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thewindowcleaner1

  • Posts: 779
Think tank
« on: July 31, 2005, 11:08:37 am »
I'm sitting here thinking of diffrent ways to promote,

flyers,
press,advert
Press, Advertising feature, using commercials to pay for your write up
shop windows,Unusual idea's, (the mirrors in a hair dresser)
Car Parks,
Tele sales, ??
door knocking.

Any other idea's that we could all share..

Stickers on the top of wheely bins,

has any one ever contacted window fitters to see if they would pass your info onto customers..

Estate agents has any one tried to be included in or promote a Welcome package to people moving in, or offer thier service to people trying to sell thier house ie facia,conservatory cleaning??

I like the one I saw on another thread about doing a deal with the show house.
any other idea's systems...?

A silly one ...have a musical tune playing when you pull into a street so that new customers can come out and ask you to clean thier windows?

the more idea's the better if only a small percentage are any good it's better than 0

Alan
The secret is not doing as you like but liking what you do
www.thewindowcleaner.biz

Re: Think tank
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2005, 11:20:24 am »
Hi Alan,

What about advertising in toilets!!!!!  No No No before anyone goes thinking the wrong idea.

I have cleaned night clubs and pubs in the past (contract cleaning) and they have adverts on the back of toilet doors. I made a deal with a pub owner once, gave him a week of free cleaning for 3 months of advertising. Total amount of toilet doors was 14 - 4 men’s 10 woman’s.

Believe it or not, this was very successful, I landed a 25k per annum office contract, due to them having their xmas party their and the facilities manager was really annoyed with their cleaners and she noted our number and we where in. We also received a few private house cleans from this.

Obviously we where only advertising at the time contract cleaning, but I am sure it would work for any service.

I like the music idea, but I think they will mix us up with the ice-cream man lol.

I have still found though, word of mouth is the best advertising you can get. I offer our clients a discount on referrals. 50% of next clean for 5 new customers they refer, next clean free for 10 new customers.

Andrew

gaza

  • Posts: 1642
Re: Think tank
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2005, 11:24:48 am »
GEARGE FORMBY I PRESUME.DEF WILL GET PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSES ,ASKING YOU TO TURN IT OFF.

 ONE I thought off cleaning shop windows in a shopping walk through street for charity.

Idea runs like this have some pens made up with your name and address on, charge 50p or so each time your going to clean a window guess to the exact second from start to finish,the person who is closest names the charity  they want to donate to, the closest all day the money goes to that charity.

Involve the local free paper,radio anyone else those whose 1st/2nd/3rd give them a pen.all others give a flyer too.

1st of all make it clear you do not want the work with the shop owners and to the w/c involved.

 gaza
IM AT THAT AGE MY BACK GOES OUT MORE THAN I DO

thewindowcleaner1

  • Posts: 779
Re: Think tank
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2005, 11:28:27 am »
Quote
What about advertising in toilets!!!!!


I like it take it to the next stage can you get logo's printed on toilet paper?
Can you get logo's on serviets (napkins)?

Quote
I have still found though, word of mouth is the best advertising you can get. I offer our clients a discount on referrals. 50% of next clean for 5 new customers they refer, next clean free for 10 new customers.

I was think along those lines last night but offer 20% discount on clean per customer (easy maths divid by 5) or they could save the 20% up towards a PVC wash.?
The secret is not doing as you like but liking what you do
www.thewindowcleaner.biz

Re: Think tank
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2005, 11:38:59 am »
Being 95% residential, we find our best work comes when we're 'grabbed of the street' where we're already working.

You can see the property then and there, and clean it straight away if they accept your terms and conditions.

I find working with my Missis, 9 out of 10 times they approach her, rather than me.  Mabye because a woman is more approachable than the 'stereo-typical window cleaner' they may assume me to be (what-ever that is).

So I'd say look smart, clean and unagressively-approachable.  No earings, facial peircings or agressive hair-cuts would help.  Fake-Burberry base-ball caps don't present a good image either.

I think I'd discard the music idea.  The ice-cream man really winds me up.  Jessica is to old to believe me when I tell her it's the bin man and if the window cleaner started playing music; he'd be told to turn it off.

thewindowcleaner1

  • Posts: 779
Re: Think tank
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2005, 11:49:50 am »
Quote
1st of all make it clear you do not want the work with the shop owners and to the w/c involved.

