[gewindows]

If you're asking 'Cant we use social media like we do Google?' Im sure we could, look at LinkedIn, but that's never going to supercede Google. Not in the next 20 years. Which kinda illustrates my point, business media aint going nowhere, how long has LinkedIn been around? Years. But it's about as well profiled as MySpace.

Social media is exactly what it says it is, SOCIAL. Not business, social.

[gewindows]

Sorry, I dont understand what you are saying.

we use google for our business whats the whole point us to be on google what do we get from it ?

An effective point of contact.

[Window Washers]

Sorry, I dont understand what you are saying.

we use google for our business whats the whole point us to be on google what do we get from it ?

An effective point of contact.

Inuse it for traffic to drive people to my website google is a traffic source for us as a business as is Facebook it's a massive traffic source wether people are there socially or not Facebook can do what google can't and that's inform people's friends when they comment about something in real time. If we wanted to take this chat to the next level Facebook ads are ifbyou know how laser targeted right down to the age you want to target. But getting back to just traffic alone both have there place

[gewindows]

Lee Pryor tried his radio drive, we know where that went.

He then bought 100,000 FB ads, where did that go? Well, he does leaflet drops now.

[Window Washers]

Lee Pryor tried his radio drive, we know where that went.

He then bought 100,000 FB ads, where did that go? Well, he does leaflet drops now.

what relevance does what lee tries mean ?
I would not base anything on that, I don't know what lee tried or what results he got, but these things are not stab in the dark and they work far from it. His radio again I don't know the results or if the message impacted with the listeners so can't comment on that either, but would be interested to hear what he did with Facebook
I still have leaflets delivered just another way to get customers, I'm not trying to change your mind, I'm just saying what my opinion is on social media. Will it have a shelf life very possible can it be utilised I think so it mostly can be automated which is a part I guess many miss.

[gewindows]

My opinion is I would rather spend any time and/or money on something that has a proven track record and is there for the intended purpose and which also has a far higher success rate than the alternative you endorse.

If something gives me a markedly and higher percentage return compared to an alternative I'll go for the higher return option. That doesn't mean I have all my eggs in one basket, but it does mean I haven't any of my eggs in a highly questionable and suspect one.

I'll stick to google and various other search engines that have picked my site up. I find Google extremely easy. My site is top of google for a number of relevant search terms and I do very very little SEO work on it. There is a great deal of drivel spoken about google, I think to try to encourage individuals to participate and take it up, but a lot of it is unnecessary rubbish. Ive been up there top one/two or three on google for 3 years or so and spend about 1 hour a month on average with my site's SEO, if that. Its not even to 'do' SEO, it's more just to tinker around with a bit of text or an image or so, nothing more. I get probably 5K+ a years work from it I guess.


Im currently trialing Dreamweaver, I have the 30 day trial version. Not sure whether to go for the full £350 version or try to get away with the student/teacher one for £120.

[Window Washers]

My opinion is I would rather spend any time and/or money on something that has a proven track record and is there for the intended purpose and which also has a far higher success rate than the alternative you endorse.

If something gives me a markedly and higher percentage return compared to an alternative I'll go for the higher return option. That doesn't mean I have all my eggs in one basket, but it does mean I haven't any of my eggs in a highly questionable and suspect one.

I'll stick to google and various other search engines that have picked my site up. I find Google extremely easy. My site is top of google for a number of relevant search terms and I do very very little SEO work on it. There is a great deal of drivel spoken about google, I think to try to encourage individuals to participate and take it up, but a lot of it is unnecessary rubbish. Ive been up there top one/two or three on google for 3 years or so and spend about 1 hour a month on average with my site's SEO, if that. Its not even to 'do' SEO, it's more just to tinker around with a bit of text or an image or so, nothing more. I get probably 5K+ a years work from it I guess.


Im currently trialing Dreamweaver, I have the 30 day trial version. Not sure whether to go for the full £350 version or try to get away with the student/teacher one for £120.

thats cool, I massively support google and other search engines too, i tend to look to more places aswell I don't mind testing them as I enjoy doing this, I don't mind being out there

What do you use dreamweaver for ?
I have full version but don't use 3/4 of the features.

