[W C R Ltd]

So then which method has been best effective with results for YOU and YOUR Business.

I know with larger commercial contracts or just even domestic, word of mouth is very essential to the growth of your business.

If you answered other then go on and let us know.

Thanks

Nath

[NWH]

Don`t think that the big money is only found in commercial work,a good domestic round will earn you more and be a more secure business overall.I`ve known blokes lose a few commercial jobs and it`s nearly finished them,at the very least they had to lay off staff.Let the national companys do em they only work for a tiny profit but work on volume.

[Moderator David@stives]

WCR

Are you a window cleaner ?. I guess not, is this another post to see if doorknocking comes out on tops.

Dave

[Moderator David@stives]

ECO

Maybe i might be interested, What makes your system ECO.  I am guessing you utilise rain water effectively, if so that can be a good thing.

I like to think that wfp is more eco than trad, ie no soap used etc, but then you have to think about the extra fuel used getting you to your jobs.

I suppose the most eco would be hooking up to your customers taps with a di unit ?

I would be interested to see your take on things

Dave

[Moderator David@stives]

p.s do you have a website ?

[W C R Ltd]

Thanks Eco,

Dave, thanks for your interest, (the Digg) reason for the poll to show support to this excellent forum and to see how many people are effective and happy with there advertising methods.

There are three of us at WCR that window clean currently, we do have a history within the window cleaning sector from selling equipment to telemarketing for WFP systems.

Regards

[Clive McDonald]

I feel a bit of a heel now.

Tell us a funny story or an anecdote, obviously work door knocking into it. Prossesional round biulders definitely have a place in this business. Sorry for ruining your thread.

[JohnL]

So presumably a post has been deleted?

Anyway - back to the question  -  -  -

  -  -   I advertise in the local newspaper every 6 - 8 weeks and in Church magazines and get 8 to 15 new customers a month. Its not a lot but I dont want a lot at the moment as I am only part time. However that number has given me a customer book which has fluctuated in numbers around 100 for the last 18 months. They take me a week to do and they are done every 5 weeks. I have had a lot of cancellations lately due I think to the tougher economic climate and as luck would have it they are all the small house, low priced customers which I feel reflects on the amount the lower paid are prepared to pay.

Generally my accounts are mid to larger houses. My round takes a week and my average house takes an hour to do, all WFP and gives me a good return. Houses I do not want for numerous reasons I either turn down or price ridiculously high. I turn more work away than I take on due mainly to locality and such reasons that I cannot justify charging £40 for an hours work just because I have to travel an hour there and back.

The church mag costs about £25 a year and one newspaper advert costs £8 plus vat. If I advertised more times in the paper I am sure the returns would be higher.

The £8 spent in the paper every 6 weeks(ish) is well worth the money and a lot less hastle than other means of getting business.

A bit more of an answer than you needed but more information is always interesting!   

[M & C Window Cleaning]

Can't say that canvassing has been the best method for me as it's been the only method I've ever used.

Word of mouth and recomendations have, between them, kept me from having to do any large amounts of canvassing for many years though I do try to retrieve jobs I've lost when new home owners move in to properties that have been vacated by my customers. I also keep an eye out for houses recently purchased on my round and call on them when the new owners move in.

I have had a customer base of between 350 and 400, all monthly, all domestic with the exception of one Community Hall and one Dentist's Surgery. I find my round to be pretty much self sustaining in that the work I pick up through referalls and me being visible whilst working takes care of any work I lose.