Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Dean payne on May 08, 2012, 06:58:31 pm

Title: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Dean payne on May 08, 2012, 06:58:31 pm
Just wondering if anyone has done it without the dreaded door knocking? How about just using leaflets?

I find it pretty hard doing the whole door knocking thing, I don't like people knocking on my door so I find it hard to do it to

others, does anyone else feel this way?

Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Steve Sed on May 08, 2012, 07:08:18 pm
Yes I have. It has suited me as I didn't need it to be providing 100% income quickly as I had another business. I am probably only about 60% full now, but earning over the average UK salary. I should point out that I am 8 weekly. If I was 4 weekly I would be full, but I doubt I would get the same rates.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Dean payne on May 08, 2012, 07:25:59 pm
what did you do leafleting only ? anyother advertising?
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on May 08, 2012, 08:50:17 pm
Leaflets only  >:( you will get all the old boys telling you to get out door knocking!  ;) leaflets all the way matey, its just a matter of getting plenty out there and re leafletting every 3 weeks IMO
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Carl@Cwc on May 08, 2012, 08:59:32 pm
Leaflets only  >:( you will get all the old boys telling you to get out door knocking!  ;) leaflets all the way matey, its just a matter of getting plenty out there and re leafletting every 3 weeks IMO

would you releaflet same areas/streets in that timescale?
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on May 08, 2012, 09:03:41 pm
Yes leaflet leaflet leaflet, builds you up a more compact round instead of houses all over the place. YOU WILL be amazed if you follow this formula month in month out! TRUST ME I KNOW! ;D
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Rogue Trader on May 08, 2012, 09:09:46 pm
im not an old boy or at least i dont think i am and for me it is most definately canvassing all the way , that way you are in control of where you are at and you are not waiting for the leafletted custy to phone you when they get round to it
i have benefitted greatly in the past by a local competitor of mine who leafletted this area as i hired canvassers to knock fairly soon after and cleaned up ;D

scenario 1

custy wants a window cleaner and gets a leaflet and says " oh yes i must call that after hoovering cooking dinner taking kids to school etc.

scenario 2

custy wants a window cleaner and me or someone representing me knocks on their door and signs them up there and then.

scenario 1

£x per leaflet £x for delivery = £investment that may or may not come good

scenario 2

£Your time or £commision only for hired canvasser you only pay if they get you work.


Your choose which way you wanna do it but for me it is a no brainer and i have built my business on canvassing alone and in 5 years i have gone from 0 customers to 2000 and 4 vans.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on May 08, 2012, 09:25:26 pm
Dean, I have always produced my own leaflets, delivered them myself, and think about this senario whenever I am out leafletting,

1. if i knock on this door they might just of got in from work and dont want to be bothered even though they need a window cleaner.

2. if i knock on this door they might have just been to a funeral or similar and dont want disturbing even though they need a window cleaner.

3. if i knock on this door they might have just been disturbed by a charity/double glazing/energy canvasser and dont want to be bothered again even though they need a window cleaner.

Rougue Trader looks like he is having success with canvassing
I am having success with leaflets. You choose whats best for you.


Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: mick hay on May 08, 2012, 10:08:37 pm
i started up 7 years ago, solely with leaflets. Best thing i did. Ive still got most of my original customers, and got a call on Monday off a leafelt that was delivered 3 years ago!!!

I am starting a big leaflet campaign very soon, but just not sure whether to try A3 tri folded or stick with A5 leaflets.

Any advice on these from experience would be helpful  ;)
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Dean payne on May 08, 2012, 10:14:24 pm
i started up 7 years ago, solely with leaflets. Best thing i did. Ive still got most of my original customers, and got a call on Monday off a leafelt that was delivered 3 years ago!!!

I am starting a big leaflet campaign very soon, but just not sure whether to try A3 tri folded or stick with A5 leaflets.

Any advice on these from experience would be helpful  ;)

How do you put out ? and when you order them how many do you order 5000, 10.000 or more? cheers.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Steve Sed on May 08, 2012, 10:32:06 pm
what did you do leafleting only ? anyother advertising?

Yes, just leafletting.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: jk999 on May 09, 2012, 12:34:09 am
25 years not knocked on a single door no leaflets all my customers come from word of mouth
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: wpclean on May 09, 2012, 12:46:04 am
If you want the work quickly you have to canvass, but if you are not in a rush then only leafleting in massive quantities ( 50,000 + ) will  eventually get good results.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: GDwindowcleaning on May 09, 2012, 01:13:40 am
Dean, I have always produced my own leaflets, delivered them myself, and think about this senario whenever I am out leafletting,

1. if i knock on this door they might just of got in from work and dont want to be bothered even though they need a window cleaner.

