[Steve Weatherley]

In an attempt to market my business I have tried 3 things this month.

1. 1500 leaflets through doors - this has so far brought in 3 new customers
2. Advertise in a local reputable advertiser - this has brought in 10 new customers
3. Written to 80 different housing associations, blocks of flats etc - this hasn't brought in any work (the letters went out in January)

We are in a pretty deprived area and also being on the far eastern tip of North Kent we are limited geographically (if you go North or East you are in the sea!)

I am happy that I have increased my customer base by 13 new customers. this will increase my turnover by approx £110 every month but very disappointed with the return on the letter writing. This additional marketing has cost my business £110 so in 1 month it will pay for itself.

My question is .........
Can anyone come up with a tried and tested way of bringing in new customers quickly?

[lcwalker]

I live in suffolk quite rural and i find on average i get 1 customer from every 100 dropped but it is slow going, i even do gardening to and have some leaflets with gardening one side and the windows the other, but i haven't had a call about gardening.People say door knocking is the answer but i hate doing it but if i dont get enough after my next leaflet drop i may well have to go that way.

I have 2500 leaflets with just windows and im in between 2 towns i hope to pick up 20/25 but my current work is all scattered but most pay well.You say you have picked up about £110 pounds of work from 13 customers thats doesn't seem much per job, most of my jobs are arn't under £10 they average £15 or higher but my area is quite wealthy and im sure the work is out there but i think it's all about finding out the pockets of the area.One job i picked up was 7 small bunglows in an OAP cul de sac of 19 bunglows and the warden said he thinks i may well get more there and that was in the village next to mine,and that was after we dropped about 200 leaflets and i picked up a £20er in a village 4 miles the other way from me,so there out there it's just finding them (easier said than done though).

[bobplum]

In an attempt to market my business I have tried 3 things this month.

1. 1500 leaflets through doors - this has so far brought in 3 new customers
2. Advertise in a local reputable advertiser - this has brought in 10 new customers
3. Written to 80 different housing associations, blocks of flats etc - this hasn't brought in any work (the letters went out in January)

We are in a pretty deprived area and also being on the far eastern tip of North Kent we are limited geographically (if you go North or East you are in the sea!)

I am happy that I have increased my customer base by 13 new customers. this will increase my turnover by approx £110 every month but very disappointed with the return on the letter writing. This additional marketing has cost my business £110 so in 1 month it will pay for itself.

My question is .........
Can anyone come up with a tried and tested way of bringing in new customers quickly?

door knocking is by far the quickest and cost effective depending on the density of clients you should pick up 3/5 customers a day by door knocking

[Steve Weatherley]

To clarify:
13 new customers but some are on an 8 weekly cycle. My average job is about £10

[Steve Weatherley]

Bob,

I have had reasonable success from door knocking but find it so tedious and if I spend a day canvassing I have lost a day in wages. Do you do it yourself or do you employ someone else?

[Sean Dyer]

Bob,

I have had reasonable success from door knocking but find it so tedious and if I spend a day canvassing I have lost a day in wages. Do you do it yourself or do you employ someone else?

BUt if you have 5 full days worl why would you canvass??

If you need work, you canvass on the days you need it

[Dave Willis]

Quickest way I've found is to be seen. Work on Saturdays for a while when people are about. So many people work full time that they never see anyone cleaning.

[Steve Weatherley]

Sean

I do have 5 full days work. However I have ambitions. Why do all the work yourself? I already have enough work for me and one employee (we do 50% carpet cleaning and 50% window cleaning). However I want to continue to expand so that my business doesn't rely on my fitness (I have a bad back).
To clarify..........if you work by yourself and you are off with a bad back for 2 months, who will pay the bills?

This is why I dont have time to canvass

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Quickest way I've found is to be seen. Work on Saturdays for a while when people are about. So many people work full time that they never see anyone cleaning.

True, people can go for years not even knowing that their neighbour has a window cleaner!

[Steve Weatherley]

I like the Saturday idea

[Sean Dyer]

Sean

I do have 5 full days work. However I have ambitions. Why do all the work yourself? I already have enough work for me and one employee (we do 50% carpet cleaning and 50% window cleaning). However I want to continue to expand so that my business doesn't rely on my fitness (I have a bad back).
To clarify..........if you work by yourself and you are off with a bad back for 2 months, who will pay the bills?

This is why I dont have time to canvass

Fair enough mate
Didnt realise you were more than a one man band
In that case

1. employ a canvasser

or 2. leaflet strategically , large amounts in a concentrated campaign

or.3  get out knocking 6-8 pm every day

[andy1975]

Quickest way I've found is to be seen. Work on Saturdays for a while when people are about. So many people work full time that they never see anyone cleaning.

i very rarely work on saturdays only when its necesary,but when i do i can easily gain another 2 or 3 just by being seen.

[Steve Weatherley]

Yes Sean, I think I will employ a canvasser. Maybe I can pay them on a commission basis or something.
Thanks

[bobplum]

Bob,

I have had reasonable success from door knocking but find it so tedious and if I spend a day canvassing I have lost a day in wages. Do you do it yourself or do you employ someone else?

do it my self,example saturday stopped ata set of traffic lights saw an estate on the right thought why not off i went got three customers

appreciate the density of people were you live may be thin on the ground but it is the best way
bob

[VSP Home Care]

Drop me an e-mail please Steve.

[Steve Weatherley]

VSP....
you email is hidden on your profile. Whats your email address?

[Steve Weatherley]

VSP

Or you can send me an email. It's in my profile

[mileslake]

You must have a crap leaflet. I have built my business on leaflets. Hope I am not being rude

[Steve Weatherley]

Your tone did sound a bit rude. We use colour glossy leaflets with photo's. However maybe it is crap (but thats a matter of opinion). What is your success rate with leaflets i.e per 1000 leaflets?

[Richard iSparkle]

Photos does not have an apostrophe in it. If you have spelt all your leaflets like that, maybe you have a problem with the design, grammar  etc, you need to be professional and spell correctly.  

you're being rude again 

do you have a problem with being professional, or maybe just friendly?