[Mr Sparkle]

I have recently started up in wfp window cleaning and posted out 10,000 leaflets since xmas to get new customers but only recieved a few calls 
Is it always this bad this time of the year or is it down to the recession we're in? Thanks in advance and have a great 2009

[Nathanael Jones]

January is always very slow,... but the recession is only making it worse.

What are you flyers like? Perhaps some design tweaks could make a difference?

[Dean Taberner]

have you followed the flyers up by door knocking or just waited for the calls mate?

[Mr Sparkle]

They are good flyers, Only delivered the flyers at the moment, no door knocking yet. Is that the best way to get the customers door knocking? are flyers waste of time on there own without following it up door knocking.

[gary999]

i posted around 400 business cards on new years eve and have had 1 def
job and 4 more enquires today

i have never had many enquires off flyers but little business cards always
seem to do the trick i get mine from vista print

[Mr Sparkle]

Cheers gary, willy try some business cards

[Sir Squeaky]

Cheers gary, willy try some business cards

No need to call him a willy.
He was only trying to help.

[Mr Sparkle]

sorry about that must of accidentley caught the y on the keypad 

[Sir Squeaky]

 

[gary999]

Cheers gary, willy try some business cards

No need to call him a willy.
He was only trying to help.

 

[peter holley]

see my thread "leaflets  WHY??" which has been ignored.....because everyone is too interested in arguing with the buisness coach .the only one talking any sense on that one is pure hydro.

[chrisyg]

flyers work, if they are designed for your desired customer. many people dont always read them when first put thru the door and go straight in the bin, flyering as a 12 month of the year effort. recirculate them on a 3-4 month basis. Not everyone phones straight away many will put it to the side until springs comes around and the sun is out more..

Follow up calls is always a good idea - knock on the door with your flyer in hand. Many may already have a window cleaner - depends on how saturated the area is with window cleaners.

Ive put out flyers only to get calls 3-6 months down the line.

Business cards never worked for me anyway, but i do carry them around and always give one to new customers even though they have my flyer.

[Niall McAllister]

alot of people say about 1% return on leafleting. some say better rate for leaflet, then call back and hi-light that you left the leaflet, but if you're going to do that then you are aswell just going straight to door knocking and cutting out the second trip

[poole bay]

mate knock the doors you will get loads putting leaflets in doors is pot luck its the best way try it and i hope you do ok,
 regards carl

[East coast window cleaning Services]

agree leaflets are a waste of time

[Niall McAllister]

if you have the leaflets printed already, why not take them with you. if someone is interested you quote them then and there,if they are not interested  leave a leaflet for if they change their mind at a later date. lastly put one through if they are out.
that way you don't waste your money and you cover all your options.

[mark dew]

mr sparkle, don't lose hope about the winter. I have found the end of jan, feb and march to be good times for picking up new work.
I work in the countryside and i don't know if wc stops coming but i have got good quality rural work from a parish magazine advert. I don't mass leaflet in the villages but cherry pick houses that i pass between jobs which look like £20+ jobs.
I can't really speak from a town perspective on this but rural areas are a good place to concentrate during these months.
To find out if there is 1 get the name of the vicar from a village church. Contact details will be on the notice board.
If there is a local magazine he will know.
The thing with countryfolk is that you will have to use a landline number cos they are fickle and won't trust a mobile.
I pay £10 a year for my advert.
Parish magazine readers are demographically good customers. Little or no mortgage left. Loyal and (in my target area) belong to a larger network of community minded people. The only downside is that there isn't enough of them. 
I don't doorknock myself but i use this leaflet. I write in red ink the day i will be back in the area and ask them to leave in the window if they want a quote.
I use red ink so it is easy to spot from the van when driving past.
I also used a similar type but without the 'leave in the window' bit and get a much better response rate than from the finding it and phoning up.