Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mike Halliday on March 08, 2009, 08:03:51 am
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I've had a website for 6 weeks within 2 days it was on the first page of the organic listing and I also did PPC
I registered with all the free directories and on some search terms I had 4-5 listing on the first page, so in my area if anyone searched for a carpet. upholstery or leather cleaner, I was there.
I also have 3 listings on google maps.
I HAVEN'T HAD A SINGLE JOB FROM IT!! OR EVEN AN EMAIL ASKING FOR A PRICE!!
Now I know my website is'nt the best in the world, but its not bad. I hear all the time that some carpet cleaners are getting most of their work from the internet and the internet is the future, but I DIDN'T GET ONE ENQUIRY IN 6 WEEKS!!
can it be that some areas haven't caught up to the internet age.
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I think you right what you say there Mike.
Down south they seem to be more internet savvy.
Up here I thinks its catching on slowly.
I have had more enquiries over the last 12 months but nothing like what say Spencer is doing.
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how many impressions are you getting on PPC?
not clicks, impressions.
derek
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Hi Mike
There does seem to be a regional effect but not as big as some believe.
A quick search of your areas shows you have a few listings but mainly towards the bottom of the page, whereas I am all over the internet, with no1 rankings for most areas and I get all my new work from it.
I come in from many angles and have built this with a lot of hard work over several years, whereas you are a newbie in this , it's a bit like delivering 5000 leaflets and saying they don't work ;)
Another way to look at this is that the rise of the internet is inexorable and has spread like many things out of London and other cities, by buying the right sites for your area now, you can put yourself in pole position for the future.
Cheers
Doug
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Mike
If you look at those that get a lot of work, they have Expanded their catchment area. The exact opposite to your philosophy. Accept that you may get a few that don't respond to leaflets and that's about it.
Did you know how many searches per day on your key phrase? If you knew that you would know even before you started what the maximum number of hits you could get.
The other issue is conversion. If you get 200 hits a day you can get by with poor conversion. If you only get 10 then better make the most of them.
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Hi Guys
I wasn't going to mention your agrophobia Mike ;D, but Mike O is spot on, there is little point in expanding your internet if you don't want to expand your area.
Cheers
Doug
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We def dont get as much work as they do down south from the web.
As joe said we are getting more net savy :)
Had some work of my site but seems to be price shopers who just e mail so we dont have a chance to get our personallitys across over the phone ::)
Am getting two new sites so thats going to boost my web presence :)
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Doug
How far do you travel for new work?
Are you qouting over phone
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Hi Ian
Last two weeks I have done one job in Islington, 550 so worth going, lots in Chelmsford, Romford, one in Colchester, one in the City(twice) plus all my local areas.
I almost always quote over the phone, you have to do this well to make the internet work, lets face it CC is not that complicated that it requires detailed visual pre inspection.
Cheers
Doug
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I'm reaping the rewards (not Doug style though) 2 years on but I couldn't make a living out of it, email enquiries are a bind as they don't want you they are just nosey if they call yo uthey are interested Paul Ashworth has taken the form submission off his site so they do ring.
Shaun
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i'm averaging 100 impressions a day, that says to me that theres work out there on the net. on PPC the first thing you need to do is get your impressions up, then concentrate on getting the clicks from those impressions, and then the website should do the rest.
if your not getting the impressions you need to look at your keyword phrases and see how you can improve them.
i have over a 1000 keyword phrases but only 5 % of them get used, so the more you have the more chance you have of seeing what works in your area.
derek
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Doug, i've stopped the PPC which showed me at the top most times, on google maps I've usually got 2 listings sometimes 3
on 'leather cleaning beverley' I have 3 out of the top 4 listings and 1 further down
on 'upholstery cleaner beverley' I'm 7th & 8th and have 2 listings on google maps
I have limited myself slightly, on PPC I limited it to 10miles from my home address but this still has a population of over a million.
the internet is not like leaflets, leaflets are searching for people who want our services the internet is exactly the opposite, they want the service and are searching for us.
I'm not saying it doesn't work but there must be a regional difference.
