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  #1  
Old June 27, 2002, 02:54 PM
John McTighe
 
Posts: n/a
Default Flyers . . . Cash On Demand

Hello

It is funny that everyone is talking about flyers because that is the subject of the next newsletter I am writing! As some of you know, my main business is a cleaning company. I clean carpet in homes and businesses, along with a number of other services and products I have put together.

I built my residential client base from a flyer that I had hand delivered door-to-door in upscale neighborhoods in my area. I kept very detailed records about the whole operation but lets just say I was able to book jobs on demand. Here is a brief outline of how the operation went.

1. I had a housewife deliver the flyers for me in the mornings and she was able to deliver about 150-200 per day depending on the neighborhood, weather etc. I pay .15 to her for each delivered flyer.

2. The flyer was for a FREE room of carpet cleaning plus a free carpet evaluation, (like an estimate). It was quite copy intensive and kind of a hard-hitting direct response hit-them-over-the-head type of a letter. Full of benefits and urgent time-dated action requests.

3. I averaged just under a 1% response. So, for every 100 flyers, I booked about 1 job. It doesn't sound like a lot but my average ticket was $120.00.

4. My cost per lead was running $18.00 (including flyer printing), not including the job costs. Or a gross net of $105.00 per job. But it is worth it considering that I have so much repeat and referral business from that promotion this year. I have not had to do the flyer yet this year, but when I need more money I will start the operation again this fall.

Also, I print my flyers on 8x11 and in one of the bright colors, blue or yellow to get attention. I have a great deal with a small, local printer and get 5000 flyers for $150.00. I find that printing prices really vary, so do shop around if you are doing any volume of flyer delivery.

P.S. My ad for the drill bits is not working as well this week. I think that the fact that I ran the ad before Father's Day may have made a difference. I will make a note of it though and run the ad again the same time next year. I will also run it before the holiday's coming up. Maybe a last minute gift item type of ad. Hmmm?




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  #2  
Old June 27, 2002, 04:42 PM
Boyd Stone
 
Posts: n/a
Default Don't these people need to know how to make money?

Hi,

Excellent facts and figures message, John.

Question:

Don't homeowners need to know how to make extra money? At least as much as they need their carpets cleaned?

I really want to reach out to these neighborhoods and teach them what I'm learning that really works.

Maybe a correspondence course like Gordon used to talk about? A local seminar? A soapbox in the park with a hat I could pass around?

Just my two shares of WorldCom....

Best,

- Boyd
  #3  
Old June 27, 2002, 06:11 PM
Michael Ross
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Don't these people need to know how to make money?

> Don't homeowners need to know how to make
> extra money? At least as much as they need
> their carpets cleaned?

Boyd:

What homeowners NEED, what they WANT and what they DO are all different things.

They may NEED to know how to make money. They may WANT to spend money on going to the movies. But, because Aunt Mary is coming over, they have to make a good impression, right? And so what they DO is get their carpets cleaned. Heaven forbid Aunt Mary should see a spot... what would she think?

Michael Ross.


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  #4  
Old June 27, 2002, 06:53 PM
Andy Frain
 
Posts: n/a
Default Killer post....

......Michael.

If you can identify what emotionally drives your target market.... you win!

And if your wife is nagging you to get the carpet cleaned before your mother in law arrives thats one heck of an emotional driver!:o) Seriously.

Try selling me anything while THIS needs sorting and you have a battle. Try selling me pleasure until you have removed the pain of sorting this and you can forget my attention span.

I'm in the niche that needs a solution fast.

Excellent distinctions Mr.Ross. Excellent!

Take care,
Andy
  #5  
Old June 27, 2002, 09:19 PM
Steve MacLellan
 
Posts: n/a
Default Don't touch that spot on the carpet!

> ......Michael.

> If you can identify what emotionally drives
> your target market.... you win!

> And if your wife is nagging you to get the
> carpet cleaned before your mother in law
> arrives thats one heck of an emotional
> driver!:o) Seriously.

What's the matter with you guys?

You have to leave things for the mother-in-law to pick at. If she can't find anything then she'll create something. Like how you're raising your kids, how you spend your money, etc...

I would much rather prefer that she was looking at the carpet. Turning her attention to that can only be constructive.

(he-he)

Best Regards,
Steve MacLellan

PS
...all jokes aside, mine is a great lady and a wonderful grandmother




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