[Shane sharples]

Hi all, what canvassing tips have you got?
What do you say when someone opens the door to you? 
Best time?
Best day?

[slap bash]

To get a good return, only canvas customers that don`t have a window cleaner. 

[Shane sharples]

To get a good return, only canvas customers that don`t have a window cleaner.

Smart ass

[Ian101]

anytime is a good time to canvass .... obviously during daylight 

knock knock

eye contact and smile

do you need  a regular window cleaner / hi im THE local window cleaner looking for a few extra customers / hi does anybody look after your windows at the moment /

then shut up and listen

the rest you can work out for yourself I reckon

[Clever Forum Name]

To catch people in knock between 5-6am

[Cookie]

I was quite nervous when starting canvassing but at the second house I canvassed I got a full fascia, soffit & conservatory clean - which I massively underpriced (lesson learned!). I now quite enjoy canvassing!

My tips are pretty much along the lines of Ian101:
* Logo'd workwear/smart appearance
* Stand back a bit from the door (after knocking)
* Smile once door is answered
* I usually say - "I'm starting a new window cleaning service in the area - would you be interested" - the emphasis being on new & service
* If they say yes - all well & good - if they no - just say "thankyou for your time" & move on. Very often those who say no will still take a business card and wish me luck with the new business.

[Shane sharples]

To catch people in knock between 5-6am

Cheers I will defo get up early tomorrow

[jo5hm4n]

Shane, i have canvassed all my work and this is how i do it.

Best time for me to go is later on in the evenings when everybody is usually home.  anytime after 5pm is good as i get the best amount of customers this way when i Canvas.

I approach the door, ring the bell stand back.  Dressed with logo gear on and a smile and positive attitude i say
"good evening, my name is ______ i'm just a local window cleaner, would you be interested in a free quote? / free quote to have your windows cleaned?"

It's pretty straight forward.  If you get a no just move on and dont waste time trying to convince the customer as most of the time they will turn out to be the awkward messers you dont want.  If you get a yes to the quote then simply price it up and away you go!  If somebody isn't interested simply say, okay enjoy the rest of your evening, and if you feel like it leave them with a business card anyway.  A smile and a good attitude go along way and you will end up getting customers that you never thought you would get because they may have initially said no.

All the best send me a message if you need any more tips, im on a roll with Canvassing at the moment, i managed to get £80+ worth of monthly work in just over an hour of canvassing the other day   Bear in mind my area is saturated with window cleaners i'm just getting good at canvassing

[Clever Forum Name]

Also don't have anything in hands as they will try and read it. Need to make as much eye contact as possible, so my canvasser tells me lol

[Shane sharples]

I have been on a roll for a good few weeks now and suddenly, street after street, I'm getting no's!
Anyone want to come and canvass for me?

[SeanK]

Shane Rome wasn't built in a day canvassing is only the start and once you get a customer then your next job is to get
their neighbours family and friends.
Do a few first cleans on a Saturday and take your time, the same goes with all your new properties when starting out,
why hurry when you have time on your hands.
If somebody says no at the door then say sorry to have bothered you and hand them a card or leaflet, some people say no to
all cold callers because they don't like making a decision on the spare of the moment.
After they get a chance to read your card or leaflet they might decide to give you a go, Iv had a few who said no then catch me
at the end of the road and say on second thoughts I would like you to give me a quote.

[Shane sharples]

Cheers Sean, that's good advice, iv not actually done any work on a Saturday before , it's interesting to see what other windys say as I usually keep it short and sweet 'sorry to bother you but do you have a window cleaner?' It worked for a while but think iv gotta change my tactics

[Mick Kent]

Only knock on dirty windows to save a lot of wasted time, dont knock in dumps  or poor area's if doing it this way though as will get a lot of messers so choose area carefully! At  least that way you will know they havnt got a cleaner and it will be a 50/50 chance if you persuade them or not into a regular service instead of knocking all night and risking getting zero customers due to wasted time knocking on all the clean houses. Its amaizing the amount of people out there that wait for a window cleaner to knock to tout for work! So much out there if you chase it.

[Shane sharples]

That's one thing I have been doing, looking at how dirty the frames/glass are/is . These people seem to have window cleaners but their frames are filthy!!

[Mick Kent]

That's one thing I have been doing, looking at how dirty the frames/glass are/is . These people seem to have window cleaners but their frames are filthy!!

Maybe your knocking on Vins customers?? 

[Shane sharples]

That's one thing I have been doing, looking at how dirty the frames/glass are/is . These people seem to have window cleaners but their frames are filthy!!

Maybe your knocking on Vins customers?? 

Lol 

[robbo333]

You can always canvass whilst you're cleaning. Pick 5 houses either side and across the road. Then you can say that you've been cleaning in their street and would they like a quote. Plus you actually look like you've been cleaning. 

[pdale]

Your opening line isn't as important as the closing line. After giving them a price you need to keep them talking, otherwise 9 times out of ten they'll just ask you for a leaflet as they would prefer to be in control (it's human nature). You need to take that control away from them, as you want to control when you are going to do them.

I start my pitch by saying we are in the area such and such a day, that way you have set them up for the close. After giving them a price and telling them the regularity you can generally tell by body language and the way they talk whether they are keen. If they are then say something to the effect that 'we are in the street such and such a day, we can clean them and leave an invoice to pay online if you are out, will that be okay?'

If they don't seem keen usually there is something on their mind, this is where the hard work is, trying to tease out them the problem (always remember that if they initially asked you the price they are interested!). Usually the problem is back access issues, or they have a dog, it could be anything ... even the rabbit in the garden. You need to keep them talking, find out the issue and don't just give them a leaflet as I can guarantee by this time they have asked for one ... once they have your leaflet they are back in control and you've made it difficult for yourself. Many people don't like to say no, usually it's a case of 'just give me a leaflet and i'll call you back' (they will not call you back).

Canvassing is a complex game to get it spot on, but even not getting everyone spot on by following a few simple rules you can get success ... the best tip I can say is stay in control of the close and don't walk away when they ask for you for a leaflet.

Also don't have anything in hands as they will try and read it. Need to make as much eye contact as possible, so my canvasser tells me lol 

That's a top tip, sounds like a half decent canvasser 

[pdale]

I disagree with Mick on the only knocking dirty windows tip, though I realise it works for him. My experience has been if windows are filthy they are used to living like that and can be hard to convert. I've booked hundreds where the windows are clean and tend to knock everything.

[Shane sharples]

Cheers guys/cheers Paul - Paul, if only you'd come and canvass for me!!!!!! I only need about £250 worth of work and il pay you x 3??!!
Il take ur advice on board, cheers