Info USA?

InfoUSA is a reputable company and his idea has potential. However, there is no way for him to predict how many jobs you might get from it.

Some things for you to consider:

– Now and the next couple of weeks is the timeframe you already needed to have something in front of potential customers in order to catch the holiday rush as potential customers prepare for visitors.

– I understand from other cold climate operators that after Christmas is a very slow time and that the slow time lasts well into the new year. I know we aren’t past Christmas yet, but how fast can you put together an information packet, get it reproduced, prepared for mailing, and actually mailed?

– How many jobs to expect – that will depend on the quality of your packet that you send. There are so many variables that go into direct mail. You might want to do some research on direct mail marketing. Some of the variables are the envelope size, how the envelope is addressed, how it is stamped, the return address, your letter inside and how it reads, your actual offer if you get them that far, do they need carpet cleaning now, etc., etc. Of course you could send postcards – it has its own set of variables that affect the likelihood of being looked at rather than tossed directly into the trash.

– How long have you been doing this? I ask because you need to have a feel for your target audience. Have you noticed a trend in your customer base? In order for your purchased list to do you any good, you need to know what to tell the InfoUSA sales person. I know you said he mentioned new homeowners, but you should screen for more than that if you can. Factors such as household income, children or pets in the home, and others variables will also affect the likelihood of them using your services.

If you really have the itch to try this and have money to spare/burn, you need to move very quickly. Anyone who wants/needs their carpets cleaned before Christmas will be scheduling soon.

Hope this helps some.

Good luck!

Mike