Has anybody out there had a experience with the corrugated throw away signs that you sink into the ground. They’re like the " WE BUY HOUSES " type signs. And they depend on passer by traffic. Has anybody used them for there window cleaning business. ?? Just wondering what the response might be. These are the kind that you place at busy street corners. Price is about 300 350 for 100. So it would only take 1 or two jobs to return your investment. I guess that 1st phone conversation will have to be very convincing to gain the callers trust. Perhaps a webpage address w a phone number . Any thoughts on this??? thx GP
I have used the signs quite successfully before now. I haven’t used them recently because I got turned off by the “We Buy Houses” type of image that the sign portrays.
I had my phone number, website, and a call to action on mine and I got more than a 100% ROI. More like 600%. I put out thirty signs in two towns for just over two fifty, and made $1500. No too bad. But this was for Christmas lighting in 2006. The economy was not so bad then either.
You bring up an interesting idea for me. I may have to try those again. I do know that they are illegal in some cities. The code enforcement guys will come by and knock them down, cut the up, pick them out of the ground, etc, and then write you a ticket. . Might check with them to see what the regs are.
Hey Bert,
I have thought about hiring someone or maybe two to stand on busy street corners for a few hours a day or just on the weekends holding a big sign. Like Circuit City has been doing with their Going Out Of Business signs. I was thinking 3-5 hours a day at $6 an hour. Move them to a different corner every day. There are alot of people out there looking to make a few extra bucks and it is easy money, they just stand there holding a sign. You only need a couple big signs attached to a poles vs 50 + small ones that might end up trashed and wasted $$$.
Anybody else even done this sort of thing?
Sean, if you ever decide to do that I’ll love to hear the details.
I’d rather pay someone with a big sign than having 50 signs on corners to be trashed in a couple of days.
For the bandit signs you have to drive, spending time and gas, and I feel like I’m doing something wrong while doing it to be honest.
The key here will be to hire a guy with the right attitude, not any bum you might find under the freeway. There’s a jewelry store here in Houston that hires 3 or 4 Santa Clauses (sp) for christmas season, and there’s this one old guy, listening to his iPod and dancing and waving people all the time. That’s something that I’ll pay for.
best of luck with that
It seems to me, that the dancing and waving of signs is a great way to advertise because it gets people’s attention, and usually on a very busy high traffic street corner. However, usually with an arrow to direct people to the location of business, for spontaneous shopping. While driving, most people do not carry a pen and paper in hand to jot down any information that may be posted on a moving sign. Perhaps plant a thought, but … will they remember which Window cleaner to call? In regards to signs on the side of the road, if they are placed in a location where people can pull over to jot down the information, a better idea. How about placing a few such signs in yards of friends, family and businesses with their permission for a day or two? You can buy sign stakes at the local hardward store that allows you to slip in your sign and they are reusable.
Joie - CA
I think one of the reasons these signs ( like we buy houses) can be effective is that a potential customer notices it and if they have that need …say a window cleaning… that sign is going to start working on them and each time they pass they may jot down part of the number or if the sign is at a stop light they can just whip out their cell phone and dial its very possibe they can pass by that sign 10 -20 in th next week just going shopping, to work etc until the signs are pulled. multiply that by all the traffic on the road that passes that sign by x how many signs are put out and … GP
I have several left in the garage from the past that I will probably use this year. I used to make deals with customers that had homes located on or near a main street with good accessibility for passing traffic to see. I would offer $20 off the price of their cleaning to allow me to leave one in their yard for a 3 week period. Got some work from those deals and also some good exposure.
I think it is those that put them on trees or in places they are not supposed to be that have created a bad reputation for this type of advertising. I also use banners and have them up in the gym we workout in. They are cost effective and I clean the windows for the them in return. I do this because my gym has many upscale types going there and the exposure is very positive for my business. I’ve noticed the hits to my website go up since I put it there. I recommend making deals with places that are high traffic with banners leading people to your website.
What a good idea Sean!
//youtu.be/Ryan Sign Spinning - YouTube
You could have someone stand on the street near a job while you work flipping one of these signs around. I don’t think they’ll get much off the sign but it might make them curious enough and draw their attention to your worksite where they can get more info. OR could totally fail and people will laugh and think you’re totally ridiculous for having someone flip a sign around.
If I’m going to pay somebody for displaying my name the least I’d expect is that people can read what’s on the sign 
Would definately draw attention, but if someone was trying to write the number down while at a red light they would probably get aggravated and skip it.
Plus, the more talent they have the more we have to pay.
You’re right, you can’t really read detail on those signs and I’ve never gotten any info from them either but it does get attention, maybe if you tell the person to not flip it as much but still draw people’s attention. A local tax office has 2 locations and they have someone standing by their sidewalk sign dressed up as the statue of liberty(liberty is part of their name) waving to drivers at each one. Everyone in the area sees them and knows who they represent. This gives me a good idea for a foam hat that looks like a squeegee and a sandwich board that looks like a window. haha
