Door to door - Need to get some sales in

[Wills gardens]

Anyone tried the whole door to door thing? Have done leaflets before but no luck from them really, Just wondered whats process for doing it?

I,E

So knock door, they answer (hopefully)

Me: Hello Sir/Madam

Them: what do you want?

Me: ?????


Any ideas on lingo to bring them round and convince them your not a waste of space and to hopefully make a sale?

What sort of things should you take with you?
I would guess a contact form to take down details, pictures of previous work, what else?

Any help would be great thanks folks as I need to start getting some orders in for work right now.

Thanks Will.

[mickg]

just so I can build a complete portfolio of you - how old are you ?

[DNgroundworks]

TBH id never do that, partly due to im no salesman and i also think it would tarnish the company name? Id rather get work via word of mouth.

I also advertise in sometimes up to 4 local newspapers, and the local glossy mags, but it gets expensive, as im a relatively new start up business i rely heavily on this, Ive had some realy good jobs from the newspapers which in turn lead on to more work....and also with having the van sign written people will see my advert and see my van knocking about everywhere localy and hopefully give me a bell

Ive tried the leaflets for the domestic stuff, i got two blockpaving refurb jobs from it, but was a pain in the arse deliverin em, had 1000 printed. Only managed to deliver 500 which when you think about 2 jobs out of 500 properties is a tad poor but it was work none the less, doubt ill be doing it again though.

All i need now is to sort my webby out, im royaly stuck and havent got a clue, so it may take a while........

[Wills gardens]

Mick - 22, 23 in march

got leaflets fairly cheap thro vistaprint and other places, papers seem a good idea but like you im fairly new to it, getting van sign writing sorted soon just waiting for cash from a past job, what papers do you have best luck in? Little local stuff or the bigger places?

also any have any other ideas?

I have my site at www.willsgardens.co.uk but think it could be easy improved, dont have very many pics from past jobs which sucks as well

[DNgroundworks]

I reckon your best off with the smaller local stuff, Have you tried writing to all the local building contractors etc etc with like a company profile of what you can cant do etc?

I did that before xmas to all the civil engineers i could find on yell.com, and all the groundwork contractors. 4 of them rang me back, 3 wanted to pay peanuts and one offerd me a subcontract deal for 6 months but he lost the contract for the job or his company went bust or somthing along those lines so it never materialised.

But i must say all my work comes from, 60% advertising and 40% word of mouth

Good luck.

[Wills gardens]

dn thats some good advice thanks, what would you send out to them? A folder with a cover note, maybe a flyer and brochure and some previous pics?

[DNgroundworks]

ill pm you a copy of what i sent pal.

[Wills gardens]

cheers bro

[centralcrushers]

i would avoid the whole door to door thing... people will think youre a pikey and be on guard from word go. would you buy landscaping dervices from someone who juist randomly knocked on your door?

[mickg]

I thought so, I love the enthusiasm thats why I asked

what are your skill sets, what can you do to a very high standard what sets you apart and above of the rest in your area

[lutonlagerlout]

"on the knocker" is a bad idea
leaflet drops are dubious results wise as well
my missus did 5000 for her shop and had 3 callers from them and they were pro vista print leaflets

look at advertising that is free

twitter
facebook
ringing in radio shows and saying "hi its will from willsgardens bla bla bla"
trying to work out a local interest angle so your local paper will come out and do a story on you
jeremy kyle show




last one was a joke btw

see where this is going though will?
regards LLL

[Wills gardens]

free equals good

cheers for all the advice above. Just need to get some work in as right now im soo bored of sitting out since dec 17th with no work

[Dave_L]

No, I wouldn't go door-to-door knocking - as a householder it would put me off.

Small adverts in local rags is my suggestion.

[Suggers]

Have you a local boozer, where builders go after work?
There's one round here - someone knows someone who's looking to get a certain job done etc...

[SFLandscape]

when you do get some customers , remember people can see an idiot a mile off, so make sure you know all you can about your trade and what you can offer, so you can answer all there questions, offer a complete service , if you cant do something find someone who can and above all treat people how you would like to be treated.

Oh get a portfolio and when you can afford it sort your web site out

Your young but keen i wish you luck Will.