Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Steve-Robert on May 03, 2013, 11:32:57 am
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trying my hardest to start up a round but its slow going.
in 3 weeks I've gathered 12 (twelve) customers after knocking on what must be over a thousand doors.
is this normal ?
determined to keep at it but didn't expect it to be so hard getting people to part with about a tenner to get their windows cleaned !
anyone else just started up ?
comments and suggestions appreciated.
cheers
Steve.
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trying my hardest to start up a round but its slow going.
in 3 weeks I've gathered 12 (twelve) customers after knocking on what must be over a thousand doors.
is this normal ?
determined to keep at it but didn't expect it to be so hard getting people to part with about a tenner to get their windows cleaned !
anyone else just started up ?
comments and suggestions appreciated.
cheers
Steve.
You have 12 customers in 3 weeks - this is very good.
You have knocked on over 1,000 doors - this is very good.
Clearly you have determination and sticking power - you will go far !
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Maybe try a slightly different area, more important than doors knocked is how many people you are actually speaking to. If you are knocking during the day likely many will be no answers, sorry if I am teaching you how to suck eggs but maybe try a few nights of 5-8.30 - you should get many more in and a much better hit rate. Weekends are also a good time to canvass we do welll then, sunday morning 10-12.30ish seems good too. Another good way is make sure you look smart, maybe wear a logo'd top, be polite, its just a numbers game.
Good Luck
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Top tip of the day!
Saving Time.
If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.
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Top tip of the day!
Saving Time.
If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.
Thats The worst advice, an area where noone has a windowcleaner is normally a slum, the norm is that most people dont want 1 just dont waste time knocking on clean houses, i never canvass a clean house as 99 percent of the time they do them thereselfs or have a cleaner already. Try steer away from built up estates and concentrate on main/busy roads. Knock on the dirty ones and you have a 50 percent chance of it being a simple yes or no against a 1% chance with a clean house.
Top tip is to take note of every sold board in your area and knock them when board has come down. An easy way of gaining 50 plus customers in 3 months without actualy canvassing.
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Why is that the worst advice then?
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Why is that the worst advice then?
Proof is in the pudding look at my results. Why would you waste time knocking on clean houses anyway. Thats the joy of canvassing properly, you choose what you target. I target dirty houses and stay away from anything looking spotless.
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Top tip of the day!
Saving Time.
If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.
Thats The worst advice, an area where noone has a windowcleaner is normally a slum, the norm is that most people dont want 1 just dont waste time knocking on clean houses, i never canvass a clean house as 99 percent of the time they do them thereselfs or have a cleaner already. Try steer away from built up estates and concentrate on main/busy roads. Knock on the dirty ones and you have a 50 percent chance of it being a simple yes or no against a 1% chance with a clean house.
Top tip is to take note of every sold board in your area and knock them when board has come down. An easy way of gaining 50 plus customers in 3 months without actualy canvassing.
Like the sold board idea, but canvassing dirty houses is a sure fire way to pick up customers that will be messers. People that want clean windows don't wit to be knocked.
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Top tip of the day!
Saving Time.
If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.
Thats The worst advice, an area where noone has a windowcleaner is normally a slum, the norm is that most people dont want 1 just dont waste time knocking on clean houses, i never canvass a clean house as 99 percent of the time they do them thereselfs or have a cleaner already. Try steer away from built up estates and concentrate on main/busy roads. Knock on the dirty ones and you have a 50 percent chance of it being a simple yes or no against a 1% chance with a clean house.
Top tip is to take note of every sold board in your area and knock them when board has come down. An easy way of gaining 50 plus customers in 3 months without actualy canvassing.
Like the sold board idea, but canvassing dirty houses is a sure fire way to pick up customers that will be messers. People that want clean windows don't wit to be knocked.
Not at all, a small percentage are messers as with any method, the only way to get good results canvassing is to soley target ones that have no cleaner. If i wasted time knocking every house on a street then id be lucky to get 2 in a night!.
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Keep doing what you're doing. with only 12 custies you have plenty of time on your hands for canvassing and can't afford to miss any by trying to second guess peoples motivations for having clean(or not) windows.
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Top tip of the day!
Saving Time.
If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.
Thats The worst advice, an area where noone has a windowcleaner is normally a slum, the norm is that most people dont want 1 just dont waste time knocking on clean houses, i never canvass a clean house as 99 percent of the time they do them thereselfs or have a cleaner already. Try steer away from built up estates and concentrate on main/busy roads. Knock on the dirty ones and you have a 50 percent chance of it being a simple yes or no against a 1% chance with a clean house.
Top tip is to take note of every sold board in your area and knock them when board has come down. An easy way of gaining 50 plus customers in 3 months without actualy canvassing.
Like the sold board idea, but canvassing dirty houses is a sure fire way to pick up customers that will be messers. People that want clean windows don't wit to be knocked.
Not at all, a small percentage are messers as with any method, the only way to get good results canvassing is to soley target ones that have no cleaner. If i wasted time knocking every house on a street then id be lucky to get 2 in a night!.
