I’m thinking about running some specials on Angieslist for the spring. I’ve done some gutter cleaning and window cleaning deals, and didn’t come out too well on those, except for some upsells.
Have any of you guys done well with a power washing special through Angieslist? I’m REALLY on the fence about this, so ALL input is welcome!
Thank you!
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
Today, just like everyday it seems, angies list called me wanting me to advertise with them. I always tell them I want nothing to do with them or their customers. They are a racket.
We give discounts to Military active & retired…other than that I’m not looking for the bargain shopper customer. Never really looked into AL, we do just fine without her…just saying
I really like the customers I deal with from angieslist, but the company is full of bait-and-switch experts! When I posted the OP this morning I had just gotten off the phone with the guy who sold me on the first few Big Deals I ran, but some time to think and a conversation with my wife helps me remember that they are a rip-off. Their minimum commission is 30% and most deals give them an average of 40-45%, and that’s taken from a 50% off price! They are a bunch of crooks, BUT…I have been able to upsell a lot!..That’s where my dilemma is…
Do I take a chance on my other efforts to gain new customers paying off, or let angieslist rip me off so I can gain new customers that way?? This is especially hard to decide on this time of year…
Here’s why I’m thinking this way:
I just lost a bid on doing the roof, two decks (one is tree), driveway, brick paver walkway (that goes around the entire house), and the house wash in a two story, 5000+ square foot house. I was bidding against 3 other “PRESSURE Washing” companies…They ALL bid $1000 on that job!!! The guy who won the job told the homeowner he’s gonna do the roof (10/12 pitch) with a pump sprayer…How do I compete with that!!! To be competitive, I cut my bid by 30% before the homeowner told me the other companies’ prices. I explained to him that there is NO WAY they can even do JUST the roof PROPERLY for that price without taking a loss, which I will not do…That put me in panic mode…
THAT is why I’m considering letting Angie rip me off to get a foot in the door…What would you do in this situation?..(I’m going nuts here!)
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
“Tree” in the above post was supposed to be “trex”
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
So here’s what I see…But, If, maybe, rip-off, 30, 40, 45, 50% commission, cut my bid 30%…and so on.
And here’s my question(s)…Where’s your Google Maps page? You’ve got a pretty good website, why aren’t you ranking on the first page? Sounds like you need to “Bone Up” on your salesmanship (No Disrespect). You don’t/can’t compete with low price, low margin jobs and stay in business (if this is “all” you do for a living). What’s your marketing plan look like? Relying on AL is not a marketing plan. How “Visible” are you in your market? Are you as efficient in your methods (Cleaning/Washing) to make you more competitive without huge profit loss?
I’m no expert, but I don’t think you’re not that far off from not having to worry about AL or anyone else…Something isn’t clicking in your business model…time to step back and reevaluate where the problem really lays.
Just my $.02
Thanks for your input, GuyB, when you speak, I listen! As far as Google maps, I have been round and round trying to get listed. I was in there, but since I sold my house and moved, for some reason I cannot get back on there…I will work in that some more this week
As for my website not ranking: I was 1st page on Google as a Window Cleaner who power washes, but I just re-did the home-page to reflect my being a Power Washer who also cleans windows, so our SEO got set back a bit.
My marketing plan is not anywhere near where it should be. I’ve been doing a lot of reading here and on PRState, so what I’m looking at right now is this: Website, Signs, Brochures and LOTS of D-T-D time (one of your PRState posts from last spring gave me some great ideas to use for door to door) I plan on offering some “free sample” roof cleaning as part of my D-T-D sales too. Other than that, I have to say my marketing plan is non-existent…and I am VERY open to your $.02!
I should also admit that AL is my panic response, like “I can’t get my own work, I’d better use them so I can get lots of work and do it for free”…I hate my panic response.
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
“PRState” was a type-o…I meant PTState
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
LOL . There is a company down here that does the big deal for driveway cleaning. $49 for a two car driveway and fifty feet of sidewalks. If Angies list is taking 30% that means he is doing driveways for $34! He has been doing this deal for at least 2 years, off and on. What the heck is going on, I know this is the land of lowballing, but $34 for driveways…GEEZ. I thought about doing Angie’s list, but this thread has put an end to that.
It really is that bad…his only saving grace would be getting other work to do at those houses. Plus, I think they take 40 or 45% for power washing, so he’s only GROSSING $25 for that!
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
OK, here we go (again I’m not an expert)…#1…Start with your SEO…Call Anya… Web Design & Marketing | Ambidextrous Services | 919-975-4942…and have them take over, she’ll fix everything. It will be cheaper than paying AL and work 24/7/365 and pay off in no time.
