One of the biggest mistakes people make when planning a doorknock is over-estimating how much ground they can cover in the available time.
Recently I’ve been helping a client to plan a large doorknock, so I thought I’d share some of the key takeaways from these conversations:
Base your estimate on property numbers, not the size of the area
The key to making an accurate estimate for your doorknock is to make sure it’s based on the number of properties you need to doorknock, rather than the size of the area.
What might look like a manageable area on Google Maps can be home to more people you think, particularly if it’s a higher density suburb with lots of apartments. If you do need to doorknock apartments, then keep in mind that you might need to arrange access through the building manager.
Scopomap can give you properties numbers at the click of the button, showing which properties are houses, apartments, or businesses.
How much time do I allow for each property?
As a starting point, I recommend that you allow 1-5 minutes time to doorknock one property. This, of course, will vary depending on some of the factors I’ve outlined below.
How demographics impact the length of conversations
Here are some key demographics that can impact the length of your conversations, which you can get through Scopomap’s demographic snapshot:
- Highly educated/informed: the more educated and informed the community, the longer you should expect conversations to be.
- Older people: the older the population, the more likely it is they’ll be home. So, again, this means more time for conversations.
- English as a first language: if English isn’t their first language, then conversations are likely to be shorter.
- More contentious = more time
If the purpose of your doorknock is simple (e.g. reminding people about roadwork in their area) then conversations are likely to be quick. But if your project is complex or contentious (e.g. telling them you’re building a smokestack in their area) then be prepared for longer conversations.
Why businesses can take longer than homes.
Doorknocking businesses can add to your doorknocking time because, unlike homes, there’s a high chance someone will be there to speak to. And secondly, some projects can be more contentious with local businesses than residents and will require more in-depth conversations, for example, if you’re doorknocking about road works that are going to impede the flow of customers or delivery vehicles.
Are they owners or renters at the property?
If the people occupying a property are renters, then you might also need to notify the owners about your project. For example, if you’re doorknocking about a proposal for a high-rise development which might overshadow properties then it might have implications on property prices, which is something that the owner will probably want to know about. Scopomap provides insights down to catchments of 80 – 100 homes on the percentage of renters within a given area.
Do you need help to plan your next doorknock?
If you’re planning a doorknock or need to make a cost estimate for a proposal, get in touch and we can show you how to use Scopomap to take the guesswork out of your calculations.
Otherwise, try Scopomap today with our free 7-day trial.
