Canvassing and getting in the customers

[AshleyW]

Been canvassing the last 2-3 weeks and had 4 customers how long does it normally take to start bringing up a good round ? I don't know if I am doing anything wrong when out, I hit one town at a time and get it all done in a day roughly. Is it better to knock on each door as you go along or come back in a few days ? Any tips would be great as am a newbie to window cleaning[emoji38] Tia

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[AshleyW]

I was also going to ask what's the best way people have found to promote their business I have 10000 leaflets and a Facebook page but that's even going a little slow thanks

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[Reach N Shine (Kent)]

I personally knock on doors as I go and just start with 'hello, would you be interested in having a window cleaner' the main 3 responses you will get is. 1) no thank you, 2) already have a window cleaner. 3) actually yes (very rare). You can normally tell from the first 3 seconds if you can sell your company as the person on the door will pause and think, that's you key to ask 'how many windows have you got at the rear and I can give you a quick quote' people don't want to hear your life story. If no one answers the door they get a flyer. I find the best time to knock is 10am - 2pm and 4pm - 7pm. Good luck

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[AshleyW]

Thanks that sounds a better way think I'll just start knocking instead of leaflet dropping atleast I know the leaflets are working all the local window cleaners are speaking about me [emoji12][emoji23] anyways thanks mate

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[Reach N Shine (Kent)]

I was also going to ask what's the best way people have found to promote their business I have 10000 leaflets and a Facebook page but that's even going a little slow thanks

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I have a friend who started his business about 2 weeks before me and I have only been going 5 weeks on my own, he relies on a young lad leaflet dropping for him and his Facebook page. I actually get out and speak to people, I have a round hitting £700 a month and growing, my friend isn't even half that. You will only get out what you put in. Get out there and speak to people

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[AshleyW]

Cheers reach and shine I've started just knocking on doors instead of posting the leaflets got me another two customers today, I'm normally out all day from 9 till 6 leaflet dropping if I have no Windows to clean and knocking on doors was better till one of the doors I knocked on was a trad window cleaner I laughed he got annoyed lol. Anyways thanks for the help

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[Reach N Shine (Kent)]

Cheers reach and shine I've started just knocking on doors instead of posting the leaflets got me another two customers today, I'm normally out all day from 9 till 6 leaflet dropping if I have no Windows to clean and knocking on doors was better till one of the doors I knocked on was a trad window cleaner I laughed he got annoyed lol. Anyways thanks for the help

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He was only annoyed because he had no work hence why he was home [emoji23]

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[Max]

By far the best for me has been knocking on doors, but I am trying a new method next week. Leaflet drop first offering half price third clean when they respond to flyer within 7 days, then knock on doors that have been targeted with the flyer around 5-7 days later. by doing the flyer first I want to see whether the idea of having their windows cleaned sits in their mind and produces a better response when I door knock as they have been gently introduced to my name and my service. We shall see.

 

[AshleyW]

Let me know how it goes max I was gonna start doing this when I leaflet drop small towns I was just gonna go back and knock but I didn't think it would get anywhere

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[AshleyW]

He was only annoyed because he had no work hence why he was home [emoji23]

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I think so was still in his dressing gown and his windows were filthy [emoji23] oh well I was expecting it to happen sooner or later

 

[spruce]

The first rule of sales is to identify and talk to the decision maker.

The same applies to looking for new customers. Putting a leaflet through the door and forgetting about it has little chance of bringing results.

If you do put a leaflet through the door then knock asap until you find the decision maker at home.

This means you have to keep good up to date records.

As you canvass be brief as per @Reach N Shine \(Kent\). If the customer says no because they have a window cleaner then just as you walk away, ask them what the windies name is. Make a note of it and keep it on your records. If you thoroughly canvass an area then you should get a rough idea of the names of some of the cleaners working in that area.

If you hear a cleaner has packed in, then you have a list of some of his old customers to canvass.

One of the local lads packed cleaning in for a few different reasons and walked away from his customers. I got a phone call from one of the other cleaners telling me which areas to canvass if I wanted more work.

Over the years we have developed a good working relationship with some local windies which is great.

 

[adamangler]

One thing you could try is spend a day going round your town and note all the dirty windows. Then after 5pm knock them all. The success rate should be far higher than knocking all day. Firstly because more people will be in but more importantly you've identified a need and nearly every house you knock on won't have (or have a ****) window cleaner.

