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SMW Group

  • Posts: 6
Window Cleaning Network
« on: March 15, 2010, 12:52:13 pm »
Hi All,

New to CIU and just researching for a new venture, having been a window cleaner in the past to test the self employment waters, I actually really enjoyed it and stopped the work 18 months later to move forward with my main business.

I still get the urge to clean the windows as "I love cleaning windows" (how many of you are now singing?)

I am working on a new project to help all in the window cleaning trade from new start up's to the well established.

My concept is to have a website dedicated to window cleaners and each postcode region is available for to rent based on a single annual subscription fee, and a small cost per client. now a maximum of 2 or 3 window cleaners per postcode area will ever be accepted for the annual subscription and each in the postcode region will be sent the details of each client enquiry to go quote and potentially claim the client, to obtain the details of each client would be the small cost of around £5.00 each quote request.

Now this is my initial idea but would like to put this forward to window cleaners around the UK for questions, ideas and comments etc as I have very strong promotional and marketing skills that allowed me to put three other local windows cleaners out of business and attempting to sell me their clients.

My role will be to actively promote the website and obtain the quote requests on behalf of the UK Window Cleaning Network i.e. you! This will be achieved using my marketing strategies used previously and based on a per postcode region at a time.

If you could spare a couple of minutes to put forward your answers to the following couple of questions it would be much appreciated.

1) What would you class as an acceptable annual subscription fee?

2) Would you be happy to pay for each lead / quote request?

3) If yes to Q2 then what would you class as an acceptable figure?
(Bearing in mind the client would become yours permanently if you won the work over your potential two rivals with no additional costs to you except your ongoing annual subscription)

4) What would you like to see included on the website to help benefit you!

I will start here and see how we go with these first!

Thank you for looking and look forward to creating a little bit of a conversation here.

Any questions? Simply post them here for a prompt response.




formb

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #1 on: March 15, 2010, 01:40:34 pm »


If you could spare a couple of minutes to put forward your answers to the following couple of questions it would be much appreciated.

1) What would you class as an acceptable annual subscription fee?

2) Would you be happy to pay for each lead / quote request?

3) If yes to Q2 then what would you class as an acceptable figure?
(Bearing in mind the client would become yours permanently if you won the work over your potential two rivals with no additional costs to you except your ongoing annual subscription)

4) What would you like to see included on the website to help benefit you!

Quote

1. Not too sure on this one. I pay about £100 pa to Yell.com but this gets me to the top of a Google search. How high up would your site be?

2. Probably not. I think that £5 per phone call is excessive. I get around 50 - 75 % of the work that I quote for so if you got me say 100 calls in 1 year I would pay £250 for work I'm not even doing.

3. I personally would weight your pricing structure more towards the annual subscription. As mentioned before the higher up on Google the better, and the more you could charge.

4. I have put together a website on a free web building website. Its not the best but it has most of the things on there that I would want to communicate to my customers / potential customers.

http://souterwindowcleaning.weebly.com/

mlscontractcleaner

  • Posts: 1483
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #2 on: March 15, 2010, 02:15:15 pm »
It's all been done before.

Every so often someone will contact me to see if I would like to be included in an " exclusive " list of window cleaners in my area. I never take them up on their offer as I believe that the majority of household customers either use the same window cleaner as their neighbour or just ask you to clean theirs as you're working in their area.

I honestly don't believe we need your service; sorry :-\
Come and talk dirty to us!!!

rg1

  • Posts: 1356
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2010, 02:21:05 pm »
It's all been done before.

Every so often someone will contact me to see if I would like to be included in an " exclusive " list of window cleaners in my area. I never take them up on their offer as I believe that the majority of household customers either use the same window cleaner as their neighbour or just ask you to clean theirs as you're working in their area.

I honestly don't believe we need your service; sorry :-\

Agreed, I don't think residential customers go searching on the internet for a window cleaner. Commercial yes, but they tend to use yell or other business sites that are well up the listings.
The pen is mightier than the sword (and a lot easier to write with!)

formb

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2010, 02:23:29 pm »
It's all been done before.

Every so often someone will contact me to see if I would like to be included in an " exclusive " list of window cleaners in my area. I never take them up on their offer as I believe that the majority of household customers either use the same window cleaner as their neighbour or just ask you to clean theirs as you're working in their area.

