mikey..got a question for ya marketing

[davegillfishing]

you said in another post that you did 300k with a month of vacation..just wondering what you are spending on marketing?
i fell about 25k short on what i wanted in 07..we did 150k, but i am still figuring things out a little..only 1.5 years in business..i spent a little over 15k in marketing.
dave

 

[Mikey P]

My Le tip bill is a $1000 a year.

My YP bill is about $1650 a year (just in the tile section)

Web hosting cost $120

Business cards are $25

Once a year post card mailing runs about $700.

I don't track what I spend shmoozing my retailers. No fruit baskets, pizzas or golf/martini lunches. I just provide them with a honest, knowledgeable extremely effective company to refer that won't embarrass them. An I'll keep their show rooms clean for free, but since they ripped all the carpet out I haven't had to do one in two years.


Then factor in what you will the cost of my rolling bill board.

 

[Ken Snow]

about 1% sounds like Mike, that is great! I think for new cleaners anywhere from 10-15% is fine and don't forget to include any referral bonuses as marketing if you do that.

 

[Mikey P]

Good point.


But Coit taught me to raise the price enough to cover the discount I give.

 

[Ken Snow]

LOL - sounds like a coit thing.

 

[Mikey P]

Mind sharing your budget oh great one?


Tell the truth and I'll buy you a roll of nickels in September.

 

[Guest]

Dave,

All you have to do is to get a Vortex (because the public knows what they are) and have a 3 room special for $349.95 and your will be booked up for weeks!

 

[Ken Snow]

a little under 700k

 

[Mikey P]

Wow, thats impressive Coit was spending 150k a month/40 or so vans, for the one shop when I was there.


Shows how important hireling family men is as apposed to 20 year olds who can barely fog a mirror.

 

[davegillfishing]

thanks for the info..we are at about 13% but we are still building as fast as we can..we are also into the trial and error stage..have a good list of what works and what doesn't..
i am hoping to get into restoration work next year..i have a very strong relationship with several ins companies that i am looking forward to using to my benefit..i am lucky enough to be surrounding myself with great people so everyone can grow with the business and make tons of money..
do you do much resto work??
dave

 

[Mikey P]

No, those Green and Yellow bastards have it all sewn up in my area.

 

[Ken Snow]

Yeah, even our newbies tend to be over 20, and then they are assistants for 3-4 years. Most of our Specialists (Leaders) are in mid to late 30's to later 40's.

 

[Mikey P]

Coit chimps were let out of the labs after a week of training. Only two of those days were hands on cleaning.

 

[davegillfishing]

wow that is scary..
there are several companies around here that only give their guys 1-2 days training and set them free...that is with no experience before..

ken snow..do you guys do much restoration work? if so is it small floods or do you get into big work?
dave

 

[Ken Snow]

Hi Dave

We can handle all sizes of flood work, but the bread and butter are the moderate size residential jobs 2-10k or so. It is my smallest division, doing 1.3-1.5 million a year now, which is down quite a bit from the heyday of the late 90's before the franchise co's started getting the bulk of the ins calls. We are reaching out to our database more to make sure everyone knows they can choose to use us.

Ken

 

[Mikey P]

Do you invite those Asian kids who make your rugs for you to your annual year end holiday party?

 

[hogjowl]

Damn ... I see Odin's not the only one jealous of Ken tonight.

 

[Rescue]

Hey Mikey-

Is Le Tip kind of like BNI. There is no Le Tip in my area they shut it down a couple of months ago because there wasn't enough people to fill the club. Although, BNI is very strong in my area. I have been to a couple of meetings just am having problems attending all the Tuesday morning meetings secondary to my Fire deparment job.

Oh yea, Mikey check the 10 o'clock news tonight for a 4 alarm fire over the hill in San Jose that our engine was furst due on. It was pretty bad arse, hot with flames everywhere before we were able to put it out. Nothing beats the adrenaline you get!!! I don't care how many carpets I clean in a day!

Joe

 

[Mikey P]

Le Tip/BNI, same thing.