Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: rob child on January 25, 2010, 10:40:17 pm

Title: first customers arggghhh
Post by: rob child on January 25, 2010, 10:40:17 pm
hi all ive been leaflet dropping for a few days now with no luck whatsoever i know i should be cold calling but dont want to be putting it on people after a days work. any tips/ideas?
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: chopsie on January 25, 2010, 10:48:44 pm
Just door knock,I have had no replies from any leaflets i dropped,apparently people will keep them and call us months,even years later,I got 69 customers since november virtually all from door knocking,couple of others from seeing me while i was working.people do not mind you calling on them,most are quite friendly when they realise your not a pushy double glazing salesman
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: woody1 on January 25, 2010, 10:56:57 pm
door knock mate it works so much better went out today for a couple of hours got 5 new customers left leaflets at houses not in had no calls as per
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: John Walker on January 25, 2010, 11:00:31 pm
Just door knock,I have had no replies from any leaflets i dropped,apparently people will keep them and call us months,even years later,I got 69 customers since november virtually all from door knocking,couple of others from seeing me while i was working.people do not mind you calling on them,most are quite friendly when they realise your not a pushy double glazing salesman

Totally agree.  I started off by leaflet dropping and gained a few but when I actually spoke to a homeowner while delivering, either because they were out in the garden or just arriving home my new customer gains went up dramatically.  Door knocking is definitely the way.

It's also important that you are well presented - first impressions count big time.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: Steven01903 on January 25, 2010, 11:14:04 pm
Rob the only way is to knock the door, I promise you, You are the only person that they will say to you I am sorry but I have a window cleaner.
Or they will say at last yes I need a window cleaner.
I leave leaflets if no answer but to be honest I never get calls from them, I just hope that next time I call on them they reconize the leaflet and I get a new custy.
Knock the door you will enjoy it.
Steven
West sussex
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: daz1977 on January 26, 2010, 12:49:08 am
put ur leaflets out and then a few days later, go knocking and say

hi sorry to bother, where staring a window cleaning round next week, i was wondering if you was intrested

thats it,  keep a note of who says no and whos not in   and knock the ones not in a few days later
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: wizard on January 26, 2010, 08:44:57 am
A thing that has worked for me. I drop a leaflet and call back a day or two later, but I always have a mug shot of myself on the leaflet. Have a personal photo on your leaflet always gives them a instant memory of you when you call back later. So make sure its a good Photo even if you have it down professionaly. Then use it on all your ads. People think in pictures not words.Thing of your favourite food, you will never think BURGER you will see a picture of a Burger. This is a principal rule us in advertising it makes a lasting impression so make it good. God luck.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: John Walker on January 26, 2010, 10:41:58 am
A thing that has worked for me. I drop a leaflet and call back a day or two later, but I always have a mug shot of myself on the leaflet. Have a personal photo on your leaflet always gives them a instant memory of you when you call back later. So make sure its a good Photo even if you have it down professionaly. Then use it on all your ads. People think in pictures not words.Thing of your favourite food, you will never think BURGER you will see a picture of a Burger. This is a principal rule us in advertising it makes a lasting impression so make it good. God luck.

So... you think if I have a picture of a burger on my next leaflets, I stand a chance of getting a good response - brilliant   ;D
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: formb on January 26, 2010, 01:42:25 pm
I have never once knocked on a door for a new customer. I have 3952 customers. 85% from leaflets, 5% word of mouth, 5% yellow pages, 5% sign on vehicles. When I started I got an army of 10 - 15 young lads and they helped me do my first leaflet drop. We normally get a return of 1 to 2 %. Leaflets work you just need to up your amount.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: formb on January 26, 2010, 01:46:57 pm
Also, if you are going to knock on doors get a list of local window cleaners and avoid their houses. You don't want to get chinned.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: R W C™ on January 26, 2010, 02:54:13 pm
I have never once knocked on a door for a new customer. I have 3952 customers. 85% from leaflets, 5% word of mouth, 5% yellow pages, 5% sign on vehicles. When I started I got an army of 10 - 15 young lads and they helped me do my first leaflet drop. We normally get a return of 1 to 2 %. Leaflets work you just need to up your amount.

How many peoplke working for you.

Also, if you are going to knock on doors get a list of local window cleaners and avoid their houses. You don't want to get chinned.

Just knock the doors, if the custy says they got a cleaner, just thank them and be on your way, just dont quote if they got a cleaner.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on January 26, 2010, 03:45:05 pm
hi, hope this helps!!
I started on my first windows a week last monday, I started with friends and family and delivering leaflets. from my first leaflet drop (300) i got 3 custys, on cleaning the first of these (wfp) she then referred me to 4 of her friends then i have another 2 off them. so in my little bit of time I think leaflets can work fine, but i think its whats on the leaflet that counts.
I knocked doors yesterday afternoon for about an hour, all where negative, i switched to leaflets for the next 2 hours and picked up 2 calls and got both jobs, if i had stuck to the knocking i would of never got the leaflets in front of those 2 new custys. You can cover a larger number of houses with leaflets and hopefully catch someones eyes, do a good clean and get referals.
good luck matey!! :)   
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: MSTAV on January 26, 2010, 04:50:34 pm
hey kentkleen where in kent are you?? im dartford
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: JRDEasiReach on January 26, 2010, 05:02:06 pm
Ive picked up 3 new 4 weeklys in the past week from knocking but have also lost a few on the way, im finding loads more that already have a window cleaner when im knocking so im not gaining much, infact my list doesnt seem to be growing and add to that the fact that my vans in dire need of repair funds are getting low, infact i am getting a new sump put on tomorrow as it has had a prang and the crank shaft is banging of it when i drive and its moaning like an oul git. 
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: David Kent @ KentKleen on January 26, 2010, 05:51:12 pm
hi mstav, sorry kent is the surname, i am up north matey!! wish i was in kent seems you can charge double what we can up here!!  :o
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: dazmond on January 26, 2010, 06:08:13 pm
door knock,door knock,door knock!!if youve not bought a round to get yourself going and want to build a good solid round then its unavoidable.when i started 16 years ago i went out EVERY WEEKEND for 6 months at least to get more work!i never used any leaflets just asked them!if they said yes i turned up monday morning and that was it!another one on the books and so and so on.

