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[Scottie]

Guybrush - hello mate, wel at least you had the balls to door knock well done. I am taking a leaf out of Daveyboy1 book and jst say **** it knock all them doors at te end of the week after I have a few more days of flyering just to get rid of them lol . I think we need that killer instinct, some people are just more gutsy then others. I am fine once talking and confident, I am an easy going guy, like talking to people and being nice, with out being fake. I am going to start this week and when I do it will be all day long. I will take your tips and make sure I put that into practice.

Today I got a call from a flyer onc eof the first ones I put out and I got a booking end of month. I have now 4 custys, in a weeks flyering and a bit. 2 on facebook and 2 on flyering. I have flyered about 850 so far, so not good, bur as tolish says people might not ring right away and they might keep the flyer for when they want a conny done? you never know. I hoping, wishing.

It really is defalting, I go down some streets and the windows are crappy, can not be a windy here, but no calls. Then I get "oh I got a windy" I get that alot. really deflates me that one. The windy we had i have not stopped and i do it, he was awful we only had him so tops were done, but the windows were worse somtimes than before he came round, really really bad, if you saw you would be shocked. If he can get custys I sure I can, I not the best but I am not going to leave a window **** and do it some how.

When I get low and thats alot I tend to think as I walking, come on this is what I want, I am not a flash in the pan, I want to do this and grow in to a better window cleaner and business, I escaped my office job and death last year so I latch on to that, maybe think of somthing that drives you mate, it helps me.

Plus I think about the amount of support I have had on here and some of the guys have really helped me out and I dont want to wimp out on there support either. Great placethis for motivation!!!!

 

[Guybrush]

Three hours non stop today and not one customer . Was supposed to do four hours but it became soul destroying and I think once your in a negative mood it reflects at the customers door. Everyone had a windy and I mean everyone, was the same area I did on friday. Some of the windows were terrible filthy and covered in cobwebs and even these people had a windy, I said to the last lady '' is your windy scared of spiders?'' there was not even a maybe today. I may have to sack off this area.

Regarding knocking doors Scottie (haha i may not be in the best spot to give advice with my track record at the moment) first doors the hardest and that is so true, theres only three outcomes and some people are quite friendly about it anyway. I do duck and dive a couple of houses even streets dodging x girlfriends etc, if one answers the door i'm just going to pull out some random sales pitch for a multi million pound company, tell her she can't afford it and then move onto the next street and wipe the sweat from my brow.

Question for the pro's is there anything that would make an area good or bad for canvassing. A high rental area as opposed to an area where people have lived a long time for example or a town where a lot of people would commute from into a city with a higher turnover of people moving out of an area due to prices going up? I know every street has windows but was just wondering because the area where I have been I have a feeling is very lucrative and they aint budging.

To rub salt in the wounds I drove back through Staines saw a guy on the wfp asked if he had any extra work and said he was flat out but still covering it :gush:

 

[Scottie]

Guybrush,

Fell your pain mate, really do. If I find a way through I will let you no the formula. There is another post where someone flyered on saturday with a new design flyer with different ideas on it and he done 100 and got 5 custys from it. Thats awsome, I have flyerd now 1000 it is and got one custy from it. So down! I saw three sets of windys today, 2 of them were ****, they just touched soap on window well was water mainly and it just looked like they did not care, other one I saw he had all the gear and looked like he took his time and seemed really good, fair play to him. Seems to be lot people doing **** jobs on windows, as I had a lady outside her house and she said her windows were cleaned friday gone and they were disgusting and frames dirty, I lie NOT!

I just seem to get when flyering if someone is there , I have a windy. It is killing me, I really want to make a good business and in for the long haul, I want to do well and get good equipment and make it work, but seems to be a lot of floating windys non stop, the windy we had was ******* awful, kept him only coz we liked him as a person and he done tops, but my god awful.

I am going to just flyer all my flyers and get them gone then do just door knocking, but I am door knocking a hour or so a day now after flyers, so mix it up a bit. I dont like door knocking but I think its a case of **** it, just do it, so what if door slams, or people moan, move on forget it, just focus on the one that will say yes. JOB DONE!

You have to keep at it, do you have custys already? how long since you started.

I am just feeling so low tonight, really getting down, its a job I really want to do and have passion to do it, but can not get a lead at all, the flyers are nice, you could not knock them, thay have all the info you need and what I provide, in a clear way. Just frustrating 1000 flyers and one custy. Maybe people might ring up soon? Maybe too many windys around, thats the gutting part as its going to be closed off for ever then.

Anyone have any ideas for us? How can you tell an area is locked down. I flyerd a road today and I was upbeat as the windows were awful and stains and frames dirty as hell, but no one calls, this is happening every day, dirty windows, no calls.

 

[TolishAPurd]

Don't be hard on yourself lads, this is a tough time of year for picking up custys. Spring and early summer seem to be the best time, for me anyway. Just keep plugging away and it will come.

 

[Scottie]

Don't be hard on yourself lads, this is a tough time of year for picking up custys. Spring and early summer seem to be the best time, for me anyway. Just keep plugging away and it will come.

