[BartG]

Hi,

So today was my 1st proper day canvassing around.

I armed myself with loads of positive thinking and friendly attitude, and went rock on the streets !

What was really surprising, got lot of interest, but at the end no job was arranged yet.

After I introduced my services they would say something like ' Lovely, leave your card and we will phone you up'

Just wondering if they really will or they just tried to be kind. Obviously I received plenty of Nothankyou's too, but that other people seemed really interested !

Bart

[lyndy]

They won't call mate

[mister bit]

Just move on ... it is a numbers game.

Hardest thing is to stay positive and smiling.

There must be loads of advice on the internet about canvassing?

I can't remember it all but ...

• Stay up-beat
  Know why you are there
  Motion creates emotion (ie point to the windows)
  Maintain eye contact

... that sort of thing

Hope this helps

Regards

[Johnny B]

Genuinely interested people will ask you how much you charge and when can you do them. Those that say that they will call you probably won't.

That said, keep doing what you are doing and the customers will come.

Once you have a few and have proved that you are reliable and do a good job, you will pick up more through word of mouth recommendation and by being seen by neighbours. Once the snowball starts to roll it can only get bigger.

Best wishes,
John
  

[richard jagger]

You need to close the deal after the chat up lines. Don`t give them time to think.!(1)"Would this be something that will be interest to you? If they say lovely leave.... you say I am running a promotion giving you a good 50% discount on you third clean for this week only.I am sure this would be to your liking.  you need to ask for the business.My a fav .line is" I see your windows need a window clean but the question is do you want one?" then laugh. It brakes the ice.Think creatively and ask for the business." I will give you free quote ."( see no question )and go ahead. I have even used the poor me one. " I have been doing this door knocking thing all day," ( Take out your razor blade only joking ) What am i doing wrong? the customer will feel sorry for you and sometimes give you the business".Realy sound despondent. Just be funny they love it. It shows you are human after all.

[mister bit]

Whizkid used to be a knocker or a chugger? Brilliant I like it ...
Get the film "Glengarry Glenross" and watch that fella Balwin talking about making a close hang on I'll you tube it ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVQPY4LlbJ4

ABC - Always Be Closing! Brilliant!

[richard jagger]

It looks like a good movie i will get it.I like the third prize is you get fired. I worked for a real estate company in the U S  once my boss gave me that answer after me enquiring as to what commission was it if for me- and he said I get to get to keep my job.I was mad and came back with its would be wise to grow up before one grows old.Needless to say I did not reach the next payday.I still do not understand why.

[GDwindowcleaning]

Best way to convert them is to have the next working day in mind, so you can say you are cleaning tomorrow if they want them done, gives them a call to action. If they still say we will call you go on to the next one.

As for appearing desperate, I wouldnt go down that route. Appear indifferent and as though you have plenty of work anyway and they will be sheep factored into it...

Have you ever bought out of pity? And do you really want their pity?

[Granny]

Hi BartG
Have you tried Saturday's?
Lots more people in and you can clean them NOW!!
I find it a lot more motivational, once you get the first job as a starter then start knocking houses either side and opposite "I'm cleaning the windows now at No. 9 are you interested etc....."
If you get a job every 10 - 12  or 20 knocks even - it helps to keep you going instead of endless trudging.
Just my thoughts
g.

[johnny bravo]

ive posted flyers and got calls 2 weeks on,   yhey may be cancelling their previous cleaner.   carry your gumshield wwithyou

[Londoner]

ive posted flyers and got calls 2 weeks on,   yhey may be cancelling their previous cleaner.   carry your gumshield wwithyou

I've posted fliers and got a call years later. I think the record must be about 4 years for me. I still maintain that fliers work. OK sure you get instant response (if you get any response ) with canvassing but how many houses can you do in an hour, or a day?
With fliers its head down and away you go, 1000 a day banging through the letterboxes. Its hard work and tedious, but in a week you have hit 7000 houses.

[Richard iSparkle]

1000 flyers a day!!!!  that's some going.  i couldnt do that 7 days a week and struggle doing over 3 hrs of flyers any day.

wizzid and GD are right.  sounds like you just need to get used to closing and you'll be signing them up. 

[stuart mc]

I don't agree with wizkid, GD I do agree with and vince has a fair point to 1000 a day is easy enough

[Steve Sed]

Those that you need to "close", other than simply asking if they are happy with quote and frequency won't last long as customers.

[BartG]

Thanks for all your posts guys !

Went again later on today and picked up 3 jobs, from which one has been canceled in next half an hour and another one moved to next week So I'm left with one job, but whats the most important getting more and more positive about this business.

All the best!

Bart

[Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle]

.My a fav .line is" I see your windows need a window clean but the question is do you want one?" then laugh. It brakes the ice.

i like it mate.

I always try to crack a laugh when canvassing, but you do get the odd ones that you just know wont crack a smile.

[Londoner]

"Closing" isn't the same as "keeping". Many new customers gained by canvassing are equally soon lost. If you are prepared for this then its OK if you understand the reality. But for a newbie it can be disheartening.

You have to understand its a percentages game and if you have one in three a year later you are doing well. You are still out in front and building up a round. Nobody said it would be easy but just keep on bashing away.

Never quit, the customers, good ones, are out there. You can't fail if you just keep going.

[sf]

When they say no thankyou,(SAY WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED AT THE RIGHT PRICE).alternatively if they say they clean their windows themselves(SAY WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR WINDOWS CLEANED PROFESSIONALY AT THE RIGHT PRICE).Give it a go u will be supprised how many of those no`s and we do them ourselves you in to regular customers.Good luck mate.

[GDwindowcleaning]

But then you are competing on price and thats a slippery slope...

[Tomboler]

sounds like you enjoyed the day, that's the main thing I rekon. Just keep going, don't think too much about the responses you get or whether you think you're getting things right or wrong - better to do something wrong than nothing right - just keep going