[david@zap-clean]

What are your thoughts an advertising in the small local A5 mags?

There are cheapy parish mags, and the more expensive localised A5 trade mags around here. 

I'm trying both types, but I'm not getting much work from them, though it's early days yet.

[*Hector*]

I found that you need to be in the parish mags for at least 3 issues... Then people start to recognise your ad and think that you are not just a fly by night...

persistence is the key mate.... lots of irons lots of fires, but the leaflets is the most reliable way.....IMHO 

[david@zap-clean]

I'm just impatient.

I've spend a lot of money getting set-up, and I want to see some return before the last of the money runs out.

I've been keeping my ears open, and hearing many differing view on advertising - someone mentioned a budget of £1000 per month! I assume that's for a fleet, not for the 'usual' man-and-a-van operator.

[*Hector*]

that is what you need to aim at in reality..

Or lets do some maths here mate....

3 jobs out of 1000 leaflets..... on average..

forget average job value as that will increase as you get experience...

You should be looking at 3 jobs a day ish. so 15 jobs a week..= 5000 leaflets a week. = 20000 leaflets in a 4 week period.. at the price you paid for yours that is your £1000 almost gone... you have yet to get them out...

If you are working 3 jobs a day 5 days a week.... you will either have to work dawn till way after dusk delivering leaflets yourself at the weekend or start to pay someone else to put them out....


See where I am heading here???

All non stop for minimum of 5 years then .......... If you look after your customers correctly and they are all loyal .......... you can ease off a bit on the leafleting as you will then be writing and ringing them up each year...

#Added to all this leafleting, the parish mags etc (these do only provide a bit of icing on the cake)... In 10 years time you will be in the position of Jim Neal and Simon Gerrard etc who really do not have to cold market any more, and have a good business based on existing customers with the odd few new ones thrown in.....



Hope I haven't put you off too much, but this is the reality of this business... More about marketing than carpet cleaning...

[*Hector*]

good grief...
I need a lie down now 

[david@zap-clean]

Hector - your cleanitup profile website link takes me somewhere strange - is that deliberate?

I appreciate all the marketing advice, and I will be following it. Tnx

I do have a concern though: marketing techniques have/are changing. 
I've absolutely no experience of marketing, but I wonder if what worked yesterday won't necessarily work tomorrow (or even today).

[*Hector*]

Yes it is deliberate... I am retiring from carpet cleaning and entering a whole new world that is less energetic......

I feel it in my bones..

Marketing is not changing that much ......... The old methods still work the best IMHO.... Leaflets have been used for the last 30 years in this industry and even longer I am sure... they will still work 30 years down the line..

The interweb is all good etc... But how in blue blazes do you get your potential custards to find your site in amonst the millions of others??


Oh yes.... with a leaflet to tell them where it is... 

[Simon Moat]

Local mags work really well for me.

The unfortunate fact is it costs money to stay busy.

[wynne jones]

They tend to be worth doing but it's just one of many things to get business.

The ROI is usually good though. Always get in with the vicar and associates then you will get a lot more calls.

[david@zap-clean]

One marketing technique not mentioned yet (as far as I can see) is 'networking'.  

I'm very new to this game, but so far almost all of my (small number of) jobs have come in through networking.

[AshWhite]

They tend to be worth doing but it's just one of many things to get business.

The ROI is usually good though. Always get in with the vicar and associates then you will get a lot more calls.

Spoken like a true ex altar boy

[benny d]

Spoken like a true ex altar boy


EX... !

[wynne jones]

Spoken like a true ex altar boy


EX... !

 

[Len Gribble]

David

We network but not on our turf, saying that they must have the equipment for the job and be a member of CRB