[jaykie]

At the end of the day what ever your going to say is going to be said at least 100 times in a evenings

canvassing so its got to be something your not going to get tongue tied or fed up saying, just make

sure you look smart so logo top, color coded bottoms or just matching, have a pad with you so you can

write down the street your canvassing and mark when out, when they say no and also you can fill in

details of new customers, the answers youll get are "yes we have one" "no i havent got one how

much", no we dont need one", "yes ive got one hes called the husband"(then they laugh thinking there

the 1st to ever say it), "my husband is a window cleaner", and "weve just bought a jet washer" which

you then hand them a card saying youll be needing me soon.

Chris

[michael papworth]

Personally, I don't like to ask questions that can be answered with a simple "yes" or "no" answer. Too many people just say "no" without thinking.

Bit of grammar here: there are * two types of question. There are (i) Y/N questions and there are (ii) information questions.

Any question that begins with

Would you ...?
Do you  ...?
Have you  ...?

(In grammar, these are known as auxiliary verbs)

can be answered Y/N.

I prefer to ask information questions. These questions begin with:

Where ...?
When ...?
What ...?
Why ...?
Who ...?
and, my favourite
How ...?

and require the respondent to give you some information.

So, my blurb is:

Shall we have a quickie before the kids come back from school, or should we wait and do it long and leisurely after they've gone to bed? Or both?  Again, I don't really mind which. Would you?

Tried that one before and got a slap for my troubles

Yep. Some very impressive editing there. Cut to the chase straight away!!!!

[paulstevens]

hi all thanks for all your inputs. i will deliver some leaflets on monday and call back either tuesday or wednesday.. and i will let you all know how i got on...
regards
Paul

[Andrew McCann]

Wally has been in direct sales before. I can tell by his posts. 

Let me try and put your mind at rest Paul.

Canvassing for window cleaning work has to be the easiest "SEll" of all.

Some years ago I needed to raise £2000 per 4 weeks of new work window cleaning. I started to knock doors between Christmas and New year. Of course I didn't knock on new years eve or new years day.
By the 18th of Jan I had the work. I only had one nasty person answer the door. No problem I just said good evening and walked away.

The worst thing that can happen is that the prospective customer says no. You will generally find that people are fine.

Dress smartly (Not in a suit) Have some printed info with you to show at the door and just say that you are expanding your window cleaning business and ask them if they want a reliable, professional service. If they already have a window cleaner thay are happy with just say thank you for your time and hand them a leaflet.

If the first question they ask is how much ask them if they already have a window cleaner and state that you do not undercut fellow window cleaners. (Basically walk away diplomatically)

If they do want a window cleaner they will treat you like a long lost family member. Remember to look all around the property with them and whilst doing this make a big thing of frames etc being cleaned then confidently give them your price. If you get 60 ish % of the houses you quote for your prices are right for the area.

Personally I wouldn't waste my shoeleather delivering leaflets then going back. Take them with you and put them through the "No answer" doors and make a note of the address. Then call back a few days later. I would also only canvass after 5.30 ish. Many people are out all day and you will get many more non answers during the day.
I would finish canvassing by 8 pm at this timer of year. Of course if you do have time to spare then deliver your leaflets during the day then follow them up.

You will hit hot spots where you get loads of new customers and also others where you don't seem to be getting anywhere. Just keep at it and remember that the next door you knock could be your next new customer.

Go get em mate. They are out there waiting for you to call.

All the best with it.

Andrew

[michael papworth]

Wally has been in direct sales before. I can tell by his posts. 

No, m8. I was a high school maths teacher - and that's the hardest sell of all!

But the rest of your post is spot on.

The long and the short of it is this:

People are NICE. so canvassing really is OK.

The very few who aren't, well, they aren't your problem.

[Andrew McCann]

OOPS.. sorry Wally 

I bow down to you mate. Maths teacher.. yup I agree the hardest sell of all. My ex step daughter was a maths teacher in a tough high school and it drove her to a total breakdown.

I recognise the open and info questions from my time with Rank Xerox. Boy we were tough salemen in those days    We had ro be 

Andrew

[davetherave]

keep it simple, just say as soon as they open the door, hi i wanted to know if you'd like a window cleaner.

[Londoner]

keep it simple, just say as soon as they open the door, hi i wanted to know if you'd like a window cleaner.

Yes keep it simple, like I said before the words come to you quite naturally after a few doors.