Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Sir Squeaky on September 17, 2008, 07:56:38 pm
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I've been offered the opportunity to have an advert in a free local services guide which goes out monthly to over 6000 houses.
I am the only one offered it, and would be the only window cleaner in there, which is nice.
Drawback is it's going to cost nearly £20 a month, and I'm snowed under with bills and debts at the moment. :-\
I can do a month to start with, but I think she'd like to think I'd carry on.
Obviously 1 or two jobs each month would pay for it.
Worth spending even more money on...?
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As someone always calling you names because you are so exasperating.... yes, yes, yes and yes.
This is the first sensible thing you've mentioned since you bought the van.Now is your van signwritten?
If so you want a picture of you and it in the ad.
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As someone always calling you names because you are so exasperating.... yes, yes, yes and yes.
This is the first sensible thing you've mentioned since you bought the van.Now is your van signwritten?
If so you want a picture of you and it in the ad.
Yes, the van is.
Actually she said that if I do 12 months (at over £200!) she'd do a full page write up about me and my business with pictures.
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Go for it ...you would only need 2 or 3 good jobs per month to cover the £200.
I asked the same question ( about community mags) a little while ago and ive had a few calls already from just 2 issues.
Cheers Dave
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Please beware of a scam !!!!
I had someone cold call me saying they were from Cornwall Fire service and producing a magazine to go out to all the houses in the area the guy had a scouse accent and told me I would be the only window cleaner in the magazine.
Prices started from £250 for a beer mat size advert I said I would think about it, so while off the phone I checked up on this so called magazine with the Cornwall fire brigade and they had no magazine due to come out needless to say I contacted trading standards.
The guy called me back I told him the information I had and he gave me abuse down the phone.
please be careful on this type of advertising !!!!
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Please beware of a scam !!!!
;D It's not a scam!
She left me a copy of the mag under my wipers.
I've spoken to her.
She's e-mailed me.
I know where she lives too.
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Im glad to hear that ! ;) best of luck !!!!
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Offer to clean her windows for free, another option ;)
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Offer to clean her windows for free, another option ;)
I'm guessing she's already got one.
Surely she would have asked me...? ;D
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Offer to clean her windows for free, another option ;)
I'm guessing she's already got one.
Surely she would have asked me...? ;D
What she like? ;)
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Offer to clean her windows for free, another option ;)
I'm guessing she's already got one.
Surely she would have asked me...? ;D
What she like? ;)
Haven't met her, but she sounds like totty.
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If she has a w/c why isnt he advertising in it instead of you?
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If she has a w/c why isnt he advertising in it instead of you?
I don't know!
Perhaps he advertises elsewhere.
Perhaps he doesn't want to advertise.
Perhaps he's packed it in.
Perhaps he's moved.
Perhaps she doesn't have a window cleaner...
What sort of question was that? ;D
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Squeaky, if she is offering a full page write up and monthly advertising for 200 you should take her hand off. It would be like building a brand name if you had a writeup
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Squeaky, if she is offering a full page write up and monthly advertising for 200 you should take her hand off. It would be like building a brand name if you had a writeup
You're right.
It's too good to miss isn't it?
See if the bank will lend me more then... :-\
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i would personally avoid these calls, but i think it could be a good thing how you have described it.
What are the payment terms?
The reason i ask is if you pay by credit card, the card companies insure all transactions over £100 i think it is?
So you are covered if there is a dispute. ;D
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What area and what type of people does the mag go to? What type of people will read it?
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What area and what type of people does the mag go to? What type of people will read it?
Virtually every area 10 miles around Chepstow.
New estates, cottages, allsorts.
Not every house, but getting more each month.
6,000 bi-monthly at last count apparently.
3,000 one month, 3,000 the next.
Also in shops and post offices.
I'm doing the first month, and if I can get the funds I'll carry on.
Worth getting the full page write-up on my business.
I reckon that's invaluable.
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i have done that much in advertising i have got sick last year spent £400 on a booklet going out
to schools not got 1 call yellow pages this year has been crap yell.com just as bad not going to
make £30k at this rate
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Why not go for the month first, see if there's any response and if there is, go for the £200+write up afterwards?
Do beware, though, there are dozens of so-called "local guides", some are genuine, some only get distributed to the people who advertise in them >:(
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I've been offered the opportunity to have an advert in a free local services guide which goes out monthly to over 6000 houses.
I am the only one offered it, and would be the only window cleaner in there, which is nice.
That sounds really good, Roger, a monthly mag that goes out to 6000 houses.
But, I remember speaking to one of those guys who posts leaflets for a business, and I'm sure I remember him telling me there's 2000 houses in Bulwark, where 80% of Chepstow's population live (fact). So where the hell are those other 4000 houses? I doubt Garden City, Sedbury, Itton, Shirenewton... (etc) all added up account for the missing 4000; and even if they did I've NEVER seen this mag; and I'm sure they'd target where I live before they go delivering in the posh suburbs.
