Hello I'm new to this site. Myself and husband started our own Janitorial Company and have been trying to get it off the ground, we had a web page done passed out flyers door to door did two cleaning jobs half price and still nothing, can you please give us answer on how to get this company off the ground we're just about to give up it's costing us and getting nothing back. Or give us a internet site were we can get a list so we know what area to target of families who needs cleaning services.

Hi, pat1sexylady!

Since you have recently started your business, it will take awhile for you to get noticed and for your business to pick up.

If you had a website done, that's a good start! Do you know how good of exposure it gets when people do searches for what you are doing where you are performing your service? Not all hosting services are the same and many do get much better exposure than others.

What I'm getting at, is that no one has to be paying anything to advertise on the Internet and/or to have a website! I'm entirely self-employed and most of my business comes from what I've placed on the Internet for free.

As far as flyers and other types of printing, driving around to hang things up, sure, that's going to cost some money...

If you put the two words, Clough, Cleaning into the search function at the top of this page, you will find many threads where all of the various aspects of having a cleaning/janitorial service of any kind are discussed. Things like starting, advertising, insurance, bonding, tools and supplies, bidding, pricing, customer relations, etc. are there.

Since this post will be too long if I add much else to it like I would like, I will add another post where I will share some about advertising for free on the Internet.

Below, is a quote from an answer that I've already placed on many threads of this site.

How you word ads and the words on a website are very important. If you would like to know how to word things the most effectively, please let me know.

If you would also let me know where you are located, I can see if there are any websites around where you are located where you can advertise for free. There are at least three that are basically specific to where I'm located. They are the websites of publications and aren't all about advertising, but to place ads on them is free and the ads to get excellent exposure. There might be sites like that where you're located. Sometimes, the sites themselves can be hard to find, even though what is posted on them gets excellent exposure.

Thanks!

Quote:

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It's easy to advertise for free on the Internet and to promote your website! You just need to know the keywords to use as well as the Internet sites where you can advertise for free that get the best results when people do searches for things on the Internet. It takes time to set up the ads and/or the websites initially, but you will get results if you use the right words.

One thing that is important is to remember is that people aren't going to be looking for you by your name or even the name of your business, but will be looking for the service or products that you will be providing in the location where it is most easy for them to procure them.

I have a number of small businesses that I run. Most of the business that I get is from the free ads that I have placed on the Internet as well as words that I have placed in my websites.

Some of the best places to advertise for free for your website or business are listed on the following links.

craigslist: san francisco bay area classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

(To use Craigslist, you just find and post on the one that is near you.)

USA - cliQs.com

Everything from Everywhere

DomesticSale - The Effective Free Classifieds

Free Classifieds Ads - Internet Advertising to Sell Online

Vast.com - Search All The Classifieds On The Web

PennySaverUSA Classifieds Online: Local ads in California

Free Classifieds - FinditClassifieds.com

Oodle.com Classifieds - Search local online classifieds

BuySellCommunity Classifieds - Buy & Sell Locally : Free Online Classifieds

Free Classifieds @ Adpost.com

Free Classifieds, Free Ads, Free advertisement, Business Opportunity

Free Classifieds - FinditClassifieds.com

Free Advertising, Free Classifieds, Free Classified Ads, Free Ads, Classified Ads, Free Classified, Bulk Email Advertising, Opt In Email Marketing Services, Email Lists, Classified, Free Ad, Advertising Free, Classifieds, Classified Ad, Free Classifi

http://quadcities.kijiji.com/ You can change the country and city when you list there.

http://www.evelez.net/ Although it might appear to be connected with the one above, it is different. You can also change country and city.

http://www.livetray.com/

http://www.vvnvv.com/index.asp

http://www.alibaba.com/

http://www.alibaba.com/

http://www.hotfrog.com.au/

http://www.kellysearch.com/

http://www.kbclassifieds.com/

http://www.oodle.com/

http://www.olx.com/

http://www.topix.com/

http://www.isell.com/

http://www.kutvclassifieds.com/Main.do

http://www.gumtree.com/

http://www.flugpo.com/

There are also many places where you can have a free website or blog where you could advertise your business, website or anything else for that matter. Some of them can be found by clicking on the following searches.

Free Website - Google Search

Free Blog - Google Search

You can also look into joining something like Google AdSense if you would like to make some additional revenue.

AdsenseGuide - Join Google Adsense

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If you plan on also still putting out flyers to the residential market I would choose areas that are more affluent as this economy has caused many to cut back on home expenses.

Actually starting a cleaning company is one of the most inexpensive ones to start. But Clough is correct it takes some time to build up a client base. I might suggest that you consider also smaller offices of say 8 to 10,000 square feet, there will be less competition at this size also. This size of offices will probably need you about 2 to 5 days per week. This will increase you profit base more quickly. I am not saying to forget about residential cleaning I am saying that this may supplement you until you grow larger.

-Stringer

Just so you know, pat1sexylady, Stringer runs a very large commercial cleaning business in the Chicago area. As such, his advise will be second to none in that regard concerning what you are trying to do. My particular expertise is in doing advertising and promotion.

Still unable to give you a greenie Clough, I would if I could though, you are too kind my friend... and again I am... not... chasing you. Ha ha... but seriously though.

Thanks too the both of you for your help, our business is located in the Philadelphia area, I did take your advice from clough cleaning and put an ad on craigslist, so I want to thank you for that, I know it's slow getting new business off the ground, it's just that we have been in business now for 5mos and I'am an experience cleaner I have 12yrs under my belt, my dream was to have my own cleaning company and I did that and don't want my dream to come to and end so I'll continue to make my business a success. Once again Thanks for all your help.

You're welcome pat1sexylady!

I would strongly urge you to have a free website, a blog and post ads on more than one site than just craigslist.org http://www.hoobly.com/ is also a must place to advertise because of the outstanding exposure it gets in searches. It wasn't in my original list because I thought that it now cost something to advertise on it. I was incorrect.

Please also use some of the other advertising websites that I recommended.

Thanks!