Card or leaflet dropping ettiquette.
Discussion
I'm looking to increase the scale of my side PC repair business. Nothing special, (the usual virus removal, internet setups and security etc), but I do it well - lots of referrals.
I'm in the FSB and have the required insurances should I knacker things up
I've just moved to a new area and I don't really know of any real competitors. I'm embroiled in a legal tussle with Thomson over them changing my ad from the proof, then still trying to charge me, but that is another story. I've also got a free ad on Yell.com which is performing quite well.
However, I live in a heavily residential area so I thought I would drop my business card into peoples' houses with a smile and a 30 second chat and ask them to keep my card in their desk drawer should they have some PC problems.
Is this appropriate, or should I just 'leaflet drop' the street with my card which is undoubtably faster. I reckon most of my cards will be alone on the mat as most people are home, so will have already binned the 100's of other junk mail.
So,
Is is appropriate to cold knock on peoples door and offer my card.
What time is best, I hate being interrupted mid tea for example.
Best to go with the 'I've moved into the area and I do XYZ' or 'I've just done some work down the road, so thought I would drop a few cards in whilst I'm in the area'
Should I get some leaflets printed, or are business cards OK to drop? Bit easier to blue tack to the side of the computer for easy reference than a leaflet.
I'm in the FSB and have the required insurances should I knacker things up
I've just moved to a new area and I don't really know of any real competitors. I'm embroiled in a legal tussle with Thomson over them changing my ad from the proof, then still trying to charge me, but that is another story. I've also got a free ad on Yell.com which is performing quite well.
However, I live in a heavily residential area so I thought I would drop my business card into peoples' houses with a smile and a 30 second chat and ask them to keep my card in their desk drawer should they have some PC problems.
Is this appropriate, or should I just 'leaflet drop' the street with my card which is undoubtably faster. I reckon most of my cards will be alone on the mat as most people are home, so will have already binned the 100's of other junk mail.
So,
Is is appropriate to cold knock on peoples door and offer my card.
What time is best, I hate being interrupted mid tea for example.
Best to go with the 'I've moved into the area and I do XYZ' or 'I've just done some work down the road, so thought I would drop a few cards in whilst I'm in the area'
Should I get some leaflets printed, or are business cards OK to drop? Bit easier to blue tack to the side of the computer for easy reference than a leaflet.
Magnets would stick to the side of a computer, and be a bit different to the usual junk that you get through the door. Not sure how much they would be, so might be a thing to give to people who do and have used you not someone who might.
Be worth talking to local council and schools, as not all dept have in house staff to sort techy problems.
Be worth talking to local council and schools, as not all dept have in house staff to sort techy problems.
TBH..I hate being 'sold to' on my own doorstep so I wouldnt be too happy if you knocked on my door.
Leaflets in newspapers get binned before even reading them but a seperate leaflet gets the once over in our house then kept if possibly needed (but more than likely gets forgotten about).
I would consider having mousemats with you logo on or USB sticks made then given out. Maybe door knocking but stating you arent selling but want to leave a 'gift' for future use.
Business clubs such as the BNI work to a fair degree depending on business type and there are usually a few around a single city/town.
Our local Chinese/Chish and Fips/Indian take away have boards with local businesses advertising which I am told does get a few punters.
Or try the local 'thebestof' .co.uk internet directory as they get some decent search engine results..
Good luck but I would try and find your USP as around here there are a fair few 'computer fixers' who do similar to you and then there are the 'students' doing similar to earn beer money etc
HTH
kev
Leaflets in newspapers get binned before even reading them but a seperate leaflet gets the once over in our house then kept if possibly needed (but more than likely gets forgotten about).
I would consider having mousemats with you logo on or USB sticks made then given out. Maybe door knocking but stating you arent selling but want to leave a 'gift' for future use.
Business clubs such as the BNI work to a fair degree depending on business type and there are usually a few around a single city/town.
Our local Chinese/Chish and Fips/Indian take away have boards with local businesses advertising which I am told does get a few punters.
Or try the local 'thebestof' .co.uk internet directory as they get some decent search engine results..
Good luck but I would try and find your USP as around here there are a fair few 'computer fixers' who do similar to you and then there are the 'students' doing similar to earn beer money etc
HTH
kev
The magnet idea is fantastic - I was sent a flat flexi fridge magnet with smarties on it advertising some credit card or another.
I never applied for the card, but then I don't do credit cards but I still kept it on my fridge for ages (no idea why, other than it was too nice to throw away!).
