Starting and growing a cleaning business takes more than just being great at cleaning. To attract clients and keep your business running smoothly, you need a combination of marketing, customer service, and smart business strategies. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to grow your cleaning business effectively.
Build a Professional Website
Your website is the first impression many potential clients will have of your business. It should look professional, be easy to navigate, and clearly outline your services. A well-designed website should include a homepage that explains who you are and what you do, a list of services, a contact form, and customer testimonials.
Trust is a huge factor in the cleaning industry, so adding trust badges to your website can make a big difference. If your business is insured or you offer a satisfaction guarantee, make sure this is clearly displayed. It’s also important to have a mobile-friendly design since most people will visit your site on their phones.
Get a Business Phone Number
Using a separate phone number for your business makes you look more professional and keeps your personal and work life separate. It also ensures that you never miss an important call from a potential customer. You can set up a VoIP number that forwards calls to your mobile, making it easier to manage your business on the go.
Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
A Google My Business profile is one of the best ways to attract local customers. When people search for a cleaning service in their area, businesses with well-optimized listings appear at the top of the results. Setting up your profile is free, and it allows you to display your business name, phone number, website, and service areas.
Adding high-quality photos of your cleaning work helps build credibility. The more positive reviews you have, the higher your business will rank. After every cleaning job, ask satisfied clients to leave a review mentioning your business name. These small efforts can significantly impact your online visibility and bring in more leads.
Collect Customer Reviews and Testimonials
People trust reviews, especially when hiring a service they haven’t used before. Positive testimonials can be the deciding factor for someone choosing between you and a competitor.
After each job, ask customers to leave a review on Google or your website. If possible, have them mention specific details about your service, such as punctuality, professionalism, and the quality of the clean. These reviews not only help with marketing but also build trust with new customers.
Use Social Media and Paid Advertising
Social media is a powerful tool for growing your cleaning business. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow you to showcase your work, engage with potential clients, and run targeted ads to reach your ideal audience.
One of the easiest ways to start with paid advertising is to create an Instagram ad. A simple ad with a high-quality image and a clear call to action can generate leads quickly. Canva is a great tool for designing professional-looking ads, even if you have no graphic design experience.
When setting up an ad, targeting is important. Women aged 35 to 55 are often the ones booking cleaning services, so focusing on this demographic can yield better results. Instead of sending people to your website, you can set up the ad to allow potential clients to message you directly. This makes it easier to start a conversation and close a booking.
Fast response times are crucial when handling inquiries. A slow reply can lead to a lost customer. If possible, set up an automated chatbot that can reply instantly and direct potential clients to a quote form on your website. This system allows you to capture leads even when you’re not available.
Invest in Scheduling and Management Software
As your business grows, keeping track of appointments, staff schedules, and payments can become overwhelming. Investing in cleaning business management software can help streamline these tasks and improve efficiency.
ZenMaid is a popular option for cleaning businesses. It allows you to schedule appointments, send automated reminders to clients, and manage payments all in one place. Having everything organized in a single platform reduces the chances of missed appointments and keeps operations running smoothly.
Expand to Other Marketing Channels
Listing your business on service directories can help you reach more customers. Websites like Airtasker and Gumtree allow people to find local cleaning services, and creating a profile takes just a few minutes. There are also many smaller service directories specific to different regions. A quick search can help you find the best platforms to list your business.
Once you have seen some success with Instagram and Facebook ads, the next step is to try Google Ads. Unlike social media ads, which target people based on interests, Google Ads show up when someone actively searches for cleaning services. This means they are already interested, making it more likely that they will book.
Google Ads work best when each service has its own dedicated ad. If you offer general house cleaning and end-of-lease cleaning, create separate ads for each rather than combining them. This ensures that your ads are as relevant as possible and improves conversion rates.
Leverage Your Personal Network
Your first few clients will likely come from people you already know. Let your friends, family, and social media connections know that you’ve started a cleaning business. They may need your services or know someone who does.
Offering discounted or referral-based first cleans can be an easy way to build a client base. If a customer is happy with your work, they are likely to recommend you to others. Word-of-mouth marketing is incredibly powerful, especially in service-based businesses.
Deliver Excellent Customer Service
Exceptional customer service is what keeps clients coming back. Beyond providing a great clean, how you communicate with customers makes a big difference.
Fast response times are essential. Ideally, you should reply to inquiries within five minutes. If you take too long to respond, potential clients may move on to another cleaning company. Using an automated response system can help with this, ensuring that no inquiry goes unanswered.
Being friendly, professional, and punctual builds trust with customers. Small gestures, like following up after a clean to ask if they were satisfied, show that you care about their experience. When people feel valued, they are more likely to book your services again and recommend you to others.
Stay Consistent and Keep Improving
Growing a cleaning business takes time and effort. The key is to stay consistent with your marketing, provide excellent service, and continuously improve your processes.
A strong foundation includes a professional website, an optimized Google My Business profile, and a social media presence. Paid advertising and directory listings can help attract new clients, while great customer service and reviews will keep them coming back.
For any help, feel free to contact me at info@tidyspark.com.au