You want to be honest..........buy a church and pass around the plate 2 times a day........

                           Nightrider

You must have no idea what you're doing if you're going broke. You should really consider selling Girl Guide Cookies door to door..................

                          Nightrider

whatever "nightrider".

maybe i'm trying to find out some advice on marketing.

you should go back to americlean or whatever bait and switch place you work for.

The best marketing tip I can give you is TRIAL & ERROR,  What works for Joe Blow in Vancouver will not work for Mike in Toronto or a d**k like you in Arizona

                           Nightrider

whatever

bait & switch.

go rob that old lady.

so do you do flyers?newspaper?internet?what.

First you insult me............now you are asking my advise..........I'm insulted and you hurt my feelings now.........hold on......... I have to blow my nose......I can't answer you now........I'm too upset.......my fingers are shaking.........I need a drink..........I'll get back to you later

                                  Nightrider

do you even clean carpets?

Nightrider,

Are you suspecting an imposter here?

all you guys do is d**k around.

thank for all the great advice,very helpfull.

whats the deal?do any of you know anything about carpet cleaning or what??????????

Where is Steamer? He could help this guy with his fliers.

Mr.Cooper, the number 1 thing to convey in your advertising is that

"YOU CAN TRUST ME".

I would always recommend an introductory special, then go give them the best job you can, then ask them if they have anything else they would like cleaned. First aim at the steps or the old man's favourite chair. Its easy.

But first you have to show your professionalism and your attention to detail, the rest will follow including great word of mouth.

I would suggest that you aim at real estate agents and landlords to start out and then slowly wean off them.

I don't know who's who anymore.......I'm going nuts here.........JCOOPER, how can you take advice from LilNiteRidrHood, he says TRUST ME.........sure that's what they all say.......how can you trust a guy with a pic of a monkey...........this guy works for bananas..........you think you're going broke now.........just listen to him and see what happens.........the only thing you'll learn is how to climb a tree real fast, and pick lice out of your girlfriends hair

                             Nightrider

nightrider wrote: how can you trust a guy with a pic of a monkey

I'm pretty sure that's not a monkey.

Monkey, baboon, gorilla, chimp, who cares.......they all eat bananas.....................

                              Nightrider

Thanks cmaster, lucky you're there to catch all my mistakes

                              Nightrider

so th point is?

should i stay in the paper once a week and internet(service directory)

this is 140 a month.not really working.maybe six jobs a month.

not going to make it like that.should i take that money and give it to some guy ay yahoo?

phone book is 50$ a month for name and phone number.will this get me calls?doesnt seem like it.30 other cleaners in it.

lots of apartments around here.should i stick to them?just flyers?

thanks for the help.and the response.

nightrider go play with you car(kitt). 

Too many question...........so little answers

                            Nightrider

nightrider wrote: Too many question...........so little answers                             Nightrider

That's what life is all about.

there not hundred doller jobs.more like 50$.two room and tip(sometimes).im going to try calling cleaning companys, they need carpets cleaned.darrel how did you land the 12000ft job.just went there?called them?

thanks

SAMPLE FLYER COOPER...

http://tinyurl.com/77njo - http://tinyurl.com/77njo

thanks john,i like the kid and wife...yours?

the plastic thing you can put under my wand?

hows it help?whats it use?how much$$$?

give me some more tricks...

What rick saids sounds good to me..... Cheap Adverts bring Cheap clients, it's very important to look professional...

Don't be afraid to offer a money back guarantee ...

FREE FREE FREE is also always nice....

if you got the money or can get the money go big they pay-offs come in much faster...

I myself just started to advertise for the first time...it is very costy but the returns are great... I have managed to at least break even every time.

Only thing I do say is if your doing a mass advert... be prepared to do alot of work if you get mass response... personally I've become overwhelmed with work didn't realize I would have booked so many calls in such a short time...,

So what you're saying Steamer is that you are working hard, booking alot of jobs, out every day, burning all your gas, wasting all your time to make money for the company that printed your flyers, and other advertising............good business move........great philosophy................you're on your way to be Toronto's greatest business-man.........ALL THAT EFFORT, TIME AND SWEAT........JUST TO BREAK EVEN EVERY TIME

WHAT A GREAT POST FOR OTHERS TO STAY AWAY FROM THE FLYER IDEA...........I'VE SAID IT BEFORE.........THEY DON'T WORK, NEVER DID WORK........NEVER WILL WORK

                       NIGHTRIDER

breaking even in march and April is actually amazing.... the season doesn't really start until may.....

it works Nightrider... you make new customers... and get referals  every contact you make will be yours for life if you can treat then right and do a good job....

it's called exposure... you have to build... and building cost money..

I booked over 100 calls in 3 days....