Something smells a bit fishy to me.
Still it's only £20 and sounds good. I reckon it's worth a shot.
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God, you lot are so suspicious and paranoid. ::)
It's perfectly legit. I've seen it myself.
Tosh, it's mainly in the good areas actually, as there's not much business to be had in the crappy areas.
She's trying to stay out of Bulwark unless it's asked for.
There is easily that many houses and more within 10 miles of Chepstow.
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Rog,
You're a nice bloke, but your snobbery does wind me up at times.
I may live in what you call a 'crappy area' (but I love it), but last year I forked out nearly 6K on a whole new heating system and a further £1200 on a fireplace. Both those tradesmen who did the work from me seemed to be happy with what they got.
The bloke over the road from me is having his roof fixed; I can still see the roofer still working from where I sit; there's scaffolding and stuff; I bet it's going to cost my neighbor a small fortune.
My next door neighbor; the one with the 40K camper van thing; is getting a conservatory built, I don't know how much it costs, but I bet you it's not going to be cheap.
And since these are older houses; nearly 100 years old; they need maintenance; many of the residents are elderly and need gardeners (old houses have bigger gardens).
So why they don't push their advertising mag here? It's a good place for tradesmen. I'm sick of people cold calling me. It's not a difficult place to push leaflets out too; I've done it myself (though not for work reasons; I helped in a campaign to try and get a Sultrans cycle route authorised from the council).
Did they push the mag through your door?
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not suspicious squeaky. ;D
Just a few precautions anyone could take to minimise any loss or hassle if things don't go as well. Not saying it won't though.
How you described it sounds fine. And for £20 you have nothing to lose.
I advertise in a parish mag. Did from the start, but it did take several months before it got noticed and i got regular calls from it.
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Can't say if it's genuine or not, but let me take you to task about something else. I can't believe that you post on here that photography is one of your hobbies and you've not got the wit or the gumption to take publicity style photos of you and your van.
I'm usless with a camera but I take pictures like this (my eight year old snaps away while i pose and smile and maybe one will be okay). I've also had loads of bylined snaps in the paper(not all of me and my van ;D)
You have to go with what you've got. I never made the school team at anything but what talents I do have I use.
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squeeky, its only £20, go for it. If anything comes from it then great, if not, boo hoo.
what I will say though is get your arse out the door and canvass - you've been wc'ing for years and you haven't got a big enough round - thats just not acceptable, you seem a really nice bloke, but also lazy and you seem to hate the thought of canvassing.
just get out there and canvass, don't wait on them calling you - trust me, after a while you will start to enjoy canvassing.
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The reason for the photo of you plus van- not that you asked- is to biuld brand awareness. They see the ad, and they say, i've seen him/that van about driving round chepstow. It's got a ruddy great yellow duck on the top and has a sort of ice cream 'quaking' chime when he pulls up at a job....
I know the last bit's not true, but people do become aware of you, and because they have seen you about they trust you automaticaly.
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Squeaky,
a couple of years ago I was in the position you are in now. I told the publisher of my concerns & they willing sent me a copy of their circulation contract with the Royal Mail. It was enough to put my mind to rest.
Didn't get many jobs out of it though!
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Did they push the mag through your door?
Ha ha! Of course not! ;D
There's barely a complete family in my street!
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Did they push the mag through your door?
Ha ha! Of course not! ;D
There's barely a complete family in my street!
What about your family? Any of them have the mag?
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Did they push the mag through your door?
Ha ha! Of course not! ;D
There's barely a complete family in my street!
What about your family? Any of them have the mag?
Only my parents live around here, and yes they do (or they will this month apparently).
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knowing squeaky if he spends £20 and dosent get thousands of new customers he will be back on here moaning about the waste of money and how other w/c get work without trying, :)
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knowing squeaky if he spends £20 and dosent get thousands of new customers he will be back on here moaning about the waste of money and how other w/c get work without trying, :)
Too right I will be.
It's seriously annoying.
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Roger,
Just a thought; a few weeks ago some bloke from the council left a vague message on my answer phone about 'a job'.
I returned the call thinking I was going to be asked to quote for a council building, but it turned out this bloke said he was from some business (I can't remember the name) and was working on behalf of the council and they were going to be putting out some montly advertising publication that would go through X amount of letter boxes.
Oh, and I'd be the only window cleaner in there; he may have even praised my business (which is still Mickey Mouse; so how the hell could he know how good it is).
I naffed him off; he was smooth-tongued, and it sounded a bit dodgy.
The above is honest. Just I can see some similarities with what you've been told.