I honestly don't believe we need your service; sorry :-\

I agree with your point, but I pay for Yell.com and it is not exclusive. If I could be listed at the top of google for a reasonable annual subscription fee and my rivals are not included I'd be happy with that.

Again at all comes down to SEO as it would be a waste of time if when you search window cleaners + your area yell.com is higher up.

Central Window Cleaners

  • Posts: 845
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2010, 02:39:04 pm »
For what you would pay for an annual subscription, you could have your own website.

I designed my own and get a fair number of customers requested quotes which then cost me nothing other than the time to quote.  This also gets me jobs for my add on work such as conservatories and gutter cleaning which I would not get from a site like this.

In total including hosting and annual url renewal I pay less than £100 per year.

rg1

  • Posts: 1356
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #6 on: March 15, 2010, 02:56:22 pm »
It's all been done before.

Every so often someone will contact me to see if I would like to be included in an " exclusive " list of window cleaners in my area. I never take them up on their offer as I believe that the majority of household customers either use the same window cleaner as their neighbour or just ask you to clean theirs as you're working in their area.

I honestly don't believe we need your service; sorry :-\

I agree with your point, but I pay for Yell.com and it is not exclusive. If I could be listed at the top of google for a reasonable annual subscription fee and my rivals are not included I'd be happy with that.

Again at all comes down to SEO as it would be a waste of time if when you search window cleaners + your area yell.com is higher up.

According to original post, you would have 2 other competitors from you post code area
The pen is mightier than the sword (and a lot easier to write with!)

formb

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #7 on: March 15, 2010, 03:25:13 pm »
It's all been done before.

Every so often someone will contact me to see if I would like to be included in an " exclusive " list of window cleaners in my area. I never take them up on their offer as I believe that the majority of household customers either use the same window cleaner as their neighbour or just ask you to clean theirs as you're working in their area.

I honestly don't believe we need your service; sorry :-\

I agree with your point, but I pay for Yell.com and it is not exclusive. If I could be listed at the top of google for a reasonable annual subscription fee and my rivals are not included I'd be happy with that.

Again at all comes down to SEO as it would be a waste of time if when you search window cleaners + your area yell.com is higher up.

According to original post, you would have 2 other competitors from you post code area

True.

If that is the case then I'm with you.

Waste of time.

lee09

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2010, 03:28:22 pm »
Hi
What has this got to do with your urge to clean windows?
It aint for me .
Lee

Jack Wallace

  • Posts: 625
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #9 on: March 15, 2010, 04:14:10 pm »
Not keen on this idea,
What you are asking is for me and 2 others in my area to pay you an annual subscription, we then  have to pay AGAIN for leads, once we have the lead, we fight it out between us to win the contract. So knowing I am up against 2 others who also know they are in a bidding war I have to cut my price to the bone in the hope of winning the job. If I do win I end up with a job list of poor prices.
 As far as I can see there is only one person going to make any decent money out of this scheme and that will be you.
Thanks but NO THANKS!!!

formb

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2010, 04:21:06 pm »
Not keen on this idea,
What you are asking is for me and 2 others in my area to pay you an annual subscription, we then  have to pay AGAIN for leads, once we have the lead, we fight it out between us to win the contract. So knowing I am up against 2 others who also know they are in a bidding war I have to cut my price to the bone in the hope of winning the job. If I do win I end up with a job list of poor prices.

Good point. Surely it would only tender to 1 w/cleaner?

Ian Mason

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2010, 04:23:26 pm »
"Now this is my initial idea but would like to put this forward to window cleaners around the UK for questions, ideas and comments etc as I have very strong promotional and marketing skills that allowed me to put three other local windows cleaners out of business and attempting to sell me their clients."

Have I mis-read this bit? ???

You actually put other windies out of business? ???

Jack Wallace

  • Posts: 625
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2010, 04:26:45 pm »
"Now this is my initial idea but would like to put this forward to window cleaners around the UK for questions, ideas and comments etc as I have very strong promotional and marketing skills that allowed me to put three other local windows cleaners out of business and attempting to sell me their clients."

Have I mis-read this bit? ???

You actually put other windies out of business? ???
That bit got me worried also. Putting people out of business is not something I would be proud to brag about.

SMW Group

  • Posts: 6
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #13 on: March 15, 2010, 04:28:55 pm »
Thank you all for your feedback, this is greatly appreciated,

With my previous window cleaning business I was very successful at getting new customers on board in my target area(s) and this is my initial thought to use my skills to benefit UK window cleaners.

