Door Knocking & Letterbox Drops for NZ Tradies: Old-School Marketing That Still Works
The truth: Everyone's online, but most tradies ignore old-school local marketing.
The opportunity: Door knocking and letterbox drops still work - especially in your immediate neighborhood.
The advantage: Zero competition (most tradies think this is outdated).
In this guide, we'll show you how to use door knocking and letterbox drops to get more local jobs in 2025.
Why Old-School Marketing Still Works
The Numbers:
Digital ads:
- Cost: $30-80 per lead
- Conversion rate: 2-5%
- Trust level: Low
- Cost: $0-50 (your time + flyers)
- Conversion rate: 5-15% (targeted)
- Trust level: Medium-High (local, tangible)
- Physical presence beats digital (people remember meeting you)
- Hyper-local targeting (you choose exactly which streets)
- Less competition (most tradies don't do this anymore)
Strategy 1: Targeted Letterbox Drops
What It Is:
Print flyers, deliver to specific neighborhoods.
When to Do Letterbox Drops:
✅ After finishing a job in a neighborhood: "Just worked at 45 Smith St - here's my flyer for neighbors"
✅ Targeting specific demographics: Older homes (renovation work), new subdivisions (final touches needed)
✅ Seasonal campaigns: "Winter special: Hot water cylinder service $99"
What to Put on Your Flyer:
✅ Headline (big, attention-grabbing) ✅ Your services (3-5 main services) ✅ Local proof ("Serving Karori since 2015") ✅ Social proof ("50+ five-star Google reviews") ✅ Offer ("Free quote" or "10% off for first-time customers") ✅ Call-to-action ("Call now: 021 234 5678") ✅ Photo (your face or van - builds trust)
Flyer Template:
---------------------------------------------------
YOUR LOCAL KARORI PLUMBER
---------------------------------------------------Hi Neighbor,
I'm Mike from Thompson Plumbing. I just finished a job at [Street Name] and wanted to introduce myself.
I specialize in:
✓ Hot water cylinder replacement
✓ Leak repairs & drainage
✓ Bathroom plumbing
✓ 24/7 emergency call-outs
Why choose a local plumber?
• Fast response (I'm 5 mins away!)
• Know the area (worked in Karori for 10+ years)
• Support local businesses
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 50+ five-star Google reviews
FREE QUOTES | NO HIDDEN FEES
Call/text: 021 234 5678
Web: thompsonplumbing.co.nz
[Photo of you or your van]
🏠 KARORI NEIGHBORS GET 10% OFF 🏠
---------------------------------------------------
How Many Flyers to Print:
Test first:
- Print 100 flyers ($20-40)
- Drop in your immediate neighborhood
- Track results (how many calls?)
- Scale to 500-1,000 flyers per month
- Target different neighborhoods
- 100 flyers: $20-40 (Vista print, local printer)
- 500 flyers: $80-120
- 1,000 flyers: $120-180
Where to Drop:
✅ Streets where you just finished a job (neighbors see your van, then get flyer - perfect timing)
✅ Older neighborhoods (houses need maintenance/upgrades)
✅ New subdivisions (people just moved in, need tradies)
✅ Within 5km of your home (save time, build local reputation)
Delivery Tips:
✅ Fold flyer in half (stands out in letterbox) ✅ Deliver weekdays 10am-3pm (less likely to be seen as spam) ✅ Avoid "No Junk Mail" letterboxes (respect people's wishes) ✅ Wear branded shirt (if someone sees you, looks professional)
Legal Note:
In NZ, letterbox drops are legal as long as:
- No "No Junk Mail" sign
- Not marked "NZ Post only"
- Not gated/private property
Strategy 2: Door Knocking (The Right Way)
When to Door Knock:
❌ Don't: Random door knocking (wastes time, annoys people)
✅ Do: Targeted, strategic door knocking
Best times:
- After finishing a job - knock on neighbor's doors: "Hi, I just finished work at #45, thought I'd introduce myself"
- When you see obvious issues - e.g., leaking gutter, old roof - "Hi, I'm a local roofer and noticed your gutter. Happy to give you a free quote?"
The Script (Tested and Proven):
Step 1: Introduction (10 seconds)
YOU: "Hi! I'm Mike from Thompson Plumbing. I just finished a hot water cylinder job at number 45. Thought I'd introduce myself to the neighbors."HOMEOWNER: "Oh, okay..."
Step 2: Build rapport (20 seconds)
YOU: "I'm local to Karori and do a lot of work in this area. Have you lived here long?"HOMEOWNER: "Yeah, about 5 years."
YOU: "Nice! Great street. How's everything going with your plumbing/hot water?"
Step 3: Offer value (20 seconds)
YOU: "If you ever need anything - leaks, hot water issues, bathroom work - I'm just around the corner. Here's my card. I offer free quotes and prioritize local jobs."HOMEOWNER: "Thanks!"
YOU: "No worries! Also, if you know anyone who needs a plumber, I'd appreciate the referral. Have a great day!"
Total time: 1-2 minutes
What NOT to Do:
❌ Don't hard-sell: "Want a free plumbing inspection right now?" ❌ Don't be pushy: "When can I schedule you in?" ❌ Don't overstay: In and out in 2 minutes max
What to DO:
✅ Be friendly and casual ✅ Mention you're local (builds trust) ✅ Leave business card (they can call later) ✅ Ask for referrals (even if they don't need you now)
Conversion Rate:
Realistic expectations:
- 20 doors knocked = 15 people answer
- 15 people = 10 friendly conversations
- 10 conversations = 2 potential leads
- 2 leads = 1 job (over next 6 months)
- Even if they don't need you now, you're top of mind
- When their hot water cylinder fails at 9pm, they think: "Oh yeah, Mike the plumber knocked on my door last month!"
