30 Day Cash Challenge

A few years ago, I got involved with painting address numbers on curbs as part of a Children’s Hospital fundraiser. I tried some different ways to do the addresses to increase the public’s desire to have them.

I came up with an attractive version that was more appealing and the response was a little better than usual.

After the fundraiser ended, I continued with it in an attempt to work it as a real business. Using fliers, my response rate was the typical 1% to 3%. Knocking on doors to pitch the service would increase that to about 12%. That was good, but not good enough for me, so I stopped doing it.

Two years ago, a local Fire Dept. had an awareness program about the importance of highly visible addresses to help in emergency situations. I got an idea and captured their “official” information and went back to work. I tested a lot of approaches and found that the Fire Dept. info was very effective and I eventually developed a series of very effective strategies that results in a consistent 60%+ response rate.

Just recently, I used the same fire dept. info as part of a pitch to neighborhood homeowner’s associations in an attempt to get letters of approvals from them to show to the residents.

What I got were articles about my service along with my contact information in some association newsletters. With others, I’ve contracted with them to do all the homes in their associations at a reduced rate of $12 each, instead of the usual $15.

Even without association endorsements, I get a very consistent 60% to 80% positive response rate with the strategies I developed. The kicker is that I nave to knock on doors to accomplish this (something a lot of people are not willing to do).

But, for me, where it used to be a frightful chore, it is now very empowering since the response rate is always so high. Sometimes it becomes a block event where people come out of their homes and hand me money to do their address so they don’t miss out.

When a few of the neighbors have the service done (they attractive way I developed) most of them want too.

Sometimes, I’ll do a couple of addresses for free, just to get the ball rolling, but the strategies all involve elements of human nature and that never changes – therefore my results always remain high.

Doing just 20 a day at $15 each is $300. 7 days of that gives me $2100. And, the cost to do the job is only 14 cents each, since I no longer put out fliers.

It does take about 6 to 8 hours a day and it does involve knocking on doors and using the right strategies of what to do and say, but it does produce consistent results and I just love it! I’m so busy all the time, but I can work when I want.

I even figured out how to do business in the rain!

I also discovered other products and services I can offer to those who purchase the curb address. (Back-end products).

Now I need to add some employees!

That’s how I do it,

Lawrence