[Wc Solutions]

plugging my page on local notice boards etc on Facebook.

Getting a fair bit of interest but it's the age old problem that always rings alarms with me - " I had a window cleaner but he just stop coming about 18 months ago and I can't find another one anywhere"

So you go through all your rules, how it all works eg pricing monthly clean, pricing for different frequency, payment methods etc .

You do one clean and the usual crap - stupid excuses after the first clean. ping me off as its getting worse! I just dump them and have done for the past 10 yrs.

As window cleaners we lose out and it also gives us a bad name as we just disappear according to customers. Sometimes I don't dump them and give them a chance but every month it's excuse after excuse!

We're trying to run a business! This is starting to p me off too - oh I can't you pay today, I have to pay the gardener later on.

Customers always right, are they heck!

[dazmond]

canvass and leaflet in affluent areas mate.itll pay off in time.

[bobplum]

stopped using facebook for business a long time ago, i reckon for every 10 you MAY  end up with one

[jonboywalton75]

Is this saying something about Facebook users in general or would I be stereotyping?
I generally stay away from x factor watchers, Sun readers and Ant  and Dec fans
I'm not biased though

[Tadgh O Shea]

canvass and leaflet in affluent areas mate.itll pay off in time.

why dose it have to be affluent areas thats just another load of crap, if you clean the customers windows properly and keep them happy you will turn them into clients which is the most important factor as they will always stick with your cleaning services, its all about retention if you build your round and turn all customers into clients it dose not matter what type of area you decide to work. Its just about understanding the difference between a customer and a client.

[paulben]

canvass and leaflet in affluent areas mate.itll pay off in time.

why dose it have to be affluent areas thats just another load of crap, if you clean the customers windows properly and keep them happy you will turn them into clients which is the most important factor as they will always stick with your cleaning services, its all about retention if you build your round and turn all customers into clients it dose not matter what type of area you decide to work. Its just about understanding the difference between a customer and a client.

And the difference is ?

[lal]

 Charge all first cleans as one offs, and if they become regular charge accordingly, that way you don't get caught out.

 Lal

[dazmond]

canvass and leaflet in affluent areas mate.itll pay off in time.

why dose it have to be affluent areas thats just another load of crap, if you clean the customers windows properly and keep them happy you will turn them into clients which is the most important factor as they will always stick with your cleaning services, its all about retention if you build your round and turn all customers into clients it dose not matter what type of area you decide to work. Its just about understanding the difference between a customer and a client.

ive had my own window cleaning business for 22 years mate and true you do get messers both rich and poor!

BUT!i sold most of my less affluent areas of work on a long time ago once i got a foothold in the leafy suburbs as you can charge more money for your services,less messers generally and nicer working environment.

if you can pick up some larger country houses as well your laughing as these are the cream of a mainly domestic round  as again you can charge a higher price resulting in a higher hourly rate.they also dont get canvassed/leafleted as often as other work either.

[Dave Willis]

I stay away from large houses - no better than anyone else - just looks good when you want to brag. What works for me is hitting the right age group, generally people who understand you need repeat business. New estates are the worst. All my work is on recommendations so generally very few mess me about. I don't use facebook for my business. From what I've seen most of it seems very chavvy and unprofessional.

[dazmond]

I stay away from large houses - no better than anyone else just looks good when you want to brag. What works for me is hitting the right age group, generally people who understand you need repeat business. New estates are the worst. All my work is on recommendations so generally very few mess me about. I don't use facebook for my business. From what I've seen most of it seems very chavvy and unprofessional.

i agree to a point dave but disagree with staying away from larger properties. stand alone ones can be good as a "filler" jobs tagged on the end of your other work or grouped together into a days work(say 5-8 larger jobs a day).it makes a change from spending 4 days at a time on run of the mill estate work!

wealthy retired folk are my favourite age group.their usually in so get paid straight away and i get a few brews throughout the day!

[8weekly]

Who'd 've thunk? Facebook customers are like ebay customers. They just want cheap. Oh, and the cheaper the price, the harder to please.