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During Feb:
impressions 165000
clicks 55
average cpc £1.10
ctr 0.03%
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165000 impressions?
that over 5000 people a day looking for carpet cleaning in a 10 mile radius.
something not right there mike.
whats your top key phrase, carpet cleaning barrack obama????? ;D
derek
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Online Campaigns Online Campaigns + New online campaign ▼
Start with keywords
Start with placements
Help me choose
Statistics: Summary Split: all search/content network Split: Google search/search partners/content network Only show: all search Only show: Google search Only show: search partners Only show: content network
Customise columns <Show/hide columns> ------------------------------ Hide Current Status Hide Current Budget Hide Clicks Hide Impr. Hide CTR Hide Avg. CPC Hide Cost ------------------------------ Restore defaults Done show: all | all active | all but deleted
Campaign Name Current Status Current Budget Clicks Impr. CTR Avg. CPC Cost
Campaign #1 Paused [ £5.00 / day ] 37 105,393 0.04% £1.02 £37.77
Commercial no1 Active £5.00 / day 18 59,578 0.03% £1.26 £22.66
decorator Campaign #2 Active £5.00 / day 0 207 0.00% - £0.00
Total - all 3 Campaigns - £10.00 / day ( 2 active campaigns ) 55 165,178 0.03% £1.10 £60.43
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above was cut & pasted from my Google anylytical page
only the pay per click is within 10miles this number is includes all searches anywhere
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totally believe ya mike but theres something not right there.
i'm presuming youve got contents swithched on which is a total waste of time for us.
and thats local search within 10 miles?
last week i got 720 impressions, thats with 2 campaigns, one keyword and one IP. and thats 15 mile radius, don't know what the density is where you are but its quite rural with small urbans round here, but that really does seem an awful lot of impressions.
still, if its right then you need to adjust your adds to attract your custys to your website, thats a toughie as you only have 2 lines, set a few up and see which converts to clicks the most, then run with it.
derek
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getting about 4 jobs a week from £20 but thats on my old website, will be converting to the new website in the following weeks and seeing if it makes a difference. along with the SEO from chris boswell for generic then i should do ok, fingers crossed.
derek
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Chris makes a difference but PPC IMO gets you in their faces first although I don't do it you can't help but look when you see them first.
Still the internet gets more price shoppers though compared to anything else I have ever advertised so a well written site is more of a priority I get nothing from Doug's but for the money it's no problem.
Shaun
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Shaun
You got it right when you said there to lazy to phone ???
And you said paul has taken his enquirey tab off,well in ny other post i did also say that am getting work from my google and not ppc,also had many just email quote so they never get a chance to hear what i have to say.
Shaun how do you get on with the email reply for quotes from your web site.
Am too thinikng of not replying only as i have some good repeat clients ???
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I would use the Beverley local paper to drive traffic to your site with some sort of offer. The advert can be extremely small, but when they get to your site they get all your spiel.
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Hi Guys
All these impression figures are very misleading, they do not mean mumber of people.
Your stats will show you the number of unique visitors, on my Leather site it will be in the low thousands per month and thats for the number 2 site for Leather cleaning.
Shaun by being on lots of sites you consolidate your top positions for many searches, which gives you a credibility, as in I will use this guy as he seems to have all the top rankings.It also prevents others taking those positions and competing with you.
Mike , I am sure there are regional variations, new developments have tended to start in London and move outwards. In Essex we have a big London influence with lots of people working there.
Essex is avery competitive internet area which keeps us on our toes.
Dave Ingram mentioned recently that since moving from Wolverhampton to Newbury he has noticed lots more people use the internet.
Cheers
Doug
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some more info;
110 people visited this site 157 Visits
110 Absolute Unique Visitors
716 Pageviews
.............................................................
Visits
150
% of Site Total: 95.54%
Pages/Visit
The average number of pages viewed during a visit to your site. Repeated views of a single page are counted. Pages/Visit
4.69
Site Avg: 4.56 (2.91%)
Avg. Time on Site
The average duration of a visit to your site. Avg. Time on Site
00:01:45
Site Avg: 00:01:42 (2.29%)
% New Visits
The percentage of visits by people who had never visited your site before. % New Visits
68.67%
Site Avg: 70.06% (-1.99%)
Bounce Rate
The percentage of single-page visits (i.e. visits in which the person left your site from the entrance page). Bounce Rate
36.00%
Site Avg: 36.31% (-0.84%)
Detail Level: City City Visits Pages/Visit Avg. Time on Site % New Visits Bounce Rate
1. Hull 77 3.38 00:00:45 66.23% 42.86%
2. London 26 7.54 00:04:08 65.38% 23.08%
3. Wigan 6 7.67 00:04:08 33.33% 33.33%
4. Wombwell 3 4.67 00:01:51 33.33% 0.00%
5. Manchester 3 3.67 00:03:40 100.00% 0.00%
6. Lechlade 2 13.50 00:07:48 100.00% 0.00%
7. Rochester 2 3.50 00:00:18 0.00% 50.00%
8. (not set) 2 6.00 00:03:00 100.00% 0.00%
9. Kidsgrove 2 5.00 00:02:06 50.00% 50.00%
10. Leeds 2 4.00 00:00:27 50.00% 50.00%
the most populer page viewed after arriving on the home page was the 'offer' page
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I agree Doug shuts the door on the opposition perhaps put the telephone numbers first then the info after? just an idea?
