[matt]

So Matt - the more you canvass, the "luckier" you get.

If I do an area once a month for three months (say) then on the first pass I might get one or two, on the next people will remember I called before and mentally clock that I might be reliable or serious about my business and I get 1 or two more. As I work the area I get one or two asking and by the third run More feel comfortable seeing me about and working and being trusted by their neighbours.

The key is persistency.

Look at Pingu (An Englishman in New York Amsterdam  ) - he analyses his return on canvassing (in an OCD sort of way ) and it's obviously working.

thats just been seen enough times so people accept you, its just a number game

[WCBusinessCoach]

i know people who have put flyers out in the same area ( i live in that area and get them in my mail box ) they were put out inside the same 4 or 5  weeks, for the record they were all fairly nice flyers, all of equal quality ( non of the B&W printed stuff, all 3 were glossy )

now i speak to THREE of them, you would think the guy who put them out first got the most calls, he didnt, its luck, does the lady of the house see the flyer ( or the man, who normally bins it )  ? ? ? ? does it get put in the kitchen draw with the takeout menu's ? ?? ?, does it get picked up with the other post and that post contains a few others flyers for various things  ? ??  they all end up in the bin ? ? ? ?

see what i mean about luck, a fair few variables, i am not knocking flyers at all, i am not even knocking you, ive read about you from karl ( i think it was ) i understand marketing works, just pointing out that putting flyers through doors can be hit and miss in the extreme

welcome aboard CIU by the way, im sure we will learn from you in 1 way or the other

Ahh, I see that you are questioning the reliability of the delivery method, not the strategy.

For what its worth, I made special efforts to get my message (with this particular flier campaign under discussion) in front of these people by folding the flier and placing it inside a sealed, plain white envelope, with some handwritten teaser text in pen on the front, ensuring a very high open rate.

Delivery is important, you're bang on.

Which is all the more reason to make the most of each marketing opportunity, right?

Thx for the warm welcome, too, I appreciate that.

[WCBusinessCoach]

I did follow it up with another advert which went out to 10000 homes and businesses, it cost almost £300 and I got 0

"Another" advert? Does that mean you changed it somehow?

What variables were changed?

Different neighbourhood? Different kind of people? Different anything?

Something is afoot with this...

[WCBusinessCoach]

The message in that video is to push your company and illustrate to the punter what more/what better/what else you offer compared to your competitors; I didnt hear any of that message which you suggest we push so far as you would like us to believe about you compared to your competitors.

Sorry, I don't completely understand what you are saying.

At no point during the message do you need to bring up the competition. In fact, do not bring up the competition!

The key is giving them something tangible and real and effective to chew on that will discourage them from using another competitor.

Try this: Put the shoe on the other foot for a minute.

Your basement is leaking, so you scramble to locate 3 numbers for local leaky basement repair companies.

You call the first and hear this message:

"Thx for calling Joe's Leaky Basement Specialists. Sorry we missed your call, your call is important to us, and we'll call you back as soon as possible."

You hang up the phone, pick it up again, and dial the next number, and hear this:

"Thx for calling Sam the Leaky Basement King. Sorry I missed your call, your call is important to me, and I promise to call you back within 1 business hour."

Better, right? Why? Marketing!

Lastly, you call the third number, and hear this:

"Thx for calling Bob's Wet Basement Repair. If you have a leaking basement emergency right now, please hang up and call XXX-XXXX and ask for Jill. It is very important that you act quickly, since the first few hours can be the most damaging and destructive to your property, and time is of the essence! The number again is XXX-XXXX, and rest assured that a trained representative from Bob's Wet Basement Repair will be dispatched as soon as Jill hears from you, and that all of our crews are fully equipped and insured. Relax, we're here to help, and guarantee that if anything can be salvaged, it will be! Hang up and call Jill now, at XXX-XXXX to get an emergency crew dispatched."

See what I mean?

Which of the 3 do you instantly feel you should trust? And please notice that price has not even been mentioned yet, or experience levels.

That's kind of an extreme example, but it illustrates the point.

[WCBusinessCoach]

it can be completely random, but as we know, its a numbers game

It doesn't have to be.

Test, tweak, repeat.

This formula always creates powerful pieces, and removes the random card.

[Oakley Windows]

The message in that video is to push your company and illustrate to the punter what more/what better/what else you offer compared to your competitors; I didnt hear any of that message which you suggest we push so far as you would like us to believe about you compared to your competitors.

Sorry, I don't completely understand what you are saying.

At no point during the message do you need to bring up the competition. In fact, do not bring up the competition!

The key is giving them something tangible and real and effective to chew on that will discourage them from using another competitor.

Try this: Put the shoe on the other foot for a minute.

Your basement is leaking, so you scramble to locate 3 numbers for local leaky basement repair companies.

You call the first and hear this message:

"Thx for calling Joe's Leaky Basement Specialists. Sorry we missed your call, your call is important to us, and we'll call you back as soon as possible."