[Rich Wilts]

Never have used Facebook to try to pick up business. There was a fella on here a good year or so ago, fancied himself as a web based marketing guru, spouting how Facebook was the next big marketing tool. Which we all know is never going to happen. At best Facebook is a comic.

We do have a Facebook page, it isnt for marketing, its an SEO tool, a web presence, for Google and other search engines to associate with the business. This'll help with maintaining or improving SERPs.

[jonboywalton75]

Who'd 've thunk? Facebook customers are like ebay customers. They just want cheap. Oh, and the cheaper the price, the harder to please.

My last eBay customer paid 180 smackers for  a 4 year old Slx 22,woo hooooo!!!!

[Walter Mitty]

canvass and leaflet in affluent areas mate.itll pay off in time.

why dose it have to be affluent areas thats just another load of crap, if you clean the customers windows properly and keep them happy you will turn them into clients which is the most important factor as they will always stick with your cleaning services, its all about retention if you build your round and turn all customers into clients it dose not matter what type of area you decide to work. Its just about understanding the difference between a customer and a client.

ive had my own window cleaning business for 22 years mate and true you do get messers both rich and poor!

BUT!i sold most of my less affluent areas of work on a long time ago once i got a foothold in the leafy suburbs as you can charge more money for your services,less messers generally and nicer working environment.

if you can pick up some larger country houses as well your laughing as these are the cream of a mainly domestic round  as again you can charge a higher price resulting in a higher hourly rate.they also dont get canvassed/leafleted as often as other work either.

Generally this is true but it still didn't stop one guy bumping me for £70 (for one clean) - it was pretty big as houses go.
Later on he got tanked for a few million on a business deal in France - karma or what?  Not that I gloat or anything like that (yeah - right) 

[Tom White]

Who'd 've thunk? Facebook customers are like ebay customers. They just want cheap. Oh, and the cheaper the price, the harder to please.

+1

"Cheep window cleaner wanted"

"Who is the cheapest window cleaner?"

"I want a good cheep window cleaner, any1 now any?"

Avoid facebook.

[SB Cleaning]

I stay away from large houses - no better than anyone else - just looks good when you want to brag. What works for me is hitting the right age group, generally people who understand you need repeat business. New estates are the worst. All my work is on recommendations so generally very few mess me about. I don't use facebook for my business. From what I've seen most of it seems very chavvy and unprofessional.

I find the large country houses the best...I rarely get any messers.

[AuRavelling79]

Who'd 've thunk? Facebook customers are like ebay customers. They just want cheap. Oh, and the cheaper the price, the harder to please.

+1

"Cheep window cleaner wanted"

"Who is the cheapest window cleaner?"

"I want a good cheep window cleaner, any1 now any?"

Avoid facebook.

I don't even bother with a website. I'm not criss-crossing Bristol to work when I've got more than enough from recommends and I rarely canvass now.

Also new estates = waste of time.

[lee_dewing]

I have a website but vast majority are messer`s had website a year now and got one monthly customer so far!

have done a few connie fascia cleans now but I only go and quote at the end of my day if it`s local as get fed  up quoting and not getting.

as lal said starting doubling up on first clean price and only do if when nearby my regular work, if custie then turns into a regular then icing on the cake.

my original plan for website is for business cards and leaflets for canvassing so people can take a look which I hope works when I do this summer.

website as a stand alone entity seems to act as a messer magnet or attracts the wrong type of work people living in award or pointless properties ie flat above a shop in a busy high street or 1 bed flat etc
lee

[mufcglen]

i used the facebook adverts when i first started out but its true so many messers wanting theyre house done for peanuts and they all say dont know what happened to the last guy, that comment always get my spidey senses ringing now as the last guy probably bummed them off as theyre messers or want them doing when they want ie once every 6-12 months!
i have a page i use to link to my website but ive found any enquiries i do get now from general people i charge way more for a first clean that way if theyre serious they'll pay it and if the do and just want a one off ive made good money on the job, never ever advertise anymore now though its all word of mouth.
leave facebook to the £3 for a semi warriors!!!!