I just wanted to ask everyone on here what is the main source from where you get your customers? Internet inquiries, flyers, direct mail ads, word of mouth, commercials, referrals, etc.??? Just curious to see which methods are most effective. I assume everyone may different opinions on avenues of advertising, but just wanted to see what the main source was if there is one. Thanks guys! Keep up the great work!!
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Mike Lacey Louisville, KY Green Goose Roof & Exterior Cleaning LLC
Good question. I sent out 200 emails to Realtors telling them we could increase curb appeal and property value instantly with our process. That was wednesday. I just got done with my third roof from that mailing. Best thing about it... the emails are free. Sent a before and after pic and asked "Do you have listings that look like this?" I'll keep you posted if more come in.
Thats a great idea Patrick. I like the sending a before and after picture with the email. Most all the work I get is from internet, referals and repeats.
The message I sent was very brief and to the point. I also sent it to each individual, not a mass mailing. I titled it "Open House". I intend to resend it or an adjusted one every two weeks or so.
The message I sent was very brief and to the point. I also sent it to each individual, not a mass mailing. I titled it "Open House". I intend to resend it or an adjusted one every two weeks or so.
Where di you get the list from? Did you buy it or collect it yourself?
Thanks.
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Prime Choice Power Wash LLC Roof Cleaning Kissimmee Florida
Just look up your local reator office on the web,and it should have each one of their email addresses.
Or go to http://www.realtor.com/ and search for roofs in your area,when things are slow,then hit the house with a door hanger or something!That will get you out a little bit!
Flyers work really well for this type of business. Before and after pics are key, especially if you are located in an area that isn't very familiar with this service yet. Once you get enough happy customers under your belt you'll see referrals start to kick in, even more so if you have a referral program that gives some sort of kick back to the person that referred the new customer to you.
Here's some other ideas. -Valpak -Business networking groups (There's one in my area called BNI) -Newspaper -As Patrick mentioned you can hit up the Realtor's -Yard signs
The list could go on and on. Some forms of marketing are more effective than others. I would look at your budget and see what you can afford to spend and go from there. For flyers check out Sharpdots.com. I have now placed a couple orders with them and have been pretty pleased with the print quality and price. I would provide the artwork to them though.
Hey Patrick what a great idea about emailing the realtors. I just got my roofing rig together (no paying roof jobs yet). I've been a Firefighter/EMT for Horry County Fire Rescue for last ten years. Good to see another Fireman here and thanks again for the great idea.
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CBS Powerwashing & Maintenance Chris Smith Horry County,SC (843)333-4149 cbspowerwashing.com
Hey brother, Good to know you! I am working on my 20th year with the department here. I am at the firehouse now, watching the Patriots get beat by the Bill's. I am Captain on Engine #1 at Fire Headquarters. I think this is going to be a HUGE oppurtunity for you. You will be able grow the business or keep it small so you can spend time with your family. Both my girls are grown up now so I am going after a big market. Hope to build the business up over the next 10-12 years then sell it when I get ready for retirement. Stay in touch. Be safe. Patrick
There are many forms of mainstream marketing, and many forms of guerilla marketing, but personally, the absolute best for us has been the internet and our web presence. This has been an invaluable tool for reaching new customers and prospects within a 100 mile radius. I just bid a $3500 job that is 45 miles away, simply because he searched the web, and found us.
The web is a very good source, having a good website and using someone who knows how to optimize your site with keywords and search engine optimization. I have people that was stationed here in the military that rent houses that find me all the time that way, just had a Captain from the US Navy call me today from California about a roof cleaning and house wash. Called him back and booked the job 5 minutes later.
Craiglist is a free way to advertise your business, door hangers, mailers, or also we use a company called sneaker marketing that will deliver flyers or door hangers at 45.00 for 1,000 so not a bad price for door to door. Real estate, property managers, and property management company's for apartments or condo associations. Good luck everyone.
Most of my customers lately have been from the web. I even got a call from Chattanooga yesterday because he could not find a roof cleaner in that town. I told him if he could get one or two more to clean I would make it worth his while and make the trip down there. I have only gotten 2 jobs from newspaper ads. He told me that he called because he liked my web site better than others he had found.
-- Edited by GreatWhiteTechnologies on Saturday 19th of September 2009 05:15:22 PM
another idea boys...see if you can get in contact with the property managers of shopping centres...a lot of them have tile roofs in my region of australia...
good way to enter the commercial market...
all you do google the shopping centre and ring the management or ask for their number...bam, presto, your talking to someone who controls the maintenance of the whole building...
also another way i seal some of these jobs is i say...we are looking at expanding the commercial leg of our business and would love to use your property as a before and after picture, we would be happy to give you 30% to %50 off if we are allowed to take these pictures...the key is though, tell them the normal price would be quite high, an inflated price you make up, then when you take %50 off its pretty much the same price you would usually do it for...
just a few ways a i seal some jobs...
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Caleb Brown Owner
WASH N WOW Non-Pressure Roof Cleaning "We do the WASH, you do the WOW"
Google has been the best for me, I really like the weekly circular thing alot. I will be running a 3/4 page, full color add in the spring to run 6 consecutive weeks.
I think referrals, however, are the best way to get business; nobody wants their neighbor to out do them. I send out before and after photos on a flyer to all the neighbors in the area that I did a job, with the customers address on it. "Look what your neighbor just had done!!!"
It really has been good for my business. I learned that from realtors in the area who just sold a house in the neighborhood. It is expensive as hell, however, it really works.
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Brad R. Iannacchione Soapy Roof, LLC New Kensington, PA 15068
I'll date myself here by sharing that we did not have a web site nor did we do any marketing on the web for our home remodeling services. From 1980 -2004 we relied on referrals and word of mouth. What we didn't spend on advertising and the like we spent on making sure our customers were satisfied with our work and got at least what they expected.
I have a lot of catching up to do on web marketing but I'm thinking one of the major benefits is that potential customers can find you easier and faster.