Jim, you started up around the same time as me, so I know what you're going through.
For the first couple of weeks I had just a couple of small cleans to do, and they were really bad ones where probably all other local cleaners had refused to touch them. I did them because I wanted the experience more than the money. I've now got my leaflets done, and they're being distributed now, to be completed over the next two weeks. When you say you've done your leaflet drops, how many have you done? My distribution, full colour double sided glossy paper jobs is around 50,000 across Ipswich and Colchester, and they're now beginning to pay off.
My marketing campaign is now moving on into the advertising sector, with one classified ad appearing in a weekly newspaper. It only appeared on Thursday (booked in for a six week run) and I've had two calls this afternoon alone. One of them is looking as if it could be a couple of hundred quid (or around £500 if I change my name to Martin Riley
) so that's pretty much paying for itself.
April also sees the start of my advertising in local monthly community magazines, so hopefully they'll come good too. With commercial work, I'm designing commercial orientated mailouts (my leaflets were very much aimed at the domestic market) and will mailshot them as I don't believe facilities managers or decision makers ever get to see leaflets plonked on a reception desk.
In short, yes it's been quiet, and at times I've already wondered if I've I done the right thing. But, I was prepared for a very tough first year at least, and had enough resources to invest in some excellent equipment (a plug for you there, Nick. Commission???
) and to cover living expenses whilst the business develops.
Jim, I've also been quiet, but you have to keep busy. If you're not out there cleaning carpets, sit by your desk and plan marketing strategies. There's lots of great (and in some cases untapped) areas out there, so try to find them. Do you have a van with signwriting? I have a car, but if I ever go out on non-business purposes, I try to take the van with me. If people see your van around often enough, they'll have a sort of subliminal connection when they finally get one of your leaflets. It's already happened once to me with someone phoning to book a job because he had a leaflet, and swore he'd heard of the company before from somewhere - could only be from the van.
Don't lose heart if the first leaflet drop doesn't come off. Keep planning for the next step of the campaign. You could possibly do my mum's carpets in Bow. I did promise I'd do them, but haven't yet had the energy to get myself up to east London with all the equipment yet.