Cheers mate, I will be at it all day tomrrow, i sit on facebook all night and ways to think of getting people in. I am going to put cards and flyers in chipys newsagents tomorrow, got some in this week now.

It just seems like a total blank out somtimes, I sit in bed and just worry now all night. Skint, letting the family down, wa sbetter off in the office, no actuall i am free form that and I look back at my year, I had a bad incident and I really should be happy where I am, least I am trying. If i get any ideas or ways I deliver my speach tfor door knocking and it works I will let you no for the ones that need to no.

Its great coming on though, I would say to anyone else new keep comign here get advice, and inspiration, do not quit.

 

[Guybrush]

Alright Scott, only started on Friday to test the water and then again today. Cant bring myself to walk around in the rain knocking doors would be too depressing so haven't been out as much as I would like. No customers as yet I can't believe that.

1000 flyers and one customer- this is what's making me think location has to be taken into consideration. A lot of the guys pulling in customers everyday seem to be in friendly towns in Wales, Midlands or up Norf or fairly far outside of London. Might have to move away lol.

I was canvassing in Surrey just because parking is such an issue inside the M25 and traffic could slow down the day massively if you didn't have a compact round.

I read the post on the 100 flyers earlier Fair Play to him. Personally 1000 flyers is not as much as it sounds (I know it's a mission delivering them) and I don't want to go that route as I know most of them end up in the bin and this is the age of internet advertising, having a website I think would be far more important, nearly everyone has a smart phone and access to your site. Cant afford that at the moment. I know a lot of people will disagree and I probably will try the leaflets at some point. I went to a company that designs prints and delivers flyers a year ago, the guy told me that ten thousand flyers was nothing and that you have to keep hitting the same areas with them to get noticed. I thought he was talking rubbish and then He showed me a map with how many houses were in a small area and he was right you could lose a few thousand flyers just in a small area.

 

[Guybrush]

People may be saying we will wait until the new year and we will phone this guy, or from spring we will get a new windy. You may get results from the flyers still but the results may filter through at random times.

 

[TolishAPurd]

Cheers mate, I will be at it all day tomrrow, i sit on facebook all night and ways to think of getting people in. I am going to put cards and flyers in chipys newsagents tomorrow, got some in this week now.
It just seems like a total blank out somtimes, I sit in bed and just worry now all night. Skint, letting the family down, wa sbetter off in the office, no actuall i am free form that and I look back at my year, I had a bad incident and I really should be happy where I am, least I am trying. If i get any ideas or ways I deliver my speach tfor door knocking and it works I will let you no for the ones that need to no.

Its great coming on though, I would say to anyone else new keep comign here get advice, and inspiration, do not quit.

You are self employed now, so look at what you have at your disposal, and go and find any work that'll tide you over until you get some more custies. You'll still have plenty of time to leaflet, canvass etc. If you have any gardening tools then offer your services to some messy gardens. Even if you don't have the tools, you can still do it with theirs. If you have a drill, then offer to put up pictures, curtains, blinds etc. Only a few examples, but just do what you gotta do to keep the money coming in. So many people out there just need labour/help- with no specialist tools needed. Christmas is coming, so just get to work and see where it takes you.

People may be saying we will wait until the new year and we will phone this guy, or from spring we will get a new windy. You may get results from the flyers still but the results may filter through at random times.

More then likely mate. When you get busy, you'll find that the jobs always come at the most inconvenient times. /emoticons/biggrin.png Spring is a great time to advertise. All the dirt over the winter, and then you get a nice sunny day with a low sun which shows it all up beautifully- all of a sudden you'll be fighting them off with a pooey stick. :thumbsup:

 

[cheapncheerful]

please remember one thing...some people dont like the windy they have or dont like his work but.....its very hard to say can you stop cleaning my windows and i think this is why you have to wait for them to pluck up the courage to get you...dont be down just keep going something will turn up ...

i used to have tons of work ...got rid of two rounds a year...but i moved and around here you just have to be patient...sooner or later a windy will give up and your chance will come....

i had to laugh recently...the wife said a lady has phoned from such a place and wants to accept your quote.....i am there thinking i remember every single quote but it cant be that one....can it....yes it was....at least a year and a half ago.

..i remember her well thinking i dont really want this job....shes always going to be in and that dog sat in the front bay will yap yap yap....

i said ten pounds at the time......yes it would be more now.....she said at the time oh thats what my current window cleaner charges....she also said...he doesnt charge that much for next door....i thought i bet he charges her ars ehole tax..../emoticons/biggrin.png

anyway i went last week and it was crappy weather and it didnt look like she had had it done for ages but she left me alone and the dog was as good as gold so not too bad....but 18 months for a quote....its pushing it.../emoticons/biggrin.png

like tolish said there are plenty of other easy jobs that people will want doing dont just sell your window cleaning push for anything if they say they have a window cleaner what have you got to lose....just say i do odd jobs too...simples...

i could get tons of work if i just used my eyes around here but i am too busy...