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Roger,
Just a thought; a few weeks ago some bloke from the council left a vague message on my answer phone about 'a job'.
I returned the call thinking I was going to be asked to quote for a council building, but it turned out this bloke said he was from some business (I can't remember the name) and was working on behalf of the council and they were going to be putting out some montly advertising publication that would go through X amount of letter boxes.
Oh, and I'd be the only window cleaner in there; he may have even praised my business (which is still Mickey Mouse; so how the hell could he know how good it is).
I naffed him off; he was smooth-tongued, and it sounded a bit dodgy.
The above is honest. Just I can see some similarities with what you've been told.
It's not the same one.
This is run by a woman in Shirenewton, and it's nothing to do with the council.
This one is also much bigger, smartarse.
Do you lot see what I have to put up with?!!
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I think it was an example, he was trying to help . ;)
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I think it was an example, he was trying to help . ;)
If you knew him you'd know that wasn't the case.
He's taking the mick and on the wind up.
He dedicates his life to it.
He'll be on here later denying it. ;D
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I think it was an example, he was trying to help . ;)
If you knew him you'd know that wasn't the case.
He's taking the mick and on the wind up.
He dedicates his life to it.
He'll be on here later denying it. ;D
more importantly, why are you home, you part timer :P
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I think it was an example, he was trying to help . ;)
If you knew him you'd know that wasn't the case.
He's taking the mick and on the wind up.
He dedicates his life to it.
He'll be on here later denying it. ;D
more importantly, why are you home, you part timer :P
It's friday.
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In my previous business, i made bery good money at selling ads in "local guides" and surgery advertising, charity advertising etc.
My advice........leave it!!! ;)
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seriously squeeky, why aren't you out canvassing? So what if its friday, it doesn't matter, what does matter is that you get some more work.
do you want/need anyone to sort you out with fliers/business cards? they're cheap and all you need to do is put thousands of them out through letterboxes.
My first month canvassing I put out over 4000 fliers on my own, Mon-Fri, thats 200 a day Roger. From that I would reckon I got around 70jobs averaging around £10 each - doesn't sound like much for a months canvassing 8 hrs a day but thats roughly £700 a month more than I would have had for sitting at home.
Come on mate - time to get the act together.
By the way, its 4.35pm and I'm sitting here telling you to get your butt of the seat and get out there but only because I have done it.
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The best thing you can do is to phone a couple of people who advertise in the mag to see what sort of interest is generated. I'd be suprised if they get many enquires. You would do better having a leaflet printed and targeting areas that you already cover.
Just my opinion.
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The best thing you can do is to phone a couple of people who advertise in the mag to see what sort of interest is generated. I'd be suprised if they get many enquires. You would do better having a leaflet printed and targeting areas that you already cover.
Just my opinion.
Good idea!!
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He's taking the mick and on the wind up.
He dedicates his life to it.
He'll be on here later denying it. ;D
Squeaky, I swear that my last post wasn't a wind up; honest.
And as for being a 'total wind up merchant', I agree, sometimes I can't help myself; it's just my sense of humour; Wor Lass and Little Un both deserve a medal at times.
But I was being honest with my post about the guy pretending to be from the council.
And I'm not a total tosspot either; as you've insinuated.
For example, yesturday, I spent two-hours with Matt and Ollie (Squeaks used to work with them) showing them the WFP ropes; we cleaned my neighbors house, my house ;D; I showed them how a RO system works, how to change resin; filters; how pure water works; everything; though two-hours isn't long enough really; but it's got them thinking!
So my list of teaching local window cleaners how to start the WFP route grows by the month.
I've so far taught window cleaning with regards to WFP to the following people; and all I charge is a bottle of red-wine; though John bought me a big bag of crisps; I love crisps; too:
Tommo (a member here) lives in Lydney
Richie L (from Caldicot)
Terry P (from Lydney)
John (I don't know his surname, but he used to live in Bulwark and is a JW; commutes to Chepstow from Cardiff)
Mike (from Lydney; posts on here)
Matt and Ollie; you know them well.
So that's seven guys I've taught; six of them have been window cleaning far longer than myself; yet they all came to me for advice.
That's a nice compliment to me!
If you want residential customers; without having to leaflet drop or canvass; I know where you should advertise, but I'm not going to tell you. ;D
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If you want residential customers; without having to leaflet drop or canvass; I know where you should advertise, but I'm not going to tell you. ;D
That's good because I wasn't going to ask.
I not going out canvassing because I'm not desperate for work.
This is just something to help me.
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I recently spent £25 for an ad in a rag that goes to 3000 houses. Still waiting for my first call from anyone who has seen that ad.....Maybe it aint gone out yet. ::)
I get all my new work form recommendations or my Van signage.
You cant beat canvassing tho :P
Bob