Here’s a Great Way to Energize Your Window Cleaning Sales!
I recently received an email from a window cleaner asking if I had any suggestions on how we can get a jump start to the spring time. There are many ways to do it, but one of the best is listed below. It does require you to have some kind of a customer base in place though, so if you have no customers currently because you’re just starting your window cleaning business, I’ll catch you in the next tip. 
The way to do it is to send out a systematic mailing campaign to your customer list announcing a special offer with a clear cut expiration date on the offer. I was never a big fan of building my business around “price” because that generally turns your business into just another commodity. However there’s no denying that a special offer combined with an expiration date works!
And with springtime almost here, this is the time to launch what I’m about to talk about.
To start with, you should always mail multiple times. A one time mailing isn’t going to cut it. So you have to plan a mailing of at least 3 times, preferably 4. The time frames can be something like this: March 9, March 25, April 10, and April 28th.
So 4 times your customers will receive your letter. The key though is to make the offer end on April 30th. So each letter will reference the April 30th expiration date. As far as the offer itself, you can make it a dollar amount or you can offer another service totally free. I would probably go with the dollar route by offering $50 off or something similar. If a particular job wasn’t too much, then make it $25 off.
You need to emphasize within the letters that this is strictly a one time offer and it’s good for one window cleaning. The last thing you want to do is have the customer expect you to honor that special offer on their next window cleaning, the one after that, etc. etc.
Ok…as far as the actual wording of the letter, I would say something like this:
Dear Nancy,
I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to first thank you for your past window cleaning business. We’ve served the greater (your location here) area now for 4 years and we value your patronage. Our goal is to provide all of our customers a crystal clear view again. Dirty glass can also detract from a home’s appearance so getting your windows cleaned is the absolute best way to spruce up your home.
Next, I’d like to mention that we have an exciting special that our company is offering of $50 off on your next window cleaning job (in and out). There is no better time to get your windows sparkling clean then springtime. But this special ends on April 30, so it’s important to act quickly. I do expect appointment slots to fill up fast.
Please visit http://www.yourwebsitehere.com/ for more information.
Thank you once again for your previous business and we hope to see you soon! Take care and have a great day.
Your Name
Your Company Name
You’ll notice I included your website address in the letter. It’s really important that you get your customers to your website. If customers call you direct from the letter, that’s great. But it’s much better if they visit your website. More effective. If you don’t have a website yet, then you need to get one up as soon as possible. You can start off by using the free website templates available in The Download Center.
You should name your webpage (the one that talks about the special offer) something like “specialoffer.htm”, so the entire url for the special offer webpage would be something like:
http://www.yourwebsitehere.com/specialoffer.htm
I didn’t include this entire url in the letter because when anyone visits your website’s home page, you should have a link that they can click on which will automatically take them to the special offer web page. It should say something like this:
Check Out Our Window Cleaning Special. Ending April 30! (Note: Don’t click this link. This is only an example. If you click, it’ll take you to a “not found” page.)
Every single web page of your website should actually include the above link (don’t forget to remove ‘em though when the special is over). Something to be aware of is that although you’re sending out letters to your existing customer base of window cleaning customers, you really don’t know who else might visit your site from the search engines. Or maybe some customers of yours give your web address to other people who might have an interest. So keep this in mind. You’re sending out a letter to your customers, but you can easily wind up doing window cleaning jobs for other people.
This internet specials page might give you an idea or two you can use.
http://www.thecustomerfactor.com/clearview6/internetspecials.htm
As mentioned this letter ideally should be sent 4 times. So let’s look at an example 2nd letter that you might send:
Dear Nancy,
Hello once again! I know that people get busy and life gets in the way, so I just wanted to send you a quick reminder about our $50 off one time special offer on your next window cleaning. People are in spring cleaning mode this time of year, so this is a great way to get worry free sparkling clean glass and be the pride of your neighborhood.
Keep in mind that this special offer does end on April 30, so it’s important you call us by that date. Actually our appointment slots are filling up fast, so the sooner you call, the sooner you can take advantage of our special and the sooner you can enjoy crystal clear windows.
Please visit http://www.yourwebsitehere.com/ for more information.
In closing, I’d like to thank you for your window cleaning business in the past. We appreciate the patronage of our customers. Take care and have a wonderful day.
Your Name
Your Company Name
P.S. Don’t forget that our special offer ends on April 30!
Based off the above 2 example letters, I’m sure you can get an idea for the last 2 letters.
Does the above take work? You bet! But the results are what matters, right? If you put in the small amount of effort and can spend a few bucks on postage, then it’s the perfect way to jump start your business as we head into the spring.
As a side note, The Customer Factor has a feature specifically geared towards this sort of thing where you can print personalized letters with one click. All you have to do is search for “all” customers and get them on a search results screen. Then you click a “personalize it” button, choose the letter you want to send, and print it.
Here’s a screenshot:
And as you’ll notice you can then easily click the “print” button at the right to send labels for all the customers you’re printing letters for. Can’t get any easier then this. So if you’re not a member yet, I’d recommend that you check it out here.
Have a profitable day!
Regards,
Steve