Strategy 3: "Just Finished" Neighbor Campaigns
The Strategy:
Every time you finish a job, target the surrounding 50-100 houses.
Step 1: Finish job at 45 Smith St
Step 2: Print flyers
"Hi Smith St Neighbor!I just finished a hot water cylinder replacement at #45.
If you've noticed your hot water isn't as hot as it used to be, it might be time for a check. Cylinders typically last 10-12 years.
I'm offering FREE hot water cylinder inspections for Smith St residents this week (valued at $80).
Call/text: 021 234 5678 - Mike Thompson
Your local Karori plumber
Step 3: Letterbox drop to 50 nearby homes (same day or next day)
Step 4: (Optional) Door knock 10-20 homes if you have time
Why This Works:
✅ Neighbors trust neighbors ("If #45 hired Mike, he must be good") ✅ Similar houses = similar issues (if #45 needed cylinder replacement, #47 might too) ✅ Local presence ("I see his van here all the time - he's the local guy")
Real Example:
Dave - Roofer, Auckland
- Finishes roof repair at #22 Oak St
- Prints 100 flyers: "Just finished roof at #22 Oak St - here's my card"
- Letterbox drops 100 homes in neighborhood
- Gets 3 calls within 2 weeks
- Books 2 jobs (total value: $8,000)
Strategy 4: Seasonal Campaigns
What It Is:
Target specific issues at specific times of year.
Winter Campaign (May-July):
Issue: Hot water cylinders, heating, insulation
Flyer headline:
"Is Your Hot Water Cylinder Ready for Winter?"Free inspection for [Suburb] residents this month!
We'll check:
✓ Cylinder age (older than 10 years? Time to replace)
✓ Pressure relief valve
✓ Signs of rust/leaks
Call 021 234 5678 to book your free check
Spring Campaign (Sept-Nov):
Issue: Gutter cleaning, exterior painting, roof repairs
Flyer headline:
"Spring Clean Your Gutters Before Summer!"Blocked gutters = water damage = $$$
$99 gutter clean for [Suburb] homes
(Normally $150)
Call 021 234 5678 - limited slots available
Summer Campaign (Dec-Feb):
Issue: Bathroom renos, deck builds, exterior work
Flyer headline:
"Summer Bathroom Reno Special"Get your bathroom sorted before winter!
Free quote for [Suburb] residents
Call 021 234 5678
Tracking Results
Create a simple tracker (Google Sheet):
- Which neighborhoods respond best?
- Which flyer headlines work?
- What time of year works best?
- Double down on what works (e.g., "Karori always responds well")
- Stop what doesn't (e.g., "Newtown never calls")
Common Mistakes (Avoid These)
❌ Mistake 1: Generic Flyers
Bad: "We do plumbing. Call us."
Good: "Hi Karori Neighbor - I just finished a job at #45. Local plumber, free quotes. Call 021 234 5678"
❌ Mistake 2: No Call-to-Action
Bad: Lists services, no clear next step
Good: "Call TODAY for a free quote: 021 234 5678" "Text 'QUOTE' to 021 234 5678"
❌ Mistake 3: Dropping Everywhere
Bad: Random letterbox drop across entire city
Good: Targeted drop in 2-3 specific neighborhoods you want to dominate
❌ Mistake 4: Not Following Up
Problem: Do 1 letterbox drop, never do it again
Fix: Hit the same neighborhoods every 3-6 months (builds recognition)
Real Example: How Mike Built a Karori Empire
Mike - Plumber, Wellington
Starting point:
- New to Karori
- Zero local presence
Month 1:
- Printed 500 flyers
- Letterbox dropped 3 Karori streets (500 homes)
- Got 8 calls, booked 3 jobs
- After each job, letterbox dropped 50 nearby homes
- Door knocked 10 homes per job
- Got 12 calls, booked 6 jobs
- Repeated letterbox drops in same neighborhoods
- "You may have seen my flyer last month..."
- Got 15 calls (people remembered him)
- 80% of work from Karori
- Stopped advertising elsewhere
- Known as "the Karori plumber"
- Spent $300 on flyers
- Made $85,000 from Karori jobs
- 283x ROI
Your Letterbox Drop & Door Knocking Checklist
This week:
- ✅ Design your flyer (use template above)
- ✅ Print 100 flyers (test run)
- ✅ Drop in 1-2 streets near your home
- ✅ Track results (how many calls?)
- ✅ If successful, print 500 more
- ✅ Door knock after your next job
- ✅ Target 3-5 neighborhoods
- ✅ Drop 500-1,000 flyers total
- ✅ Track which neighborhoods respond best
- ✅ After every job: letterbox drop 50 nearby homes
- ✅ Repeat drop every 3-6 months (same neighborhoods)
- ✅ Refine flyer based on what works
Next Steps
Today:
- Design your flyer (30 minutes)
- Print 100 flyers ($20-40)
- Letterbox drop 1-2 streets
- Scale to 500 flyers
- Door knock after jobs
- Dominate 2-3 local neighborhoods
- 20-30% of work from letterbox drops
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