Shaun
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Hi Shaun
Definitely sounds a good idea, which site shall I try it with ?
Cheers
Doug
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My first impression was a nicely laid out site with a big sunflower stuck on it.
There's an opportunity to move the small offer on the left and make it a big offer on the bottom right. Only way to know for sure is to split test two pages, but I bet it does better. ;)
I'm making the assumption your key phrase for seo is carpet cleaning/cleaner beverley (maybe not). If so then you will have to broaden it out because there is no traffic at all for this phrase.
Therefore you have to wonder how relevant the hits are, which might explain the conversion rate.
Mike
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just done a search and couldn't find you on sponsored links mike for beverley carpet cleaning, also couldn't find u on thebestofbeverley wich is top for generic and sponsored. nice one on the maps though chief, 3 of.
derek
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Derek I would be unhappy if my sponsored links did come up in your search, as you don't live within my set limit of 10miles.
when I type it I have no 4 & 7 positions plus google maps
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thats why i have keyword and IP campaigns.
if someone is at work who live in beverley but work 11 miles from beverley and want to book a carpet cleaner and type in beverley crpet cleaner, you won't come up.
just a thought.
what about the best of, get yaself on there or kwikjet will get all the work.
derek
just a thought.
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Yes Mike,
It does it makes a difference. I closely monitor 10 sites throughout the UK with good to excellent positions.
The bad news is since the beginning of the year the hits have been pish poor.
Edinburgh's doing OK, but other places are not.
Been trying to ignore the downturn, but its getting harder to ignore it and thats not like me to talk that way.
Then again, time of year and all that. Next week the sun will come out and everyone will say " Oh, lets get our carpets cleaned" ::)
Well, here`s hoping.
Rab
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Hi Rabby
I have checked several sites, North and South and all are up on this time last year !
Cheers
Doug
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What about Leeds and Coventry. Are you saying there doing OK?
Sorry if that sound blunt. Not intensional.
Rab
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My statistics show an increase for January against last year but are down for February against last year
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Regarding website and numbers I'd like to see them on all may be on a banner, I know that when looking for information the key one is the telephone number if they call great but if they want info they'll carry on reading.
Shaun
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Hi Guys
Rabby, just checked both up.
Shaun, I will speak to you about it.
Cheers
Doug
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No problems, perhaps a good chin wag to swap ideas and findings.
Shaun
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Hi
I have already had 150 clicks on my site this month, but they are not converting.
Anyone have any stats on click/conversion rates, or indeed any tips on how to increase conversion rates.
Many thanks
Dan
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not coverting as in, not contacting you or not converting as in, contacting you but not going through with the service?
if its the first then its your website or a certain page on your website, i.e. a pricing page usually upsets the applecart unless your cheap. in which case you need analytics to see where custys are abandoning your web site.
derek
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Unfortunately Derek its the first!
I will look into the analytics. Thanks for your help.
Dan
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analytics is free in your google account, go through the protocol and you will end up with a HTML code, this has to be pasted into each page of your website, not got a clue how thats done so if your like me you'll have to get your web designer to paste it in, once thats done go into google analytics in your google account and it will give you all the info you need about your site as and when it happens.
good luck
derek
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I'm thinking of getting another number, it's one way to get a true handle on your web response.
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And there was me thinking carpet cleaning was rocket science. ;D
Len
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Reading this has nearly put me off getting a website.
Mark
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Mark
Your namesake did my first website and it has helped build my business with very little additional financial commitment and a small amount of time input.
This got me thinking it's worth looking into. It's like anything else the learning curve is steep at first but then it starts getting easier as you join some of the dots.
Best of all if you are prepaired to put the effort in you take control and can tinker and improve consistently which is like giving yourself a pay rise every month.
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Len
Your not alone ;D
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Mark
Dont let it put you off getting a web site mate :)
Are you getting one done soon ???
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Sooner or later they will turn off the life support machine for YP and if you got any work at all from it (lineage or advert) then that stream will be gone so a website will prepare you for the next 'directory' phase.
Shaun
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Think your right shaun.
Maybe even more avenues will open up in the next 5 or ten years or so.
Think thats why the newbies are finding work hard to come by as we had the y pages.