You really need to decide whether you’re a Pressure Washing Company that offers window cleaning…or the other way around and market that way. How do you know which way to go?..The one that brings in the bulk of your profits, up-sell the other… Seo to your strength.
I don’t see a vehicle in any of your pictures…What does your work vehicle look like? Graphics???
BBB Member? Great for marketing.
Brochures? Absolutely! Tri-Fold, Simple, plenty of pictures, get 5000 and hand them out like candy…Please do not design them yourself, let a Pro handle it.
Not a fan of giving out “Free” services…demoing a roof cleaning costs too much money IMO and seems desperate. We haven’t demoed anything in years, because of our reputation… we don’t have to (not bragging) build your reputation.
AL, Groupon, etc. make tons of money from business owners that have little or no marketing plan…Don’t Give Them Your Money!!!
Thanks much for your help GuyB. I’m with Hatch right now, and I’ve been pretty happy with them. They took me from no website to 1st page in just over two months, so I’m gonna stick with them for now.
I have no vehicle pics yet because my truck looks like junk and I don’t want that to be the first thing people see…I will be putting signs on it, but for now it’s better left off the website.
I will look into BBB…hadn’t given it much thought, thanks for the suggestion!
As far as demoing, I was thinking of doing like a 4’ square right in the middle of the worst & most readily visible spot on someone’s roof…some of the guys on WCR said they’ve had good success with that and I figured it would be a good way to keep from wasting a little bit of left-over roof mix at the end of the day…If you and I are on the same page about what I mean by “demoing” and you still say it sounds desperate, then I guess I’ll scrap that idea.
As far as my services, I am ALL IN as a power washing company PRIMARILY (I’m offering PW, RC, WC, GC, Awning Cleaning, in that order) I’m working up some “package deals” (like WC with a housewash) and I’ve got several of those on the books as soon as the weather allows it.
As far as brochures…PWRA all the way!
AL is now out of the question for me, and Groupon never was even considered.
Thank you again for all the helpful suggestions…Please keep em coming!
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
spring time is usually the busiest time of year, when the highest margin jobs are easiest to get, don’t give it away.
I won’t… Thank you guys for the advice and reassurance!
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
Your work vehicle is an important part of your marketing, it can give a customer (or customers) a first impression of your business…and there’s no second chances for first impressions.
How can you sell a customer on the importance and value of of a clean property when you show up in a “Truck That Looks Like Junk”??? It’s what they see when you do an estimate or show up for work, right? It doesn’t have to be new or expensive…but it does need to be presentable.
While some may disagree, if you’re selling “Professionalism” you should look like one…from what you wear, to how you talk…and yes, to what you drive…Marketing…Visibility…Presentation.
Believe it or not, I don’t own a “Personal Vehicle” and haven’t since we started our business. For the last 8 years I’ve driven one of our vans or box truck around. To wally world, to the grocery store, to the movies, fairs, festivals…everywhere…Visibility!!!
I knew that was coming, and I agree with you completely.
Thing is, a new/different truck is absolutely out of the question for me right now. I left a full time job last year to do this full time, but I haven’t been on my own long enough for the bank to give me a loan yet.
I do keep it clean and presentable, it’s just not new and shiny.
Here’s a picture of it, minus the yet-to-be-installed signs
Would you recommend going ahead and putting it on my website once the signs are installed, or waiting until I can get something that looks more professional?
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
Jesse, you can wrap that truck and be just fine, your trucks not that bad at all…I think they call it a 3/4 wrap. Pro design & wrap should be under $1000…The return will more than make up for the expense.
You can’t catch a fish if you don’t put the worm in the water…The fish don’t bite unless he sees the bait…Presentation.
Thank you GuyB. I looked into getting it wrapped, but it’s painted with spray-on bedliner (insert redneck joke here: ), so they said they can’t wrap it. I am getting ready to mount signs that match the size of the ladder rack frame, and I think that will help a bit. The truck is on it’s last leg, so I’m planning on replacing next year, hopefully.
So to make sure I have it straight, you DON’T think it would be a bad idea to have a picture of it on my website?
Jesse
Atlas Services
Exterior Cleaning Specialists
North Carolina
Website, and website again.
There’s only two of us in the county that have websites. We pop up above everybody else that only has a Facebook page, yellowbook page, home advisor, etc. Throw a Google local/business page in there with it and you’re set.
I have Facebook, the website, Google Local, a local business page and the pwra directory. All are almost always on the first page.
No I don’t think it would be a bad idea, just don’t get some jacked up signage. Clean the rims & shine the tires
A truck without graphics is like a business card that’s printed on just 1 side…Wasted Marketing.
