If you’re wondering how to get clients for your cleaning business fast… welcome. This is your playbook to get your inbox popping and your schedule full.
Let’s be super clear: This is not the blog about building a long-term lead generation machine. We’re not talking content marketing, SEO strategy, or six-month funnels. That’s elsewhere on the Wiggle Wire.
This is about right now, as in: I’ve got bills to pay and an open Tuesday afternoon. Let’s go.
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1. Referrals: Fast, Free & Powerful
Your current clients are your best marketers.
They know you, they like you, they trust you and they probably know other people who would love your service. Here's what you do.
If You Have Automatic Appointment Reminders or Follow-Ups Set Up:
Ask for a referral in them! Something like this:
Hi Alec! Get ready, we're making your home sparkle tomorrow at noon.
✨ PS: Know someone who needs a great cleaning? When you refer a friend, they get $50 off their first clean—and you get $50 off your next one. Yeehaw! 🤠
💬 Add it to your reminder & follow-up messages
💬 Keep it light, don't wanna sound like a robot
💬 Include your referral offer + how they refer you
If You Don't Have Automated Messages:
No problem! You can still do this, and sending it manually makes it more personal and impactful.
Keep it short and friendly, something like this:
Hey Jill! Hope you’re doing well! We’re now offering $50 off your next cleaning every time you refer a new client, and we're going to give them $50 off their first visit too. Okay, just wanted to let you know. Have a great night! 😊
Thank & Reward
Always thank them, at least once.
💌 Of course, you'll thank them when the referral comes in
💌 Thank them again with a handwritten card, it's a really nice personal touch
💌 Always give them something: a discount, a credit, a gift card, etc.
💌 Dazzle's offer is: Refer a new recurring client, and your next clean is TOTALLY FREE!
Referrals are a big deal, don't be too busy to recognize them.
🎯 Bottom Line:
- Referrals are free and powerful
- Your happiest clients are your best marketers, you just have to remind them and reward them
- Whether it’s automated or manual, don’t skip the ask. And don’t forget the thank you
2. Facebook Groups + Nextdoor = Local Goldmines
These leads are warm, high-intent, and free.
Local groups are filled with people chattering about local businesses and asking for specific recommendations, and this includes recommendations for cleaning services.
Join Local Facebook Groups
Go to the search bar and type in:
📣 CITY Moms Group / Dads Group / Parents
📣 Buy Nothing [NEIGHBORHOOD]
📣 CITY Community Chat
📣 CITY Recommendations
Find some active groups and request to join them.
Guidelines for Posting in Local Groups
Watch before you post.
See how the community interacts, get a feel for the tone.
Don't Be Salesy
🫧 Be helpful: share a tips/tricks/recommendations
🫧 You can position yourself as the go to cleaner without ever overtly pitching your service
🫧 If you do decide to pitch your service, keep advertising posts limited to no more than 20% of your group posts
🫧 Lots of groups have rules prohibiting you from posting about your business: follow the rules
🫧 But, many groups also have days of the week where businesses can post about their services, post on those days for sure
How To Find People Actively Looking for Cleaners
- You don't need to spend all day in local groups to get leads. Just use the group's search bar and type in keywords like: cleaner, cleaning, move-out.
- When someone asks for help or a cleaning recommendation, this is your moment. These leads are warm, high-intent, and actively looking for a cleaning company.
- Send them a direct message that's short, friendly and personalized. Mention their post, offer to help, and include a clear next step like a quote, availability or discount.
- Keep it kind, casual and helpful, not salesy. You're showing up as a helpful neighbor and local business owner.
Something like this:
Hey Ava! I saw your post in the XYZ Group. I own a cleaning company, and we'd love to make your home sparkle! If you're still looking, I'd be happy to give you a quote right here on Messenger. And, we do have an opening this Friday, fyi. Alright, hope you have a great day! 😊
Keep it short, simple, friendly and no pressure.
Systematize it: Create a Google Sheet with Daily Tabs
Set up 5–7 tabs (depending on whether you or your team works weekends), one for each day of the week. In each tab, track:
📌 Which groups to check daily
📌 Which groups you post to on certain days
📌 Which groups allow offers/promotions (and when)
📌 Posting rules or restrictions for each group
Systematize it: Create Response Templates
Create a few ready-to-go responses you can copy, paste, and personalize when replying to leads. Include versions for:
📝 Opening message
📝 Initial Deep Clean + Recurring Cleaning
📝 Move-out Cleaning
💡 Delegate It
Busy? Great. That means it’s time to delegate.
Have a team member or VA check local groups daily, reply to posts, and track responses.
This is low-cost lead gen that can book jobs fast when done consistently.