From the roadside it is only possible to pick out real mingers in my experience. Often windows look ok from outside, but from inside look terrible. I can see your thinking and I have no doubt that you would get a higher return per door knocked but you would be missing an awful lot of houses with moderately dirty windows who in my experience turn out to be better customers. Canvassed jobs just aren't as good and getting a premium on a first clean is harder.
Personally, my advice to the OP would be to leaflet. I doubt he would get a much worse return rate from 1,000 leaflets and in the time he could have easily dropped 5,000... Probably many more.
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Top tip of the day!
Saving Time.
If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.
Thats The worst advice, an area where noone has a windowcleaner is normally a slum, the norm is that most people dont want 1 just dont waste time knocking on clean houses, i never canvass a clean house as 99 percent of the time they do them thereselfs or have a cleaner already. Try steer away from built up estates and concentrate on main/busy roads. Knock on the dirty ones and you have a 50 percent chance of it being a simple yes or no against a 1% chance with a clean house.
Top tip is to take note of every sold board in your area and knock them when board has come down. An easy way of gaining 50 plus customers in 3 months without actualy canvassing.
Like the sold board idea, but canvassing dirty houses is a sure fire way to pick up customers that will be messers. People that want clean windows don't wit to be knocked.
Not at all, a small percentage are messers as with any method, the only way to get good results canvassing is to soley target ones that have no cleaner. If i wasted time knocking every house on a street then id be lucky to get 2 in a night!.
Mick, how many a night do you normally get?
I may be having a full on canvassing campaign soon with 2 or 3 of us out most nights and me during the day.
I'll be aiming for around 300 new custies in the shortest possible time and could use a bit of advice ;D
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loads of top tips there chaps,thanks.
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trying my hardest to start up a round but its slow going.
in 3 weeks I've gathered 12 (twelve) customers after knocking on what must be over a thousand doors.
is this normal ?
determined to keep at it but didn't expect it to be so hard getting people to part with about a tenner to get their windows cleaned !
anyone else just started up ?
comments and suggestions appreciated.
cheers
Steve.
I think you've done well so far.
As has been said - canvassing is a numbers game - the more houses you knock on the more customers you will get.
I remember when I started up... Sometimes I would spend 2 hours in a certain area, every house I knocked they already had a window cleaner, but then I would get 2 or 3 at the end of the road who needed a window cleaner, if I had given up on the area after 30 mins or so then I would never have got those customers! - It just takes patience and persistence is the key.
From what I've heard it sounds tough trying to start up from scratch nowadays though... Because of WFP loads of people are starting up thinking its easy money, but its not easy.
Make sure you stay focused and determined!
Andy ;)
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Steve, the way I go about it is like this. I drop leaflets saying who I am and how long I've been in business. What service I provide, (6 weekly) and that we're reliable and friendly etc. I also tell them on the flyer that we'll be calling in the near future to see if they re interested etc. About 3 or 4 days later, I then go door knocking. Works well for me. Another way is to pay some guy like Mick Kent to do it for you. From what I've seen on here, he seems to know what he's doing. It takes bottle to do what you've done. Full respect. Just remember, some will, some won't, so what, nock on the next door.
The difference between guys with lots of work and guys who have problems getting work is who knocks more doors. You grow your business when others would give up and go home. It sounds like you're that sort of bloke. Keep going.
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Why is that the worst advice then?
Proof is in the pudding look at my results. Why would you waste time knocking on clean houses anyway. Thats the joy of canvassing properly, you choose what you target. I target dirty houses and stay away from anything looking spotless.
Each to his own.
I have built up more than enough work knocking doors the way I do it.
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first thing in the morning go draw out 40 quid from a cashpoint. promise yourself that you will pay yourself it AFTER you've knocked 500/400/100 doors(set a target) . then and only then you can go pay it back in at the bank,your wages
I used to do this in my erly days as a motivation and it worked
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Mick kent was given a list of custies from a retired windy.
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Smithie-sounded like he was but he didn't know what till he started knocking.
If he hadn't gone out knocking he wouldn't have got any.
Fortune favours the brave.
To the OP-best advice-don't get despondent, don't be too proud and keep at it bud.
Every person here with a decent round has had to work their conkers off to get it, in one way or another.
Keep at it, you never know how successful you may be
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Steve its what you do with the customers you have.
I canvassed and got 50 then the rest came to me.
Take your time at each house over clean them.
Neighbours watch and recommend.
Get your name and phone number on your van or car{ Landline works better}
Work Saturdays.
Expect to get messers and don't let them get you down.
Keep yourself and vehicle clean and tidy.
Look after you customers go the extra mile once you get a good reputation
the customers will come to you.
Be patient a good round takes time to build.
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Steve its what you do with the customers you have.
I canvassed and got 50 then the rest came to me.
Take your time at each house over clean them.
Neighbours watch and recommend.
Get your name and phone number on your van or car{ Landline works better}
Work Saturdays.
Expect to get messers and don't let them get you down.
Keep yourself and vehicle clean and tidy.
Look after you customers go the extra mile once you get a good reputation
the customers will come to you.
Be patient a good round takes time to build.
All good advice.
