[Richard iSparkle]

is not, got it from the Marketing department today - they're not allowed to lie! 

the problem is becci that you're posting on a forum where lots of us leaflet.  some on large scales and some much smaller.

if you got a 3% return on leaflets you have hit a goldmine.  1% or less is more usual.  1 in 1000 is not uncommon

it's either a fact made up by yourself...  or a 'fact' made up by somebody else that you are using, and aren't knowledgeable enough to know it's untrue.

what's more, if leafleting gives a 3% return, i doubt anybody would bother using your services as it would be very cost efective.

[roundbuilder]

Very good Mick,

still a way behind me though 

Archer im miles behind you! Id love to have the business you have but in reality it wont happen as you have been going for years and have a great portfolio of commercial so fair play to you getting your big contracts.
I dont do things for money though and i like seeing people do well without struggling! I built his round up free of charge in my own time which he realy respects me for and the way it pays me back is seeing my mum and little sister live reasonably comfortable from what i built up.

[roundbuilder]

is not, got it from the Marketing department today - they're not allowed to lie! 

the problem is becci that you're posting on a forum where lots of us leaflet.  some on large scales and some much smaller.

if you got a 3% return on leaflets you have hit a goldmine.  1% or less is more usual.  1 in 1000 is not uncommon

it's either a fact made up by yourself...  or a 'fact' made up by somebody else that you are using, and aren't knowledgeable enough to know it's untrue.

what's more, if leafleting gives a 3% return, i doubt anybody would bother using your services as it would be very cost efective.

id give up canvassing if was 3% return on leaflets.

[Becci Swan]

is not, got it from the Marketing department today - they're not allowed to lie! 

the problem is becci that you're posting on a forum where lots of us leaflet.  some on large scales and some much smaller.

if you got a 3% return on leaflets you have hit a goldmine.  1% or less is more usual.  1 in 1000 is not uncommon

it's either a fact made up by yourself...  or a 'fact' made up by somebody else that you are using, and aren't knowledgeable enough to know it's untrue.

what's more, if leafleting gives a 3% return, i doubt anybody would bother using your services as it would be very cost efective.

Alright Richard - I'm sorry to have upset you. I will inform my contact on Monday that he is an idiot!

However I would like to add that my conversion rate is correct at 6% - did the calculation myself and as a part-qualified accountant you can trust my use of a calculator!

Glad not all Wirral people are as mean as you... :-(

[Archer]

Mick,

Keep going you are doing well mate, I myself started without a single penny, and struggled like you wouldn't believe, but if you believe in yourself you will get to where you want to get

[Richard iSparkle]

is not, got it from the Marketing department today - they're not allowed to lie! 

the problem is becci that you're posting on a forum where lots of us leaflet.  some on large scales and some much smaller.

if you got a 3% return on leaflets you have hit a goldmine.  1% or less is more usual.  1 in 1000 is not uncommon

it's either a fact made up by yourself...  or a 'fact' made up by somebody else that you are using, and aren't knowledgeable enough to know it's untrue.

what's more, if leafleting gives a 3% return, i doubt anybody would bother using your services as it would be very cost efective.

Alright Richard - I'm sorry to have upset you. I will inform my contact on Monday that he is an idiot!

However I would like to add that my conversion rate is correct at 6% - did the calculation myself and as a part-qualified accountant you can trust my use of a calculator!

Glad not all Wirral people are as mean as you... :-(

hi becci,

i think you'll find if you use innacurate or misleading advertising you will rattle people's cages.

the old saying...  there's lies, damn lies, and statistics...  is true.  that 3% stat is made up

[formb]

I am very much a leaflets man. We have used leaflets to great effect.

You are wasting your Money with printed glossy leaflets (unless they get you a 3% return, which you don't). All you need is an A5 sheet, black and white, with a local phone number, ADDRESS and what you offer.

We have changed our leaflet design very little over the last 20+ years, only to include email address and website. We got a 1% hit rate then, we get a 1% hit rate now.

It is my belief (although I cannot prove it, I could make up a statistic but there is no point) that customers who have contacted you from a leaflet, sign, advert, recommendation from a friend/neighbour, whatever, are more likely to to remain as customers giving you a solid customer base.

Each to their own I suppose. You can call leaflets 'junk mail' all you like, I'd still rather receive a leaflet for something I'm not interested in than get yet another sales call or some guy chapping at my door. Like I said, each to their own.

[Smudger]

Having done both canvassing has the best return by far over leaflets ( and telesales  ) we changed over to leaflets this time last year due to work volume and taking on new staff where I no longer had the time to canvass tithe leaflets bring in a steady flow of window cleaning and lots of 1 off work ( conny roof cleans etc.. ) where canvassing does not.  I have found both ways bring in lots of loyal and long term customers and both bring messers - that's life

Now all the staff are up to speed and capable of going out solo or as 2 man teams we are going back to canvassing over the next six months as my time on the glass will be minimal.  And I want to push our new pressure washing service

Darran

[formb]

Having given it some thought perhaps 3% is not that unrealistic when compared like for like with tele-sales.