Meet Them Where They Are
You’ll convert more leads if you stay on the platform they contacted you through, whether that’s Messenger, Nextdoor, or text.
🦓 Yes, it can be annoying. Yes, it’s outside your normal process. But if your goal is to book the job quickly, your best shot is keeping the conversation where it started.
🎯 Bottom Line
- Local Facebook groups and Nextdoor are packed with people who are actively looking for cleaners
- When you show up consistently, follow the rules, and come from a place of service you build trust and book jobs
- Set up a system, delegate what you can, and keep the conversation where it started for the highest conversion rates
3. Google Business Profile = Non-Negotiable
Your GBP profile is a powerful tool, and it's free. If you only have time to set up one online profile—make it this one.
Why It Matters
When your GBP is optimized, you can:
📍 Show up on Google Maps
Be seen by people actively searching for cleaners in your area.
📍 Collect 5-star reviews from happy clients
Boost your reputation and your local ranking with social proof that actually converts.
📍 Display real photos of your team, gear, or sparkling results
Help potential clients feel more confident and connected by showing the real faces behind the service.
📍 Control your business hours, service area, and booking info
Give clients all the info they need to contact and book you without digging.
📍 Build trust and credibility
A well-built profile signals that you’re legit, professional, and ready to help.
Quick Wins to Boost Your GBP
✅ Upload at least 10 photos, think: photos of homes you've cleaned, team members, you, your office, supplies and equipment
✅ Write a compelling business description using local keywords
✅ Add a booking link, if you have one
✅ Build out your full service list
✅ Update your business hours and keep them updated including holiday closures
✅ Select the right categories: house cleaning services, not janitorial
Regularly Post to Your GBP
Google wants to see that your business is active, an easy way to do this is by creating GBP posts.
Post at least once a month to show you're still in business.
🚀 Post 2–3 times a week for extra visibility and local SEO power.
What to post:
🧼 Photos of your team or recent cleanings
🧼 Special offers or seasonal promos
🧼 Answers to common client questions
🧼 5-star review highlights
It doesn’t need to be fancy, but make it consistent.
Get Google Reviews
Reviews are one of the strongest ranking factors in Google’s local algorithm, and people trust them. They increase the credibility of your cleaning service.
📨 Ask every happy client to leave a review
📨 Make it easy: text them the link
📨 Reviews are even more powerful when they mention your company name, what service they had or where the service was completed at
Respond to every single Review
Even a simple “Thank you so much, Jill!” shows Google (and future clients) that you’re engaged and trustworthy.
Remember the Long Game
This post is all about quick wins, but don’t forget: You’re not just filling your schedule. You’re building a business.
Your Google Business Profile isn’t just a short-term lead grab.
It’s also your #1 tool for long-term local SEO growth.
The stronger your profile, the more often you'll show up in searches, and right when people are ready to book.
Set it up right. Keep it fresh. Let it work for you for years to come.
🎯 Bottom Line:
- Your GBP is a serious marketing tool that can generate new leads every week, and for free
- Keep the leads flowing by optimizing your GBP and keeping it fresh, current and accurate
4. Fastest Paid Option: Google Local Services Ads (LSAs)
If you need leads this week setting up a Google Local Services Ads account is a quick paid option. This puts you at the very tip top of Google, above organic results and even above regular Google Search Ads.
Why LSAs Work
✅ Pay per lead, not per click
You only pay when someone actually contacts you
✅ Show up at the top of search
LSAs appear above the map and organic results
✅ Google Guaranteed badge builds trust
That little green checkmark tells people that Google trusts you
Be Warned
Sometimes leads are mismatched, like you could get a lead for carpet cleaning or window washing.
When this happens, you can dispute the lead with Google and get a refund for the lead.
You can dispute bad leads directly in the LSA dashboard and potentially get your money back.
Be Specific to Get Better Leads
Be sure to fully and correctly define your:
✅ Service area
✅ Job types (move-outs, recurring, deep cleans)
✅ Hours and availability
The more specific you are, the more qualified your leads will be.
🎯 Bottom Line
- If you’ve got a marketing budget and an empty Tuesday, LSAs can fill your schedule fast
- Be sure to set them up right, respond quickly, track your return and dispute bad leads.
5. Partner With People Who Can Send You Clients
Connect with people whose clients you can help.
Who to Reach Out To:
🏡 Realtors
🏡 Property managers
🏡 Building managers
🏡 Carpet cleaners & floor pros
🏡 Professional organizers
How to Reach Out
Don't overthink this. It doesn't need to be complicated, perfect of fancy. Keep it friendly and casual with a tone the shows you're eager to help.
