[matt jones]

I started up a few months ago a i haven't exactly been flooded with work so far which i know is understandable as i need to become established. But my question is how do some of you manage to get out thousands of thousands of leaflets a week espiecally when work picks up and you have even less time on your hands. And from what i here is that you can't really trust other company's to deliver them as you might as well throw your money down the drain. Maybe its more time consuming where i live as im in the countryside so have villages and small towns to target not big built up areas in citys etc. My nearest city is about 15 miles away which i might start targeting in the next few days.
matt

[carpetguy]

I have never used leaflets, preferring local newspapers, which usually have a distribution of around 20000 to 40000

This should return about 15 jobs per week and the cost of the advert will be around £50  -  £70, which I think is a far better return, for little outlay, in terms of time or money.

You can also get editorial, sometimes FREE, which can be even more productive, than the advert.

robbie

[Mike Osbourne]

The idea is that you suffer. You get wet, blisters and wish there was a tightly packed housing estate close by with large old fashioned letter boxes.

It's something all newbies have to go through otherwise you'll never have a truckmount one day.

I spent the morning leafleting, I average 100/hr. I really don't know how anyone sticks it for too long. There's got to be a better way. 

[Lavinia]

HAVE YOU TRIED THE ROYAL MAIL DOOR TO DOOR. THE POSTMAN WILL DILIVER YOUR FLIER WITH THE POST.

[gwrightson]

the postman MIGHT deliver them for you,!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and do you really think that you will average 15 jobs per week from a £50 add in a newspaper not a chance

oh yes their might be a chance if your charging £10 per room and advertising the fact!!

Geoff

[matt jones]

I have read that royal mail are no better then any of the other services which offer this service as they throw half of them in the bin. It is very boring having to do them but this is something that has to be done i suppose. I have also just had my van sign writen, put an ad in the local paper and an ad in the local parish mag so fingers crossed that will produce some results. I am getting quite good results from doing leaflets 4-5/1000 as i hear 1-2/1000 is about normal. Anyway i should stop moaning really as we are all in the same boat and everyone one has probably had to go through these periods especially when starting up.
matt

[des]

My advice to you is start thinking for yourself ,What works for others may not work for you Just spending money on adverts is not the only way or going cheap just to get the work When i first started i had a early morning job that helped  pay the bills ,Then i walked the streets with leaflets .I also did free jobs in old people,s homes to let them see how good i was and i am still doing them homes today Sell youself before you sell the job as most of the people who book me phone and say DES not is that mister clean .I have my name on my sweatshirt .Also get in with letting agents (small free job ) .Fridge magnets they last for ever and i have them made up cheap and stick the magnets on myself (get the magnets from local staples shop) Hope this helps Des ps NEVER skip over a job so you can get to the next one as people talk

[DanielWelford]

I agree with Des.

When I started, I researched all the advertising mediums in the area, i.e local papers, freebies, magazines, leaflets etc etc. I then ran ads in one at a time until i discovered the best combo. I now advertise in just one freebie mag, and Thomsons, and they keep me busy all the time.

Dan

[carpetguy]

Mr Wrightson

We have a current advert, which simply states,

Carpets and Suites
Expertly Cleaned

Dry in 2 hours, or less

phone number

bus name  and a little blurb

no Special offers or discounts

last week...........................11 jobs ( no advert )
previous week...................12         ( lost one day to hospital appointment )
previous week...................16
previous week...................18

                                                                                                                                             there' s another guy with a priced advert ( Christmas special ) and he is busier than me, as you'd expect

This is a local paper, with a free edition on Saturdays readership is only around 40000.

The advert referred to, is bus' card size and costs £72 including vat, four insertions for the price of three, which equates to £54 per week.

Maybe you should try it

robbie

[Macarthur]

I have had more business from putting leaflets out myself than any other form of marketing / advertising.  Keep at it especially in the beginning.

Spent £1000 on various classified and display ads in my first year and only made £300 back in jobs. Not as profitable for me.

Self delivering leaflets I know can be boring, but its cheeper and more effective, it has made me many £0000s

Nigel.

[Mike Osbourne]

The good thing about leafleting is you can turn your brain off and load up those self help brainwashing tapes on your mp3.

I'm a TIGER, ARRRRH 

[Ian Gourlay]

The Truth.

The idea of telling people to go leafleting is to see if you have the stamina and fittness levels to clean carpets.

It also tests your mental abilities to run a business.

It is hoped after a week of putting out leaflets a new recruit will quit the industry and his machine will appear on Ebay. Some last longer

The plan works better when someone has invested in a new truckmount and this is then sold at discounted prices.

Every now and then a cleaner with stamina and business ability emerges and cracks the system. 

Some methods work and others fail

There are also people who will sell you Magic Marketing Material  That works better than any you have seen before.

Question is if its that good why is said person selling a Rug Doctor which is what he used in his cleaning business.


Robbie are you the only Carpet Cleaner in your paper.?

[matt jones]

I try and look at it as being good exercise and also a good excuse to nose at some peoples gorgeous houses lol. I have found that you do switch your brain off and go into leaflet mode untill you put your hand through a letter box which has a bloody great nasty dog on the other side which nearly bites your fingers off  -:'(

[cleaning co]

robbie if what u claim is true  and iam not saying u are lying mate,then that is an incredable responce to a newspaper add,and the best i hav ever heard of for carpet cleaning   and there is anthoer cleaner next to u getting even more calls  thats amazing ,is there no carpet cleaners in your area doing leaflets/thom/yellow /bt book ?       i had ad in my local paper it had about 6 diffrent areas  covering about 200000 a week i was the only cleaner in there under carpet cleaning same size as yours near enough same wording  used it for about 18 months on a good moth i get 3 or 4 calls !!!
gary