First you need to decide on a target. WHO do you want to remember your name? We discovered early on that our two best groups of customers were retired folks and family with children and pets.

We got involved with PTA and similar organizations in fund raisers for schools. Gave away free room of carpet cleaning to the different fund raising auctions and so forth.

Then we cleaned main room in senior citizens center at no cost and got a little sign put up to thank us for doing the work.

When we wanted to get know to the business folks, we joined chamber of commerce and got active; I pushed to bring Parteners-in Education program to our country, was active in the beautification council and giving awards to nice homes and gardens.

People will remember working with you personally and your efforts to help more than they will remember an ad.

Scott has some good "idears". (This is how they say it down in Tennessee.) However, don't overlook the tried and true conspicuus lettering of your vehicles. Especially in a smaller market like Scott and I operated in this can have a huge impact and you only pay once!

Steve
www.StrategiesForSuccess.com

PS One suggestion- don't get too carried away with the possibilities that a wrap offers you. some are so muddied up visually it is tough to pick out the name and phone number of the company or even what they do!

The #1 way I have found to get your name out there is to make your customers happy. I try to not only discuss carpet cleaning with my customers but "life" as well. I ask them about their kids, jobs, pets or anything that will get the customer to talk with me to try and build a relationship with them. I will then talk with them about my "life" experiences if the right topic is brought up. There are a lot of "good" cleaners out there. They can clean carpet as well as the rest of us so don't just rely on your cleaning skills but try to work on your people skills too. I don't want to just be considered a cleaner. I see many of my customers as friends and that is how ALL of them should be treated. Making your customers feel they know you and not just what you do is the best way to keep them using and referring you.

Of course you have to do a good job too!

Well, doing good work and referals are a good start...BUT you really need to make yourself visable and somehow distinguish yourself from every white van driving around on the streets. For the last 15 years, our trucks have all had a yellow light bar on the roof, whenever the vehicle is in a visable location those lights are turning.

Most people are ambulance chasers and will slow down and look just because of the lights, they sure do attract attention and have some safety value too! You can buy a quality bar for 500-800 and it will be the cheapest promotional expense you ever saw. If you do it, do not go high end with the LED bars, they do not show well during the day, plain old halogen lights and rotators are the best. Try it, you won't just like it you will love it...

Nice tip Steven! I wonder if it is legal in all states? I have thought of doing this too in a different way though. I was thinking of adding led lights to the sides to shine up on the logos on the truck in some way for night time.

Jason, I'm not sure about other states, but here in MA as long as we don't use red or blue, we are OK

Something I am trying to get going is giving my customers window stickers. This goes in their car or the window by their front door. What mine will say is something like.... "Our home is cared for and cleaned by...." Use my logo. Obviously you can use what ever you want. But this will help your name be visible all day long in different areas all at the same time.

Well I basically network first with the local business chapters. I am involved in the school district PTO, I sponsor little league teams, soccer, and donate services to the local PTO carnival. this year we set up an ultrasonic blind cleaner at the golf course and invited people to have their clubs cleaned. I had the local scout pack assist me and then donated all of the funds to the local pack. This works really well for my blind business.

I also have a "kiddie train" that I enter in local parades, fairs and events. I pull these 7 little trailers all over the place and it has a 4x7 banner on a frame trailer pulling behind it. peopla always remember this little unit. In fact I will be pulling it the fourth in the local parade. I will post some pictures of it Sunday. this thing is worth a million bucks in advertising. I go to the park and offer free rides in it. Each kid gets a helium balloon, a sack of candy in a bag with the company name on it, and a card for a free room cleaning. I was surprised at how much business it brought me in this spring. Even today, I am getting calls from it.

I also talk to neighbors while on jobs, socialize introduce myself to them and offer a free room cleaning. I am also sponsoring a golf outing for the local Easter seals. This always brings in business for the blind company, high end customers...

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r...mer2009026.jpg

Here it is before I decorate it.