This is a common question we get from an industry that seems to be operating in the stone age. I mean, most cleaning companies are still accepting checks (those little paper booklets that old farts use at the grocery store).
I asked my wife Lacy this same question when we first started our cleaning business. At first, we didn't see the benefit of it and we both thought...
"I don't know how to create a website. That'll cost so much money and I don't have the time to learn how to code. I'd rather knock on doors."
At the time, she was cleaning solo and I was still working in the Nuclear field. She'd gotten 2 clients, from Nextdoor, and was excited about growing.
We tried the "knock on doors" thing and only got awkward conversations and pity. After that, we decided to try to build a site. Lacy spent the weekend on Wix creating a free, not-so-pretty site.
That next week, after we launched our cleaning website, we got two new customers. One of whom we still work with today (6 years later).
Our little weekend experiment proved to be the best decision we made for our business.
That's why we wanted to share the 2 main reasons you should be investing either your time or your money into a cleaning business website. Plus the most common objections we hear from new cleaning business owners.
Reason #1: Low Cost, High Reward
When you're just starting out you don't need anything fancy or expensive to realize the benefits of a cleaning website.
Some cleaning business owners have this "all or nothing" mentality that tends to do more harm than good. Probably cause most of us are OCD, hence we're great at cleaning and organizing.
Your website is something that you can continue to improve and invest in as your business grows.
Getting started with a free website builder like Wix, GoDaddy, or Weebly is the best place to learn the basics without spending a single cent.
The cost-benefit analysis for a cleaning business website is a no-brainer:
Costs of building your cleaning business website:
- Time spent learning the free website building tool you choose
- Time spent building your website
Potential Benefits of building your cleaning business website:
- A website that is on 24/7 that leads can access and learn about your business
- Ability to streamline your scheduling process
- Platform to answer all your leads questions without talking to them directly
- A place for customers to brag about their experience with your cleaning company - Google recognition
Not to mention the insane amount of money you can earn from all these new customers you're attracting.
Reason #2: Immediate Credibility
As a consumer, it's difficult to justify purchasing a service from a company you don't recognize.
Imagine me knocking on your door and handing you a flyer with the headline:
"Nate's Network - The Only 6G Speedy Cell Service Provider"
Would you immediately switch from Verizon to Nate's Network? Probably not.
What if Nate's Network had a website with 100's of real Google reviews? And that same creepy guy with the mustache, that handed you the flyer, was on the local news discussing his new, faster network?
You might not switch right away, but his credibility definitely increased.
A website will increase trust with your target market and is the fastest way to build your credibility.
Consumers are using the internet more and more to find solutions to their problems. Give your cleaning business a chance...when people google the term "cleaning service near me."
Common Objections
"But I'm not tech-savvy"
Neither was I. Thankfully, most website builders have drag-and-drop features that simplify the entire process. You don't need to learn to code with HTML or CSS.
As you grow, you may want to implement more complex features. By then you'll have overflowing profits that you can use to hire a professional to upgrade your site.
"I don't even know where to start?"
Agreed! Building your own cleaning business website is an overwhelming project.
Start by checking out what other, successful cleaning companies are doing and pick-and-choose your favorite features on their sites. Here are the Top 5 Cleaning Business Websites that I've ever seen.
These owners have been in the game for a while so don't be discouraged by how robust their sites are...you'll get there.
When looking at other cleaning business websites, focus on these items:
- What's in their navigation bar?
- Do they allow visitors to book online?
- How are they capturing a visitor's information?
- What are their terms of service?
- Is there pricing available on their site?
- What is their call to action?
"What if someone leaves a negative review"
Having an online platform and connecting it with Google My Business does open you to the possibility of customers leaving a negative review.
As long as you're providing excellent cleaning services and can follow it up with professional customer service, then Google will be your friend.
It's time to put your cleaning business on the map. Take massive action today and get started on your website. It doesn't have to be perfect...just start.
