Door Knocking 101

 
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Old 08-10-2009, 08:01 PM   #141
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Re: Door Knocking 101


Ok first week wrapped up with 8 guys on a canvas crew only working 6 guys average each day. We booked 73 appointments. Not bad for a first week.

The average cost is about 35.00 each.. Not counting me

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Old 08-10-2009, 11:03 PM   #142
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Re: Door Knocking 101


Over the weekend... Sold 2 jobs.... 4 called today to say start when you can.

6 jobs for over 9k in work. Still many more bids sitting out there.

I figure in 2 days I sold roughly 2 weeks worth of work said and done. I am set on door knocking, and I am getting much better at it.
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Old 08-10-2009, 11:53 PM   #143
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Re: Door Knocking 101


There is no doubt door knocking works. Keep up the good work. We set 14 appts today.
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Old 08-11-2009, 11:43 AM   #144
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Re: Door Knocking 101


I need to get in on this door knocking stuff.

I spent about 30k on ads so far this year, and right now I have zero leads with a 1.5 week backlog.

Tell me, wpco7834, how does a guy go about get these canvessers? Are there many outfits that I can sub out to? That is what you do, right?
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Old 08-11-2009, 12:09 PM   #145
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Re: Door Knocking 101


Quote:
Originally Posted by SeamlessGutters View Post
Over the weekend... Sold 2 jobs.... 4 called today to say start when you can.

6 jobs for over 9k in work. Still many more bids sitting out there.

I figure in 2 days I sold roughly 2 weeks worth of work said and done. I am set on door knocking, and I am getting much better at it.


How many doors is it taking to get these numbers? What kind of ratio are you seeing?
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Old 08-11-2009, 12:47 PM   #146
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Re: Door Knocking 101


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Originally Posted by outlaw View Post
I need to get in on this door knocking stuff.

I spent about 30k on ads so far this year, and right now I have zero leads with a 1.5 week backlog.

Tell me, wpco7834, how does a guy go about get these canvessers? Are there many outfits that I can sub out to? That is what you do, right?
I use the internet and sometimes the newspaper to recruit the canvassers. I know of only one outfit that will canvass for you. They are called smart circle. I have some clients that have used them in the past but most perfer to have a in house crew that does it.

Just imagine having a part time or full time employee who has only one job to do for you. Pass out advertisements and book appointments.

I spoke with someone the other day that used a coupon mailer that cost 5k to run. I think he said he only booked a couple of appointments. I could take that same money and book 10 times the amount of appointments without much effort.

Pleas do not misunderstand me about advertising. I recommend several sources to generate leads. I do not believe in putting all my eggs in 1 basket.

My experience is that canvassing can generate more leads than any other source of advertising. I would not rely on it by itself if you really want to grow your company. If you are not using canvassing, I think you are missing the boat.

I have a passion for generating leads. This is what it takes to be successful.
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Old 08-11-2009, 11:01 PM   #147
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Re: Door Knocking 101


I would say less than a hundred actual "knock and answer" but usually you get nobody home.

Also, I am only door knocking on large houses, newly built, with No gutters whatsoever. These are absolute prime target market. Most of them have just bought the houses, and they know they need gutters. I guess they all have estimates already! Other guys have been doing all year as well! Which is good becuase they aleady have a number and most of them are ready to buy if I can create urgency.

Its hard to get volume becuase estimates slow you down a lot. I found though that I got alot of contact when I gained somebodies trust, I would say, Hey do any of your other neibors want estimates, He was like, Go bid this one, that one and that one. I will give them to them. I have a good feeling I will do the whole block eventually.
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Old 08-11-2009, 11:07 PM   #148
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Re: Door Knocking 101


A second note:

Alot of neioborhoods have the "Boss". This is the guy that pics contractor to use and than walks around with a microphone yelling, my guy is the best, I checked out everybody, he had good pricing/quality.

Don't offer him money or something stupid for leads, just thank him and tell him you will bid there jobs the same way you bid his, Tell him you will be fair, and do a great job.

I have ran into a few of those guys and they can get you a ton of work. If i was contracting roofing (storm work) they could be huge. You can get the whole block.
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Old 08-12-2009, 02:27 PM   #149
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Re: Door Knocking 101


This is a great post. The part about not walking on the grass is huge. Just have a respect for peoples property. I don't have a suggestion for the script, but I would like to add that looking professional is important.

I think look is always important, even on the job. But it is critical when making a first impression. I don't have any statistics but I believe if you look and act professional you will close a higher percentage of jobs.
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Old 08-14-2009, 08:22 AM   #150
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Re: Door Knocking 101


Quote:
Once I get a job I would knock the horn and tell the home owner i was doing the neighbors job and if we got any garbage in their yard to call me and I'll make sure it gets cleaned up. Of course this is the intro into getting an inspection which leads to the sale. It's just how I do it.

never that's right NEVER tell a customer or potential customer(anyone) that.
believe me if your guys are getting trash in the neighbors yard....you'll appreciate the call...the ones who don't mention it are the ones who will never use you or recommend you. but, you never start a relationship by letting someone know what to do once you (your guys) mess up their property. aren't you in fact saying ...hey mr or mrs customer we are doing the job next door and we make a mess and when we do just take time out of your schedule to call me and then i'll get it taken care of. wouldn't be a good intro for me. poor choice of wording i think.
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Old 09-22-2009, 12:29 PM   #151
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Re: Door Knocking 101


That is the best area to canvas, right next door to a job site. Glad to hear that it works for you. Just imagine if you had people who only had 1 job to do, set appointments for free product demonstrations

I have traveled across the country setting companies up with a canvassing department and I still say it is the lowest lead cost only second to a referral
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Old 09-29-2009, 01:47 AM   #152
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Re: Door Knocking 101


wpc

Nice to find info like this!!!
Appreciate shering it with us.
If you could explain what kind of pay system for canvas guys you came up with and what do you consider the power hours.
How do you track them and make sure they do the work right?
Do you have any mitivational meetings? Or how do you motivate them?
Your results are amazing. OUTSTANDING WORK!