You hang up the phone, pick it up again, and dial the next number, and hear this:

"Thx for calling Sam the Leaky Basement King. Sorry I missed your call, your call is important to me, and I promise to call you back within 1 business hour."

Better, right? Why? Marketing!

Lastly, you call the third number, and hear this:

"Thx for calling Bob's Wet Basement Repair. If you have a leaking basement emergency right now, please hang up and call XXX-XXXX and ask for Jill. It is very important that you act quickly, since the first few hours can be the most damaging and destructive to your property, and time is of the essence! The number again is XXX-XXXX, and rest assured that a trained representative from Bob's Wet Basement Repair will be dispatched as soon as Jill hears from you, and that all of our crews are fully equipped and insured. Relax, we're here to help, and guarantee that if anything can be salvaged, it will be! Hang up and call Jill now, at XXX-XXXX to get an emergency crew dispatched."

See what I mean?

Which of the 3 do you instantly feel you should trust? And please notice that price has not even been mentioned yet, or experience levels.

That's kind of an extreme example, but it illustrates the point.

Put it this way, your gonna have your work cut out with us lot :

By the way, Id trust 1 &2 the most! 3 nope....

[craig b]

kevin. wear can i buy your book have you got a link..

[Mr H]

Check out his site at www.windowcleaningbusinesscoach.com

[WCBusinessCoach]

Put it this way, your gonna have your work cut out with us lot :

By the way, Id trust 1 &2 the most! 3 nope....

Why am I not surprised?



And I like to work, for the record. And I think that it's valuable to air out these concerns about the validity of this marketing stuff creating revenue for YOUR window cleaning business.

I do notice, though, that there is almost a defense system that goes up about this subject, with UK window cleaners, and I'm not sure why.

Do you have any insights on that?

[ftp]

Charming, new identity by any chance?

[tonylee]

His mate I thought 

[ftp]

Keep at it coach, some of us might be interested. But at the end of the day you're into sales which unfortunately means your trying to sell me something.
Personally i prefer Don The Windowcleaners common sense approach on youtube that costs me nothing at all.
I would imagine you pop up on other sites in different trades pushing the same message?

[ftp]

Coach, have you met Ewan? He is the Ambassador to the UK cleaning profession - a highly successful businessman with a fleet of vehicles at his disposal. The pinnacle of the windowcleaning business in Europe. I would advise you to make contact - you will learn a thing or two.

[macmac]

Coach, have you met Ewan? He is the Ambassador to the UK cleaning profession - a highly successful businessman with a fleet of vehicles at his disposal. The pinnacle of the windowcleaning business in Europe. I would advise you to make contact - you will learn a thing or two.

Agreed
I love Ewan's posts, he's the main man on here when it comes to business sucsess. Any input like this is most welcome here, just ignore the "plodders" I think your marketing strategy is spot on! If I was considering spending 10 quid a month on window cleans I would have picked option 3, very professional.
So, come on coach, teach us some more, yeah!

Pro-clean europe

[williamx]

I did follow it up with another advert which went out to 10000 homes and businesses, it cost almost £300 and I got 0

"Another" advert? Does that mean you changed it somehow?

What variables were changed?

Different neighbourhood? Different kind of people? Different anything?

Something is afoot with this...

Even "sherlock" would not see anythings "a foot" with my statement, the other advert was the same as the 1st ( why change something thats worked so well on the last advert) all that was different, was the response it generated.

Another example, when I first started in businesss I placed a free 1 line advert on yell.com for the 1st year of trading, this led me to telephone calls every month with enquires, the 2nd year, I paid for an bigger advert so I could be more noticable in the market place, at 1st the response was slow but at the end of the year it had produced more than enough business to make it worthwhile, the next year I paid even more money for any even bigger market placement, the results are terrible so far.

Any form of marketing has high and low reponses but at the end they all seem to balance out the same.

We over this side of the "pond" are more likely to questions someone motives, that they have all the answers, to making us all so sucessful and rich, for instance you say that by processes that you have learn over the years, you can produce more business though your markerting techinques, if this is the case why are you not making "zillions" as a window cleaner "baron" instead, you have become a marketing "guru" instead.

You state that you want to help all of us reach these goals that you have achieved, if thats the case why not post all of these methods "free of charge" onto a open window cleaning forum or trade publication, if on the other hand you want to sell us a "product" in your new career, then be more up-front about it.

[matt]

Put it this way, your gonna have your work cut out with us lot :

By the way, Id trust 1 &2 the most! 3 nope....

Why am I not surprised?



And I like to work, for the record. And I think that it's valuable to air out these concerns about the validity of this marketing stuff creating revenue for YOUR window cleaning business.

I do notice, though, that there is almost a defense system that goes up about this subject, with UK window cleaners, and I'm not sure why.

Do you have any insights on that?

