[Shaun_Ashmore]

for anyone who advertises this in yellow pages do you also advertise the WARNING with the customer info line recorded message?

Shaun

[dave401uk]

do any custumors ring these recorded messages,most that ive spoken to pass by those adds inmo people go for adds that say in as little as poss what they offer...............just my thoughts guys

dave

[paul@ctcs]

There is a thread from a few weeks ago, it discusses this very subject.
I too questioned this type of JP add but was assured by many CC's that it does work and gets them plenty of work.

Paul

They do look nasty though

[dave401uk]

ummmmmmmmmmm  not one of the converted i am affraid

[Shaun_Ashmore]

anyone who listens to it is converted. Price is then not an issue.

Shaun

[paul@ctcs]

I'm not converted to this system, It costs too much for me, I'll just make my own add and nick there ideas (without breaking any laws of course )

Paul

[Martin S]

Shaun,

As I currently work 'nights' in my 'employed' life, I was sad enough to phone one of these 'How to avoid Carpet cleaning rip off' type consumer information lines.  

After about 30 seconds I'd had enough, but I thought, no, persevere, give the guy a chance to say his thing, imagine I'm a customer listening attentively and all that.  IMO, I have never heard such an unprofessional attempt at imparting information and soliciting for business in my life.

All in all, the message took 15 minutes to listen to,  some of the statements were repetative beyond belief, and you could clearly hear him turning the pages of his 'script,' while he dictated his message, stuttering and pausing, as he tried to read and talk into a Mic' at the same time.

Whilst it could be said that my view maybe somewhat biased, as I am in the throes of starting up in CC, let's not forget that we are all 'Consumers'.  I personally, as a consumer, would never be phoning that guy if I was looking for a CC.  After less than thirty seconds I would have hung up and looked elsewhere.

Also, there were two or three other JP type ads in the YP, so I thought I'd try another.  Of course, same message, female this time, spoken better, but same repetative script. 

There are lots of gullible people out there, but also very many astute people that wouldn't fall for that, IMO.

This is not to say however, that I am slagging off the Fastrack methods, far from it, I wouldn't dismiss doing this myself if I feel the need, as I am sure that they do work to a greater or lesser degree.  I am simply saying that in this particular instance, I didn't think it was very professional.

Regards,

Martin S

[Big_Fish]

In my opinion...

The recorded messages that I have listened too are BORING AND BADLY READ :

There is a C_ _ _ _ _ y advert in our local YP with a recorded message. It claims to give an unbias opinion of cc then goes on to warn people against employing anyone else but them! They claim to have a patent for oxygen bubbles that break up soil...
Patent for oxygen ??

I did listen to it all, it was funny, sad and worrying.

Looking at it from our side, I think they are becoming old hat but are easily copied and could lead to misconceptions and bad practices within the industry.

There is NO compromise for getting a perspective client on the phone and talking to them one to one. The right advert can encourage people to 'phone for advice rather than listen to a message. An advert that isn't cheesy , with enough information to make you look totally professional, cut the cr_p, and have the 'phone live answered will never be outdone. The amount of calls that a recorded message generates will always be high. However the proportion that are converted into sales will be a lot less and the amount of those sales that are quality work will be even smaller.

As I said...Cut the cr_p

BF Nicky

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys and Gals'

I posted on this a few weeks ago when I found that my new YP had 3 JP warnings around my advert!

I listened too all 3 briefly but they were boring and obviously read from a script.

As I use the no 'Bull 'approach I am quite happy to be surrounded by these adds as it underlines my message.

The preponderance of these adverts gives the impression of an American Franchise although we know this is not strictly true.

Cheers,

Doug

[woodman]

It is the most naff message I have ever heard.Point is, they could shorten it quite easily and still give basically the same message but I suppose then you've broken one of the guidlines which would mean no refund  if you don't do the 50k as promised :

Is that how it works?

[rioclean]

just say a whole house carpet clean for 30 quid you will get inuldated.

[Dave_Lee]

The message script supplied to Piranha Marketing purchasers, is only a guideline to work on and edit/change as one sees fit. Trouble is many recite the whole thing word for word without personalising it (I'm partly guilty of this myself) and its obvious they are reading it when doing the recording. Im about to alter mine considerably this next year, although I am slightly reluctant, as potential clients are obviously impressed by what they say is an extremely informative message. True some dont listen for more than a few seconds - this is just one of the filters doing its job in avoiding time wasters.
Dave.

[John_Flynn]

Bloody Great when the client calls and  says " I want YOU to clean my carpets, just come and do it, I've listened to your great information"

[dave401uk]

Well today i had an hr to spare, so i listened to 2 of these messages, i found it very hard work to stay on the call for the duration of the message,
imo some of the information is misleading and i found it to be patronising,yes i am looking at it through my own eyes,so not to customer focussed,
but it wouldnt make me buy from them,chances are i would hang up and phone someone else
Just my opion guys

Dave

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Dave it's because you are not listening through the ears of a customer, when they are looking through 30+ cleaning companies in the YPs and then listen to the recorded message they soon understand that it is not like buying a product where you look for the same thing at the cheapest price, services come at different levels and different prices.

Shaun

[Ian Gourlay]

I am a little disapointed. If I had paid out all that money I would want a voice over artist.

The tape says dont use cowboys to clean your carpets,


Yet non trained voice over people are delivering the message.

Do they all think they Victor Kiam

I would be interested in the reply to Woodmans question?

[Doug Holloway]

Ian/Woodman,

Is the £3000 and the small claims court limit (£3000) significant or purely coincidence?

Cheers,

Doug

[Ian Gourlay]

My personal opinion is that Fast Track does deliver obviously not everybody is going to be a Martin.

I would just like reasurance for all of us that their our no catches.

You not expected to spend high amounts on Yellow Pages or any other statergy unless you are comfortable with it.

I would like to think that the Carpet Cleaning World is small enough for us to have heard if there were any catches.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

If you go in the the YP you do need a sizable space to put in all of the info which tells a story of why choose you.

Instead of name, rank and telephone no.

Shaun

as for catches, none.

[HolmansUKLTD]

Look out for the new one next year

Free Carpet Protector for the life of your carpet

Regards

Nick Holman