I kept running out of GG4 and would have to revert to my back up soap (7th generation). We all just liked it better the more we used it, and I found no difference in quality so I just quit ordering the other product. I like the fact that I can just swing by the local health food store and pick up some.
I would put my emphasis on the customer service they receive and the quality of the work, not on who does it. That could bite you back at some point.
Yes, I know all about that one. Thanks for the reminder.
I use Seventh Generation too. I doubt I will order more GG4, I have not really found any advantages besides it working better in sunlight.
Every major store carries Seventh Generation around here
What product by 7th Generation?
We use “Free & Clear” dish washing liquid
I will give that one a try. Is locally available, The GG4 is great for me, I really like it, even the smell (yeah!) but having to pay shipping on liquids always pi**ed me off honestly. I’m getting away with Ettore’s Squeegee Off, not bad and it’s not Dawn (I use a squirt of dawn to reduce friction and increase suds BTW)
I switched over from GG4 to fairy (dish soap) for a couple of hours on Friday for a test as the pollen was doing my head in & I was refilling the bucket every hour. What a nightmare. I spent more time on detailing & blade checking & the windows were left with a dull look.
And Squeegee Off doesn’t have the cleaning power for me…
brennon, I like the postcard a lot and the concept your trying to get across. However, I would not directly mail the piece. I would make it a door hanger or something that you could leave at houses when you are clenaing windows in the neighborhood with the number house you completed work at and encourage them to talk to that neighbor about the service they received. JMO!
This might be thread-jacking but is on the same subject.
What would you do, or actually do, when distributing some sort of marketing material pointing to a specific house in that neighborhood that you service ?
I’d like to get something like that rolling, but want it to be professional and efficient.
You won’t need tons of postcards/flyers/DH since you’ll be targeting 30/40 houses in the proximity to the one that you’ll be mentioning … do you leave a blank space and handwrite the address (kinda ghetto) ? at the same time I don;t want to order 100 postcards with this address and 100 with another one … what’s the best solution ? print my own stuff at home ?
It might sound like a silly question but never did it so I’d like to hear from someone that does this on a not-to-large scale.
thanks
On the postcard just have a space we did your neighbor at (house)#______ and fill it in. It’s not Ghetto if the house number is the only thing handwritten on the card.
I quite agree. Plus, it actually looks like you were just there (in the hood) and didn’t just make it up for the printers.
That’s a good point Mark, thanks.
What I do when finishing a customers house. I put 9 fliers out with the the infamous …I serviced your neighbor so and so today. I put them on the the two houses on either side and the the five across the st from where i was working. Works well for me. 
Or is it not ghetto because thats how we roll, yo!
A little help on the creative department here please.
I’m working on a postcard/flyer/doorhanger to implement that technique, but I’m kinda stuck on how to phrase that. I’d appreciate any suggestion .
Something like :
“Today we cleaned your neighbor’s windows over/at [Street number only] or [number and street name] … blah blah blah …”
I believe you should think like a big business, even if you are a one man show. Have a nice professional logo of your company name on there that you are always going to brand. I would put that at the top.
Next I would develop a company color scheme and try and make things match.
After that I would put a picture of you in a brand new uniform with some brand new equipment with perhaps one of your best houses behind you. A simple pose that shows you are a professional window washer. And since post cards are two sided you should have plenty of room for you text.
If you don’t really use your email that much then don’t put that on there.
That’s my two cents!
no suggestions for my post above ?
BTW, Brennon I got the Hi-Res image of the floor mat if you need it, just let me know.
I am not so certain that you need to mention whose house you cleaned where and when. Instead you should put References Available or References Upon Request. And then be sure to get permission first from the people you might use as a reference.
I once had a lady ask me whose house on her street I had clean before. I told her the address. She also wanted their name and phone number and I told her that I do not give out my clients information but that she could go over and ask them herself. She was very impressed and decided on the spot to have me clean her windows because of that.
So make sure you get permission first if you go that route.
Thanks Mike.
I’m aware of the problems of disclosing customer information, but the need to write down the address (or street number at least) is to be very specific. I do have a doorhanger right now that says “we are in your neighborhood cleaning windows” and if the didn’t see me they might think that I was there or not, but releasing that key piece of information, neighbor address, gives you credibility. If they don’t not “the Smiths” they won’t go there and ask, but if they know them … you win !
Brennon, have you done this mailing yet? And if so, how has it worked out for you?