As already said, look after your customers and you WILL get recommendations. The recommendations will almost always turn out to be long time valued customers.
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Yup, some good advice here. I have built my runs from scratch by good old fashioned door knocking. I didn't take too much notice if the windows were already clean. It may be that the householder does them themselves, and was waiting or looking for a window cleaner to call.
I am in the south west of Ireland, and have knocked around 5000 doors in my locality. I currently have 378 customers of varying regularities. It has taken me 20 months to get to this stage, and I reckon it will take me another year to get to where I need to be.
It is definitely tougher going than it was a few years ago, but with enough determination and motivation it is still possible to build a decent run.
To the OP, you have made a good start. Stick with it, and as has been suggested, try canvassing at times when people are more likely to be in. The more doors you knock, the closer you will get to reaching your target.
Best wishes,
John
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trying my hardest to start up a round but its slow going.
in 3 weeks I've gathered 12 (twelve) customers after knocking on what must be over a thousand doors.
is this normal ?
determined to keep at it but didn't expect it to be so hard getting people to part with about a tenner to get their windows cleaned !
anyone else just started up ?
comments and suggestions appreciated.
cheers
Steve.
You have 12 customers in 3 weeks - this is very good.
You have knocked on over 1,000 doors - this is very good.
Clearly you have determination and sticking power - you will go far !
+ 1, this is what i was about to say more or less! well done thts good going!
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Top tip of the day!
Saving Time.
If you knock doors and the first few people say they already have a window cleaner, don't bother with the rest of the street, go somewhere else.
Thats The worst advice, an area where noone has a windowcleaner is normally a slum, the norm is that most people dont want 1 just dont waste time knocking on clean houses, i never canvass a clean house as 99 percent of the time they do them thereselfs or have a cleaner already. Try steer away from built up estates and concentrate on main/busy roads. Knock on the dirty ones and you have a 50 percent chance of it being a simple yes or no against a 1% chance with a clean house.
Top tip is to take note of every sold board in your area and knock them when board has come down. An easy way of gaining 50 plus customers in 3 months without actualy canvassing.
Now that sounds like some real advice! thanks mick. im gonna use those techneques also! you should charge money for these ideas mate
George
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Yup, some good advice here. I have built my runs from scratch by good old fashioned door knocking. I didn't take too much notice if the windows were already clean. It may be that the householder does them themselves, and was waiting or looking for a window cleaner to call.
I am in the south west of Ireland, and have knocked around 5000 doors in my locality. I currently have 378 customers of varying regularities. It has taken me 20 months to get to this stage, and I reckon it will take me another year to get to where I need to be.
It is definitely tougher going than it was a few years ago, but with enough determination and motivation it is still possible to build a decent run.
To the OP, you have made a good start. Stick with it, and as has been suggested, try canvassing at times when people are more likely to be in. The more doors you knock, the closer you will get to reaching your target.
Best wishes,
John
Your'e an inspiration to me mate, and i just wanted you to know! Ive followed what you do closely!
Thanks
George
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MY TOP TIP IS IF YOU HAVE TOO BLAG THEM A LOT TO SIGN UP AND THEY HAVE REALLY DIRTY WINDOWS THEN NO DOUBT THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER OR A SHORT TERM CUSTOMER , IF THERE GARDENS AND HOUSE ARE MESSY THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER
YOU WILL GET THE JIST OF THEM EVENTUALLY
SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE DIRTY WINDOWS BUT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WORK ALL WEEK AND DONT SEE WINDOW CLEANERS
TRY AND DO FIRST CLEANS ON WEEKENDS AND BANK HOLS SO PEOPLE SEE YOU OUT CLEANING AS THIS WILL BRING IN NEW CUSTOMERS TOO
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MY TOP TIP IS IF YOU HAVE TOO BLAG THEM A LOT TO SIGN UP AND THEY HAVE REALLY DIRTY WINDOWS THEN NO DOUBT THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER OR A SHORT TERM CUSTOMER , IF THERE GARDENS AND HOUSE ARE MESSY THEY WILL PROB BECOME A MESSER
Agreed. If their windows are minging, they don't care. Either they rent or clean windows mean nothing to them. When you go back for your second clean they will wonder why they ar paying for you to clean their windows as they are still clean. It is bad advice to knock only on houses with dirty windows.
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You have found the hardest customer so far.
The very first one who said "yes you can do mine"
The rest will follow now.
I've been going since 2006
it ain't been easy it's been a long old slog
But now i can pick and choose what i do now.
You will get there but you have gotta be prepared for all kinds of eventualties
Good Luck
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Why is that the worst advice then?
Proof is in the pudding look at my results. Why would you waste time knocking on clean houses anyway. Thats the joy of canvassing properly, you choose what you target. I target dirty houses and stay away from anything looking spotless.
But to be honest mick another window cleaner did tell you which doors to knock on .
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I am in the south west of Ireland <snip>
Whereabouts in SW Ireland Johnny? I'll be over in Ennis later in the summer.
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There is not dough i my mind that canvassing has become a much harder job lately as the market becomes smaller as the economy bites and more windies wanting a slice of the pie.