[lovewindows]

Anybody got advice about flyers , posted loads not just willy nilly but at houses that had dirty windows, reaction zilch , is it wording , mobile number , no price , what ? doing my head in .

[Ian Lancaster]

How many is loads?  You will do very well to get a return of 0.5% to 2% in terms of calls in response to a leaflet drop.  We drop leaflets every week, but don't expect to get much response, if we do it's a bonus, but it keeps our name in the public eye.  When we need more work we leaflet an area and then I go and knock on the doors after a couple of days.  Used to be you'd get better than 50% doing that, but these days you're doing well with 5-10%.

[Paul Coleman]

Anybody got advice about flyers , posted loads not just willy nilly but at houses that had dirty windows, reaction zilch , is it wording , mobile number , no price , what ? doing my head in .

There is generally a low take-up of leaflets anyway (maybe 1%) .
I think it's important for them to contain business name and address, landline number (plus optional mobile but NOT mobile only).  Also, the contact name if they should respond.  It's a good idea for them to look at least semi-professional (as a minimum).  Colour is a nice idea but the jury is out as to whether that produces a better rate of return.  A picture of some sort may help to break up the text.

[john tomkins]

Probably just the wrong time for getting customers at the moment, seems to be loads getting into window cleaning and you are probably competing with some other start ups, lived in my house 20 years and never had a window cleaner knock/leaflet. Over the last few months had 1 knock and about 4 flyers....must be my grubby windows :

[Chris Galloway]

Who here honestly read any leaflets that come thorough our doors? I dont - straight into the recycling bin. Then it was my other half that said people are trying to earn a living just like you.. so now i take the time to read them at least

Your better off knocking on doors. preferably in the evenings or at the weekend. Then if you get no reply stick a flyer thru.

Typically the people with very dirty windows have very dirty windows for a reason, cos they dont care. Its the clean ones you need to target but they probably have a window cleaner already.

It just takes time.. door to door is the key. If your really into promoting your business, work at the weekends like me., i gain more customers at the weekends just by working and then seeing me there.. than any flyer drop ive done. Save you money in the long run too.

Ian Lancaster is right, its just a way of keeping your company in the public domain - not really a way of getting extra business.

[gerard mcmanus]

If I get a cancelation or get done before 6 I canvace and use brochures at the same time, what I do is knock doors near where I am introduce myself etc give then the brochure, and ask then if they would like a qoute.

I got about £30 worth tonight in about 40 minutes, I booked them in later when I had a gap, this get the best way of accuring customers, and 5.15 to 6pm is a good time to catch people in, go early they may still be in bed or not decent. Although there are normally have there tea, an appolgetic attidtute go along way there.

Flyer alone as people have said dont go very far, most people dont take the time to read them, but if you are there, and giving them a price they wont put it off or forget, just ask them straight "Would you be instrested in a qoute".

This is just my opinion by a few point on flyers.

Pictures say more than words.
Promise only what you can garentee to every customer, excellent service, friendly, trustworthy etc
Dont qoute prices, you qoute the cost of a small flat you'll get every semi and detatched looking for there's for the same price, and your qoutes wont get any where.
Try puting in customer, comments - just ask a few of your long standing customer to fill out a feedback Q and A while you do there windows, but make sure you say on the Q&A that some comments may be used in advertising material.
They allready have an idea of a window cleaner, so try to garentee they will be satasfied, try to think about customers pet hates about window cleaners, never on time, come by when they want, end up owing them a fortune, no seen them for months e.t.c. ensure them that they wont get that kind of service from you:-
e.g.

we will alway come by the day we say, if we cant we will call you(if thats something you do, I dont know)
we wipe done the sills
you can call us and rearrange if the day doesn't suit

also say what you do over and above your compeditors
e.g.

licence and isured
beter equipement
cleaning solutions used and why they are better

maybe why window cleaners are better that doing them on your own

buffing leaves static charges, dirting them quicker, and proffessional window cleaners prevent this by squegee'ing of the water, rather the buffing

but again, they probably wont read past the first page, so make sure every line reals them in - possitive, possitive and more possitive.

good luck pal

gerard  

[Chris Galloway]

Do us a favour include some more.. that is good poo, im writing that down

[Roger Slater]

I have had and still get excellent results with this leaflet:

