This is an inexpensive way to advertise in the best neighborhoods in your city. The system described here works great for any carpet cleaning, window cleaning, maid service, or pressure washing business.
I get a lot of emails from people who want to know if handing out flyers will work. They read that I’ve been successful with it and wonder how. Almost everyone has tried handing out flyers at some point. I always hear: “It used to work 10 years ago, but now it doesn’t work anymore.”
Yes, it may have gotten harder. Consumers are getting wise. A brochure without selling power will not bring you new customers. The owners want to know more than how cheap it is. They are skeptical about the bait-and-switch advertising that is prevalent in the cleaning industry. It’s up to you to change their minds when you put a flyer on their door handle.
First of all, keep in mind that flyers are an inexpensive way to advertise. This is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, I generally recommend staying away from cheap ways to advertise because your potential customer may see it as cheap. They’ll see you as cheap if all you do is put a piece of paper in their mailbox or a run-of-the-mill sign on their door.
You have to do something different. If you’re going to use ruffles, they have to be something extraordinary. One of the most cost-effective flyers we’ve ever used looks like a folder that’s attached to a doorknob. Many customers have told me, “I got your nice information folder.” They didn’t see it as a cheap flyer.
Other times, we’ve put a sales newsletter, brochure, magnet, and business card in a plastic bag to hang on the door. In this case, the prospect sees it as a package left on the doorknob. If you’re going to bother going out and walking from door to door, put something pretty on the door. Use full-color printing with eye-catching images. Or, if you’re printing in black and white, make sure it’s on a thick sheet of colored paper. You want something that looks good and feels good in your hands.
Try using an exclusive offer just for homeowners in a particular neighborhood. Or use a limited time offer due to a slow week, a holiday offer, a FREE trial offer, or an offer based on something happening in your city on your flyer. Create a great offer, but also say how unique you are. Write your brochure with a particular target customer in mind.
This is important: When you hand out your flyers, wear your company T-shirt that identifies who you are. Sometimes people will want to talk to you. NEVER, EVER put a flyer in a mailbox. Show this to anyone who hands you flyers. Then check the neighborhood to make sure they did it the way you asked. In fact, it is a federal crime to place anything in or on a mailbox. Also, it looks unprofessional.
Use brochure advertising as a way to keep your employees busy on a lazy afternoon. You can reap a crop of many customers to come.