Most people do computers though, and if it had been a snazzy magnet for a PC repair firm with a nice image and their details on I would have probably kept it, and used it when the inevitable happens and I kill my machine.
On the other hand, all cards/leaflets etc that come in thru the front door gets unceremoniously binned - I don't have the time or inclination to sift thru crap after a hard day at work, and whilst I try to be as polite to door to door people, it smacks of either dodgy practices or desperation and again, I would be less inclined to use their services.
I never applied for the card, but then I don't do credit cards but I still kept it on my fridge for ages (no idea why, other than it was too nice to throw away!).
Most people do computers though, and if it had been a snazzy magnet for a PC repair firm with a nice image and their details on I would have probably kept it, and used it when the inevitable happens and I kill my machine.
On the other hand, all cards/leaflets etc that come in thru the front door gets unceremoniously binned - I don't have the time or inclination to sift thru crap after a hard day at work, and whilst I try to be as polite to door to door people, it smacks of either dodgy practices or desperation and again, I would be less inclined to use their services.
I'll look towards the magnet idea, I'll google some suppliers. Best not be too strong magnets though 
ETA: I've emailed a couple of the top google hits. Don't suppose anyone on PH can recommend someone, or even do this as their own business? Drop me a PM
ETA: I've emailed a couple of the top google hits. Don't suppose anyone on PH can recommend someone, or even do this as their own business? Drop me a PM
Edited by Taita on Tuesday 5th May 20:19
I got a promo frisbee the other day through the post.
came folded up in a little bag, and when you take it out POP it springs out flat and the custum graphics/message is on the circular surface.
deffo got my attention, but the cost was excessive for me imo. £1 each ( i think it was )
another thing you could try, is a good quality 350gsm leaflet shaped like a virus or bug, or anything really, people seem to give them slightly more attention than the average leaflet
If you want to do door to door knocking, one thing i have helped clients achieve, is to leaflet drop an area, so they can come round a few days later door knocking. that way the potential customer if interested in the leaflet, will be more likely to give you the time of day as they have already heard about you. even if its just a fuzzy memory in the back of their mind that they heard that company name before
came folded up in a little bag, and when you take it out POP it springs out flat and the custum graphics/message is on the circular surface.
deffo got my attention, but the cost was excessive for me imo. £1 each ( i think it was )
another thing you could try, is a good quality 350gsm leaflet shaped like a virus or bug, or anything really, people seem to give them slightly more attention than the average leaflet
If you want to do door to door knocking, one thing i have helped clients achieve, is to leaflet drop an area, so they can come round a few days later door knocking. that way the potential customer if interested in the leaflet, will be more likely to give you the time of day as they have already heard about you. even if its just a fuzzy memory in the back of their mind that they heard that company name before
Edited by SystemParanoia on Tuesday 5th May 20:40
got a sticker on my door that reads that I do not buy from the door, had some guy from some deaf kids organisation who wanted me to spend money on them, seems he had 3 deaf kids....he went away not soon after
knew a guy who had magnets for fliers, weak ones work well on the fridge - they seem flexible enough to print on
nice website taita, not so impressed on the lack of address details, anyone who has them removed from the internet databases as they are not a trader, whilst very obviously trading would not get my business
but good to see you have your full name listed
weird thing is that the other sites list your address, google maps show it to be on a corner of a road near some green space
knew a guy who had magnets for fliers, weak ones work well on the fridge - they seem flexible enough to print on
nice website taita, not so impressed on the lack of address details, anyone who has them removed from the internet databases as they are not a trader, whilst very obviously trading would not get my business
but good to see you have your full name listed
weird thing is that the other sites list your address, google maps show it to be on a corner of a road near some green space
The mouse mat idea is the best so far; my accountant gives them out with a tax calendar on it. It is nice to get something useful for a change, even if you never call you don't resent it.
That said, your web site would deffo lose me as a customer- by law you must have certain company details on the site, and I couldn't find them. I would assume the worst...
ETA- here you go: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/21/new_web_em...
That said, your web site would deffo lose me as a customer- by law you must have certain company details on the site, and I couldn't find them. I would assume the worst...
ETA- here you go: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/21/new_web_em...