☎️ Call them
Still one of the fastest ways to make a connection. Keep it short, introduce yourself, and mention your promo. Even if they don’t answer, a quick voicemail can make an impression.
☎️ Send an email
Perfect if you’re reaching out to multiple contacts or want to include a link to your website or booking page. Short and sweet is the move here.
☎️ Do both
Call and email. Follow up once. Keep it helpful, not pushy.
Sample Outreach Email
Subject: Need a reliable cleaner for you or your clients?
Hi there!
I’m Logan, owner of The Dazzle Cleaning Company, proudly serving Seattle and Bellevue.
Just wanted to reach out and introduce myself in case you ever need a hand with cleaning, whether it's for your home or one of your clients. We’ve got a few openings next week, and we’d be happy to help however we can.
If it’s useful, we’re currently offering $35 off the first visit (just mention this email when booking). No pressure at all. I just wanted to put a friendly face to the name and let you know we’re here if you ever need a reliable crew.
Feel free to reach out anytime with questions, quotes, or just to say hi.
Warmly,
Logan
The Dazzle Cleaning Company 🌈
Will Everyone Say Yes?
No, most wont. But that doesn't matter.
This is a numbers game and it works.
A Quick Note on Partner Referrals
⚠️ Most people won’t say yes
And that’s okay. You don’t need everyone, it's a numbers game.
⚠️ Many of these jobs are price-sensitive.
⚠️ Expect occasional miscommunications.
Realtors and their clients, for example, might not be on the same page regarding what is going to happen at the service.
⚠️ This isn’t a long-term growth strategy that I'd recommend
But, it works and If your schedule is wide open and you need to fill it this week, this hustle gets results.
🎯 Bottom Line:
- The jobs these referral partners send you won’t always be perfect, but if your calendar’s empty and you need to book fast, this works
- Keep your message short, friendly and helpful
- Remember when dialing that every no, or blow off, gets you closer to a booking
6. Reach Out to Past Clients + Old Leads
Reaching out to past clients and unbooked leads is one of the fastest, lowest-effort ways to book jobs fast.
💡 You can tweak this for old quotes or one-time cleans you’d love to turn into recurring bookings
Sample Text
Hey Jill! I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to reach out and let you know that we’ve got a $50 promo running for returning clients right now. Let me know if you’d like me to get you on our schedule. Thank you, Jill!
Quick Tips for Better Results
🔑 Pull a list of clients you haven’t seen in 3+ months
Dig into your past emails, text messages, or booking system and look for clients who haven’t booked recently or leads who never booked. They already know you, message them.
🔑 Keep it personal
Use their name, and if you can, mention something specific: “Hey Maya! I hope the move-in went smoothly, just checking in…”
🔑 Text works best for casual reachouts
- Texts feel natural, friendly, and fast- especially for returning clients
- DMs work well for leads you originally connected with on social media
- Email can be great for past quotes and more formal follow-ups
🔑 Include a reason to book now
You don’t need to discount heavily, but give them a reason to take action today. Try things like:
- $50 off for returning clients
- We still have a couple of openings on Friday
- Book by Tuesday, and get a free Interior Fridge Cleaning!
Don't sweat it if they don't book. It's a great touch point that keeps you top of mind which in bulk increases your conversion rate.
🔑 Be warm, not salesy
You’re checking in, not cold pitching. Be kind, casual, and low-pressure.
🎯 Bottom Line:
- Old leads and past clients are low-hanging fruit, they already know you and trust you
- Keep it short, keep it warm, make a clear offer
- Even if they don’t book today, you’ve just nudged yourself back into their brain, you're staying top of mind
7. Print & Hang Up Door Hangers
Yes, this still works. I did it at 🌈 Dazzle 🌈 until we hit about $500k/year. It’s not fancy. It’s not digital. But it gets your name in front of the right people, in the right place.
This is local marketing at its simplest: low-cost, high-impact, hyper-targeted.
🦓 Fundamental Marketing Principle
Why It Works: Repetition = Recognition
It’s better for 100 people to see your flyer 10 times than 500 people to see it twice. You’re not trying to get lucky, you’re building familiarity, visibility, and local trust. You’re becoming the neighborhood cleaner.
How to Do It
🤝 Pick a neighborhood
ideally one where you already have a client or two
🤝 Walk the same route weekly
Don’t switch it up, consistency is key
🤝 Have a clear message & offer
Bold headline, strong offer, clean design, and, if you have a booking page a QR code pointed to it
Door Hanger Structure
Front:
🧼 Big, bold headline: $50 OFF Your First Clean
🧼 Irresistible offer
🧼 Trust boosters: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating, eco-friendly, best-of badge
🧼 Real photo of you or your smiling team
🧼 Clear CTA: Text 206-777-7777 or scan the QR to book now
Back:
🧼 A short, friendly “About Us” blurb
🧼 Your core services list: Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly Cleaning, Move-out Cleaning, etc.
