Five Easy Steps To Jump Start Your Deck (Or Other) Business

Dear Hugh,
That's a great idea! I actually post flyers like this on people's mailbox posts and I never thought about using a letter format like that. Thanks for the great tip! Just out of curiousity, what kind of percentages does that pull for you?
Joe

> Do the following five steps, and you will
> get as much busines as you want:

> STEP 1. Using your computer (or even a
> typewriter, if they still exist), make up a
> flyer on plain white 20# bond paper, *three*
> flyers per sheet, with this exact wording:
>
> ------------------------------------------------------
> Hello,

> My name is (your name) . I beautify and
> restore wood decks. If you have a deck that
> needs some work, please give me a call. I'll
> be happy to drop by and give you a free
> estimate.

> Thanks,

> Your Name
> 555)555-5555
>
> -------------------------------------------------------

> Before you have the flyers printed, sign
> your FIRST NAME only above your name and
> phone number.

> STEP 2. Have the flyers printed and cut
> (remember, there are 3 flyers per sheet ---
> each flyer is only 1/3 of a page).

> STEP 3. Using a flyer delivery service (or
> do it yourself or hire someone to do it),
> have the flyers delivered door-to-door in
> the neighborhoods you would like to work
> (presumably, in neighborhoods where people
> have decks!) Put out as many as you can
> afford, but 1,000 would be the absolute
> minimum. Ten thousand would be better.

> STEP 4. Take take the calls, do the
> estimates, do the work and get paid.

> STEP 5. Put out more flyers, and keep doing
> so until you have as much business as you
> want.

> Why this works: Your flyer will be viewed as
> a personal note, not advertising. It WILL
> get read, when other flyers get tossed.
> (Some people who call will even say "I
> just got your note, and...") Also, many
> homeowners who have decks will save your
> flyer and call you at a later date. Believe
> it or not, I've had people call me as long
> as 7 YEARS after I put out this kind of
> flyer for a business I started in 1990!

> This flyer works for any kind of service
> business. Try it. If people want what you
> have to offer, you'll get instant results!

> --- Hugh

Joe,

The game is to get out high numbers of flyers and not worry too much about percentage of response. You've got to get the numbers out there (and in the right neighborhoods) to see if there's a market for your service. If there is, you WILL get business.

When I used this flyer to start my business, I hired a flyer delivery service and had them put out 10,000 flyers in an fairly affluent area of the San Fernando Valley (Los Angeles). The service cost me $450.00 plus the cost of printing the flyers. (Way, way cheaper than mailing letters or post cards.) My "note" was delivered directly to the homeowner's door step, along with 3 or 4 other flyers (which were all typical "advertisement-type" flyers --- guess which one stood out of the crowd!)

Before a week was out, I had 90 some calls and I stopped counting. That was only about .9%, but I was totally overwhelmed with business. My occupation line on the flyers was "I clean, repair and install rain gutters and downspouts."

I actually knew very little about the rain gutter business at the time, but I was in dire need of getting an income quick! The entire extent of my experience was spending two weeks hanging around with my brother-in-law, who was in the business.

This is going to sound amazing, but it's true: I put out these flyers just twice, 10,000 each time, spaced about 4 months apart. That was 12 years ago, and I never had to spend one more cent on advertising, and I've been busy ever since! (All of my business since then has been referrals and repeat customers.)

In other words, this little flyer totally jumped started my business!

Over the years, I've shared this "jump start" flyer technique with many others. All I can say is this: If you have something to offer that homeowners want, "It works".

By the way, I had to borrow the money to get started. Glad I did!

--- Hugh

Hi Hugh!

> My occupation line on the flyers
> was "I clean, repair and install rain
> gutters and downspouts."

Question 1: Are you talking about cleaning the outside, or getting rid of the muck from the inside, or both?

Question 2: How do you clean the inside of a downspout? (My gutters need cleaning out. I've got a specially designed scoop which does nicely [looks like a deformed Track Ball handle], but the downspouts I am clueless about.)

Thanks.

Michael Ross.

Michael,

> Question 1: Are you talking about cleaning
> the outside, or getting rid of the muck from
> the inside, or both?

Cleaning out the inside only. Best done when the dirt in the gutter is dry, if possible. Just scoop it out. Once the bulk of the dirt/leaves/debris is out of the gutter, you can wash it down with a hose if you want to get it fully clean (but clear the downspout first, see below).

> Question 2: How do you clean the inside of a
> downspout? (My gutters need cleaning out.
> I've got a specially designed scoop which
> does nicely [looks like a deformed Track
> Ball handle], but the downspouts I am
> clueless about.)

Usually, all you have to do is take a hose, place the nozzel in in the top of the downspout and turn it on. Swoosh, out comes the dirt and debris. Sometimes, you have to dig out the muck from the top of the downspout (with a wire coat hanger or the like --- I have even used a shop vacuum to do it) before you can clear it with a hose.

Happy cleaning!

---- Hugh

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