Edited by grumbledoak on Tuesday 5th May 22:00
Scraggles said:
got a sticker on my door that reads that I do not buy from the door, had some guy from some deaf kids organisation who wanted me to spend money on them, seems he had 3 deaf kids....he went away not soon after
knew a guy who had magnets for fliers, weak ones work well on the fridge - they seem flexible enough to print on
nice website taita, not so impressed on the lack of address details, anyone who has them removed from the internet databases as they are not a trader, whilst very obviously trading would not get my business
but good to see you have your full name listed
weird thing is that the other sites list your address, google maps show it to be on a corner of a road near some green space
Forgot about the address bit, I'll jump on that tomorrow and update the ICANN details. Hmmm, I'm struggling to think of some green space really, near a canal maybe.knew a guy who had magnets for fliers, weak ones work well on the fridge - they seem flexible enough to print on
nice website taita, not so impressed on the lack of address details, anyone who has them removed from the internet databases as they are not a trader, whilst very obviously trading would not get my business
but good to see you have your full name listed
weird thing is that the other sites list your address, google maps show it to be on a corner of a road near some green space
Think I'll definitely pursue the magnet idea, will have to push hard for a good deal.
I'm a B2B IT bod full time, so just do consumer level stuff for extra beer tokens
grumbledoak said:
The mouse mat idea is the best so far; my accountant gives them out with a tax calendar on it. It is nice to get something useful for a change, even if you never call you don't resent it.
That said, your web site would deffo lose me as a customer- by law you must have certain company details on the site, and I couldn't find them. I would assume the worst...
ETA- here you go: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/21/new_web_em...
Have to be honest, I was completely ignorant of that. I'll make a note to update that. <whips out Notepad++>That said, your web site would deffo lose me as a customer- by law you must have certain company details on the site, and I couldn't find them. I would assume the worst...
ETA- here you go: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/21/new_web_em...
Edited by grumbledoak on Tuesday 5th May 22:00
Best of luck with it.SystemParanoia said:
I got a promo frisbee the other day through the post.
came folded up in a little bag, and when you take it out POP it springs out flat and the custum graphics/message is on the circular surface.
deffo got my attention, but the cost was excessive for me imo. £1 each ( i think it was )
another thing you could try, is a good quality 350gsm leaflet shaped like a virus or bug, or anything really, people seem to give them slightly more attention than the average leaflet
If you want to do door to door knocking, one thing i have helped clients achieve, is to leaflet drop an area, so they can come round a few days later door knocking. that way the potential customer if interested in the leaflet, will be more likely to give you the time of day as they have already heard about you. even if its just a fuzzy memory in the back of their mind that they heard that company name before
I got that frisbee thing too that you 'fling' around! - In a red pouch? I liked that!came folded up in a little bag, and when you take it out POP it springs out flat and the custum graphics/message is on the circular surface.
deffo got my attention, but the cost was excessive for me imo. £1 each ( i think it was )
another thing you could try, is a good quality 350gsm leaflet shaped like a virus or bug, or anything really, people seem to give them slightly more attention than the average leaflet
If you want to do door to door knocking, one thing i have helped clients achieve, is to leaflet drop an area, so they can come round a few days later door knocking. that way the potential customer if interested in the leaflet, will be more likely to give you the time of day as they have already heard about you. even if its just a fuzzy memory in the back of their mind that they heard that company name before
Edited by SystemParanoia on Tuesday 5th May 20:40
Timja said:
SystemParanoia said:
I got a promo frisbee the other day through the post.
came folded up in a little bag, and when you take it out POP it springs out flat and the custum graphics/message is on the circular surface.
deffo got my attention, but the cost was excessive for me imo. £1 each ( i think it was )
another thing you could try, is a good quality 350gsm leaflet shaped like a virus or bug, or anything really, people seem to give them slightly more attention than the average leaflet
If you want to do door to door knocking, one thing i have helped clients achieve, is to leaflet drop an area, so they can come round a few days later door knocking. that way the potential customer if interested in the leaflet, will be more likely to give you the time of day as they have already heard about you. even if its just a fuzzy memory in the back of their mind that they heard that company name before
I got that frisbee thing too that you 'fling' around! - In a red pouch? I liked that!came folded up in a little bag, and when you take it out POP it springs out flat and the custum graphics/message is on the circular surface.
deffo got my attention, but the cost was excessive for me imo. £1 each ( i think it was )
another thing you could try, is a good quality 350gsm leaflet shaped like a virus or bug, or anything really, people seem to give them slightly more attention than the average leaflet
If you want to do door to door knocking, one thing i have helped clients achieve, is to leaflet drop an area, so they can come round a few days later door knocking. that way the potential customer if interested in the leaflet, will be more likely to give you the time of day as they have already heard about you. even if its just a fuzzy memory in the back of their mind that they heard that company name before
Edited by SystemParanoia on Tuesday 5th May 20:40
loved it too, so did every client i showed... until i told em the price
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