[buggy]

i am new to carpet cleaning need advice and tips does knocking on doors work as any one done it....what did you all do to start with.....help

[Carpet Dawg]

Thats just glorified begging if you ask me. I'm sure everyone will disagree with me  

Never tried it myself but i'm sure it'll get a higher hit rate while leaflet dropping.

[Paul W Jones]

I would never door knock but when you're out delivering leaflets and someone is on the drive there's no harm in having a chat!

[buggy]

thats what i thought cheeky to knock,its just slow geting work im just keen to clean.....

[derek west]

thats what i thought cheeky to knock,its just slow geting work im just keen to clean.....

now theres a good business name.

[Steve Chapman]

How is knocking the door more cheeky than shoving a leaflet through the letterbox ?  

Make youself sound polite by asking if its ok to leave a leaflet with them with some special offers on,

you'll be surprised how many will ask you for a quote or book you there and then.

Face to face contact is proven to be the best way of winning over a customer, once they've met you  

and liked you they have already formed a small friendship with you, and will trust you above some

annonymous leaflet through the door.

Its more about having the balls to go out and do it, and be able to take some knock backs.


Regards
Steve

[Mike Halliday]

knock on the door and ask if they have received your leaflet, just apologies for disturbing them but you paid a local company to put them out and you have had no response, so you thought you'd check they were delivered

you don;t even need to have any leaflets delivered just make it up

[david hutchieson]

I mostly clean boats, have a simple website and pay a lot for advertising. 95% of my customers come from walking up and asking if they need work done.

The trick when doing this is to have something you can show them that will make you stand out from the crowd. Some people donīt want a service until you show them something they cannot do without. Think about all the services carpet cleaners can offer and give them a simple demo of something which will make them remember you.

Ask if they will be having their carpets cleaned in the next few months if not, jog on.

When you are starting up take any job for the money. You will soon find your type of customers.

Remember, this is now your business (you work for you now) and everybody on here does things slightly different.

And ... listen to the guys on here as well. A few of them are obviously raving but even a stopped clock is right twice a day!

[Joe H]

Just do as Steve Chapman says and stop being wimpy..

I posted just a couple weeks ago about a carpet cleaning friend who was short of work, 2 hours knocking on doors with his leaflet and he got Ģ500 of work

[Mr Dvae]

How do you think Servicemaster started? without door knocking even the Queen wouldn't have had a carpet cleaner.
Servicemaster was developed on foot along with Anglian windows, Jehovas witnesses, Prudential insurance and many many others. It's frowned upon because it's HARD SLOGGING, basically because ther's more no's than yes's,
but it's free to do and unlike some other countries i believe it's still legal.

Dave

[david hutchieson]

Just another wee point. If you canīt face folk telling you no thanks then we are all in the wrong business. It is guaranteed every day.
All the above comments are spot on, just get out and do it. When your first customer says YES itīs a great buzz.

[Ian Gourlay]

How do you think Servicemaster started? without door knocking even the Queen wouldn't have had a carpet cleaner.
Servicemaster was developed on foot along with Anglian windows, Jehovas witnesses, Prudential insurance and many many others. It's frowned upon because it's HARD SLOGGING, basically because ther's more no's than yes's,
but it's free to do and unlike some other countries i believe it's still legal.

Dave

Just. Thats what infuriates me about enterprise Britain Trading Standards and Police create no Go areas , instead pf prosecuting the Rip Off merchants

[garybristow]

hello buggy.get out there and give it a go,make sure you look smart,wear a log'd outfit ,they will have more respect for you and feel safer that you are representing your company. If your knowledgable and have an engaging personality people will show interest.Most people dont really want strangers at their door,so you will meet with some resistance !pick your time as well ,knocking on someones door at 8pm will not go down well.During the day more women will answer the door and lets face it they are the ones interested in their household hygiene.
Keep a record of your result and post back,im sure there will be a lot of cleaners on this site who would be interested to see how it goes,good luck
Gary Bristowclean

[buggy]

nice one gary for the positive input,as it goes i have me new shirts today logoed up so mite go out 2moz afternoon for a few hours see what response i get...

[Eddie Conroy]

Six or seven years ago when I first started, I knocked on doors for about a one week period.

Even now I can trace the amount of business that I got  from that cold calling, which including referrals , to about 15% of my annual total.

I was quite careful in selecting properties that didn't have curtains drawn or not calling during probable meal times and always in daylight. If the door was opened I always made sure that I stood well back to allow people space and a non threat zone ( there are articles on doorstep protocols)

 I explained that the reason why I called was just to delay the time that it would take for them to put my mailer in the bin, and to change the odds slightly. I told them I was local, just started, completed the NCCA course and would be delighted to provide a free quotation or advice. If they had no need, maybe they could keep my mailer in their cleaning cupboard.

If somebody expressed an interest, I made an appointment with them to call again, so they were under no pressure. I had no adverse results.

Later I joined the Trading Standards 'Buy with Confidence' scheme and when they suggested they were adverse and even objected to 'cold calling' I asked what business did they run. At the time it would take some time for me to get into phone directories etc. I did not have a shop front presence and therefore suggested that they tell me better ways to generate start up business.

I was given a letter by them to say that it was OK to call to promote myself but not with the intention of obtaining orders then and there on the doorstep

Regards to you all

Eddie

[pncleaning]

When I left school many years ago I used to canvass door to door for Anglian windows most of their business came from this, they invested heavily for canvassing teams cos it worked. As I have experience with this I go out knocking doors for my business and yes I think without a doubt this form of promotion is the most effective

I had one lady actually say to me once that she thinks knocking doors is a good idea as it picks people up like her who has been thinking about having her carpets cleaned but have just been to lazy to pick up the phone. I booked that job in there and then, worth Ģ195

So get out there, it does work

Paul