Thread: Your opinion of the 2 most important ways to promote your carpet cleaning business????

I read on a lot that you don't need a to advertise. It's a waste of money. So in your opinion what is the 2 most important ways to promote your business. From what I gather on here is a website and van appearence. Now is not advertising true from a start up point all the way into multi truck operations. I just don't see how a start up can not advertise at all and get business. Or atleast enough business to stay busy full time. After a few years of steady business I can see having enough return business and referrals, but not right off the bat.

The best and most cost effective ways I have found is Google Places (Cost FREE)

And building relationships with groups, clubs, centers of influences, associations and other businesses in your community.(Cost Not much or FREE)

Although these forms of getting the word out is almost nothing.

They can produce more clients than very costly advertising.


Save your money and start building friendships with the people that count

1. Properly optimized website
2. Well designed targeted direct mail. Not ValPak which is neither.

Presentation overall is the most important. Look nice, present yourself nice, be polite and friendly, and go above and beyond.

Website and a nice vehicle are important as well. Although I REALLY don't think a wrap is necessary and can even be perceived by some as too flamboyant. (myself included). Just a nice clean, professional vehicle will do just fine.

Sam, there is no set fix for getting business generated. In some instances a website is pure waste of time. Now If you live in Houston and there is a superior presence of online ads generated on tv ads. Van wraps are indeed pretty to look at. If not done right, its an absolute waste of money, time. A simple logo with art like the Clean Image Carpet Care posted above. Is a gold mine. anything more.. you getting a con-job.

Simply put. It is trial and error. Post a service directory ad with local newspaper. oIt might work this month and nothing the next month. Val-Pak ads. dont even waste your money on it. Yellow pages, pros and cons. But then again. A customer doesnt know you exist. Your objective is to make yourself known.
I am sorry this is lengthy.
A cheap and extremely effective way to be seen. Get your huge, easy to see, wrap or lettering done. goto your parts store, get some xenon strobes, white, orange work best, install them and goto the mall parking lot, sit there or not with the strobes going. anyone driving by will look I promise you that much.
I saw 6 business' do this during our depression here. and they are thriving today, I even had to do it too. It can be any lot with people and alot of traffic nearby.

my working ad break down for my area is "Rural" the other area is "Modern hipster city"
86% yellow book, ya gotta do it big! $12K a year.
1/2% online website
3% paper ads and they always want it free or close to it.
the rest is word of mouth.

Thanks everyone. Kinda what I was thinking, but see a lot of copmments that advertising is awaste of money. I have been trying a bunch of different advertising and seeing what works in my area but just wanted everyones thoughts. Most of the successful guys in this area do absolutely no advertising, that I can find, but also been in business for many many years.

I say word of mouth and these days a good website. Tell everyone you know about your business.. Keep handing out business cards.. More know what you do more will call...

My biggest success over the summer has been wearing my shirt or the van, more then the web op, website, craigslist. I usually wear my shirt ALL the time. In fact, my wife has to tell me to change my clothes because she's sick of seeing the shirt. I've also have my business cards located on my van so whenever I go to a car wash(even though I won't need it), I'll park where everyone is drying their cars and just re clean my van real slow so people can walk up and say "hey, you clean carpet, blah blah blah".

I would love to have new vinyl put on my van, I went the cheap route and had someone do it for $300.00 and it was just basic lettering, and the more and more I see wraps on this site and even 3/4 setups, the more I want to redo the van.

To me, the van is a very important part of the visual aspect of this industry, I know some may say a full wrap isn't worth two in the bush, but, I have to disagree. If you look at Rob's new wrap, that thing is a bill board on wheels. Constant advertising, I'd get stuck in traffic on purpose.

For us the local newspaper has always generated us lots of work. It's costly though $150/month. Other than that I agree with the company shirts.

You'd be VERY lucky to get 10 years out of a wrap.

I did buy some small stick on card holders that are on the side of my van. Just put 5 or 10 cards in them and replace when empty or they get to looking bad. I get a lot of comments about them. Found them on ebay for a couple bucks.

I am working on relettering my van. I get pretty good deals on lettering since she does all my racecars. The stuff on it now is on both sides and the back and it cost me 100 bucks. It's just not big enough and I have a logo being designed so when it's done I will have my van redone.

I do have polo shirts I work in, but am working on some t-shirts too. I should have my new racing shirts next week, then the guy is working on t-shirt art for company. I will be giving all those out to my friends and family to wear around. I have my name on the side of my racecars and get a lot of speaker time at the tracks which has helped a little and it's free. I got my name on a few cars that I have done body work for or setup help.

Originally Posted by shane deubell

Half wrap should only cost about $2,000, if you spread out over 10 years, no brainer

The key is not letting these crazy wrap guys do the design work
Rob's is nice

I've begun to price around town. Found 2 companies that will do a complete full wrap for around $2500. That includes design and everything. I've seen some nice 3/4 wraps, Tom(Service Trust) has a nice looking setup on his van. I've shown pictures of his van to a few places and they've quoted me between $1000-$1800. I have several things I need to do before making this sort of move.

1. Get more business(Doing 1 job over the last several weeks, isn't going to cut it)
2. Buy another van (with ac & heat)
3. Wrap time.

Originally Posted by Elite Carpet Cleaning

I am working on relettering my van. I get pretty good deals on lettering since she does all my racecars. The stuff on it now is on both sides and the back and it cost me 100 bucks. It's just not big enough and I have a logo being designed so when it's done I will have my van redone.

see if you can get a 2 for 1 deal!

HAHAHA I bring her a lot of racecar business so she takes care of me. The other car I drive has a full wrap on it and it is wrapped like a cowhide. It is pretty neat. The guy ownes a cattle buisness so it fits. Everyone knows it as the flyin cowhide.

Good point. Never thought about doing that.