🧼 Your referral deal: Refer a friend, get $25 off!”
🧼 A 5-star client review
🧼 Repeat your CTA loud and clear
🎯 Bottom Line:
- They're cheap, hyper-local, and effective
- Repetition is key
- Show up in the same neighborhood week after week, and soon… you’re the neighborhood go to cleaning company
8. Build Out Your Online Profiles (Start with Google)
We already talked about Google Business Profile, and for good reason. It deserves its own spotlight. It’s by far the most important listing for getting found in local searches, and it’s non-negotiable if you want more leads.
This section is about the rest of your online presence. Because while you don’t need to be everywhere, you do need to be somewhere. And when your name shows up across multiple trusted platforms, clients are way more likely to click, trust, and book.
Where to Set Up Next
📍 Facebook Business Page
Great for social proof, community visibility, and running local promos
📍 Nextdoor
Super local, super powerful for neighborhood referrals
📍 Yelp
People do check it, even if you don’t love it you should be there
📍 Thumbtack, Angi, Porch, TaskRabbit
Good for quick-hit leads and one-time jobs
Must-Do’s for Every Profile
🧬 Fill out every field
Complete listings rank better and look more professional
🧬 Upload real photos
Stock photos kill trust. Use team pics, before-and-afters, supplies, and happy homes
🧬 Keep your NAP info consistent
Your Name, Address, and Phone Number should be identical on every platform, no variations
🧬 Add your booking link + business hours
Especially helpful for mobile users and late-night scrollers ready to schedule
💡 Claim + Clean Up Your Yelp
Even if you never plan to advertise on Yelp, claim your listing anyway.
Why? Because if someone else creates it for you (and they often do), you want control of what it says and how it looks. Plus, built out business listings help your Google rankings.
🎯 Bottom Line:
- You don’t need to be everywhere, but you do need to build out an online presence
- Consistent listings on trusted platforms build credibility and visibility
- Complete your profiles with accurate info and real photos
- Set them up. Fill them out. Keep them updated
- Google notices. So do your future clients
9. Buy Leads from Third-Party Platforms
Need leads this week? Third-party platforms can deliver. Sites like:
📍 Yelp
📍 Angi
📍 Thumbtack
📍 Porch
📍 TaskRabbit
Can put your business in front of people who are actively searching for cleaning help right now.
You create a profile, set your service area, and start paying per lead pretty quickly.
But Here’s the Catch
These platforms are built for speed, not loyalty. They can absolutely help you get bookings, but long-term? You’re much better off building your own marketing machine, one that you control. That way, you’re not dependent on someone else’s platform to keep your calendar full. At the very least: diversify. Don’t let one lead source run your entire business. Need clients this week, get 'em here.
Why You Shouldn't Build Your Business Here:
⚠️ You’re competing with dozens of other cleaners for every lead
⚠️ Many users are just price shopping, expect to be underbid
⚠️ You don’t own the lead, the platform does
⚠️ Reviews often live on their site, not yours
⚠️ You’re at the mercy of their algorithms, rules, and fees
When to Use It (and When Not To)
Use it when:
✅ You’re new and need clients ASAP
✅ You’ve got a hole in your schedule this week
✅ You’re testing a new service area or service type
Don’t rely on it to:
🚫 Build a brand
🚫 Consistently generate recurring clients
🚫 Sustain long-term growth
🎯 Bottom line?
- Treat these platforms like a faucet: turn them on when you need a flow of leads, then turn them off when your pipeline is full.
- Avoid making them the foundation of your marketing strategy.
Missteps to Avoid
🧺 Putting all your leads in one basket
Only doing Facebook? Just relying on referrals? That’s a fast track to panic when the faucet dries up. Mix it up: ads, SEO, socials, reviews, referrals. Always. Be. Diversifying.
👻 No online presence = no new clients
If Google can’t find you, your clients can’t either. A dead website or ghost-town Google listing makes you invisible. Show up, look good, stay booked.
⏳ Slow to respond = leads lost
Take 48 hours to reply? That lead’s gone. Clean up your inbox game. Aim for replies in under 2 hours, keep it friendly, typo-free, and on-brand.
🔁 Ignoring your current clients
Booked once? Great. Booked for life? Better. Blow them away, follow up, upsell. Loyal clients = 5-star reviews + easy referrals.
📉 Stopping marketing when you’re busy
Fully booked? Yay. But don’t ghost your own growth. Keep marketing even when you’re full.
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