thanks @racer ill have to look into joist this is a fist time hearing of it for me. that’s great ideas, I understand this stuff too, I just am so unorganized I feel like all the jobs ive done are 1 time gigs because ill never be able to follow up with them. I’m not keeping good records what so ever. I really just have to sit down and go through my contacts, put everything in order, play with gmail and understand the features it has to offer. it all sounds so simple but it truly gets overwhelming. ill be okay tho, I really appreciate everyone sharing their own struggles and how they overcame them. gives me hope for sure.
good to hear, I can put you on with my guy if interested haha. email is sent however, thanks again
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You didn’t come off as rude at all…believe me, as much as I complain about the phone ringing during the busy season, I worry about it not ringing in the slow season, even though I KNOW it will.
Those suggestions about emailing are pretty golden, by the way.
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I absolutely am. i was gonna ask via email. Lol. Please get me in touch. I usually use Fiverr for stuff like that, but in those emails I just put the most basic pictures. The ones you have are marketing gold if used right.
I do the door hangers and signs… I hit a neighbor hood put on hangers mail box flags.
signs… I put them on phone poles 7’ off the ground so dicks cant take them down as easy,
problem is wood poles are getting hard to find in the rich neighbor hoods…
I get more jobs when at a business and the front are dirty need cleaning…
I give them a door hanger has my info facebook page, phone number.
I now got a Bufflowildwings by asking, he wants it once a month.
He had a guy in Memphis doing it he likes local guy
All cause I asked and go in and have a few beers…
I now got Hobby Lobby just about there…
Taking to the Krogers guy he liked what I said
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Haha good to hear he’s an awesome guy I went to school with. Super fair rates too and he knows his stuff, just look at my door hangers!
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Those are good, but on the next round put a $25 dollar off coupon or something and leave a blank line or box where you can put an expiration date on it. Double D’s don’t just work well on ladies. Discounts and deadlines sell. Put another blank line for the address of the house you did or the neighbors name. You just multiply your social proof that way.
Do you care if I screen shot a copy of that email and share it here? May help someone else as well.
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yeah those were the first door hangers ive ever have made and I agree I would make a couple edits to them next time.
but yeah absolutely go for it that is more than ok
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he actually just messaged me back, website and contact info is
E: design@25gfx.com
P: 815.751.9417
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Emails like this are all I’ve ever sent. Easy to type up in Gmail in about 5 minutes. Then you just add your customer contacts into the BCC. Ship it out and get some calls.
Subject line: Our mind is in the gutter! (Because that’s how you’d get me to open an email)
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DOOR TO DOOR WORKS BUT SUCKS
When I was full-time painter and slow I went door to door asking if I can paint the rusty mailbox out front for $50. Not much money but 4 boxes a day is $1000 a week. When you get one yes they will also ask hey can you do this I have this needs painted etc. That $50 can turn into a grand for a single job real fast. All I needed to get my foot in the door was sandpaper and either white or black paint for metal.
$30 in materials made me $100s and $100s same concept with bleach I guess haha
Breathe man don’t go for the home run. Slow and steady wins the race.
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YES! especially the last sentence. I see all this fancy soft wash truck mounted systems and I just want it all. ill get there I just want the jobs its very unsettling not knowing if you can make rent this month ya know? door to door sucks yes, but it might be my only option, that and cold calling
A .300 batting average still gets you in the hall of fame and singles win World Series. Just ask the 2015 Royals.
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Upselling and marketing will make you more money than the fanciest machines. We threw a bunch at you in here, but if you’ve got the time take 10 minutes, no more to summarize it. Come back for details when you get stuck.
For example
- Knock on doors.
- Whatever comes next.
- Whatever comes after that.
And just start getting after it. Action wins. This time next year someone will come back to this post and you’ll throw something new at them that helped get you to a completely different level in your business. Like I said before. We’re pulling for you.
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cool man you guys rock, ill come back after I take action and really use everyones advice. I’m sure ill have great feedback. thanks again guys.
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Very good advice…listen to him.
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I am so glad you posted this @John_Lange! I am in the same boat. I was so busy this summer that I had to turn down jobs or sub them out, until 2 weeks ago…my phone died. COMPLETELY! No calls, no jobs and dead end leads. I’m relieved to hear that August is the slowest month. Home Advisor made me a lot of money in just a few weeks, now I’m getting nothing from them. I hope @squidskc is right about the down time…otherwise I’m going to hate him for his praise of Home Advisor 
Anyway, thanks for the post! And thank you to all that have contributed. I now have a little hope and will be pounding the pavement in the morning going door to door with my flyers.
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Hey John,
After reading this thread, there are 2 points that come to mind.
- Focus on one thing at a time. You are all over the place and are in a panic. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and spend 15 minutes imagining what you want to be doing.
Window cleaning is simple. It is not expensive to start and commercial/ storefront will get you year round/steady work, as well as residential. Then focus on adding.
I will tell you that power washing etc, is a money pit to start up, as well as constant maintenance of equipment.
- You are sabotaging yourself with negative self-talk. This is your biggest obstacle. Telling yourself your no good at things, etc is destroying you. You have strengths and gifts and talents unique to you. What are they? Use those to your advantage.
It is good that at the end of the thread you seem poised to take positive action. Follow through and you will see results. Wish you the best!
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Back to school man. People are more worried about paying for school clothes and have orientation, school shopping, end of summer vacations. If it makes you feel better I haven’t gotten a lead from them in a week and a half either. 
Before that it’d be dang near daily.
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That does make me feel better actually. I was telling my wife last night that the lack of leads may be due to back to school shopping and end of summer vacations. I hope you (and I) are right about that! This is obviously my first year in business, is August always this slow?
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