getting slow!! need help with flyiers

[patriot pressure washing]

its been pretty slow for me here in nc this month. im going into my second yr in business and ive never really needed to pass out flyers. can someone help me with some ideas or something that will stand out
mike

[PressureMax]

Hey Mike, Try thinking about selling your product rather than passing out flyers. Write out a letter that you think would be a good sales outline and use it.
I'll bet you can sell two jobs before noon.

Rob

[HotShot]

call Keith at KBK Graphics and have him hook you up...

[Tegrey]

Mike,
All the advertising you do will help some. However, one idea is to get info into folks hands before your slow. We have learned through experience that passing out flyers, etc. only helps temporarly. The idea is to build your business 24 / 7. Have a plan for getting more work when you are busy. Schedualing is all you need to work on then. It's like waiting to fix a tire with a slow leak. Fix it now. Don't wait for it to go flat. Hope this helps. Thank You.

[Beth n Rod]

If it has been dry and you have not gotten much rain this season, try adjusting your message to talk about how your professional methods help to reduce water consumption. Properly skilled companies use less water than those with lesser skills or homeowners. If you are facing restrictions try that angle, but make sure you can back it up. We did this one year when we were approaching drought conditions here and it helped some. Also, ask your current customers to refer you business. That was another thing that found helpful.

Beth

[A and J POWERWASHING]

good thinking beth

[plainpainter]

I just of an idea - send out letters to customers, saying if they can send out 5 referrals - they can have another house wash free for the next year. Anyone ever try that?

[Greg R]

Check locally for shows and events going on. This year we have exhibited in 4 home shows, 2 County Fairs, a remodelers show, and will be in the Wizard of Oz festival (something new) and the popcorn festival (25,000 people in 1 day). Every year we pull a ton of new leads from these. Fairs average about 50 - 60 estimates for us each and the home shows usually draw in 30 each. Pretty good deal for four to five hundred bucks plus you get your name out in the community as well.

[patriot pressure washing]

thanks everyone that is all very helpful ill try some of it all,

[Beth n Rod]

One other thing....we have also seen that from mid July through August the phones slow down, since people go on vacation. The key is to book far enough in advance to slide through that window. Once school is back in session it will pick up - vacations will be over. We have found that advertising in mid July and Aug. doesn't work well for this reason. Like Greg said you have to get in front of the people who are in town. I have also seen companies offer a 10 to 15% discount just in August so they can book work with those who are still in town.

Hope this helps.
Beth

[patriot pressure washing]

thanks beth, i did a roof job and chem washed a house thurs. that is right in front of the nieghborhoods school bus stop for a real cheap price for a friend. once the parents started coming out for their kids they started calling my costumer asking for my number, so then i put my signs in the front yard and have since booked 4 jobs from there.
thanks guys

[timhays]

business has been slow this year i am in NC also.
although this last month things have started picking up.

[Mike Williamson]

Business has been slow this year for everyone I've talked to who does general pressure washing. Maybe not so much for guys who specialize in wood or other typically higher-end customers. Most of my customers are working middle class folks, and for some reason, this year they're just not spending the money like they usually do. I have a friend locally who does many apartment complexes around town..they're slow too. Not sure why, but people seem less inclined to spend money they don't have to.

[Jeff]

We slowed some I laid off a couple guys and its not crazy like it was. i have several things that could break soon or months from now. who knows. July August is usually slower

I say always advertise, when you busy, its a good way to stay busy. Residential in the past I have sent out discounts for those months and it helps get them thinking. The housing market has slowed some and people are holding onto their$$$ a little more