Another good one Charity is always a good hook for the press and if done right the charity gets cash and press and you get public presence,

I think I would involve all the shops, then arrange with the press for an advertising feature making sure that you do part of the write up, I would involve a Local charity or two this way they would mobilis local people to help with the event, turn the street into a fun place to be and arrange speed cleening contests, set up an advise centre to give the public advise on how to clean windows(this should not lose busines)even teach them how to use a blade this would give you terrific PR set up a demo of WFP if you use one.Make sure that you contact the other window cleaners and explain that you have no intention of poaching the shops taking part even invite them to join in with the speed contest (even better if you could use shops that you already do)

Alan
The secret is not doing as you like but liking what you do
www.thewindowcleaner.biz

thewindowcleaner1

  • Posts: 779
Re: Think tank
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2005, 11:58:11 am »
Quote
I find working with my Missis, 9 out of 10 times they approach her, rather than me.  Mabye because a woman is more approachable than the 'stereo-typical window cleaner' they may assume me to be (what-ever that is).

I've also been thinking about setting up a female window cleaning team ( I know that there must be some out there already)with the use of WFP less ladder work would be needed I would set it up so that they would work in pairs (for safety, as we all know there are some strange people out there)and from a promotional point of view it would or should draw intrest from the media.

I used to work with the other half until she fell of the btm step of some steps and broke her wrist that was several years ago but she still blames me every winter when it plays up.

Alan
The secret is not doing as you like but liking what you do
www.thewindowcleaner.biz

pjulk

Re: Think tank
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2005, 05:39:45 pm »
Look out for houses with dirty windows.
And clean half off one window make sure it a kitchen or sitting room.
Then put a leaflet through saying that we see you are in need of a window cleaner to show you our quality of work we have cleaned half of your window so you can see the differance and if you want them clean regular it would be £XX.XX every 4 weeks.

Only a thought

Paul

The Bear

Re: Think tank
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2005, 07:24:01 pm »
Paul

I think iits a bit cheaky to go onto someones property without permission.........

.......maybe when you have cleaned the kitchen window, put a note through, saying you started the wrong house.......

.......that wouldn't be cheaky

dave_carroll

  • Posts: 65
Re: Think tank
« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2005, 09:40:58 pm »
Alan,
          If its music then its got to be ''Pole man'' (soul man) by Sam & Dave  :D
swamps

thewindowcleaner1

  • Posts: 779
Re: Think tank
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2005, 10:05:35 pm »
Or "it's raining Men" Diana Ross i think

 I was thinking more along the lines of George Formby "when I'm Cleaning windows"

The secret is not doing as you like but liking what you do
www.thewindowcleaner.biz

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 25286
Re: Think tank
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2005, 10:58:01 pm »
As requested I have been thinking tank.

I thought about wfp water tanks (400 litre, 650 litre, 1000 litre, caged, baffled etc)
I thought about army tanks (Tigers, T34's, Shermans, Chieftains, M-1's etc)
I thought about petrol tanks (Motorcycles, Storage tanks etc)
I thought about steam locomotive tank engines (Thomas, Percy, British Railways Standard 2MT,3MT 2-6-2 and 4MT 2-6-4 tanks.)
I even thought about hot water central heating tanks.
And finally Tank tops as beloved by 70's student-teachers.

That's too many tanks!

So Tank you very much and Good Night! ;D
It's a game of three halves!

Sir Squeaky

  • Posts: 8341
Re: Think tank
« Reply #12 on: July 31, 2005, 11:00:38 pm »
Must be tanked up.... ::)

gaza

  • Posts: 1642
Re: Think tank
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2005, 11:54:32 pm »
WINDOWCLEANER: THE WEATHERGIRLS NOT DIANA ROSS,SEEN D ROSS SHE GOES 2 HRS NONE STOP NOT BAD FOR 60+,THE WEATHER WERE BIG TUBS OF LARD WOULDNT LAST 3 MINS. WORSE THINK THEY DID WAS PUT A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT HIT SINGLE.


 gaza ex pro dj {screwloose disco} was an apt name so I thought.
IM AT THAT AGE MY BACK GOES OUT MORE THAN I DO

thewindowcleaner1

  • Posts: 779
Re: Think tank
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2005, 07:52:38 am »
Quote
SEEN D ROSS SHE GOES 2 HRS NONE STOP NOT BAD FOR 60+,

Ya saw her years ago I used to work for the company that ran a cabaret club in Longton,Stoke on  trent,(Jolleys) even met her and had a natter.
nice person,
The secret is not doing as you like but liking what you do
www.thewindowcleaner.biz

dustycorner

Re: Think tank
« Reply #15 on: August 01, 2005, 04:11:01 pm »
Hi all,

Another good way to reach a larger audience is to advertise on the back of car park display tickets.

Cheers Mark.

Marc's on the Glass, LLC

  • Posts: 134
Re: Think tank
« Reply #16 on: August 01, 2005, 05:52:31 pm »
Sporting Events... COupon on back of tickets that says if the local team wins, "Company Name" will give first service free with one year contract?

You guys have much of a cricket following there?    :)