I'm going to give good service... and those are going to turn into referals..

eventually I'll scale back but for now I'm pumping the ads

Nightrider,

Callin' 'em as he sees 'em.

he's right if you don't have the deep pockets... you'll go broke..

I don't have the deep pockets but it's a chance I'm willing to take

Great advise for the new-bie NIGHTRIDER!! Smart'en up!! Don't be a jerk!!

You started once to.

it's working......I pulled one truck out of subbing... and to tell you the truth I should have pulled both...

it's still alot of work... my blower went down.. I had to say up all night replacing it...it's hard to stay organized...

Steamer I wish you all the success and riches in the world.......I'm actually proud of you to take that giant step to be out on your own.................I feel that you would be better off taking a different view and path towards your marketing plan, exposure doesn't pay the bills, neither does it guarantee a future income........people have short memories and are not loyal to commercialism of any service or product. People are scavengers who travel 5 miles to save 10 cents on grapes, they wait 45 minutes cause the gas is going to go up by 6 cents a litre, but they don't realize all they saved was ( .06 x30litre =$ 1.80 ) Do what you got to do Steamer............you're the boss.

                            Nightrider

you're 100% right nightrider....  but there is one thing that I got that alot of other cleaners don't..

a great smile and I can clean

I hope that works for you when you have to pay the rent...........I think your landlord like money instead, so does Bell, Hydro, Visa...........funny how that works out, everybody wants cash with a smile .....money can be all dirty.........doesn't matter

                                Nightrider

I'LL SHOW YOU WHEN I SET UP SHOP IN TORONTO THIS SUMMER................

                                 NIGHTRIDER

every idea is a good Idea....

I don't like paying for customers, but this is the way it is for me...

I welcome any help you can give me

No doubt Phoenix you are a quick learner.

Phoenix,

That's a great plan, but I think it has a couple of holes. Just my opinion though.

Hope his market will support .30 sq ft or he won't be in business long.

If he wants to build his business, sitting here BSing all day will not do much for him.

THERE ARE NO HOLES IN PHOENIX'S BUSINESS PLAN, THAT'S THE WAY HE CHOOSES TO OPERATE HIS BUSINESS.........HE'S LOOKING FOR THE CREAM. STARBUCKS COFFEE WORKS ON THOSE SAME PRINCIPALES........WHY GO THROUGH THE EXPENCE OF OFFERING A PLATE OF ASSORTED FOOD FOR A BUFFET PRICE OF $6.99 WHEN YOU CAN GET SUCKERS TO HAVE ONLY A COFFEE IN A PAPER CUP FOR $ 4.99

                            NIGHTRIDER

YOU DON'T NEED STARBUCKS MARKETING TEAM ......YOU JUST NEED ME NIGHTRIDER...........MAYBE I DID THE MARKETING FOR STARBUCKS CANADA

                               NIGHTRIDER

GOOD STUFF.

REPEATS ARE GREAT.IM STARTING TO GET SOME(MOSTLY MY WIFES FRIENDS).I JUST DONT HAVE A BOAT LOAD OF MONEY RIGHT NOW.

I WOULD LOVE A FANCY TRUCK WITH HUNDREDS OF CHEMS.

AND BECOME A "PROFESSIONAL"

WHO WOULDNT.RIGHT NOW IM JUST TRYING TO MAKE ENOUGH TO

SEND OUT 5000 BULK MAIL FLYERS.I SPEND 150/MONTH ON THE NEWSPAPER.ALSO NEED TO TRY MORE FLYERS AROUND MY HOUSE.

I USED TO WORK FOR BAIT AND SWITCH(AMERICLEAN) AND IT SUCKED.

BUNCH OF ROBBERS.IF SOMEONE WANTED A BASIC CLEANING 5.95$ PER ROOM THEY WOULD DO IT IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES.ONCE I WENT TO DO SOMEONES REDO 45 MINUTES AFTER THEY LEFT.I GOT TO THE HOUSE, CARPETS WERNT EVEN WET.HE DIDNT EVEN DO IT.

THATS THE REASON IM ON MY OWN NOW.

OTHER THAN SCOTCHGUARD,SANITIZER PET ODERS AND ETC.

I CHARGE 15/ A ROOM.I INCLUDE PRE SPRAY +SCRUB.I WOULD LIKE TO CHARGE MORE.

( I EVEN HADE A LADY FROM VEGAS LET ME DO HER HOUSE

IN AZ.NEVER MET HER ONLY ON PHONE.I DID THE WORK, SHE PAID.GREAT.

NEEDED MONEY I EVEN CLEANED HER HOUSE.IT SUCKED!!NEVER AGAIN.)

HOW CAN I CHARGE MORE?THAT WILL CUT DOWN ON CALLS.RIGHT.