if you cant door knock then youve got to ask yourself WHY NOT?if u want a more compact round u will have to!it gets easier after the first couple of refusals! ;) ::) :P ;D

good luck!

dazmond
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: AuRavelling79 on January 26, 2010, 06:29:34 pm
Leaflet two days before going back and knocking. Leaflet should tell'em you are going to call in the next few days but if they want to beat the queue then they should phone first.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: rob child on January 26, 2010, 06:40:35 pm
thanks all looks like im gonna have to go knocking as no luck just on leaflets will let u know how i get on. they just seem to be arrogant buggers in lincs area!!!
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: chopsie on January 26, 2010, 06:45:17 pm
Leaflet two days before going back and knocking. Leaflet should tell'em you are going to call in the next few days but if they want to beat the queue then they should phone first.
I am about to experiment with this,but my bug bear with it is...Its bad enough door knocking/leaflet dropping an area once,So to have to do it twice is really crap  :-\
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: rob child on January 26, 2010, 07:18:13 pm
unless a small round crops up for sale in my area!!! hmmm
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: scud on January 26, 2010, 07:59:48 pm
  Where abouts in Lincolnshire are you?
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: wizard on January 26, 2010, 08:25:58 pm
John Walker you should put a photo of a  burger on you leaflets it could be a 2 course meal a burger and a whiskey and pure water  on the rocks.

TO Formb: Were will you get a list of another window cleaner and there custys from. IF you can  plerase tell me. I think its what you call round and they would be the first ones i would knock on. One thing for sure you will never find a list of my custies.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: Ian Mason on January 26, 2010, 09:08:25 pm
Hi all,

I was doing a bit of market research, & delivered leaflets, but noticed that many homes have notices warning against cold callers.

I walked up one path, & saw one of these notices, so decided it best not to post a leaflet afterall, & turned around to leave, but then this woman come out her home, said nothing, but gave me a right sh**y look as if to ask what I was up to. I thought sod it, i`m not going to explain what it`s about, lol.

Some people want the best of both worlds.


Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: chopsie on January 26, 2010, 09:12:14 pm
don't worry about those signs,knock/deliver anyway,else you will never get a round  :)
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: Ian Mason on January 26, 2010, 09:24:59 pm
don't worry about those signs,knock/deliver anyway,else you will never get a round  :)

Hi Chopsie,

I shall try & find out exactly where, but I am sure that some areas even have a legal thing preventing cold callers & leaflet dropping, unless you obtain permission from the council. I think it was more of a ID thing really, following distraction burglaries.
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: stevef78 on January 26, 2010, 09:59:30 pm
Hi all,

I was doing a bit of market research, & delivered leaflets, but noticed that many homes have notices warning against cold callers.

I walked up one path, & saw one of these notices, so decided it best not to post a leaflet afterall, & turned around to leave, but then this woman come out her home, said nothing, but gave me a right sh**y look as if to ask what I was up to. I thought sod it, i`m not going to explain what it`s about, lol.

Some people want the best of both worlds.




i can only imagine someone knocked her door to buy one of those stickers as they would have to be sad to go the shops to buy one...buyers are liars...!!!
i would make it a principle to knock there doors as there more than likley to be any old crap,dont be put off mate
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: woody1 on January 26, 2010, 11:14:50 pm
door knocking for custys is not cold calling its offering a service totally diff mate well thats when i was seen by the plod in a no cold calling zone they just left me to it
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: wezzy32 on January 26, 2010, 11:20:34 pm
what happens if the sign says no canvassing?
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: rob child on January 27, 2010, 04:19:18 pm
im in lincoln itself but everywhere seems to be covered just my luck eh!!!
Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: formb on January 27, 2010, 05:10:49 pm
I have never once knocked on a door for a new customer. I have 3952 customers. 85% from leaflets, 5% word of mouth, 5% yellow pages, 5% sign on vehicles. When I started I got an army of 10 - 15 young lads and they helped me do my first leaflet drop. We normally get a return of 1 to 2 %. Leaflets work you just need to up your amount.

How many peoplke working for you.

Also, if you are going to knock on doors get a list of local window cleaners and avoid their houses. You don't want to get chinned.

Just knock the doors, if the custy says they got a cleaner, just thank them and be on your way, just dont quote if they got a cleaner.

10 OF US ALLTOGETHER

Title: Re: first customers arggghhh
Post by: wizard on January 28, 2010, 01:15:31 am
We are not cold calling or canvissing we are informing the public af services offered in the area. Get the drift. If not informing then we are just dropping  service pack  for a client.Catch it man. Change the name of what you ar ding all the time.