Proud Mommy
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We own a carpet cleaning business and word of mouth is by far the best advertising we have. The problem with that for a new business is you need to get a few jobs first!
Yellow page ads tend to be very expensive, but definately the best source. As another poster said before me, think about where you would look if you needed a housekeeper. We have found with our business the internet is useless. We live in an area comprised mostly of retired and elderly residents. I think they tend to do things the "old fashioned" way and just grab the phone book, so you have to consider your demographic also.
* Do you have any friends that own business that deal with the public (hairdresser/barber, nail salon, etc.) ask if you can leave some cards out on a counter.
* Our bank has a table set up for their customers that are business owners to put out cards and flyers.
* Stop in and visit all the real estate companies in your area. Many have a property management program and need cleanings done regularly. Many times they often need vacant houses cleaned to ready them for showing too. (The key with them is to stop by in person rather than mailing a flyer ~ Get your foot in the door and ask for the property manager and don't just hand the info to the receptionist as it will likely go no further than the waste basket. You could even phone ahead to get a name so you know who you need to ask for when you get there.)
* Most grocery stores have a bulletin board that you can hang a flyer on. Ususally you just have to get permission.
* Contact other businesses, such as carpet cleaners, that would deal with the clientele you are looking for. Get your name out to them so they may refer you. In turn you could refer them if one of your customers needs floor cleaning.
* Put your business name and phone number all over your vehicle. If you have a separate vehicle for the business spend the money to have it professionally lettered. If not you can have magnets made to stick on the doors and the rear of the vehicle. We frequently get calls from people driving behind my husband ~ thank goodness for cell phones!
Another important tip ~ Whatever phone number you give out, be sure someone is available to answer. Many people will just hang up if they get voice mail and move on to the next person on their list.
Good Luck! |
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Erin go Bragh
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Honestly I believe word of mouth. Clean for a friend or family member then have them spread the word. You're other means of advertising seem about right. |
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debratna
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Get back to your satisfied customers for references.After all mouth publicity is the best one.Offer the referals a discount for further orders from them which will not only help you to be with your satisfied customers for long.Talk to the dissatisfied customers and solve their complains at the earliest in order to convert them into your satisfied custmer database and ask them for referenceces to update your database.Also try to help your prefered customers for their personal requirements other than your buisness need.Try it and whatch the power of mouth publicity.
Good Luck. |
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twopetetall
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put your advertisement on a car/truck/van and just ride around
town a few times a week that should help |
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Matt M
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Volunteer free cleaning services as prizes for local charity events. This will get you exposure and also allow you to demonstrate how well you perform; thus giving word of mouth a starting point.
I would also suggest sponsoring a local sports team, or something similar. If you are a "mom and pop" shop, its better to get really ingrained in the community before branching out to bigger, or mass, areas. |
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me and you today
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Use free services like
http://www.sellit-right.com –great and recommended.
http://www.1planet-mart1.com/classifieds...
http://www.classifieds.yahoo.com
http://www.blogger.com –free way to talk about your Biz.
-Create flyers hand out to people and put in doors too
-Word of mouth. Start with people you know and encourage them to tell others
-Create a logo, attach to vehicles you own.
-Yellow Pages |
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dulcineahawksworth
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Everything is a networking opportunity... have your info with you at all times and make it a point to network your business in places where people who need your services will be. find some community organizations and business networking organizations in your area and go from there. Good luck! |
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Nathanael M
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Theres a very popular cleaning business in my area that have become known because the cars they drive around in are purple and they have the name of their business on the car as well as adress phone etc. I live in southern california so theres a lot of people and cleaning businesses here and a year ago no one knew about this purple company but now they are the most popular in the area |
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alxstatik
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I found out that seo is the best way to get your site noticed. So I tried out this service after reading this review. It's worked out very well for my site.
http://sitefling.blogspot.com/ |
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running bare
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local radio stations. also local billboards,like in laundromats and outside grocery stores. good luck on te new biz. |
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mantra
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The most effective way to advertise online on the internet is to first setup a website and publish its domain name in major search directories like Google, yahoo and msn. More than 80% of users rely on these search directories to provide them with goods and services. These search engines and directories can also be termed as very large internet yellow pages.
Your website should include the generic keywords. If it does not contain the reliable and generic keywords then any one using such generic queries will not be able to discover or locate your website. Your domain name will be invisible and indiscoverable.
The ranking or search order takes place with Google and yahoo and begins with the title Meta tag. The title tag should not consist of more than 65 characters separated by commas. The title should describe in generic term the goods and services followed by location from which resource is located. The domain name which do not resemble with your title is not appropriate unless domains a reputed brand name.
Thus the best way is to have different kind of advertisement sources to test out and see which one gets you the best response.
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John T
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Putting it in church ads, university bullitins, car magnets, |
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Stephen F
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One good way to advertise is to get friends to come and bring other friends and then let word of mouth go to work eventually you will have some business, and if that doesn't work ask around to other businesses if they can put a flyer up for you or have a local radio station mention you.
But either way best of luck to you and your mother |
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FrinkZoe
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Ask yourself and your friends this question: "If I were looking for a cleaning business, where would I look?"
My answer is the phonebook / directory website. Are you listed there? Unfortnately, many only update once a year so you might have to wait for that one.
Also try Craigslist and if your local news stations have websites with classifieds, post there.
Another idea is to try to work deals with places like vaccuum cleaner repair shops. Ask them if you can put fliers on their counter, and you'll give them 10% or something for referrals. |
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