Hey Steve,


In the past I have made some good money just cleaning gutters in October, November, December, so much so I am considering pouring all of my marketing efforts into that until Spring, of course letting people know I clean windows as well.
When do you think is a good time to start, first I will send a card to all my current clients, then start flyering all the tree filled neigborhoods in October I think, and if I can get the cash together do some direct mailing in November and December possibly even January and February.

I really want to work it the best I can and think and play MASSIVELY this season on this. I had a day a couple of years ago where I profited $1000 in a day, but my trouble is I’m inconsistent.

I would appreciate any ideas you might have on this in creating a game plan. I dont want to let another big season slip away and I want to prepare and maximize this time.

Thanks again,
Aaron Swanson

My Response:

Hi Aaron:

Good morning. 

I think the time to start promoting gutter cleaning is right now.  We are about to hit a busy, busy time.  So now would be the perfect time to get the word out.  I would do a flyer distribution in 2 to 3 ideal tree filled locations within the next week and then go back and do ‘em again the 2nd week of october.  This should give you plenty of profits to invest in a postcard campaign or two also.  But again though, focus on just a few areas.  The biggest mistake I see people make is they try and cover too many areas.  I’ve had the biggest results come from repeatedly hammering  home my message to the best locations instead of spreading myself all over town.

Man….$1000 a day is just super.  Great job.  The only way to really make this kind of income consistent is with other people working with you.  With the proper training, they’ll make you a bunch of money.  That’s the only way I know of to consistently rake in that kind of money though on a regular basis.  We can all have individual profit days like what you described, but to do it day in and day out would require each of us to be superman.  :o )  It’s rough to keep that kind of pace going. 

It sounds like you’re ready to get yourself a system (game plan) going.  Have you ever listened to michael gerber’s emyth seminar tape program? Do a google search for "emyth seminar" and I’m sure you’ll find it. Great stuff.  But it’s important for all of us to create some kind of system for our business where we can have those $1000 days every day.  There’s no reason why we can’t.  I’m sure there are plenty of houses in your area that can support your services, especially when you throw gutter cleaning into the mix.

Anyway…I got off on a tangent.  :o )

Another service I would really, really recommend that you offer this time of year is christmas light installation.  You already have the ladders.  I charged a flat hourly on this.  So my hourly was $45 per hour to hang lights.  And I’d throw in a couple hours extra to cover the take down in january. Since you’re a member of The Customer Factor, use the personalization feature provided to prepare a letter to your customer base.  When you’re logged in, click on the "total" customer link in the navigation area, "check all" customers, and scroll down to click on the "personalize it!" button.  Then create yourself a personalized letter with a "new services" announcement.  Include gutter cleaning and christmas light installation.  If gutter cleaning isn’t necessarily a new service for your company, then the letter can focus more on "it’s that time of the year again" or something similar.  Know what I mean?  But using the personalization feature will allow you to easily print letters for all your customers with one click. 

I will say though that regardless whether it’s "new services" or a "it’s that time of the year" approach, I’d make an attempt throughout the year to stay in touch with each of your customers.  Just a "How are you" kind of letter.  I mailed out 6 to 8 greeting cards per customer per year.  The reason for this is because not only did these cards generate direct business, referrals, and customer goodwill, but when I then sent out a special announcement offering a new service (it might just be an old service repackaged as "new"), it makes it an easier sell because I kept in touch throughout the year. If you only stay in touch with the purpose of selling something, it’s a bit more difficult to make the sale. 

Anyway…prepare right now.  We are about to come up on the money season.  Next to march/april/may, the upcoming months are real profitable, so get yourself a flyer distribution out there, create a personalized letter announcing your services, and have fun!  Let’s see if you can turn a few more days into $1000 days.  :o )

Take care and have yourself a great day.

Regards,

Steve 

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