There are a few on here who think there level of window cleaning is the pinnacle, there not spoke’s men for the window cleaning in UK or even cleanitup.

There are also a few who wouldn’t even qualify as professional window cleaners. Any thing beyond there level is often put down or ridiculed, because that is all they understand.

Welcome to CIU, keep posting as there are plenty of people on here who would welcome different and refreshing input. Either established professional or people still building there business.

another cheap shot at the good people of CIU  : : as you blatantly think so little of the members on here, here is a idea, find somewhere that is up to your ever so high level of intelligence **  : : which of course makes you such a success   : :

** this is sarcastic

[macmac]

I did follow it up with another advert which went out to 10000 homes and businesses, it cost almost £300 and I got 0

"Another" advert? Does that mean you changed it somehow?

What variables were changed?

Different neighbourhood? Different kind of people? Different anything?

Something is afoot with this...

Even "sherlock" would not see anythings "a foot" with my statement, the other advert was the same as the 1st ( why change something thats worked so well on the last advert) all that was different, was the response it generated.

Another example, when I first started in businesss I placed a free 1 line advert on yell.com for the 1st year of trading, this led me to telephone calls every month with enquires, the 2nd year, I paid for an bigger advert so I could be more noticable in the market place, at 1st the response was slow but at the end of the year it had produced more than enough business to make it worthwhile, the next year I paid even more money for any even bigger market placement, the results are terrible so far.

Any form of marketing has high and low reponses but at the end they all seem to balance out the same.

We over this side of the "pond" are more likely to questions someone motives, that they have all the answers, to making us all so sucessful and rich, for instance you say that by processes that you have learn over the years, you can produce more business though your markerting techinques, if this is the case why are you not making "zillions" as a window cleaner "baron" instead, you have become a marketing "guru" instead.

You state that you want to help all of us reach these goals that you have achieved, if thats the case why not post all of these methods "free of charge" onto a open window cleaning forum or trade publication, if on the other hand you want to sell us a "product" in your new career, then be more up-front about it.

Good post

I think what some people miss is the HUGE difference between us (window cleaners) & other (skilled) trades.
If i looked at yell.com & seen your BIG fancy advert against more normal/small/conservative ones I would dismiss yours right away (coming from a small business/domestic point of view)
Why? It reaks of expense i only want my windows cleaned!

However, if I was looking for a contractor to build me a new 8k conservatory, the opposite would apply.

Make any sense?

Tony

[williamx]

I did follow it up with another advert which went out to 10000 homes and businesses, it cost almost £300 and I got 0

"Another" advert? Does that mean you changed it somehow?

What variables were changed?

Different neighbourhood? Different kind of people? Different anything?

Something is afoot with this...

Even "sherlock" would not see anythings "a foot" with my statement, the other advert was the same as the 1st ( why change something thats worked so well on the last advert) all that was different, was the response it generated.

Another example, when I first started in businesss I placed a free 1 line advert on yell.com for the 1st year of trading, this led me to telephone calls every month with enquires, the 2nd year, I paid for an bigger advert so I could be more noticable in the market place, at 1st the response was slow but at the end of the year it had produced more than enough business to make it worthwhile, the next year I paid even more money for any even bigger market placement, the results are terrible so far.

Any form of marketing has high and low reponses but at the end they all seem to balance out the same.

We over this side of the "pond" are more likely to questions someone motives, that they have all the answers, to making us all so sucessful and rich, for instance you say that by processes that you have learn over the years, you can produce more business though your markerting techinques, if this is the case why are you not making "zillions" as a window cleaner "baron" instead, you have become a marketing "guru" instead.

You state that you want to help all of us reach these goals that you have achieved, if thats the case why not post all of these methods "free of charge" onto a open window cleaning forum or trade publication, if on the other hand you want to sell us a "product" in your new career, then be more up-front about it.

Your answer should have been,

"Yes the variable was the location"

If you had said no variable, same area, they something would have been "afoot"

Obviously you didn't think that a different area would need a different aproch.
It does, thats the type of thing you need to learn.

I have found out 2types of advertising that works.

The 1st one is domestic customers don't want to baffled by too much information, all you need is an advert worded quite simply "Do you want a Window Cleaner" works great, always put your landline as well as your mobile number down, this gives them the impression that you are not a "fly by night merchant".

The 2nd are commercial customers, with them they like a lot more information, your company details and profile help, as well as what services you do and that you are aware of curent H&S and other laws that most businesses need to comply with, that you can cope with all of their requirements is essential.

Marketing your company in the right way is not rocket science.

[peter holley]

what you are doing obviously works for you and i agree with your last post.... but other people have had the same or more success with other types of marketing... surely the intelligent thing to do is listen and maybe try parts that you feel could work..

[williamx]

There nothing wrong with listening, thats what this forum is all about (learning from others who have already done it and are sucessful) but if someone is selling you the same information that is freely available or common sense because that want to help you is another matter.