2017 Marketing/Advertising

[Chris A]

I'm beginning to look ahead to 2017 and what we're going to need to spend to meet our goals. I'm looking to add an employee in the spring plus some extras, so I'm looking at needing $50k in new business to pay for all this (plus put a couple bucks in my pocket.) If you were going to spend an additional $1000/month where would you put it? Here's what we're doing now:

SEO-$350/month
Adwords- $6-700/month
Facebook-$500/month
Postcards-$1000/month (past customer marketing but does net us some referrals and new biz)

What would you guys do next?

 

[Desk Jockey]

I like your mix. I don't know about your past customers? Do you mean active or digging through the dead?

I think your roi might be better prospecting for new clients with EDDM to targeted neighborhoods.
???

Looks good Chris!

 

[Chris A]

We mail to our database monthly. Honestly I'm not looking to cut anything just add 1000/month somewhere whether it be among what I'm doing now or something new. Also thinking of farming out the AdWords and social media to get more out of our dollars spent there

 

[Desk Jockey]

That's some frequency. If you were my carpet cleaner I'd opt out.
12 times a year!

I get annoyed at the Toyota dealer who sends quarterly. Of course the doofus sends one to each family member that drives a Toy-o-ta.

 

[Able 1]

Wow, that's a lot of money a month.. I'm coasting now(just SM reminder cards, and free FB), but looking to add another guy next year. This year I'll do better then last year, but I could do better with some effort. This year has been my vacation year, and I have been working on "projects"..

Next year, back to business!! Great summer!

The plan for me is flyers.. That is all!

 

[Chris A]

Never done fliers per se but have played with eddm some, never could get in a rhythm with it, we've been getting 40-50 new clients a month this year but I would like to keep that momentum and add to it next year to keep feeding the beast

 

[Mikey P]

You run two full time trucks now

What are you spending now?

 

[Chris A]

SEO-$350/month
Adwords- $6-700/month
Facebook-$500/month
Postcards-$1000/month (past customer marketing but does net us some referrals and new biz)

That's what I'm spending now, I"ll be adding a second person to one truck. We could use a third person right now honestly but we've been making it work and I know it will calm down some soon

 

[Mikey P]

Two trucks currently?
One tech each?

 

[Chris A]

Right, me on one, my tech on the other, I'm looking to add an assistant on his truck next year

 

[Chris A]

I still have a few years of cleaning in me but quotes and other business stuff are starting to take up more of my time so the days of slinging 1K days by myself are numbered

 

[Shorty]

Why not simply do up a direct message to your previous clients phone??

Save on all the printing & postage or street walkers.

They instantly see your message on their phone, and it just might be a "call to help" after an accident or even a reminder that their furnishings could do with a clean.

They may also have moved and lost your details or forgotten who you are.

Every 3-4 months would not be too intrusive.

After contact has been made, or when the job is being booked in, ask them how often they would like a reminder, especially with new clients.

I'm getting more new clients now from cell phones than the internet.

 

[Chris A]

I'll have to look into that Shorty

 

[Chris A]

paging Dr. @TomKing !

 

[TomKing]

paging Dr. @TomKing !

Chris
Sorry for the delay at 7am on a Saturday I am asleep.

Here is the bottom line if you plan to add a staff member.
1. Go out and sell enough commercial evening work from 6-9p.m to cover his salary.
2. Reason for the commercial is it is dependable and it takes the pressure off you financially. It is also easy to sell and get that 50 K you think you need.
3. It will also allow you to pay him full time through the winter from that commercial. That way when you pick up next season you will have a solid guy. Don't worry about you gaining personally in the pocket for 12-18 months worry about developing a team that will get you off the truck in the next 24-36 months.
4. Unless your other tech is really good at training I would put the new guy on your truck.

A. So he will be better trained.
B Because when you have to take calls or even leave for a quick quote near by he can keep cleaning.
C. You will be fresher when you come home to do the other stuff a owner always has to do.​

5. Keep both wands going 40 hours a week as much as possible. 2 employees on anther truck will only make it easy on them and harder on you.

Just my thoughts as I said in Nashville there is no right or wrong way to run a carpet cleaning business just good business principles. Do what feels right for you and your family and what you want you life to be.

Call me next week we can talk about where to make some new investments and my thoughts.

 

[TomKing]

Chris, I would be available a few days each week/on weekends to do some good ol fashion telemarketing for you if you'd be interested? Please read below and contact me if you'd like to talk. Thanks.

********************************************************************************************************************
Hi everyone on this great site. It has been a while since I have been on, chatted or posted.
These blog's are awesome. Nothin else like it for us-in's out there let me tell you. Appreciate the support Mikey!

A buddy and I used to have a small cleaning business which is how I found you all thru the trades.
He moved on and my back developed issues so now the biz is defunct. I used to set all my own appointments though and am pretty good at it so I was thinking if I could help anyone else out-I currently have a few days available per week and time on the weekends. If you'd send me a current/decent list of homeowners -I would call for you on a bonus only basis after the cleaning or sale (if you are a Electrolux or Kirby person..) Please be honest though as i am.

So, if you'd be interested-let's talk and see what we could get going together. You send me the list, I call few days a week for you and we make some money together. Not rocket science right?

I would be glad to assist someone else in the biz who might need some x-tra clients these days-we could actually help each other. we are all in this great economy together. Message me if interested or off site at: setsatsold at outlook dot com.

Appreciate the time brothers. Keep calm and clean on...
***********************************************************************************************************************

No don't do it!

People hate telemarketing. If it is you and you call because they know you and your voice great but not a man from another state.

Maybe a middle aged very professional woman might be able to do this. Might I said. Just my thoughts.

 

[Chris A]

Sorry I have young kids so my day starts at 5. Ditto on the telemarketing I don't see that as a viable option in 2016. I sent you a pm I'd love to hear what you have to say! Thanks!

 

[WillS]

I consider this difference between advertising and marketing.

Cost by month:

Advertising

Facebook: $2,000
Yelp: $750
Adwords: 0
SEO: 0
Postcards: $200-300

Marketing:

Attending local chamber and young professional events: Free to $15 an event
Passing out business cards to everyone you meet: Free
Requesting reviews and referrals: Free
Writing Blogs for SEO purposes: Free
Posting to different social media accounts: Free