The main advantage that tele-sales has over leaflets and canvassing is that there is no geographical restrictions, calls can be far more targeted. Presumably there is a conversation which takes place discussing exactly the type of customer you are after, then Becci will call all of that type of potential customer in your area. Obviously you are not going to ask her to specifically target say, window cleaners houses. The result being Becci will spend most of her time phoning people / companies who are likely to want a window cleaner.

You can be picky to an extent when canvassing and with leaflets you can choose which estates you do but tele-sales can cover 100s of miles in an hour.

If it were possible (cost/time effective) to be so specific when leafleting then I reckon 3% may be a fair guess. That is the thing with statistics they can be turned to suit whatever you want them to suit.

[robbo333]

Mick I totally agree about keeping it simple.
Mine is a single sided A5 and very simple indeed.
I currently put out 5,000 leaflets at a time and it cost me £250 printed and delivered (local company). I design them myself.
I tend to get about 20 ish good enquiries out of that at around £16 to £28 a house. I'll convert 18 and probably lose 2.
2 or 3 of those will probably want full gutter cleans etc at around £100 - £160 a pop. I don't even mention gutters on my leaflet!
So for the minute I am happy with the leaflets.
However, I need my round to be more compact, so I shall take a leaf out of your book and going knocking on doors.
I've picked up on some of your tips (thanks for that) so onwards and upwards. 

[roundbuilder]

Mick I totally agree about keeping it simple.
Mine is a single sided A5 and very simple indeed.
I currently put out 5,000 leaflets at a time and it cost me £250 printed and delivered (local company). I design them myself.
I tend to get about 20 ish good enquiries out of that at around £16 to £28 a house. I'll convert 18 and probably lose 2.
2 or 3 of those will probably want full gutter cleans etc at around £100 - £160 a pop. I don't even mention gutters on my leaflet!
So for the minute I am happy with the leaflets.
However, I need my round to be more compact, so I shall take a leaf out of your book and going knocking on doors.
I've picked up on some of your tips (thanks for that) so onwards and upwards. 

Finally someone who isnt tunnel visioned who reads the post properly! Simple is defo the key with leaflets and customers confirmed that! You can spend thousands making them look real flash explaining everything how wfp works and does a much better clean and the like but at the end of the day all a customer wants is there windows clean and they get confused with over the top leaflets.

[Spruce]

About 15 years ago enquiries from mail shots was about 4% in the motor trade. Those weren't conversions.

It dropped to about 1% after 5 years when the public started to classify all this as junk mail. Now its even lower - hence the reason why you don't receive much from the motortrade nowadays.

Becci is right in that the best results do come from a direct, personal contact.
It still works when you can talk to the decision maker.

Knocking on a residential door and asking a simple question in your target area is the best way of canvassing. You get to talk directly to your potential customer and you get a meaningful response either way. But people don't like to knock doors and talk to people. Why? I don't know.

 

[robertphil]

i believe that mick millwall is actually leafletting BUT PRAPS NOT DOIN SO WELL AT IT  -cos he is Forever banging on about it

 

[C o z y]

About 15 years ago enquiries from mail shots was about 4% in the motor trade. Those weren't conversions.

It dropped to about 1% after 5 years when the public started to classify all this as junk mail. Now its even lower - hence the reason why you don't receive much from the motortrade nowadays.

Becci is right in that the best results do come from a direct, personal contact.
It still works when you can talk to the decision maker.

Knocking on a residential door and asking a simple question in your target area is the best way of canvassing. You get to talk directly to your potential customer and you get a meaningful response either way. But people don't like to knock doors and talk to people. Why? I don't know.
 

I do both mate. Drop leaflets that say who we are, what we do, and that we will be calling in the near future to see if they're interested. Includes our contact details, and Facebook page. Works well for me and helps keep areas compact.

[Becci Swan]

I would like to clarify that I was not calling anyones leaflets 'junk mail' I was merely stating that this is how they can perceived.

They are like tv adverts - some people are happy to watch them whilst others hate them and use their tv plus services to avoid, in leaflet terms - difference between reading a leaflet or throwing it straight in the bin without a glance.

Not here to say that any type of canvassing is better than another as thats not my style, just to advise on the services that I can offer should they be of interest. Different ways may work better than others, or even a combination.

[Smudger]

No argument here, there is so many variables as to what works, where it works, and when it might work.

It's not that I doubt mick at all but 2 possibly 3 customers making a statement leaflets are no good is at best rather a small sample there is most likely 3 in that street who rang to use the windy who dropped a leaflet, and I'm sure mick and co. had many say no to his service just because he knocked the door and felt uncomfortable ( had many no thanks on the door but gave them a leaflet for them to ring up the following week )


Some leaflets are to In depth as we want to let the public know how good WFP is, but in reality they just don't care

Darran