[Dean payne]

I've built my runs up by good old fashioned knocking and meeting people face to face.

Doing it this way the householder gets an impression of you, and you of him/her. Only takes a minute of your/their time and you get an immediate response.

I have dropped leaflets as well, but haven't had anywhere near the same hit rate as door knocking.

John

by any chance do you do leaflets in colchester?

[Johnny B]

I've built my runs up by good old fashioned knocking and meeting people face to face.

Doing it this way the householder gets an impression of you, and you of him/her. Only takes a minute of your/their time and you get an immediate response.

I have dropped leaflets as well, but haven't had anywhere near the same hit rate as door knocking.

John

by any chance do you do leaflets in colchester?

I'm the wrong guy for you Dean. I am in Ireland! 

Anyone else on here who can help him please?

John

[EandM]

Canvassing here has met with little success, although 1% seems about right. In rural Devon it really isn't a case of what you know but who you know. A good starting point are Post Office and, if you can find any, local shop cleans. Referral seems to be more effective than anything else and local advertising produces very few results.
Yell.com, Google and any other lists I've ended up on have proved to be pretty good and attracted quotes for Business premises.

[H2GoKent]

Canvassing with a leaflet!
That worked for me, they get to see that you aren't a ratbag (unless of course you are  )
I have had a number of people keep the leaflet for months and then come back to me.

Be polite and patient, I've had a contract for 7 years that I got because I left my leaflet even tho they said no thanks, and they said I seemed 'a nice young man' well they were quite old and it was years ago!