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Using the statistics programmes that are attached to my c panel I get different results. Awstats shows approx 330 visits per month (270 unique visits) but with webalizer I get almost 3 times at approx 900/month (unique visits not shown).
I get about 2 enquiries per week which converts to 1 job every 2 weeks at best. This is for the merseyside/cheshire area. I am also thinking about removing the quote form.
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I'm not sure I think that with the new thought of newbies that they don't het stuck in old ways and will go straight for the things that work as they have to make them work or else!
Shaun
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I know another cleaner who has done this at least it makes them call, enquiries are a lazy way of hiding behind afaceless email.
Shaun
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Am too not replying to e mails etc as like you said shaun it gets them to ring you ???
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enquiry: Hi
Please can you arrange to quote for the cleaning of my lounge carpet. The property is in Northwich and the room is empty. Would it be possible for someone to visit on Saturday morning to assess?
Hi steve,
this is derek from affordable cleaners.
thank you for your enquiry, i can arrange to be there at 9.30am this saturday the 14th of march, to give you a quote. if this is ok then email the address and i'll meet you there.
thanks
derek
Hi
Thank you. The address is xx The Crescent, Northwich CW9 xxx
See you on Saturday.
did the quote this morning, just a living room, £50
doing it tomorrow morning, 40 mins max.
don't understand what all the fuss is about, i'll never get rid off my enquiry form.
if its a price shopper then so what, it only takes a few mins to email back. just don't give a price and emphasise why they shoul use you, if it doesn't work, get over it and move on. you can even make a template for price shoppers and just email that back, 10 seconds and who knows, well worth it.
derek
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You can set up an automatic email that goes back to them with a very polite please call, and just give a plausible reason.
Don't think cleaners get that many though so you may want to weigh up each one and reply.
Don't chase them, you have something they want, even if it is only a price. Don't give it them until you have the opportunity to quiz them.
I think it's only natuaral to jump when someone emails and the idea of not goes against the grain, but it is much more likely to yield a result or at least save you wasting your time.
Also if you get them following your suggestions early on it sort of sets a precedent for further dealings.
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Derek
Say you get this what do you do?
Hi
Can you please give me a price for cleaning my flatweave 3-2-1, it has average soiling on the arms and back cushions ?
Thanks
Mr Anon
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Mike
I enquired about a van a week or so ago and e mailed the company and got one of those auto response.
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What did it say?
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You can see their point of view now Clinton ;D
Derek how many of those enquiries do you get like that? I always seem to get I have a carpet 5 m x 5 m how much to clean? what they usually are is 4 x 4 the difference is vast.
If they are really interested then they will ring if there's no submission page.
I may try that as I think it would suit my needs better.
Shaun
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simple answer
can you tell me what material its made of, some materials clean better than others and i'd like to give you a good idea of how well it will clean before giving you a price, i can call and give you a quote with no obligation to proceed, this way you know your getting value for money, theres a lot of cleaners that will give you a price and clean knowing full well it won't clean that good, we are not like this, if i don't think i can get a good result then i will explain this along with a price.
something ike that, but i'm a bit ped so it probably doesn't sound to good.
kronenberg, i'm going up in the world.
der-hick up
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Mike
It said something on the lines of.Due to the security of the site its best that we can contact you to discuss futher your enquirey etc and the salesman gave me his name and tel number,i asked about a f transit as it was not a bad price with only 13 thou on the clock and wanted to know if the milage was correct.
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I'm keeping out of the way at the moment got a sleep over going on with 4 screaming kids! think I'll have fallen by tonight and will be having a beer or something!!
Back to the thread, a carpet cleaner who used to come on here before he sold up used to put on his form submission page after asking for details, telephone number and the best time to contact
Shaun
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Clinton
They must have realised you were a tyre kicker. ;D
Transit every time mate. ;)
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people have to fill in all of my submission form including telephone number, it won't let you submit unless you do, if i see that someone blagged it and put a stupid number in, i will email telling them and not answer the question till they have submitted a genuine telephone number. quite easy to see who's serious and who's not, and by omitting an enquiry form your losing a few who may be able to be turned around.
derek
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So Derek how far around your castle do you travel?
Shaun
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That's a good point Derek. I was thinking of people who just email you sayin HOW much for a lounge?
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They can submit what ever they want to me cause mine aint done yet
No really new web site is looking real webby
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15 miles is the norm shaun, but i have travelled further, google ppc is set up for 10 miles from me plus 3 miles radius of certain areas that i can get to reasonably quickly, furthest ive done is birkenhead, not sure how far it is, i'll google it and let ya know.
derek
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34.1 miles
derek
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Bugger me 15 miles !
