Opinions on most effective ads

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newbie pete

New Member
Hey, as some of you know this is my first season on my own. I'm concentrating on roof cleaning (lot of dirty roofs) and residential pressure. Just wondering what some of you have found to be the most effective forms of PAID advertising. (I don't wanna hear anything about word of mouth cause it's not draining my wallet). My approach so far (since my insurance hasn't gone through yet so I can't get in the papers) has been actually driving around creating an address list of houses and the problems they have (roof,green,black,siding etc.) and then mailing these homeowners personalized letters with their address and specific prob. inc. in the letter. Sent out about 120 at 42 cents each (about $50) and I landed 3 roof jobs. Once the insurance clears I'm planning on paying for 4800 fliers in the local paper for $360. ouch!(i know it's not a lot compared to some of you but, I'm starting from scratch with squat). Also Craigslist and business cards and fliers in supermarkets etc. etc. I'm in the Northeast so I'm not sure if a big ad in the Yellow pages would be worth $200/month when I'm only working 7-8 months a year. So what works best for some of you guys (the most bang for your buck). Thanx
Oh yea, another idea I had was to pressure wash a local gas stations fence for free so I can hang a big sign on it facing a main road. Anyways, any input is as always...appreciated!
 
D

DAFF

New Member
Get some small lawn signs made out. Those plastic ones which are 3'*2' in size. Place them on tel. poles friends lawns anywhere it is legal. You don't need many just enough placed in the high traffic areas. Place them if you can near drive thru's, coffee ones work best expecially for the AM work croud!!

Got a truck ??? Get it lettered make it look professional!!

DAFF
 
N

newbie pete

New Member
My insurance has not been PURCHASED yet.
I sold my car today and need to buy a truck and insurance.
Did you have any advertising advice to give or are you the power wash police?
 
N

newbie pete

New Member
If your getting the impression that I'm just a Jackass with a squirt gun trying to make money on the weekends uninsured and lowballing the legit competition who are following the law....don't. My plan is to start a legit and respectable company with a good reputation. But, if you meant nothing like that and you were just confused by the post, then I apologize for my cocky response.
PETE
 
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DAFF

New Member
Remember first impressions are hard to change!! With a young company having a quick sarcastic responce will definetly lead to trouble. Time to think as a professional buisiness owner.

DAFF
 
J

jzox2001

New Member
I agree with Daff, first impressions are key. My biggest advertisement tool has been my truck, which is lettered, and I always make sure it is kept clean. In addition if I need to get any small part, supplies, or even just gas, I will take my rig with (making sure the tanks are empty). I can't tell you how many hundreds of business cards I went through, just simply filling up with gas, especially if it is a station that has diesel and local truckers are topping off before heading out.

Jason
 
C

CaroliProWash

New Member
We've found that our behavior and demeanor on public forums have been a great source of advertising for us.

As for being a legitimate business, until that insurance is done, performing jobs without it mean you're not.
 
N

newbie pete

New Member
Your absolutely right carolina. I haven't started my jobs yet. The weather isn't there yet and I've already planned on not doing ANY jobs until my insurance is purchased. Which will be this week since my truck is on the way and my tax return just came back.
 
N

newbie pete

New Member
And about the new company with the sarcastic response thing, I don't believe that ANYONE has the right to be arrogant on here, new or old. The point of this sight is to help each other out and share our ideas and experiences, not try to come across as the better professional or call out others with little info. on them.
 
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CaroliProWash

New Member
newbie pete said:
And about the new company with the sarcastic response thing, I don't believe that ANYONE has the right to be arrogant on here, new or old. The point of this sight is to help each other out and share our ideas and experiences, not try to come across as the better professional or call out others with little info. on them.
Click to expand...


Clearly as a newbie you may not quite understand the way this forum works - your opinion of arrogance is not okay but being sarcastic is acceptable behavior?

ONE - the Staff doesn't tolerate much in the way of "calling others out" or arrogance....I'd have been whacked if they thought I had been arrogant or had called you out on something ridiculous.

TWO - if the SEARCH feature was used properly, 80% of the questions on this forum would not be repeated dozens more times.

THREE - asking about insurance is not "policing" - no - maybe it is since it's protecting our industry. If you don't have or feel the desire to make sure the industry grows properly or at least maintain what professionalism others have sought to achieve - please find something else to do. There are many professional companies on this forum, many who do this solely as a livelihood - we owe NOTHING to "new guys wanting to get into the business". YOU came here and asked advise from professionals - who are, like it or not, more professional than you at this time. Why would you ask if we weren't?

FOUR - If you don't want to be "called out" due to little information - if you have nothing to hide, I would suggest you put it out there and inform the companies that you are asking to provide answers to you so that no one has to make assumptions.

I need coffee.
 
C

Christopher

New Member
Wow, what an attitude?????

