[derek west]

i'm a newbie as you all know and all though the phone isn't dead, i'm not prepared to go through this next january so heres my idea.
your thoughts gentlemen please.
a letter to all those who had there carpets cleaned in december 08

dear blah blah
thank yo for using blah blah
the importance of regular cleaning blah blah
if you have the same carpets cleaned in january 2010, as this is a quiiet period for us we can offer you X amount discount for our services, blah blah diddly do.
yours derek

i know i can fill my books with new customers next december (ive just done it) so i'm not worried about that, but if i can convince my clients into january then i'm guessing this will be good business.

comments please, including geoff, go easy mate. i know you think i'm full of poo, but i'm working on that, just had a curry
derek

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

You could do worse than listen to GEOFF mate he only offers genuine advice in my opinion.

CHEERS TONY

[Ken Wainwright]

Derek

This is good solid marketing.  I wouldn't use the term "quiet period". If you had to say anything at all, I'd use "low season", but even try to avoid that too.

Safe and happy marketing
Ken

[derek west]

tony
get a sense of humour mate, it was a joke and i'm sure geoff got it, even though he is a yorkshire man.
ken
yeah did think it was a bit dodgy writing that in, good point.
derek

[Jim_77]

NEVER admit you're not busy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Why isn't he busy?" they ask themselves.  "Because he's no good?" they might presume.

If you're insistent on trying to shift work over to January, why not put a different spin on it?  Why not try the angle that December is always very hectic and they have more chance of getting the day they want, or some other reason like that.  Marketing is 50% BS but as long as it's believable BS you can carry it off

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Any contact with previous customers is good contact, the best results will be with an incentive and this comes in many guises a discount or an addition ie free scotchgard or a free spotter.

Why not try

Your carpets are crying out for HELP !

Remember when they looked like new?

Walked on trodden on Xmas tree needles embedded even your vacuum cleaner won't get them out!!! but we can.

Affordable Carpet care 01234 567890

Call now and get a professional strength spot removal system worth £9.99 absolutely FREE * whilst stocks last.

Shaun

[clinton]

Shuan polish

[Shaun_Ashmore]

My wife is feeding me up to my fighting weight after my enforced diet, must be brain food

Shaun

[clinton]

Shaun

Another thinking out of the box idea

Your geting good at this marketing stuff

[Colin finney]

derek
Are you asking people to book a year in advance or have i read it wrong?
Col

[Shaun_Ashmore]

20 years apprenticeship should be bloody good!

Used to try sweet talking the wife to bed now she does it to me God I'm gullible.

Shaun

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys

When I was doing lots of leaflets I always used to advertise away from Xmas and for example have my special offers finishing end Jan or Feb.

This was on the basis that Xmas largely took care of itself and Jan/feb needed a bit of help.

Cheers

Doug

[Colin finney]

We use leaflets with offers to boost sales in quiet times but as has been mentioned there is always a finish date to get the calls now rather than open ended offers that cause people to stash the leaflet until they are ready which is no good when the aim is to get bussiness now.
Col

[Tony Gill Carpet Smart]

Whatever you say Derek

[derek west]

colin
not asking them to book in advance, only just thought about it so not to sure thats why i put it on here.
i was thinking instead of a yearly reminder, which i'm guessing i wouldn't need in december as its busy, i thought i would send last decembers clients a letter saying we can refresh the carpets they had cleaned, but if they wait til january 2010 then we can offer a 10 / 15 / 20% discount on the price we charged last december.
these will be sent out,
late novenber early december 2009

to be honest not sure, like i said, it just come to me so i thought i'd put it on here and hope you guys would play around with it adding bits and taking stuff out.
like ken has.
derek

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Derek the way I do it is like this

October I send Xmas reminder letters out saying it's going to be very busy book now! Some will book for October most for November and organised ones December but I aim for October as most just want it done as the letter drops.

First week in January I send another letter, the idea is to keep intouch every 3 months, Joe Polish says every month but he doesn't have to pay for stamps!

I do another in May ish time, yes it makes a profit, yes it's tedious, but I can get work in at the times I want it and I get referals from it.

Shaun

[Colin finney]

Derek so your prepared to write of december bookings so that january 2010 is busy but people who book in december want there stuff clean ed before xmas not in january. seems a little irish to me.
Col

[derek west]

shaun
does joe polish really say every month, i thinks thats bordering on harrassment.
i'm sure it works but its not for me.
i was just suggesting ideas to buck up january.
derek

[Ricky M]

Derek , if you had done me an ace carpet clean in Dec then sent me a Letter saying it would be cheaper if I waited till Jan next time I would be a bit put off maybe thinking if he could do it cheaper then why not now ?
JUST my opinion

is the the mrs feeling better ?
Ricky

[Mike Osbourne]

That's nothing Derek some say alot more.

It's make contact, not necessarily try and sell them something.