Hi Paul, I'm a newbie at the window cleaning world so your first two questions i can't really give you a true based answer but i can tell you how i've been drumming up custom for myself
I went straight out and hit a few roads/areas personally knocking on the door cards in hand and asking them if they "needed the service of a window cleaner" (not just say "hello mate/darling would you like me to clean your windows). I also offered to do the front of their home there and then free of charge if they agreed to use my service and i noticed that when people actually see you cleaning drums up custom itself.
This may sound silly but, i walked round an estate today just looking at windows :
looking for a row of homes with dirty windows actually. Then, I decided to knock and do my sales pitch and it went down a treat, one old lady was so happy (because these people have not seen a cleaner for ages) made me a bacon butty while i done her front windows!
bless her.
Hope this will help you get started, because it's working wonders for me!
Oh yea, now that i have a load of people on my books, instead of saying "I'm starting a cleaning round" i'm now say "
i'm EXPANDING my round", and this is making a difference as i think they know you are genuine and not just makin a quick buck to pay for your holiday.