[dave f]

as it says on the tin.i went to a new account to collect payment ,they had just moved in .they were not at the property when i had cleaned it .any way, the guy said .well its like a breth of fresh air seeing a well turned out van with full contact details .land lines emails .all you see these days are cars with ladders on top and dodgey looking guys .thats a bit strong i thought to my self.and all you get is a bussiness card whith a mobile number,very off putting hes says . he then gose on to say his old windy could not get on with his wife they clashed  im just hopeing i aint got a pair of weirdows. going back to sign written vans its worked well in the past.some people may think your to expensive.ive had that a couple of times,but when ive quoted they have been suprised ,more so when ive told them frames are at no extra charge.and i use hot water that gets them thinking

[PoleKing]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

[J.D]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

Couldn't put that better myself. To a T my good man.

[SeanK]

A sign written van worked for me got lots of work from it and that's what counts.
Don't know if I would have it done now as I have a full round and don't need to advertise
for more.
With every type of advertising you are going to get chancers contacting you looking work done cheaper
so wouldn't let that put me off. 

[SB Cleaning]

A sign written van is a must imo...I always get comments on how smart and professional it looks and it brings in work

[jonboywalton75]

Can't keep track of all the good work that my £125 spent on signbuilder has brought me in.

[Smudger]

Ditto

Not only does it bring in lots of work, but builds up a great image of your company

Darran

[Soupy]

If I had to pick one single moment that has made the biggest difference for me, it's putting the name on the van.

[dave f]

dont for get its not only window cleaning ,connys gutter etc.i dont tolerate chancers its on my terms and thats it.

[Clever Forum Name]

Depends on the sign writing style as well.

Some vans i have seen are just a joke, others are OTT

For me sign writing is all about building a brand.

When we go out to quote a job and the customer says "Ohhh i have seen these vans about" it puts some confidence in you before you have even given the price.

I think the best part is sign written van owners drive slower as well

[8weekly]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

I don't find that is how it works though. The work comes from people walking up while I am working, not those who spot the van on the road. I only got mine written about 4 months ago and I reckon I have picked up 15-20 new jobs as I've described. It never used to happen before I got the van signwritten.

[Smudger]

Depends on the sign writing style as well.

Some vans i have seen are just a joke, others are OTT

For me sign writing is all about building a brand.

When we go out to quote a job and the customer says "Ohhh i have seen these vans about" it puts some confidence in you before you have even given the price.

I think the best part is sign written van owners drive slower as well

Good post and exactly right

Darran

[PoleKing]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

I don't find that is how it works though. The work comes from people walking up while I am working, not those who spot the van on the road. I only got mine written about 4 months ago and I reckon I have picked up 15-20 new jobs as I've described. It never used to happen before I got the van signwritten.

While you're working, they know your a window cleaner.
Sign written or not.
I would say its a coincidence. (Though I don't know you or your round so can only guess)
Loads of calls, emails and walk ups at the minute.
I'm not saying it won't work.
Just that in my experience, it seemed to generate the sort of customer that I didn't really want.
As it happens the reason I didn't get the new van sign written was because I was subbing more and more from another company. (I don't sub any at all now, I've too much myself) but the added bonus was not meeting these types of customer.

[8weekly]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

I don't find that is how it works though. The work comes from people walking up while I am working, not those who spot the van on the road. I only got mine written about 4 months ago and I reckon I have picked up 15-20 new jobs as I've described. It never used to happen before I got the van signwritten.

While you're working, they know your a window cleaner.
Sign written or not.
I would say its a coincidence. (Though I don't know you or your round so can only guess)
Loads of calls, emails and walk ups at the minute.
I'm not saying it won't work.
Just that in my experience, it seemed to generate the sort of customer that I didn't really want.
As it happens the reason I didn't get the new van sign written was because I was subbing more and more from another company. (I don't sub any at all now, I've too much myself) but the added bonus was not meeting these types of customer.

Nope. The difference is huge. In 4 years with an unwritten van I only had a handful of walkups. Like you I would just think it was obvious I was a WC, but since having a signwritten van the difference is enormous.

Facebook & Adwords seem to generate the wrong type. Facebook people want cheap and Adwords customers are just looking for one offs.

[PoleKing]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

I don't find that is how it works though. The work comes from people walking up while I am working, not those who spot the van on the road. I only got mine written about 4 months ago and I reckon I have picked up 15-20 new jobs as I've described. It never used to happen before I got the van signwritten.

While you're working, they know your a window cleaner.
Sign written or not.
I would say its a coincidence. (Though I don't know you or your round so can only guess)
Loads of calls, emails and walk ups at the minute.
I'm not saying it won't work.
Just that in my experience, it seemed to generate the sort of customer that I didn't really want.
As it happens the reason I didn't get the new van sign written was because I was subbing more and more from another company. (I don't sub any at all now, I've too much myself) but the added bonus was not meeting these types of customer.

Nope. The difference is huge. In 4 years with an unwritten van I only had a handful of walkups. Like you I would just think it was obvious I was a WC, but since having a signwritten van the difference is enormous.

Facebook & Adwords seem to generate the wrong type. Facebook people want cheap and Adwords customers are just looking for one offs.

Not for me. I get the same amount of walk ups I reckon.
I don't use Facebook
I've had to turn the Adwords off.
I can't take on anymore work.

[Frankybadboy]

sign writing on my van paid for its self in the 1st week of having it done with new jobs:)

[8weekly]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

I don't find that is how it works though. The work comes from people walking up while I am working, not those who spot the van on the road. I only got mine written about 4 months ago and I reckon I have picked up 15-20 new jobs as I've described. It never used to happen before I got the van signwritten.

While you're working, they know your a window cleaner.
Sign written or not.
I would say its a coincidence. (Though I don't know you or your round so can only guess)
Loads of calls, emails and walk ups at the minute.
I'm not saying it won't work.
Just that in my experience, it seemed to generate the sort of customer that I didn't really want.
As it happens the reason I didn't get the new van sign written was because I was subbing more and more from another company. (I don't sub any at all now, I've too much myself) but the added bonus was not meeting these types of customer.

Nope. The difference is huge. In 4 years with an unwritten van I only had a handful of walkups. Like you I would just think it was obvious I was a WC, but since having a signwritten van the difference is enormous.

Facebook & Adwords seem to generate the wrong type. Facebook people want cheap and Adwords customers are just looking for one offs.

Not for me. I get the same amount of walk ups I reckon.
I don't use Facebook
I've had to turn the Adwords off.
I can't take on anymore work.

I don't use Facebook either, but friends and customers write my name when someone posts needing a windowcleaner. I can't cope with the work I have, but that is planned.

[Jonny 87]

Ditto

Not only does it bring in lots of work, but builds up a great image of your company

Darran

+1

[Mike #1]

Building a brand image is key , but a sign written is not a golden ticket to more work neither is a website , It is all about building the image up of your business which takes a few things plus you need to do a good job .

Saw a company from Teeside on a Barratts site last week doing show houses what a joke did an  appalling job the brush was on the brickwork before and after every window , crap sign written van and crap website . Mike

[Crystal-clear]

I moved away from signwriting 2 years ago.
The only calls I got were from people looking to save money.
Calling us is never gonna be cheaper than their current cleaner.
Wasted a lot of time having the conversation:
'my old windie used to clean for half that'
'Get your old windie back then'
'I can't, he's packed up'
'Perhaps it's because he didn't charge enough'
'Can we split the difference?'
'No'
'Ill call you if we can't find anyone cheaper'
'How gracious of you, good day'

Haha too funny! I havnt signed mine yet but I was guessing its hit and miss like any form of lead