Would you throw this leaflet away?

[Cleaningismything]

I'm in the process of starting my own cleaning business, and I just wanted to ask, if you got a leaflet through your door from a cleaning company, would you throw it away with all the other stuff or contact them if you needed a cleaner?

Just trying to figure out what's the best way to advertise. Thanks

I put all leaflets straight into the recycle bin. If I was looking for a cleaner, or any service, I would ask around. I think Facebook is a good suggestion though.

I would throw it away. If I needed a cleaner I'd probably ask friends for any recommedations, or otherwise I might look at the postcard adverts in my local shops.

If you offered a discount for the first clean then it might sway me to contact you if I'd already been thinking about it, but otherwise no, I'd just Google if I wanted a cleaner. Personally I'd spend the time and money getting your website to look as professional as you can.

If you do go down the leaflet route (or website actually) make sure your punctuation/grammar etc. are spot on. Nothing screams "unprofessional" like greengrocer's apostrophes!

I would keep it if I wanted a cleaner then maybe do some research online.

I recently opened a lilac envelope in my mail because it looked like proper letter. it was a gym membership thing....I thought it was good marketing.

I wouldn't throw it away if I was looking for a cleaner but I would pay more attention to it if you gave some indication of prices

Definitely go through Facebook. The ‘like and share’ competitions are a good way of getting traffic through your page. Maybe an hours free cleaning. And advertise on local pages.

Thank you for your replies, some really great suggestions . Yes I'll be getting a website, with regards to Facebook I don't know how that will work, because I'll only be doing cleaning in my own London borough, so I'll have to look into how I get clients who live in the same borough as me via Facebook.

I'd just go down FB pages route to be honest. Do you have any existing clients who can do a review? Get a FB page and put a review or several on there along with prices and options - eg end of tenancy cleaning, spring clean, regular clean etc. Maybe add a special offer and share it on local FB sites. Ask friends and family to share it.

You could also do a competition where you ask people to like and share your page and you'll select 2 people on xx date for a free 2 hour clean? (specify the area you cover though!).

I would have a small run not of door-drop leaflets, but of a list of your services and contact details.

I would ask your clients to share them with friends who want a cleaner, and to offer them a half price clean if someone signs up/spends a certain amount.

I have a cleaner, and the cleaner-envy that has leaked out amongst my friends would have all benefitted my cleaner - if they lived in the same area!

When I started cleaning I just put a card in the local shop window. Within a week I had to take it down as I had so many enquiries, and from then on I got jobs through word of mouth.

I tend to think companies that post leaflets through the door are desperate for work and therefore must not be good. Maybe it's irrational but it seems most really good tradespeople and service providers like this are really busy without having to advertise.

Facebook is definitely your friend. I often use companies I find through the local Facebook group. If you can get some existing clients (or friends...) to recommend you, it should build up quickly if you then ask people to leave reviews on your FB page and continue recommending you.

My sister has her own dressmaking business and when she was starting up she reckons she got half her business from cards put through doors.

Other than that personal referrals was most of the rest.

She has dispensed with yellow pages and Thomson guides as the were virtually useless.

For FB, I'd just specify the area you cover and post in FB groups that cover that borough, it doesn't matter if the groups also cover other boroughs as long as you put where you are willing to work.

I'd throw it away unless it had prices already on. If you put something like "prices from £10 per hour, call to arrange a free quote" I would be interested, if I was already looking for a cleaner.

so I'll have to look into how I get clients who live in the same borough as me via Facebook.

I’m a cleaner. FB is your friend! Use FB local selling pages, FB mums groups, FB jobs groups etc. Get your friends and family to share your page too if they’re in the same area as you. State on your page what area you cover.

straight to recycling bin I'm afraid.

A general leaflet, yes it will go in the recycling.

However, you could do a very limited number of leaflets and target these at your own street and 2 or 3 adjacent streets. Then they know you are very very local to them. You would need to put right at the beginning, “My name is Mary Smith, I live in Green Street and I am looking to take on cleaning work for people living here in this community” or whatever

Other than that, I’d do internet

Sorry...we tend to chuck all leaflets and such without looking at them. I'd tend to browse the internet if looking for a service so facebook etc might be a better bet.

Definitely Facebook.

Any leaflets, takeaway menus, charity bags that bond through our door go straight in the bin.

If I’m looking for particular services I will Google or ask for personal recommendations from friends/family.

I wouldn't look at it and just bin it tbh, if I want something like that I would go onto facebook to see reviews etc

I probably wouldn't pay much attention to a leaflet most of the time. I had my own business (not cleaning) years ago and must have posted my advert through hundreds of doors but did not get any business that way at all.
Will you be driving? Could you have adverts on your car?

I would bin it without looking at it unless I was looking for a cleaner.

As a pp has mentioned the quality of your leaflet makes a big difference. We get lots of leaflets advertising cleaning services and I bin anything which hasn't been proof read because it gives a poor impression of standards. I'm in the market for a cleaner just now and we have one in our area who has all but completely cornered the market through word of mouth. I fully intend to employ her as well. She advertised herself on our local area fb page and she's inundated because she's really good. I got my truly brilliant joiner word of mouth as well. I'd try that before spending money on leaflets the vast majority of which won't even be looked at.