I drove 47 today at 7:45am and got home at 6pm ish
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Did you go and quote the Birkenhead job first?
Shaun
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birkenhead was an emergency flood extraction in a blockbuster movie store for a maintenance company who has the contract for blockbuster repairs and stuff, i said £100 and they said okay. job took 40 mins, but travel time was 1hr and 20 including the return journey, so i was happy and so were they.
i have an "amount of work to how far to travel" ratio type metre, small jobs to far, quote over the phone. if you see what i mean.
derek
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No wonder they where happy, £100 for an emerency call out?
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job took 40 mins and ive had 2 other jobs from them since, like i said, i'm happy.
not sure what your problem is dave? or do you laugh at £50 an hour.
derek
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No problem at all Derek, just that travelling a long way costs money and its not really £50 a hour after fuel, tax and other expenses. Insurance companies have standard average costs for this type of thing and so you could have got £150 maybe?
Then you would have your £50 per hour after costs?
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I think it depends on how much work you have on £100 is good providing they pay up quick when you've only being going a short time, pays for a lot of diesel.
Shaun
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Thats true, just saying its not £100 after expenses, especially when its a distance away. :-*
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1) i didn't say £50 an hour after costs, i try to work between £40 and £60 an hour before costs, like i said i was happy.
2) you say maybe i could of got £150 for the job, but i'd rather definatley have a £100 than maybe £150. bird in the hand springs to mind.
3) so say i got £150, would they have used me again, twice since, who knows! but again i know they did when i charged £100.
mock my pricing all you want dave, its a forum and a free world, but as long as your happy with what your charging, i would never mock yours.
derek, piece out.
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Calm down Derek I think Dave's reaction was startled more than anything, you charge what you want you know what you need to get to keep the Missus in shoes.
Some national firms have contracts the length of Britain and go in at low prices it's all about building relationships and when the call comes from that company to pump out the down stairs flat you have just flooded after bathing the kids then you are onto a winner!
Shaun
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Its time for new dancing shoes for my mrs shes going with her mum shoping for some and there expensive ::)
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ouch!
I need some new running shoes so the missus said that's good we can all have some 2 adults and 2 kids but only 1 adult that runs.
Might put some late work on next week.
Shaun
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lol ;D
Thats our lot now shaun for shoes for another 5 years they will last us ;D
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Now then Derek, I wasnt mocking your price, just pointing out you can and should get more for an emergency call out.
Im sure you would still get more work from them as long as you dont rip them off and you do a great job.
Far from mocking you ;)
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Dave did you get my mail ???
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Just got back to you Clinton
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Cheers dave :)
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so do i ask you how much to charge in future seeing as my prices are wrong and i don't charge enough and i obviously haven't got a clue.
derek
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Come on now Derek, im not having a go at your pricing in a personal way, like Shaun said as long as your happy then thats good enough for you. But there is a list insuranse companies use to calculate costs, so you can refer to this in this kind of situation.
I will try and get hold of a copy and email it you. :-*
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since when have i done things by the book dave?
you think the custy saw me coming, i think i used business savvy to get on a building contractors books.
lets leave it at that.
derek
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Where did I say 'the custy saw me coming'
Jeeeez ::)
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No wonder they where happy, £100 for an emerency call out?
must mean something along them lines, at least thats how i read it.
derek
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Derek
Just a heads up, Did you hear the news - " Top US movie rental chain Blockbuster has hired lawyers to explore a possible bankruptcy filing "
Might not effect UK, this was on USA news chanel.
Paul - Kinder Clean
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We heard that as well :o
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wouldn't surprise me paul.
i'm getting my son into bed then watching gran torino (clint eastwoods new one)and if its not to late, yes man (jim carrey's new one) and they cost me £2.50 each from my mate nigel ;D
so what chance have rental shops got competing against the knock off boys.
can't remember the last time i rented a dvd.
won't affect me, i've only ever done one blockbusters, and that was a flood, not a clean. carpet was ransid, water came out of the truckmount like treacle. i don't think they have there carpets cleaned anyway so serves them right for being grubby buggers. they get five years out of a carpet then have a total refit so the manager of the birkenhead blockbusters told me, no wonder there struggling.
derek
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you cant beat a bit of nigel ;D
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;D
Hey guys i want copy of that grand toreno :)
Was told to try a local maket in manchester by one of my biking mates ???
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Who is this old italian lady anyway?
Shaun
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You wouldnt fancy her :D
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gran torino
not quite what i expected but all in all, another quality movie from mr eastwood. verdict, well worth watching even though it drags slightly in parts. score 8.5/10
derek "wossy" west