IM NOT GETTING MANY AS IT IS.IM THE NICEST GUY EVER.I GET ALONG W/CLIENT GREAT, I WILL SPEND AS LONG AS I HAVE TO.TO DO A GREAT JOB.BUT THERE IS ONLY SO YOU CAN DO.SOMETIMES.

I HAVE THE TRUST JUST NOT ENOUGH CLIENTS...WHATS THE BEST TIME OF DAY FOR FLYERS?

I KNOW THIS IS LONG.SORRY.THANK AGAIN. 

i see your point adwa, i just hate to see someone with talent get under paid is all. steamer is worth more than he's charging. all of us are. i had a client today compain about her bill. she said "thats more than i paid last year" and i told her our price went up 2 cents per sq foot and 50 cents per step since the last time. she fussed a bit but paid. others have complained too and thats not a big increase. i hope steamer doesn't have the same problem. even if the client is happy with your work they may stray for a lower price.

darrell

if you came to my house and wanted 355$ for anything i would shoot you.joke.dont find me and kill me.

so are you mean i should change me fees for every job?

355 just for the carpet?i could use jobs like that.

if people dont know what i charge, why would they call.

i want to be as honest as i can.maybe charge per /ft is way to go?

I WOULD LOVE A FANCY TRUCK WITH HUNDREDS OF CHEMS.

AND BECOME A "PROFESSIONAL"

JCooper, a truck with 100's is seldom PROFESSIONAL, having the RIGHT chems and that don't take that many is a sign of a PROFESSIONAL..

jcooper,

u need a unique selling propostion, IE your add should show the customer what is different about you to your customer.  earlier you said you only listed in the service directory, not much you can say there, so when they call you have to first, get them to tell you all about their situation, ask questions, lots of them, then after they start to get comfortable on the phone with you reassure them that the special methods you use will take care of their problems, then ask them when they want to scedule you in.  Some will give you a time, and your in without having to give away the farm.  Others will ask you how much you think it will cost them.  Say, I charge a $100 minimum, or .30 cents a square foot.  We can do as little or as much as you want when we take a look at the carpet together so I can make sure I can complete the job better than what you were even expecting.  They will bite down, and you will make money that way.  even if you end up doing $100 worth, they will see the difference and get emotional about wanting the whole house to look the same way.  Then you have them at your rates, because they upsold themselves, not you.  It works.  Just be confident and you will see.

darrell thanks

good ideas.your right about service directory.cant say much.flooring you with quality!15/per room.

thats about it.

you like the"flooring you with quality".dont you?ha-ha.something different.just me and one other guy this week.give me some calls.pretty much everyone who calls i end up doing.

just need more calls.

dam dude

thats awesome.i need some of that!!!thanks

how did she find you???

Cooper, Sometimes when pricing a job, if the client thinks its too high, I negotiate an hourly rate, then take my time. My hourly rate runs a min $100/hr and sometimes $150/hrs. It all works itself out. Cheaper jobs still pay the wages too. Don't forget you have to pay your dues.

Good Luck

I always knew i liked cheerleaders...

JCOOPER wrote: I always knew i liked cheerleaders...

Me too

JCOOPER I understand what you are going through hearing people that get $490 for an upholstry job etc.  My staff in the Maid Service side and the Carpet cleaning sometimes get uncomfortable with what we charge.  Sometimes jobs with house cleaning and carpet / upholstry get up around $1500 - $2000.  What I tell them is that "these people can afford this... look at their houses... never judge pricing by what you would pay or what you would afford."  You may think this is fluffy but I think that confidence is the key to higher prices.  NEVER flinch when you are giving a customer a price.  They, like animals, sense fear and will not pay.  Never judge what a customer should pay by what YOU personaly could afford.  We are all different and these people living in gated communities have a different perspective on money.  Most of them think that if it isn't expensive it isn't good.  Acutally, I get a lot of work because my prices on the phone are so much higher than a lot of other carpet cleaners.  people ask me "why are you so much more expensive?"  This is a golden opportunity to convinse them as to why our service is so valuable.

As for the marketing questions I think flyering is good as long as the flyer looks really professional.  Also another idea... what about making up some business cards (you can do it on a computer with some blanks from Staples) that say $10 off on the back.  You can leave them with the customers you clean and ask them to give them to some friends.  Tell your customers you are growing your business and ask them to help you.  I believe this is how you can make the concept of a "Chearleader" work for you.

Welcom Jodi

Glad you are enjoying the forum.

which one ...

Molly Maid or Merry maid???

Well, after all, I guess we ARE outside the GTA

I like your wit Jodi!

Mr. STEAMER is just about the GTA baby.....lol

Our name was started in Calgary in 1964... about the same time Servpro US started.  We have been doing disaster restoration since that time.  I am not involved in the DR side of the business so no suicides or sewer backups for me.  We only handle very small, clean water floods, residential work and commercial work.

Well, after all, I guess we ARE outside the GTA