There a few free program's out there that do basic stuff Kompozer is one you may or may not find useful, do you use video ? jing is good for small videos if you do and free too

[Dave Willis]

Ian, are you sure you are on the right forum? This is a windowcleaners forum not a nerdy computer forum.

Try this one  http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Am-A-Computer-Geek/910/forum

[Nathanael Jones]

I think a lot of ppl miss the very basic advantage of having a facebook page - informing your existing customers of special offers!

I have a bit on the back of my windows cleaned ticket that says "Check out our facebook page for the latest special offers" which has gotten my page a few likes. If the weather is looking especially miserable, I'd put a pressure washing special offer on my facebook page etc etc,..

Using facebook to bring in new customers is much harder, and if you're in a less populated area it simply may not be worth the hassle,.. but simply having the page there with a few links back to your main website can boost your website's ranking in search results.

[C o z y]

I think a lot of ppl miss the very basic advantage of having a facebook page - informing your existing customers of special offers!

I have a bit on the back of my windows cleaned ticket that says "Check out our facebook page for the latest special offers" which has gotten my page a few likes. If the weather is looking especially miserable, I'd put a pressure washing special offer on my facebook page etc etc,..

Using facebook to bring in new customers is much harder, and if you're in a less populated area it simply may not be worth the hassle,.. but simply having the page there with a few links back to your main website can boost your website's ranking in search results.

Good points made.

[Window Washers]

Ian, are you sure you are on the right forum? This is a windowcleaners forum not a nerdy computer forum.

Try this one  http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Am-A-Computer-Geek/910/forum

do you really need to ask me that.  As you have, I am on the right forum yes I asked a question directed at window cleaners which also had a poll on this very topic

people can view it here and take part in the poll: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=161898.0

As I own a window cleaning business and am also a window cleaner I wanted to get the views of people on here, why because many on here are brutally honest I wanted to read about the thoughts on this and of other window cleaners that have a view on it

I didnt post on something like the link you put as it really would be pointless.

Hope that answers the question for you.

[Moderator David@stives]

Did anyone actually read my link to see what the experts are saying

Percent wise, this is where I got my work from, all figures are approx

Direct call 80,%
Leaflets 5 %
Canvass 5%
Website/YP etc 10%
Social media - zilch %

[Window Washers]

I did read it yes, if that is 100 % fact rather than an opinion watch Facebook shares fall drastically I did agree with loads of the points they were making unread mashable a lot.

When you say direct call what do you mean ?

[Moderator David@stives]

Direct call = call them on telephone

[gewindows]

thats cool, I massively support google and other search engines too, i tend to look to more places aswell I don't mind testing them as I enjoy doing this, I don't mind being out there

What do you use dreamweaver for ?
I have full version but don't use 3/4 of the features.

There a few free program's out there that do basic stuff Kompozer is one you may or may not find useful, do you use video ? jing is good for small videos if you do and free too

So far I havent really used it Ian, just played around with it. Its pretty comprehensive, which I knew beforehand, and certainly wont be using anywhere near its full features. Its a shame it is so expensive, Im sure they could develop a less comprehensive version ands till flog plenty of copies. £350 to me is very evry hard to justify, £120 I wouldnt have a problem with that, just Im not a student, but I do know one so I might well be using there college verifivation to get round that.


I am on a Mac but used to use NVU whilst using windows, which is just about the same as Kompozer, but am struggling to find something worthwhile that is suitable with my OS. Kompozer doesnt really cut the mustard anymore IMO.

[Window Washers]

Direct call = call them on telephone

ok didn't know if you meant them calling into you

[Moderator David@stives]

no i phoned them, seek and sell, simples

[Window Washers]

no i phoned them, seek and sell, simples

fair play mr Morris your strategies work offline there no doubt

[Richard iSparkle]

no i phoned them, seek and sell, simples

Hi David,

Do you cold call for domestic clients?

[Moderator David@stives]

No, my domestics amount to about 5 % of our work, we only keep them because its money and I find it very hard to part with them