If you want a compactly round knock everything and keep going back until you get an answer, if you're not too bothered about compact and want the maximum hit ratio knock dirty windows or monitor sold boards.

 

[spruce]

One thing you could try is spend a day going round your town and note all the dirty windows. Then after 5pm knock them all. The success rate should be far higher than knocking all day. Firstly because more people will be in but more importantly you've identified a need and nearly every house you knock on won't have (or have a ****) window cleaner.
If you want a compactly round knock everything and keep going back until you get an answer, if you're not too bothered about compact and want the maximum hit ratio knock dirty windows or monitor sold boards.

We have found the opposite tbh. Those people with really dirty windows are quite happy with them being dirty. We have found over the years that if they snap your hand off they were after a one off clean for a special occasion.

There is no harm canvassing these people but we put on a first clean premium so we don't loose out financially too much when they change their minds.

We found the best customers we have are the ones that want clean windows. We have done countless first cleans where the windows weren't that dirty and these by far and large have proved to be good customers.

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[adamangler]

We have found the opposite tbh. Those people with really dirty windows are quite happy with them being dirty. We have found over the years that if they snap your hand off they were after a one off clean for a special occasion.
There is no harm canvassing these people but we put on a first clean premium so we don't loose out financially too much when they change their minds.

We found the best customers we have are the ones that want clean windows. We have done countless first cleans where the windows weren't that dirty and these by far and large have proved to be good customers.

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Ive found that knocking on dirty windows gives a much higher sign up rate than knocking on every door and is a more efficent use of time. You may have a point in retention rate as like you say they are happy with them being dirty, but theres also ones who will say they havent seen a window cleaner round here for years and have been looking for one. Of course you can knock on clean houses and they do them themselves and still need a windy. Ive just found my way to be the best use of my time, but each to their own.

 

[boarcity]

best way is to" put out several lines in the water" . a bit of leafletting,doorknock, then online such as Facebook, gumtree, flyer/cards on the counter in local chippy. do some of Everything and "keep it coming"and I guarantee the enquiries will come . you have to dig deep when first starting out, that means trying hard to get your name out. Ask friends and neybours to put the word out for you where they work,this might be a flyer pinned on an office noticeboard . or a card stuck to a cake shop window. praps have a word with a lad doing a paper round if for a tenner he will slip your flyer in youll find hes not even getting a tenner a week wages so defo he will do it

 

[boarcity]

another idea i had ages ago [but didnt follow thru on View attachment 7601 ] is get your girlfriend or missus to walk around with one of your business cards stuck on the heel of her shoe. strangers will say "excuse me ,did you know,blah blah "

she can then reply,"yes i did know " and " would you like your windows cleaned "

 

[Chris33]

As said, probably trying a few methods at once is good. Facebook is helpful for me anyway, but means the work can come from anywhere. The leaflet dropping is handy during the day, especially if people are not in but door chapping personally offers my best bang for buck.

People like to ask questions, that's why I think that's the most successful method anyway. Maybe not.

I've put up adverts in shops local to my work, only maybe got one job that way but it let's people know your there and perhaps that'll help out down the line.

 

[Woody]

I come to window cleaning from the other side so to speak. I've been involved in sales and canvassing since 1994 and I'm 53 years old now. My problem isn't getting the customers by canvassing but actually learning how to use a squeegee and the craft of window cleaning.

I have found this forum a true gold mine of information and full of people that are happy to share very openly. With that being said, I'm also more than happy to help out anyone that needs advice with canvassing. I know it can be very frustrating knocking on doors and not getting many yes's.

When I was training new canvassers I used to give them a script which sounded b****y awful when they read it out loud, it didn't flow well and some even thought I was winding them up with the script. Nonetheless I would ask them to learn it off by heart and they would be tested on it the following day.

Just before they went home for the day I would ask them if they had watched East Enders the previous evening and how true to life last nights episode was. I'd then drop the bomb shell...... "It Was A Script". A script which the actors had learnt, and put accross in such a convincing manner that it seemed to be a real life situation, but nonetheless a script.

My point is this, you should write up a simple canvassing script that you can use, and learn it word for word until it becomes truly ingrained. Don't try and think of words to say when you're on the door step, it's nerve wrecking enough being there, let alone trying to find the right words to say. Use a script and you will come accross so much better to the customer.

Let them know who you are, why you're there, what the benefits are and don't forget to ask for the order!

 

[Solarpanelcleanington]

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