I was wondering if anyone has grown their company to more than just them and a couple of guys with squeegees? How did you do it? Any advice for the rest of us? What do you think is the most important thing and underestimated thing? What is the least important thing and overestimated thing? I’m talking about all of growing the businesses besides the actual window cleaning.
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Ready this book. This guy did it. https://shopwindowcleaningresource.com/window-cleaners-marketing-blueprint-print-book-download.html
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Selling and gaining business is about getting in front of people. The more people you get in front of the more sales you will make and thus more coins you will be able to count.
Most folks target the area that they live in and canvass those and the perimeter areas. i approached it differently. My focus was on residential clients and larger higher end homes. 80% of my work is 2 story homes in gated communities. I did research and actually moved to the area that I service because there were not enough window cleaners to service the growing need.
I realize that most people may not have had that opportunity or whatever and that is fine. There are not a lot of books on window cleaning maybe 10. But I have all of them and have read all of them. There are much more resources out there now then when I started. I purchased some online business kits just to see what people thought and how they approached the industry and how they did it. There are some very good people that are visible and approachable that have been successful. I recommend using their advice and forming your own methods.
Keep asking questions and keep digging Stoneface
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You say 80-percent of your business is made up of home owners in gated communities. First, how did you get to the people in gated communities and how did you acquire those sorts of clients?
Great advice.
Become a marketing master ! Research it …stay up to date. I love marketing
What we have done, is we get most gated communities through referrals. We also put our sign out in the lawn, we get work that way too. Be respectful to thier rules they have, no soliciting and such. If people walk by greet them with a friendly smile, possibly talk to them a moment. It works, believe me. People don’t always remember what you say to them but do remember how you make them feel. If they feel comfortable with you, they’ll remember that. Remember, these people are trusting you to come in thier home, be around thier family, so they have to feel comfortable with you. I think having my wife work with me is a tremendous advantage, I’ve seen that over the years.
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Amen to that!
We were just hired by a lady who wanted her 85 year old mother’s home cleaned. At first she said that she would have to be there for the service. I explained that it would be myself and my wife doing it and she immediately replied …o well it’s ok the.
Reanna and I also do something similar when canvassing. We will go into the business together but depending on who speaks with us , one of us will take charge of the conversation.
I’m telling you, we’re fortunate to have our sidekicks with us!
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Stoneface - I did a ton of networking. I went to every event that put my name out there. For these communities, I put on my khakis and oxford window cleaning shirt, shined shoes etc… I made appointments with the Mgr’s of these neighborhoods. They have offices in the clubhouses usually. I met with them and talked with them. I asked them what would be appropriate ways to market to their communities directly. 2 of these major neighborhoods I got a few very high recommendations from the residents. They let me advertise in their community newsletter and also vetted me and placed me on their website as a recommended vendor.
I sponsored community events and got involved in their community. Not overboard but just enough that they know I am there. I also had a block captain that became our champion. She was retired and basically interviewed every vendor that came thru her neighborhood gate. There are 62 homes in her village and we have cleaned over 20 of them and many multiple times for years now. After that it has been word of mouth from resident to resident. Our reputation we were able to clean the community complex whole building, that got us in the door and we clean the community managers home now as well. It wasn’t a gimme but it was hard work. Building your brand is hard work but don’t give up.
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Part 2 of your question:
These types of clients are our target market. Find out where these people are and find ways to get in front of them. When we began we targeted via print media and that helped us build the base to get the referral based business. We have always tried to build and earn repeat clients. Of course you will get the one and done customers from time to time, they move away etc… Also, I had a personal goal of getting on 100 realtors referral list. I still don’t have 100 realtors but the thought is this; if I have 100 realtors sending me 3-4 referrals per year that is 300-400 new clients.
Most people trust a good realtor and will take their recommendations. In our area a good realtor will sell 80-90 a year regardless of economic climate. So I look for those realtors and work to get on their list. Realtors talk and they refer among one another as well. Every professional industry is looking for a quality window cleaner that is trustworthy. That’s the guy you want to be. I have a realtor that I haven’t personally spoken to in years. She sends me 3-4 referrals per year with no effort on my part. Because she is a top producer and is very busy she doesn’t have time for chit chat. Her usual referral is 600-800 residential. I treat her clients like royalty and they in turn communicate that back to her. I send her gift baskets and gift cards for spa treatments and things that make her day. I always send a thank you and post a thank you comment for them on my business fb page when people send me referrals. It gives them exposure and recognition for helping you.
Like Luke said become a master marketer of you brand. One other thing that I can add for you is to find a network partner that can refer you every day. We partner with housekeepers, soft spray p/w and carpet cleaner. They are in peoples homes everyday like you are and if you do a fantastic job they will ask for people that do these things. I try to keep long term relationships with these folks because once you build trust the referrals just keep coming. You can also do some marketing with them and split the cost and it can be cost effective. 90% of people that pay to have their carpets cleaned and power washed and hires a housekeeper will pay to have their windows professionally cleaned.
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@M_Lewis and @Luke, man, thanks. This was a huge help. I am huge on management and keeping things up internally, but I lack knowledge on how to catch momentum when I’m trying to start a business. I believe I’ve just found a cornerstone to growing a business and will change my interests to marketing. Thank guys.
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Unless you actually have a link to your “free” marketing book. Please stop spamming it on the forums. This is not the place for you to advertise. This is for professional window cleaners who like to learn from people like @Luke and each other.
@DanTheWindowMan I’m sorry if I offended you or felt I was trying to “spam” people. I do own a marketing company and which I am slowly ending with 2 clients left and I have started a professional window cleaning company now but I am implementing the same process in my window cleaning business. I did post a link to the book because someone already picked up a copy and yes, it is free. Did you not see the link? I am not taking on clients with marketing biz but thought it would be helpful to share the book which I thought I had explained that clearly in my post for “Free Marketing Book.” I am here to learn too and was trying to be helpful. I’d be happy to talk to you on the phone if I need to clear anything up as I’m sure you guys get some random people in here. I deleted the post bc it seems to have created a misunderstanding which was not the intent. I should’ve cleared with Luke first.
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