since I originally started this thread. I have been out and about today and picked up 9 customers in 3 hours. I am knackered with the walking mind!
Saturdays canvassing is definately better than canvassing during the day
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I have a can do attitude.
I have been out and about today and picked up 9 customers in 3 hours.
Good luck to you Buddy, but if you really had a "can do" attitude then you would have been canvassing for 8 hours+ today.. not 3!!! I know I would have if I was just starting up and needed customers!!! ;)
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Be sure to keep your eyes open for new estates.It seems they're spinging up all over the place where I live and obviously they're a great way to get new business if you get in quick.Also,be prepared to target different areas.If I just targeted the area where I live I would have no chance of surviving frankly.It's worked out much better for me to travel a bit and hit more rural areas.Not for everyone and it has it's downsides (increased travel costs,customers spaced out etc),but you have to do what it takes to make things work.Like any new business the first year is difficult but stick with the hard work and all of a sudden things will seem to come together.
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Contary to a lot of comments. I will make this work
I have a can do attitude.
I never thought this was going to easy, its been better since I originally started this thread. I have been out and about today and picked up 9 customers in 3 hours. I am knackered with the walking mind!
Saturdays canvassing is definately better than canvassing during the day
u should have been out canvassing all day then u would have got more customers
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Cleaning Buddy:
Try Canvassing on a sunday morning say 10.30 til 1pm and same for saturday; longer if you can bear it.
(i think you'l get more custy's on the sunday)
I'm am a coward and leaflet and agree 2-3 yrs for a half decent round i have got rid of about £700 worth of work in the last two yrs, i constantly refine my work, it's usually messer's that get dumped.
I have read alot of posts regarding canvassing.
If i was brave enough i would knock, then if no answer leave a leaflet; then return to not-in's (one's you have leaflet'd.)
That would be the most efficent way for a compact round (very, very time consuming)
But you might as well do all the hard work now; so life get's easier and easier in time.
The 2-3 yr stage mentioned is when you are established and work finds it's way to you :)
Reccomendation is the niciest way by far.
Just think as if your climbing a high wall at the mo; but when you get to the top; you'l be abseiling down the other side. ;)
good luck mate.
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It is tough out there, but you CAN do it.
In July I will be moving to Ireland and starting up from scratch. That will be a challenge I am sure!
I will be starting off by cleaning my mother-in-law's (we will be staying with her initially) then knocking the immediate neighbourhood and working from there.
I will be out during the day, every day, ready to clean any that I pick up, there and then.
When this happens, I will be up and running, as people will see me working, and therefore I will be advertising myself and earning at the same time.
I did this when I started up, and although realistically, not everyone took me up straight away, some did, and very quickly word spread, and I began to earn from it, thus it gave me the confidence to build my business from there.
Why not try it. You've nothing to lose.
Best wishes,
John