[Paul Coleman]

Just been doodling around on the computer and working on a possible leaflet design.  As you can see I'm not exactly designer of the year 

I would appreciate suggestions from my fellow window cleaners on here as to how I can improve it.  Constructive criticisms welcome (I already have a recycle bin thanks    ) .

Seriously, say what you think.  I'm a willing learner.

The file you see is 2 up on an A4 sheet.

[Clive McDonald]

You know I don't like to criticise shiner but....
A coupel of points.
Tto start with you are already established, have been operating for many years, and can provide many referals in the local (insert the name of area) area.
You are the window cleaner of choice locally why not join the many hundreds of satisfied customers.
You are experienced in unusual and remote property cleaning reqiurments.

Assuming it is an area you have already leafleted and you want to raise awareness, then you could stress other services like gutter and conservatory cleans.

The leaflets okay, it's just from your other posts I feel your marketing needs more direction because you've said that you want to fill gaps and want to target the better paying accounts. You could even include individual street names on your leaflet. plus trust ,frequency,quotes etc.

[Luke Johnson]

I think it needs more info, I like the drip though

[Clive McDonald]

I like to put stuff on the back too like company history, stuff like that. When you went wfp, what a big move it was how much money you had to invest, but you felt it was the way forward etc.

Stop thinking of yourself as a knackered 50 something, you have ten great years to biuld a fabulous business that can either expand or be sold or continue with limited involvment from you.

By the way You are not the fella I heard about are you his gramps went to the reading of the will.The estate was huge, but it all went to a favourite.The other bits paintings jewellery etc had significant value but these to were parceled out. Finally the very last thing, the matriachs secret recipe, written on a torn peice of paper, given with love. What use could that be?

Of course old great granny Coleman did make great mustard!
It was someone else wasn't it.

[Paul Coleman]

You know I don't like to criticise shiner but....
A coupel of points.
Tto start with you are already established, have been operating for many years, and can provide many referals in the local (insert the name of area) area.
You are the window cleaner of choice locally why not join the many hundreds of satisfied customers.
You are experienced in unusual and remote property cleaning reqiurments.

Assuming it is an area you have already leafleted and you want to raise awareness, then you could stress other services like gutter and conservatory cleans.

The leaflets okay, it's just from your other posts I feel your marketing needs more direction because you've said that you want to fill gaps and want to target the better paying accounts. You could even include individual street names on your leaflet. plus trust ,frequency,quotes etc.

You make some valid points but I would like to clear a couple of things up.
Although I have been around a long time, that doesn't necessarily make me a window cleaner of choice for the areas I cover.  There are other guys who have been around a long time too.  There are also plenty who have come and gone in that time.
As for referrals, they have dwindled to a tiny trickle over the years.  I have been window cleaning for many of my customers for a long time.  Any referrals from those sources have usually occurred a long time ago.  Therefore I have a need to freshen things up a bit.  I also wish to increase my catchment area as this will help to incorporate some larger domestic properties - many of them are further out.  I will also start chasing mid range size commercial work soon.  I won't be doing it with those leaflets though.  I have abnother plan of action in mind for that.

You're cretainly spot on when you say about my marketing needing a sense of direction.  Marketing seems to be an area where I am not so clued up.  I know my strengths and weaknesses fairly well I feel.  I'm prepared to work quite hard but learning to work smart has come more slowly to me.  I can't help feeling that I should be earning close to double my current turnover even as a sole trader.
A few things have held me back in recent years such as a major illness (now gone thankfully) and several bereavements.  I found it hard to focus on the business side of life.  However, it's true to say that the main thing that has held me back is me with my self imposed limitations.  Underlying all that have been low self esteem issues which have chipped away at my thinking - largely unnoticed because it's been such an old habit.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Paul Coleman]

I think it needs more info, I like the drip though

I will be putting a bit more info on side 2.  I feel that side 1 would be too cluttered to do it on there.  It can be a tricky balance between getting the amount of info right and not cluttering up the core message.
The drip is one of the pictures supplied in MS Publisher 2003.

Thank for your feedback.

[Clive McDonald]

Don't be so hard on yourself.

The customer looks for benefits. Most of us on here are newbies and our leaflets reflect this. It is a benefit that you have an established business and have been around a few years. You are the window cleaner of choice.

What I mean't was that many of their neighbours would reccommend you. It's not a crime to say or infer that you are the best window cleaner in the area, many of you competitors would say the same and you would not blame them.

For larger properties trust and competence are big issues. If you feel they are likely to want a bimonthly service, say so. There are other benefits such as convenient payment methods, which may be more applicable to them also.

Your self esteem is low, I'm glad i didn't do my normal hatchet job.

[Paul Coleman]

I like to put stuff on the back too like company history, stuff like that. When you went wfp, what a big move it was how much money you had to invest, but you felt it was the way forward etc.

Stop thinking of yourself as a knackered 50 something, you have ten great years to biuld a fabulous business that can either expand or be sold or continue with limited involvment from you.

By the way You are not the fella I heard about are you his gramps went to the reading of the will.The estate was huge, but it all went to a favourite.The other bits paintings jewellery etc had significant value but these to were parceled out. Finally the very last thing, the matriachs secret recipe, written on a torn peice of paper, given with love. What use could that be?

Of course old great granny Coleman did make great mustard!
It was someone else wasn't it.

Before I got to this I have put in another reply that I would be putting something on the back as well.  I don't intend to put too much about company history though of about the investments made.  I will put a bit about how long I've been window cleaning though.  The reason for this is that a customer is only really interested in how I can help THEM.  Saying how long I've been in business would help to show them that I'm not a one Summer wonder but the other info is stuff that would not really be relevant to them I feel.  I'm just trying to use a bit of empathy by imagining what I would wish to see (or not see) on a leaflet that came through my door.

As for the last bit of your post - nah!! that was someone else  
and I don't like mustard anyway.  

[Paul Coleman]

Don't be so hard on yourself.

The customer looks for benefits. Most of us on here are newbies and our leaflets reflect this. It is a benefit that you have an established business and have been around a few years. You are the window cleaner of choice.

What I mean't was that many of their neighbours would reccommend you. It's not a crime to say or infer that you are the best window cleaner in the area, many of you competitors would say the same and you would not blame them.

For larger properties trust and competence are big issues. If you feel they are likely to want a bimonthly service, say so. There are other benefits such as convenient payment methods, which may be more applicable to them also.

Your self esteem is low, I'm glad i didn't do my normal hatchet job.

As far as the self esteem bit goes that has improved in leaps and bounds in the last year or two once I saw what it was doing to me.  I can cope with hatchet jobs these days.  In fact I can usually have a chuckle at them.
Believe me - no-one can do a bigger hatchet job than the one I did on myself in my darker years.