The site would "organically" reach a good Google position over time but not on week one, the main method to attract customers is by "active" marketing, I would not rely on Google rankings as the keyword(s) and phrases related to Window Cleaning etc are flooded.

I take all of your points on board and understand your argument for the neighbour would ask the local window cleaner providing the service for their neighbour etc but as a nationally marketed network of window cleaners and high street marketing, coupled with national advertising and online marketing driving traffic to the site this would be an invaluable tool for those looking to spend their time making money rather than doing the tasks that do not actually make the money they only potentially bring the enquiries.

But i take all of your comments on board, thank you.

In reference to the following comments:

For what you would pay for an annual subscription, you could have your own website.
Very true but again this takes your time away from doing the task that is actually bringing you the money in.

According to original post, you would have 2 other competitors from you post code area
Yes to provide the customer with choice, but this is an area still being looked at and as i mentioned above your comments have been taken on board.

I pay for Yell.com and it is not exclusive. If I could be listed at the top of Google for a reasonable annual subscription fee and my rivals are not included I'd be happy with that.
Well Yell.com is nationally recognised and a powerful competitor but not focused on just this industry, and as you mentioned your rivals are all there with you, apart from the idea of offering each postcode to a maximum of three window cleaners in any one given postcode is at this stage just an idea, as for Yell.com we aim to be as corporate but focused, nationally recognised and with active and targeted marketing to support the site not just another website trying to get you to advertise for £X amount.
To be as big as yell.com will take time, it has taken them years to get to their stage but they started small as well at one stage.

Again it all comes down to SEO as it would be a waste of time if when you search window cleaners + your area yell.com is higher up.
Again the aim is not to be dependent upon the likes of Google and just search engines to bring the traffic, this website will be actively market to the general public and commercial premises owners alike.



SMW Group

  • Posts: 6
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #14 on: March 15, 2010, 04:31:30 pm »
"Now this is my initial idea but would like to put this forward to window cleaners around the UK for questions, ideas and comments etc as I have very strong promotional and marketing skills that allowed me to put three other local windows cleaners out of business and attempting to sell me their clients."

Have I mis-read this bit? ???

You actually put other windies out of business? ???


Simply stating that I win the business from competitors is the point being made here, but i see that this can be misunderstood.

Ian Mason

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #15 on: March 15, 2010, 04:59:59 pm »
"Now this is my initial idea but would like to put this forward to window cleaners around the UK for questions, ideas and comments etc as I have very strong promotional and marketing skills that allowed me to put three other local windows cleaners out of business and attempting to sell me their clients."

Have I mis-read this bit? ???

You actually put other windies out of business? ???


Simply stating that I win the business from competitors is the point being made here, but i see that this can be misunderstood.

Are you legit, as your website link in your profile is not working? ???

Or are you just warming up for april fools. ;D

paul rulton

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #16 on: March 15, 2010, 05:04:58 pm »
not interested at all, sorry m8 :(

ducky

  • Posts: 600
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #17 on: March 15, 2010, 05:10:48 pm »
huw from seerclean did it last year. i got alot of work of him it was worth it  :)
if it cleans we will clean it

SMW Group

  • Posts: 6
Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #18 on: March 15, 2010, 05:26:36 pm »
Quote
Are you legit, as your website link in your profile is not working? ???

Or are you just warming up for april fools. ;D

Sorry to disappoint those thinking this is an april fools joke, no a genuine idea in the making.

Reference the website link, this is now working...

Yes SMW Goup is a genuine website design & graphics business that i currently run along with a a selection of online Directories within certain industry sectors and this idea is one of the industry sectors I am considering. 

Ian Mason

Re: Window Cleaning Network
« Reply #19 on: March 15, 2010, 05:42:24 pm »
Quote
Are you legit, as your website link in your profile is not working? ???

Or are you just warming up for april fools. ;D

Sorry to disappoint those thinking this is an april fools joke, no a genuine idea in the making.

Reference the website link, this is now working...

Yes SMW Goup is a genuine website design & graphics business that i currently run along with a a selection of online Directories within certain industry sectors and this idea is one of the industry sectors I am considering. 


Sorry mate, but you do have to question some of the NEW members on here at times, as some members seem to create another account for pranks. Especially when you posted this comment earlier, & I saw your website link was invalid. :-\


I have very strong promotional and marketing skills that allowed me to put three other local windows cleaners out of business and attempting to sell me their clients."