[simonwonder]

hi all
is there a right way to market our services?
will ordinary marketing do the job ?

i have run out of ideas to try and get more clients any help would be appreciated
i have a website
www.wondercleaning.co.uk all critique welcome as i am trying to get it right
tried flyers and radio and all local newspapers no real result
what am i doing wrong ?

advise welcome
thanks
simon

[Paul Coleman]

hi all
is there a right way to market our services?
will ordinary marketing do the job ?

i have run out of ideas to try and get more clients any help would be appreciated
i have a website
www.wondercleaning.co.uk all critique welcome as i am trying to get it right
tried flyers and radio and all local newspapers no real result
what am i doing wrong ?

advise welcome
thanks
simon

Not sure I would call anything "wrong" as such but face to face canvassing is definitely the best way to get new work.  Flyers can get results slowly but you can cover more houses than with canvassing.  I have had people contact me 2/3 years later with leaflet drops but that's unusual.  Local newspapers probably OKish if you have a fairly prominent ad and the paper is very local.  I question whether radio is a good idea because the contact details come and go quickly leaving no hard copy with the customer.  Do you remember the phone numbers of any radio ads you've heard in recent weeks?
I've only used canvassing, leaflets, and ads in newsagents windows myself.  Canvassing definitely the most effective.

[simonwonder]

thanks 

[Andy Clarke]

Show us what you've been doing. Actual examples because my expereince is most ads, flyers etc are rubbish. I don't mean to be mean but it's the truth.

Post some ads or email me your stuff and I'll have a look at them for you.

emai - apc at andyclarke dot name

Andy

[Lee Pryor]

door knocking is the only way imo.

[NWH]

Signwritten vehicle you have to let people know what you do simple as that,if you have a signwritten van you have a 24hr billboard either parked up or driving around and people get to know you by the van.

[Klean07]

That's right van is in peoples sights every day. However I still advertise elsewhere like the yellow pages, leaflets, door knocking, and my website.

[Craig - CW Window Cleaning]

I have had a marketing idea of which I'm going to try out this year, you know the AA and RAC with their little booths selling membership packages, well I have found a booth and can get it made up with my logo and details and go to one of the local markets or similar events where I can try get some customers.
As most of the time you get a new customer they say is "I've been looking for a window cleaner for ages" so just a different approach may work ? who knows, but it wont be from not trying !!

[newbroom]

Sorry to be a  nit picker thats not marketing, that is canvasssing. True marketing is all about branding, public awareness of your company and its products. Sustained marketing will build up appreciation of brand, potential customers like to purchase known brands.

Also be selctive for your marketing.Many years ago i bought a half page advert in yellow pages to advertise my business ( office cleaning ). I remember sales rep saying to me yellow pages goes to 80,000 homes in your area. The question i should of asked was how many of them make the pruchasing decisions within an organisation, not many i would guess. Foolishly and niaevely  i was swayed by the big number rather than targeting my client more selectively.