although.....i put on one last week.....i also clean gutters looking up at the green algae covered white gutters and she texted back will it be the same priceer wtf.....er no was my text reply....it takes a lot of scrubbing and chemicals to get it off so i charge a pound a metre....its only a small house and the facia is black....well i will just see what she leaves in the garage next month..

she wasnt the only one expecting freebies either....

i quoted three jobs and one had asked me for a conny roof clean but i forgot and just quoted for the windows....and she emailed saying did that include the conny roof....suppose it was my fault for not paying attention but i explained how hard it was and about the chemicals i needed to use and she agreed to it anyway booked in for friday...so you have to be careful out there..

most of all dont give up...not long till spring ...in fact...most people start to notice their dirty windows in the xmas break just after new year as they like to start a fresh so hang on just a bit longer and you will soon get busy..../emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[boarcity]

heres an idea- i read of this about 3 yrs ago. a guy started goin round cleaning windows on empty shops , off his own back . no permission but hey whose gonna stop you

he wasnt getting paid but it got him noticed big time and he ended up in the local paper "man cleans up town " and this got him more work than he could ever handle .

 

[boarcity]

when i first started i got into doin a few takeaways, now im talking about £4 in and out , terrible money but yet again it got me noticed , you live in an area with hundreds of takeaways Scottie , go in cheap n cheerful and likely theyll bite

 

[cheapncheerful]

yep that is a point boar makes.....sometimes its just best to do an odd house that wont really pay but when you kit up and look the part the curtains will twitch and you never know what comes your way....you have to be seen....you could....just walk around an estate fully kitted up lean your ladder against the lamp post and play a game on your phone....pretending its work of course...

 

[Tuffers]

I tried advertising in parish magazines a few times in out of the way villages. Never heard a dicky bird, but you could try it. It would be a slow way of getting customers, but you could end up with big houses to clean.

My way of looking at it is this, built up areas get locked down and if someone needs a window cleaner, they just catch one while he's working. Are there any new estates going up near you fellas? If there are, then get in there and make a nuisance of yourself, even if it's 20 miles down the road. Also get out into the countryside, knock on a few posh houses and say something like 'I've just taken on a house down the lane and was wandering if you would like a window cleaner too' they don't have to know you're b/s ing do they!

 

[boarcity]

itd give your morale a boost to be out cleaning all day , those dirty empty shop windows will give you good experience too,and who cares if you do a sh/t job??!!, i bet you know a dozen shops , id get out there tmoro at 9 , and take ages doing each one,say hello to any passers by. i ALWAYS say good morning and smile to any passersby within earshot and its surprising how many just smile weakly ,walk past and then seconds later turn on their heel , look back and say"how much do you charge?"

 

[Tuffers]

Who was that fella who used to post on here who walked round a shopping centre in fancy dress and an 'A' advertising board on?

How about sticking a load of flyers under car windscreen wipers parked at the supermarket, or just stand outside all day and hand out leaflets? Got to be easier than walking round and putting them through letter boxes?

Or go to a busy shopping centre and hand out leaflets?

 

[boarcity]

we r rooting for all you new guys, cos bleve me , all of us who are established were in your shoes once . its a real test when u first start up, you have your doubts but you cannot give in, thats the easy way out. if fliers arent working,start door knocking, if doorknocking isnt working go clean a couple for free ! and then go back to the door knocking , whatever u do dont sit at home brooding

dig deep and hit the streets you know it makes sense .

 

[Guybrush]

Some great advice guys much appreciated. No way is this train stopping. Handing out leflets outside waitrose would be great I think. You have the face to face of canvassing and the leaflet in one go.

the empty shop fronts is smart too cheers boar.

My way of looking at it is this, built up areas get locked down and if someone needs a window cleaner, they just catch one while he's working. Are there any new estates going up near you fellas? If there are, then get in there and make a nuisance of yourself, even if it's 20 miles down the road.

This is why I come here.

 

[Tuffers]

Some great advice guys much appreciated. No way is this train stopping. Handing out leflets outside waitrose would be great I think. You have the face to face of canvassing and the leaflet in one go.
the empty shop fronts is smart too cheers boar.

This is why I come here.

And take a clip board with lined paper to take any details down too :thumbsup:

 

[Scottie]

Thank you guys, we have learnt a lot. I have just made a list of all chippys, stores and post offices etc and will be taking my flyers there and cards tomorrow to get on walls and boards. I will also flyer for a fair few hours. I have now got my car signs and they will be going on tomrrow form vista print the ons you stick on there huge and really good. I will park up in busy places and put them on.

Are you allowed to stand outside supermarkets and hand out flyers? what about towns can you do that? I also leaving flyers and cards in busy spots like seats in high street, shops etc on floor out side a rail station etc.

I will also canvass the shop fronts and work the whole town soon and also businesses. Take in my flyer and details. Hitting face book non ston the groups and posting ads, looking out for people wanting a windy.

Do not think your allowed to put flyers on cars in supermarkets, I read somewhere they will move you on or complain.Not sure.

Fantastic advice, thats cheered me up. Thank you.

 

[Tuffers]

Where are you based @Scottie?

 

[Scottie]

North kent is where I will be working. /emoticons/smile.png over a laege radius.