Hope you don't expect many people to help you with an attitude like that.

Remember, more and more customers are looking at these bbs's and seeing what level you are at and how professional you are, if you are at all.

With a simple question like that, you are giving someone here, an experienced a professional with many years experience at that an attitude? Wrong!!!!!

Like they say, most people don't and won't change their attitudes and personalities after the age of 25 so I would hope you change yours if you want, need or hope to get any help here. If not, too bad your loss!

Wow, I still can't believe that, a newbie with an attitude towards others.
 
D

DAFF

New Member
I'm not sure if it his attitude or his communication skills are comming across the wrong way. At first I was giving Pete the benifit of the doubt. Now I know what the issue is......GOOD LUCK!!!
 
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newbie pete

New Member
Looks like I opened up a can of worms ON MYSELF! Look I'm not generally cocky person. I just didn't like the impression one might have received by saying that about my insurance. I didn't wanna come across as the type of guy who is doing this illegally and I understand your insurance question cause you don't know me personally and have to make assumptions from what you read. If you see my earlier posts you'll see that I like this board and have received A LOT of info by a lot of people who (like you said) don't owe me anything and I understand that and am greatly appreciative of that. I also plan on giving anyone else help where I can and I have also done that. To be completely honest, I don't think I would've been able to start this business without searching through and talking on this forum. So don't get the wrong impression. I was TRYING to defend myself. It also got under my skin about what you said about the insurance because I take pride in doing this the right way so, that's why I reacted the way I did about your comment Carolina. Also, I wasn't referring to you when I said some are arrogant, I was referring to other threads I've read from previous posts by the FEW who are on here. I was trying to communicate that that's also why I was defensive in my reply. I definitely don't wanna be labeled as one of the arrogant ones, especially being new to the board. SO, I apologize and am gonna bow out of this one.
PETE
 
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CaroliProWash

New Member
Okay Guys - this guy's gonna do fine :) Head seems screwed on, skin seems thick enough...

You are going to get as many opinions about paid advertising as there are posters on these forums. Our success has been derived primarily from networking through groups like the Home Builders Association - our first and greatest investment. We tried various yellow page ads and for our area & services - waste of money. We have been very successful with Service Magic but there are tricks to that one - depending on what you are offering and the service area you choose - you can lose money rapidly.

We have never tried direct mailing - but again, depending on your area & service you provide, there are guys who have great success with that. Should you choose that route, I would strongly suggest hiring Keith Bruce @ KBK Graphxto do your design work.

We've done Home & Garden Shows. And finally, probably one of the single most important things to do these days is get a very professional looking website up - that is one of the single inexpensive ways to market yourself - lots of design options, hosting is cheap, and getting found is FREE for the most part.

Good luck!

Celeste
 
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newbie pete

New Member
Sounds good. I didn't think the yellow pages (for the price) would be worth it. Especially in a seasonal part of the country. Thanx for the response
 
5

5 Star Johnny

New Member
Firstly - I think you get the idea about "back handing" the people you asked advice from. Albeit, not the topic you were originally inquiring about. "We" are professionals who protect our industry and individual livelihoods, and have an inherent right to question a "newbie" who is suspect of "staining" the PW community as a whole. That said.....................

Marketing 101: Choose a name that includes the service you provide. Consistency - Create a logo, tag line, image that will appear on everyting you print and make it the same every time! Focus: select your primary line(s) of service and promote only them in your advertising. Don't make the mistake of trying to list the 500 different things you can clean with a pressure washer. I'm not certain that direct mail is a good investment for this particular industry in terms of return on investment. We are going to develop and impliment a "door hanger" campaign this season, and I'll update on how we feel it worked. YES....develop a website!! Don't do a half baked one that fits a small budget. If need be, do one (1) GREAT presence page and refer to it in your other marketing as a reference to add credibility to your business. ALL advertising works (yellow pages, newspapers, radio, tv, etc.)! What generally fails is the content, timing or lack of planning of the advertising. I'm not going to spend a ton of time on explaining marketing, but will encourage you to take the time to educate yourself via this forum, internet or formal training opportunities.

All in all.........you can have the greatest advertising/marketing in place, but if you can't deliver the product or service your claiming.....you're not going anywhere! Good Luck!!
 
D

DAFF

New Member
"DOOR HANGER"= A sign which hangs on the door knob of a house, like the "do not disturbs" of the hotel industry??? In theory this is an real eye onener, makes you stand out from the cround and you can really go after the clients which you want. Plus while you are thier you can write your quote on the card!!

5 Star hit the nail on the head with the don't list everything rather than specialise in one aspect; but of course you can still clean the other stuff too.


DAFf
 
N

newbie pete

New Member
That sounds cool. I've never heard of or seen those door hangers. I've been slipping fliers in doors and under flower pots. I'll have to look into that. I had a feeling this thread would get people going.
 
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