Cleaning services business

[Flashpmk1]

Hi all looking for advice,

I'm looking to start my first part time "services" business (weekends, maybe evenings) with the future hope of going full time. What I am looking in to doing is window cleaning and conservatory cleaning (traditional way), gutter cleaning, fascia and soffit cleaning, lawn mowing, hedge trimming. I know I will require public liability insurance to cover myself for damages (touch wood there isn't any). The cost for setting up are not to big but the problem I have is this is my first time starting a business and I'm really not sure what to do past the idea phase... I worked out prices and cost for jobs and such.

My marketing plan is to get leaflets made up with my list of services go out and pound the streets canvassing, using the like of gumtree, getting a website made (maybe using Wordpress.org for a basic page), handing out business cards where possible.

Just wondering if anyone could add what they think? Positive or negative....

 

[mustoewebcreation]

As I deal with websites can can offer you some online advice.

I have created websites for window cleaning businesses and also assisted in optimizing sites for google search results.

Get a small website:
Then Get your business on yell.com this is where most of the enquiries come from. Have a good business description and list of services.
Get you website optimized:
type in "office cleaning sunderland"
you will see: theofficecleaningcompany maybe 2nd on google.
A website optimized for cleaning services in sunderland.

 

[Alan]

Although I also sell inexpensive websites, I would say that the most important method of marketing for you to start with will be leaflets, and may be very local (e.g. parish magazine) print advertising.

Of course get a website, every business really should have one, but don't expect it to bring in all your business unless you commit serious effort to online marketing.

 

[BusinessTeam]

Good morning,

Leaflets are a really effective way of getting the message out there for this type of business. You might want to think of an offer to draw regular customers to try your service, for example first clean for free etc.

Make sure potential clients can reach you on the contact methods you publish, if you work during the day and are unable to take calls it is unlikely that new clients would leave a message so you might want to consider an answering service. A basic website and email is a must in today's world and you should be able to arrange a basic site very cheaply.

Feel free to PM us if you need any advice regarding getting a telephone number/call answering etc - we recommend www.voipfone.co.uk for a virtual number as they get lots of good reviews on this and other forums.

Richard

 

[Successukdotcom]

The sooner you get a 4 page website the better as it takes time to rise up the search engine rankings.

Wordpress is ok as a blog, but true website design by companies that offer small websites fully search engine friendly are often the best as you need to get the website steaming up the search engines so you can be found by generic searches for your business as well as by your domain.

Please do remember advertising is probably your biggest cost - newspapers, flyers, etc etc and websites and out of these websites are the all round 24/7 advert to your business and because most people are lazy, the internet works so well at their fingertips.

You can obtain a good 4 page website form as little as under £400 including domain, hosting and content so pick wisely.

 

[Alan]

Wordpress is ok as a blog, but true website design by companies that offer small websites fully search engine friendly are often the best as you need to get the website steaming up the search engines so you can be found by generic searches for your business as well as by your domain.

Dangerous implying that web designers that use Wordpress are not 'real web designers' in your opinion.

As for google rankings, your very own website only scores 43% using a well known SEO measuring tool, where as most 'out of the box' Wordpress sites will score at least 50%,. This is fact not opinion.

 

[Faevilangel]

Wordpress is more than a blog, it's so much more due to it's flexibility.

I develop sites using wp but it's only the base and I develop additional tools on top which add more features to.the site.

The benefit of using wp is that the website is cheaper as I have a base to start from and don't need to keep updating it as it's.done by the development teams for free.

Sent from my HTC Desire using UK Business Forums

 

[Successukdotcom]

Your right it is just my opinion and indeed based on previous security leaks to 3rd party products, it can make the difference between make or break for a small to medium size business if the website is corrupted ergo the protection of the client is pararmount - In no way did I say "web designers that use Wordpress are not 'real web designers' " although some in truth are not coders.

I guess it should be based upon proven results for generic search terms, for which mine appears on the first page of Google day after day after day.....
of about 1,420,000 results on page 1 - Btw I use no tools to generate those results. and afterall results count above statistics dont they?
I know which type of supplier I would consider - it is all a matter of choice.

 

[ITsoldUK]

Your right it is just my opinion and indeed based on previous security leaks to 3rd party products, it can make the difference between make or break for a small to medium size business if the website is corrupted ergo the protection of the client is pararmount - In no way did I say "web designers that use Wordpress are not 'real web designers' " although some in truth are not coders.

Care to quote some references?

Any website, even your efforts can be hacked if they are not maintained or indeed locked down at release.

As for not being coders, come on...I have used J! and WP (both OS) for the best part of 10 years as they provide a platform for me to develop on (with coded applications using my BSc gained over 5 years dude).

Using them as a platform it saves me time and the client money...period.

 

[ITsoldUK]

The sooner you get a 4 page website the better as it takes time to rise up the search engine rankings.

Wordpress is ok as a blog, but true website design by companies that offer small websites fully search engine friendly are often the best as you need to get the website steaming up the search engines so you can be found by generic searches for your business as well as by your domain.

Really?

If you are aiming to punt your services here on UKBF my friend, you really need to ensure you post accurate and informed data and not just badly thought out, ill educated nonsense.

People read these posts and they will think some of what you say is true and they will be steered down a blind alley.

We come on here to help and advise not just post to promote our services but if they choose to use us then fine, but at lease we have the decency to PAY to support UKBF and add our websites to posts...

 

[Successukdotcom]

Really?

If you are aiming to punt your services here on UKBF my friend, you really need to ensure you post accurate and informed data and not just badly thought out, ill educated nonsense.

People read these posts and they will think some of what you say is true and they will be steered down a blind alley.

We come on here to help and advise not just post to promote our services but if they choose to use us then fine, but at lease we have the decency to PAY to support UKBF and add our websites to posts...

Well as today being my "test in the water" of the forum, naturally I have not joined on day one.

I am interested to see if all points of view are accepted. There is room for each and every business and each and every point of view. I have not slagged off anybody on this forum, I have an opinion, and so do others of which we are all entitled.

I am sorry if you do not think what I am saying is possible, but I do have over 20 years of experience to push towards my opinion.