2. if i knock on this door they might have just been to a funeral or similar and dont want disturbing even though they need a window cleaner.

3. if i knock on this door they might have just been disturbed by a charity/double glazing/energy canvasser and dont want to be bothered again even though they need a window cleaner.

Rougue Trader looks like he is having success with canvassing
I am having success with leaflets. You choose whats best for you.




I knock on over a hundred doors a day and its not for everyone as you do get on some peoples nerves but everyday 10 or thereabouts say yes....

You would be very lucky to get 10 jobs from 1000 leaflets....

In my opinion knocking and leafleting together is the best method....
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: richardlingard on May 09, 2012, 07:01:50 am
10 jobs from a 1000 leaflets would be excellent! i would be happy with 10 from five thousand lol, you wanna speak to the guy who lives in Holland on here, he built up a round over there withouth canvassing only using leaflets, thats impressive !
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Steve Sed on May 09, 2012, 07:11:59 am
10 jobs from a 1000 leaflets would be excellent! i would be happy with 10 from five thousand lol, you wanna speak to the guy who lives in Holland on here, he built up a round over there withouth canvassing only using leaflets, thats impressive !

I get around 10 from a thousand. More over time if you count the work picked up from neighbours.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: sham33 on May 09, 2012, 07:30:04 am
10 jobs from a 1000 leaflets would be excellent! i would be happy with 10 from five thousand lol, you wanna speak to the guy who lives in Holland on here, he built up a round over there withouth canvassing only using leaflets, thats impressive !

I get around 10 from a thousand. More over time if you count the work picked up from neighbours.

10 per thousand? lol can I have your flyer?  :o
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Londoner on May 09, 2012, 07:58:10 am
Leaflets everytime. Over the years I have canvassed up several rounds and I have found leaflets the best. Looks like we are going to start an ironing business for my wife after Christmas and we will just order up 10,000 leaflets and put them out. Job done. If we want more after that do another 10,000.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Londoner on May 09, 2012, 08:04:24 am
10 jobs from a 1000 leaflets would be excellent! i would be happy with 10 from five thousand lol, you wanna speak to the guy who lives in Holland on here, he built up a round over there withouth canvassing only using leaflets, thats impressive !

I get around 10 from a thousand. More over time if you count the work picked up from neighbours.

Ten per thousand is only 1%
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Johnny B on May 09, 2012, 08:33:37 am
I've built my runs up by good old fashioned knocking and meeting people face to face.

Doing it this way the householder gets an impression of you, and you of him/her. Only takes a minute of your/their time and you get an immediate response.

I have dropped leaflets as well, but haven't had anywhere near the same hit rate as door knocking.

John
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Dean payne on May 09, 2012, 03:33:31 pm
I've built my runs up by good old fashioned knocking and meeting people face to face.

Doing it this way the householder gets an impression of you, and you of him/her. Only takes a minute of your/their time and you get an immediate response.

I have dropped leaflets as well, but haven't had anywhere near the same hit rate as door knocking.

John

by any chance do you do leaflets in colchester?
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: Johnny B on May 09, 2012, 06:27:44 pm
I've built my runs up by good old fashioned knocking and meeting people face to face.

Doing it this way the householder gets an impression of you, and you of him/her. Only takes a minute of your/their time and you get an immediate response.

I have dropped leaflets as well, but haven't had anywhere near the same hit rate as door knocking.

John

by any chance do you do leaflets in colchester?

I'm the wrong guy for you Dean. I am in Ireland!  :)

Anyone else on here who can help him please?

John
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: EandM on May 09, 2012, 07:10:36 pm
Canvassing here has met with little success, although 1% seems about right. In rural Devon it really isn't a case of what you know but who you know. A good starting point are Post Office and, if you can find any, local shop cleans. Referral seems to be more effective than anything else and local advertising produces very few results.
Yell.com, Google and any other lists I've ended up on have proved to be pretty good and attracted quotes for Business premises.
Title: Re: Has anyone built up business without canvassing ?
Post by: H2GoKent on May 09, 2012, 08:05:32 pm
Canvassing with a leaflet!
That worked for me, they get to see that you aren't a ratbag (unless of course you are  ;D)
I have had a number of people keep the leaflet for months and then come back to me.

Be polite and patient, I've had a contract for 7 years that I got because I left my leaflet even tho they said no thanks, and they said I seemed 'a nice young man' well they were quite old and it was years ago!