[Pittmonkey]

At the moment I’m trying to build up as many customers as possible in the shortest time.

I was wondering if anyone ever tried an incentive scheme were an existing customer receives say a £10 M&S voucher for example for recommending a neighbour or friend. Obviously not given straight away but say on the completion of the third clean of the new customer.

I know referral is probably the most popular way of gaining buisiness but has anyone tried this and does it work? or should I just let my service speak for itself.

Wayne

[aztec]

i think you have answered your own question there mate, let your work speak for itself

[Paul Coleman]

At the moment I’m trying to build up as many customers as possible in the shortest time.

I was wondering if anyone ever tried an incentive scheme were an existing customer receives say a £10 M&S voucher for example for recommending a neighbour or friend. Obviously not given straight away but say on the completion of the third clean of the new customer.

I know referral is probably the most popular way of gaining buisiness but has anyone tried this and does it work? or should I just let my service speak for itself.

Wayne

Doing what you propose would get you referrals but it would remove much of the choice.  You could end up with loads of work with poor access etc.  I prefer customers to be not connected to each other as it's then easier to let go of a job if it's unsuitable.

[Pittmonkey]

Excellent point Shiner.

I'm off to do a quote this afternoon for 4 people all neighbours, they all had the same window cleaner and all sacked him on the same day 12 mths ago never had one since. No idea why but no doubt will find out.

Wayne

[LWC]

Excellent point Shiner.

I'm off to do a quote this afternoon for 4 people all neighbours, they all had the same window cleaner and all sacked him on the same day 12 mths ago never had one since. No idea why but no doubt will find out.

Wayne

i had 4 neighbours all next to each other sack me on the same day about 12 months ago  : hehehe, ah well their loss

to be fair, i sacked them first, then they begged me to come back, but this time i had the pole system, did em once and they all cancelled, they were a right pain to do anyway, i was glad when i recieved the call, muhahaha

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I knew a guy who said he would clean their windows for free for a month every time they managed to get him 3 new customers.  His round grew really fast, he did Frank Bruno's windows for a bit.  Only problem is like shiner said you might get work you don't want or work where you don't want it.

Simon.

[LWC]

i thought about offering a first clean free for new customers, only thing is, you gotta make sure they keep you lol

[007 or what]

We ran a win a DVD player all they had to do was fill in the details on there side and the new costy's details (great for the database) then send the form back to me and a winner would be selected from a hat. I got 25 new costy's in 1 month minimum charge was £10  my wife's idea

[NWH]

If a customer keeps getting me work i will do some insides for free every now and again,say i would do her kitchen window`s or her living room over the course of the year it keeps them happy.Mind you i do tell them not to tell other customers,it makes them feel important.

[pjulk]

I don't give anything for referrals and i still keep getting them.
Had two referals today.

Paul

[Pittmonkey]

I suppose when I'm established it's something I'll not consider, but while still building as many custy's as poss in the shortest time it's something to consider.

Just on a technicality running a competition would normally require some kind of regulations or gaming licence I would presume. Not that a customer would mind if they won, but if they didn't?. That’s why I thought the gift idea might be easier.

Lot's to think about, not sure if I'll do it or not yet but will let you all know if I do.
Picked up a lot of work this week from leaflets so very happy

Thanks for your views everyone.
Wayne

[Clive McDonald]

Maybe you could say, Ask about referral incentives?
That way depending on who's asking you can give the appropriate response.

If you don't mind me saying so you seem very switched on Pittmonkey, and not a little driven.

So my nosey question is what's your background career wise, and how long have you been reading the forum?

[Clive McDonald]

I wondered about a TV advert. Ride of the valkeries( Dam busters theme tune), pigeons in formation peeling off one by one to dive bomb the housing estate. Cowering and demented house wives watching from inside as their windows get splattered.

Then a bit like the AA advert, the fourth emergency service, (i'd have to be the fifth) they ring the bird muck hotline and up I turn, hose unreeling, pole banishing the foe.

[EasyClean]

I wouldn't give an incentive for referals because it would attract all kinds of work that I really wouldn't want, i.e. tenants moving out of their flats, never been cleaned in 3 years windows and such like, no thank-you! Patience is a virtue, wait long enough and the right ones will find you by word of mouth.

[Paul Coleman]

I wondered about a TV advert. Ride of the valkeries( Dam busters theme tune), pigeons in formation peeling off one by one to dive bomb the housing estate. Cowering and demented house wives watching from inside as their windows get splattered.

Then a bit like the AA advert, the fourth emergency service, (i'd have to be the fifth) they ring the bird muck hotline and up I turn, hose unreeling, pole banishing the foe.

Great stuff !!  I think the Ghostbusters theme would be better though with two of you turning up.
DON'T LET THE STREAMS OF WATER CROSS !!