Mass Emailing Potential Customers

[High Pressure]

As a followup to my previous question about how to market myself for winter business, I came up with an idea. I want to reach out to construction companies and let them know I'm available for construction cleanup.

What do you think about sending out a mass email to construction companies in my area? Is this legal or is it considered "spam mail"? Seems like the most cost efficient way to get the word out, but I don't want to open myself up to trouble.

Please let me know what you all think.

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[Mike Hughes]

I don't think it would be illegal or anything like that, but it might be considered annoying. Worth a try if you think you can get the email addresses and be sure that they are targeted to your area. You don't want to email some guy that's halfway across your state!

Join your local Chamber of Commerce.....you'll meet alot of people there. Mine only costs $100 per year and $15 for luncheons every other month.



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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Dan Flynn]

Hey Mike,

Have you had much luck with the Chamber ?

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Dan Flynn
Timberland Power Wash
www.powerwash.net
Houston, Texas.

 

[Mike Hughes]

Dan,

I have missed the last few lunches, so I can't say for sure. So far so good. I only went to one of them so far. I have met some people that are good to know.....and I hope to get to know them better......the better I know them, the better the chance of turning it into work.

It is a minimal investment of money, and a small amount of time. I think it's well worth it. There is no other pressure washer in the chamber, and there are plenty of washers in my area.........so, I have a captive audience.



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Mike Hughes
Everclear
Souderton, PA

 

[Jim&Shirley]

its a good idea, but to solicted unwanted e-mail is illegal,if were not mistaken,otherwise every-body would be doing it, and we sure you wouldnt want to get any potenial customers to get up-set! we would love to do this, so if were wrong please let us know, it would sure let us target the right customers, and save lots of $$$$$$, we print flyers up on the computer and let a printer print and fold them, we hand these out go into nabor hoods and only put them on the doors, not on mail boxes or you will get a call from the post master,we go to shopping centers and get permission to put under winsheid wipers, just have to becareful not to set off car alarms,also bullettin board at libarys,grocery stores, ect, hope this helps it works for us, good-luck jim & SHIRLEY

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[johny]

Hello !
Here is my oppinion.I dont think e-mailing people is illegal.Why not??Because i get junk mail like that all the time,makes me mad somethimes.I dont want your credt card,i dont need credit advice,how many times you gonna mail me same crap,i keep blocking their address and there again,same stuff from another address.
I think the best way besides ones mentioned would be mailing potential custumer a letter.Find out all the business adresses from a phonebook,type up a letter,telling about your business ,what you do ,what you can do for them,include your card etc.Make up a little brochure,where it shows what pressurewashing looks like.Around where i live,lots of people dont even know what it means,to pressurewash something,no clue.When i had my add under p-washing,no calls,when under Exterior house wash,totally different.
Some people have said,i am so glad you are doing this,we needed somebody like you around,couldnt find nobody to wash my house!!Did you not look in the paper,there is my add,has been there for a while,people just dont know what it means unless they have had their house washed before.
So from there my point is to educate folks somehow with a letter.brochure,before after picture your rig etc.Some even think ,big deal,they sell p-washers at k-mart.
See ya,just my oppinion,
Johny

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[Tim]

Yes, mass email may be cost efficient, and it may reach a broader scope of potential customers, but I believe that most people do as I do, automatically delete email from people/businesses/"spammers" that I don't know nor have requested a solicitation. It's my opinion that people want something tangible (a brochure to look at, hold, show to friends, compare, etc) when getting a "cold call". Plus I think this sets well with your potential customer in that you have taken the time and effort to develop a sales medium and delivered it to them specifically. Everyone hates those emails with headers 3 pages long of people sent to, forwarded to, etc. At least I do. The old adage "It takes money to make money" is true. Now don't get me wrong, I think the Internet/email medium is a great idea, but it should be a supplement to your other advertising mediums. Just my opinion.
Good luck.

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Tim @ ProTech
Let us "Protech" your investment. Our name is your peace of mind.

 

[Jon]

I too simply delete without reading or replying to junk mail.

Most of it gets blocked but some does slip by, click delete and bye bye.

My opinion only but I don't think you will gain much business that way.

I Emailed all the management companies in my area and got one call and it was not in my area, they sent it to their Los Angeles office.

Try it but don't expect much in way of replies or work.

Just on the chance it does pay for you let us know.




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Beep beep, the OPC Roadrunner coming through.

Jon Fleischer
Oasis Pressure Cleaning
(909) 792-2247
Fax (909) 792-5633

 

[Ron Musgraves]

I think it’s a great idea. Of course these guys are right it won’t work alone.