Click the link to view: www.ecowindow.co.uk/Window_1_.pdf

I had this leaflet printed on A6 350gsm silkboard

pdf reader needed

[lovewindows]

Thanks for the advice  everyone , it certainly seems flyers alone aren't the best way, i must admit the majority of my customers i got by knocking and asking tried the local paper aswell and have worked out in under 10yrs that will have paid for itself once over. loved the comment about a window cleaner with grubby windows, my misses is always having a go at me about ours 

[Chris Galloway]

I have had and still get excellent results with this leaflet:

Click the link to view: www.ecowindow.co.uk/Window_1_.pdf

I had this leaflet printed on A6 350gsm silkboard

pdf reader needed

Nice idea, but there will prob be some rouge out there stealing them off you.

[Roger Slater]

I have had and still get excellent results with this leaflet:

Click the link to view: www.ecowindow.co.uk/Window_1_.pdf

I had this leaflet printed on A6 350gsm silkboard

pdf reader needed

Nice idea, but there will prob be some rouge out there stealing them off you.

I found if you go the next day this doesnt happen very often, thats one of my old flyers and have put on the bottom of the card for the customer to ask for ID.

[Chris Galloway]

Ive decided to give this method a go. Ive deigned my flyers already, just gonna check with family for spelling, clarity and proof reading before i get them printed.

I'll let you know how i get on. 

[Roger Slater]

I have had and still get excellent results with this leaflet:

Click the link to view: www.ecowindow.co.uk/Window_1_.pdf

I had this leaflet printed on A6 350gsm silkboard

pdf reader needed

Nice idea, but there will prob be some rouge out there stealing them off you.

I found if you go the next day this doesnt happen very often, thats one of my old flyers and have put on the bottom of the card for the customer to ask for ID.

Roger,

"some where" on your flyer should be "somewhere"

lolololol (((((nice spot))))) typical typo my 325 customers i got with these leaflets over 9 months never even mentioned it, so really doesnt matter does it?

The fact is that this leaflet is short and sweet and custys unlike you have better things to do with there time rather than; picking the bones out of this flyer. 

[www.mrgutters.co.uk]

i have found that sometimes canvassing houses only ones with dirty windows ...doesnt mean you will get any of them.

cos sometimes the reason they are dirty ...are they dont want to pay for a cleaner ir they are fussy and there cleaner hasnt lasted.... just blanket canvass..then when youve canvased say 200 -300 houses even if 5 ring you youve acomplished something and the more you clean others will se ya and hopefully you will pickup more..

i have canvased last week ..about 50 large houses around £1million - 3 million houses.

got one call today they want patio cleaned windows cleaned gutters cleaned and conservatory cleaned.

then canvased today about 100 houses
and while canvasing got a gutter job 25.00 only small but 10min work.

then when i got in got a really nice flat in and out £130.00 every 4 months.

it all adds up.

another thing a good glossy flyer is key..also not too busy.

Mine says

STB Cleaning services

Window and gutter cleaning

fully insured     carpet cleaning
patio cleaneing conservatory cleans

01932XXXXXX 07990 XXXXXXXX

with a before and after pic ...on A5 paper.

55.00 for 1000

[geefree]

I have had and still get excellent results with this leaflet:

Click the link to view: www.ecowindow.co.uk/Window_1_.pdf

I had this leaflet printed on A6 350gsm silkboard

pdf reader needed

Nice idea, but there will prob be some rouge out there stealing them off you.

I found if you go the next day this doesnt happen very often, thats one of my old flyers and have put on the bottom of the card for the customer to ask for ID.

Roger,

"some where" on your flyer should be "somewhere"

lolololol (((((nice spot))))) typical typo my 325 customers i got with these leaflets over 9 months never even mentioned it, so really doesnt matter does it?

The fact is that this leaflet is short and sweet and custys unlike you have better things to do with there time rather than; picking the bones out of this flyer. 

i just have .... yes please ... on the reverse... that does not give anyone else any kind of invitation.

[www.mrgutters.co.uk]

from my canvasing ive picked up some more today i quoted a house on a private road..

windows gutters patio and it came in at 1100 then gave a 20% discount for taking all the work in one go.

and i got it .... two days work for me on my own..

good flyer good results.

shawn

[Roger Slater]

55.00 for 1000

Geeees big lad try 5000 for £95 inc delivery whos your printer, seen you coming chum.

[geefree]

where from