Thanks

Last edited by Shtatas; 09-29-2009 at 11:30 AM.
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Old 09-29-2009, 05:51 AM   #153
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Re: Door Knocking 101


AMAZING...."knock on doors" ...How do you guy's treat a supply rep when they cold call which is the equivalent of "knocking on doors" ?

Do you tell them you are busy come back later ?
Have a gatekeeper that let them through to you ?
Send their calls straight to voice mail ? with no intention of calling back

You want leads...befriend you local supply rep... We constantly get homeowners, insurance types etc ...looking for a "reputable" contractor....

Alot of people do not trust contractors because of a few bad apples ...but they come to a lumber yard with a remodel or siding repair or window install(pricing material) and I bet 7 out of 10 times they will ask .."Do you have a contractor you can recommend" ?...

so knocking on doors is part of the biz ...and has to be done ....

"Winners do not wait for things to happen...they go out and make things happen"
but just remember what its like for you knocking on that door when that rep comes to you and already has knocked on 50 doors that day....
and remember...BIG BOX BAD !!
buy from your LOCALLY OWNED suppliers....
hold your head up and keep knocking ...it is a numbers game
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Old 10-02-2009, 08:42 AM   #154
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Re: Door Knocking 101


I get this feeling that I'm about to get a lot of people knocking on my do or . . . I've tried fliers, only 500 at a time and I do get leads from it, but only from people who indirectly know me or one of my relatives. I've done a few estimates for other people but it has never resulted in a job. Keep in mind however I've only handed out maybe 2000 flyers in my life. I'm thinking about printing up 5000 and see what happens. I work by myself with maybe a helper so i don't need many leads to keep me busy a long time. 90% is referral from perhaps a dozen happy customers who call me about every other year for a decent size project (sunroom one year, siding and windows another, roofing, painting, etc.)
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Old 05-20-2011, 11:49 PM   #155
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Re: Door Knocking 101


What other lead sources do you recommend besides Canvas and events? Pro-active lead generation, not paying for ads etc.
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Old 05-21-2011, 12:18 AM   #156
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Re: Door Knocking 101


I work for several companies, on my way to appointments I see a building that needs work and I stop in.


Be friendly as hell to everyone, they will lead you to someone in charge.

I couldn't help but note your in the market for blank in the near future I represent a competitively priced company and I'm brutally honest so if your interested give me a call.

Or if I see a building with just a phone number, or I write the address down and look the property up online and I try to find the management company.

It generates leads but a lot of the time people aren't home and you were just passing by and you really don't want to drive over there on just chance. I will then leave a card somewhere on the door that they use.
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Old 05-21-2011, 12:27 AM   #157
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Re: Door Knocking 101


My bosses get a lot of leads off radio, mostly talk radio and believe it or not the polka station brings in a few.

I missed the bus on trade shows this season but I want to get in for the fall show, with the right people you can gather over a hundred in four days, mostly quality, the rest tire kickers.

I am also in a BNI group the is a referral based organization. It's about 500.00 a year, I have been in it for 2 months and have some great contacts but these people want to see referrals from you first before they let you in the power circles.
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Old 06-07-2011, 06:22 PM   #158
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Re: Door Knocking 101


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Originally Posted by Kjurczyk View Post
Door knocking is a great and inexpensive lead source if done right.

The best application we have is door knocking while a job is in progress in the area. The script that was posted at the very beginning is pretty much spot on with one little add on- In the first few lines I would say "just wanted to apologize for all the noise you may have been hearing, we're completing a job around the corner (you've probably seen our trucks)... then continue the script.

I do the 4-15s rule. 15 house to the left, right, front, and back.

On some of the bigger jobs I will offer the homeowners a free car wash (because of all the dust in the air from our work). Not if they set a lead, I just give them a car wash coupon if they answer the door. "I just wanted to stop by and apologize for all the dust in the air from our work around the corner. We are completing a job in your neighborhood and I wanted to stop by and give a free car wash coupon as our way of saying thanks for being so patient while we finish the job. (hand them the coupon) By the way, have you had a chance to check out what your neighbors are doing"
I buy car wash coupons in bulk for about $2.50-3 per wash. It is well worth the costs. You would be amazed how many people open up to you after you give something so small. Plus you are no longer a "salesmen" you are a human being, and they let their guard down.

If I spend $90 on car wash coupons on one canvassing campaign and get one job from it, its a home run.

Any company can knock on a door, the question is what are you doing differently to separate yourselves from everyone else?


Oooohhhh... like that one.

Do you ask if they need a quote in the process by chance?
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Old 06-08-2011, 07:14 AM   #159
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Re: Door Knocking 101


Almost all of the communities in this area have a NO SOLICITING sign posted at the entrance. Kind of hard door knocking in those places as you could get thrown out.
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Old 06-09-2011, 10:45 AM   #160
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Re: Door Knocking 101


Quote:
Originally Posted by outlaw View Post
I need to get in on this door knocking stuff.

I spent about 30k on ads so far this year, and right now I have zero leads with a 1.5 week backlog.

Tell me, wpco7834, how does a guy go about get these canvessers? Are there many outfits that I can sub out to? That is what you do, right?
College kids home from school. They dress nice. They are sharp. They learn your business fast so actually make a decent presentation. And . . . they are cheap.
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