You need to have a plan of attack, e-mail can complement a personnel selling strategies.

No one thing is going to work well, remember marketing is about retention. Think about that commercial you remember some commercial’s are great, others we remember because they played the hell out of them.

Experts say people will need to hear from you three times before they will remember you. You are trying to market your business for something you missed last week. Market your business for next month. Sure fast sales will come your way. The sales that use you fast will forget about you fast. The sales you work at will be solid customers you can count on.


E-mail is a great thing, contact those people, get the addr and Send it.

Also visit as many as you can, send flyers or thank you cards to those you visit. Get plans stick to it and remember nothing comes quick. If you start now it will happen sooner. If you don’t customers will not beat your door down. I guarantee that.


Most customer don’t even know what you have, these people are not familiar with pressure washing.

Half the people you meet think they know one Quarter maybe know and the other quarter are clue less.

the key word on any approach you take--------consistency----------




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Ron Marshal Phoenix AZ
1-888-fleetwash

 

[Jon]

Ron,

You open our eyes up, sure I did Email but NO I did not follow up with another Emailing nor did I contact them.

That idea of a thank you card in my mind could be the closer for an account.

It is more personal and also a reminder.

Now one question, to be effective would it not need to go to the property manager? if so how about a way to get that name without calling all these companies first?

Thanks for your great idea's, I am sure others welcome them too.




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Beep beep, the OPC Roadrunner coming through.

Jon Fleischer
Oasis Pressure Cleaning
(909) 792-2247
Fax (909) 792-5633

 

[Ron Musgraves]

Jon,

There are many lists you can buy. We know this is expensive and not probably worth it.

Property management people are the toughest people to reach. I feel walk INS are the best way, collect names and addresses and store them some where. Selling is a number game. When it comes to property managers you need to slow down. Everyone and his brother are bombarding these people. You always have some one screening their calls. Walk in write them a note to look at your e-mail. If you think that just because you came in your going to see them you will be disappointed.

If you establish a relationship with one of these people it will be fruitful. They may manage hundred of properties and tell other managers about you. Well worth the time and effort. Property managers appreciate you being persistent.


Jon you know this


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Ron Marshal Phoenix AZ
1-888-fleetwash

 

[dartonviper]

I started p-wing in mid July, the first thing I did was go through the yellow pages and set up an address book on Microsoft Excel for Trucking companies, Real Estate agencies, and area stores. Then I wrote up a letter on Microsoft Word for each area I targeted and merged everything together so each letter had that company's name on it. I sent out a total of 123 letters and landed 4 jobs. (that's more than I got from 2 weeks in 2 different news papers)
One is a trucking company with 17 tractors, 23-28' trailers and 11-45' trailers that gets washed every month.
Heck, in my eyes the other 3 jobs just ended up being houses but that alone was worth the effort of the letters.
Now the real Question I have is.... I only have 1 other competetor in the area and that trucking job I got used to be his and I didn't know it, but the manager of the truck line is trying to give me a good word of mouth to all the other truck lines in that industrial park. I know this is a Dog eat Dog world but do I want to strike up enemies in this small rural area or do should I target another area? I only know the name of the company and haven't heard much about them.
Let me know if I'm screwing up or not. I have no Idea what they charge. I'm just going by what I want per hour.
My winter project is going to be to visit the other truck lines unless you guys think it's wrong.
Thanks, Jim

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[Ron Musgraves]

Jim,


Great subject, sure go ahead and solicit those other outfits. Remember one thing if this other guy is doing his job they won’t call. If they do remember this, get the job based on quality, knowledge & professionalism. Don’t be one of those guys who cuts everyone’s throat and goes out of business in a few months because he realized he bid the jobs to low. Then goes back to his old job to make more money.

I would solicit the other companies but would not talk about price until they called you. Send a mailer and find out. Tell them your working at the current company and they are happy with your service and ask if they are happy with theirs. If they call you then you know the answer is no!!!!! This is America, all about competition. Besides, if you’re doing your job no one can steal your accounts. If your not doing your job some one else should be doing the accounts.


I ran into one of my so-called competitors last week. He stopped me and said you cut throat bastard, my reply was I sold the account for more money than he was charging. I told him if he didn’t believe me he should talk with the customer.

I get my so-called competition calling me every month or so and it’s the same story. Reality is I was charging this customer $130.00 before he took it from me for 80.00. I took it back a few months later for $130.00 again when the customer found out he was doing a poor job. same story different competitor.


Remember if you take them on quality, knowledge and professionalism, no one can complain or belly ache.


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Ron Marshal Phoenix AZ
1-888-fleetwash

[This message has been edited by Ron Marshal (edited November 07, 2000).]