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I’m gathering a list of relavent, (removed radio as it doesn’t seem to net much) advertising mediums that have been used. If you have one to add to my list, please post them.
Inserts
Display ads
Internet sites
Yellow Pages
Home Improvement Shows
Street Fairs
Mailing through Chamber of CommerceCarpet cleaning articles (newspapers)
Press release
Television
Direct Mail
Magazinesp.s. I already know about word of mouth, my van, and business cards. I’m looking for ideas to advertise to the masses.
Ron,
I always…always, at the end of a job, give a customer 5 business cards and 5 brochures and say this: ” A happy customer will tell 5 prople and an unhappy one 25″…with no exceptions yet…they are happy and my referrals are awesome.
I just purchased 1100 each, Million Dollar Bills and have been giving them to my customers and saying “Thanks a Million.” They will not pitch it and will remember me for it. I have not yet personalized them…may not either.
I always give a customer a magnet business card that I purchase from my supplier at $.16 each I think. They are on refrigerators and filing cabinets by the hundreds now.
And I know this is off the subject, but almost all new customers come from two sources for us….referrals or word of mouth, and the Yellow Pages. Having a smaller ad for the first 2 years, and business building steadily, I decided to jump start it the 3rd year, with son getting van will have to feed more and make more….we took out a 1/2 page ad. As you open the main YP book, we are the 3rd listing, or at the top of the right hand page. Opposite the largest company in the area with 17 vans…what a coup!!!
My phone has been ringing twice asoften in the deadest week of the year.
Additionally, we took out 1/2 page ads in the other two county YPages and have our photos in each..my son and mine. A tip from a successful state owner. Already booked 3 jobs from the ad!!!
Happy new Year and wish you the best. Hope this helps.
Dave Dilts
As over 70% of all the work I have done in the past (nearly 3 years) has come from customer referrals, wanted to thank each of them for their support. To accomplish this, I sent a letter to approx 1000 of my customers, sincerely thanking them and offering them 25% off on carpet and/or upholstery cleaning (Good Jan 2nd 06 through March 15th, 06). I included, in the letter, a price list for upholstery cleaning, showing the regular price and “your price”. The clause that I install in all of my specials remained in this letter as well. The upholstery prices included stain protector and all carpet cleaning specials are for “clean & stain protect”. With protector incuded, you can offer a 25% discount and remain profitable.
This promotion cost approx. $450, including all paper products, ink and postage. Labor was not included. My break even point was just a few days after the mailing and my sales, to date, have exceeded $3500 from this mailing. This is a great way to increase sales during the slow winter months and pull some of the work out of the peek season.
MR. SUTTON,
THIS IS THE INFO. ALL NEW OPERATORS AND MAYBE THE EXPERIENCED OPERATORS ARE LOOKING FOR. THAT WAS A VERY “GUTSY” THING TO DO IN THE OFF SEASON. CONGRATS ON RAISING THE BAR WHEN IT COMES TO IDEAS AND ACCOMPLISHMENT. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE COPY OF YOUR LETTER IF POSSIBLE. I BELIEVE THIS WOULD COME IN HANDY FOR ANYTIME OF THE YEAR.
THANKS, MARK MARIOTTI
I also sent out a letter to my customers. I sent 750 letters out the end of January offering 15% off. as of today, 8 out of the 17 jobs i have done this month have been from this.You must have done something cheaper than me, Brian cause i figured it cost me $450 to send mine out. The expiration date i put down was March 31. so far i have generated $1400.00 on this and have 700.00 more coming before the end of the week. From talking to people i think i am going to be very busy in March. a lot of them are waiting until then, hoping the weather gets a little nicer.
Richard
Why not advertise to people when they are actually looking to buy. Perhaps instead of getting a few nibbles, you get 40 or 50 bites. Spring hits, people wash the windows, see the dirty carpets and call someone. If your name is in front of them at that momoment, they call you. Any mailer sent in February is probably long gone and they head to the phone book looking for someone or worse, look at the competetors mail out.
My 1cent(half price today)
Dennis,
My thoughts were to do what I could to pull in work during the slow time with minimal expense. It worked well for me. Now we are entering our peek season and, w/ the revenue I gained from my cheap mailing, I’m getting ready to advertise w/ a 10 or 15% discount to the public. This will cost far more but w/ great results. I feel the nibbles are better than going stir crazy while running out of operating capital.
My 1 cent worth!
I hear you Sutton. Next year, you’ll have made so much money, you can go on a two week February golf holiday and forgetaboutit!
Hey Dennis, Good idea!
I’m going to Arizona for 5 days next month for a golf outing. Next year I will take your advice and go for two weeks. By then I will have my employee making me money while I play. I LOVE THIS COMPANY!!!!!
Hey Sutton
Don’t forget to look up a few of the local Arizona Heavens Best Franchise’s, talk some business, go for lunch, and then write off the trip as business. Always.
Like Brian said, just trying to make something happen in the winter. I send out flyers 3 or 4 times a year. I also do plenty of other advertising, when its busy. I am just saying that when its slow, i go back to my faithful old customers. 8 or 9 months a year, i gross out 6 to 8,000 a month. In the winter months i am lucky if i can make 3,000.sometimes i don’t even get 2,000.
Richard
Just another thought on this. we do a lot of commercial work. Yes it can be a pain, but they always need stuff done. January, Feruary, no advertising, no promotion, no discounts, just pick up the phone and call them to book the work. Usually with something like “And oh by the way, I noticed that all the offices chairs needed to be clened as well”. Works for me. But you know what? it’s still Februry and there is nothing that we can really do about that.
As always, YMMV
I send out newsletters quarterly. I’m working on one right now. It cost me about $400-$450 and I have been able to (in the past) book enough jobs and then some to pay for the adverting. As long as I break even on it then it’s worth it to me. That is 4 more times a year that my name/logo is in front of ALL of my customers faces. I’m including a spot on my newsletter introducing a “new” referral program where each new customer sent will net the referrer $10 off their next cleaning. I’m hoping that this will snowball.
We took a break from Franchise Xpress for December and January and still managed to do $7800 and$7600 respectfully. So far this month I’m on pace better my best. Repeat business has been huge….I never guessed that it would be so high. Anyway, I’m looking for an employee as I’m working 7 days a week again. Any employee advice is appreciated.
Home Improvement Shows, Street Fairs, Direct Mailing through Chamber of Commerce.
Lara,
What can be expected from street fairs? Do you book many jobs? Are you just trying to brand the name a little more? Do you make $$ selling spotter bottles? How many people on site representing the company? How do you “layout” your both? I know you spoke a little on this at the seminar; however I seemed to have lost the notes I took between Sac and Phoenix.
thanks!
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