How can I be successful in this business?

Follow up until they buy or you die.

Seriously I'll do that.

-I wish we can do in this forum "like" "unlike" "agree" " disagree" "winner" kind off things. Can be nice.
 
I don't know what happened to him and somehow I guess this is first time I've read this thread. Man that guy could do some good multi quoting for his engrish to be so weak! I hadn't even figured that out yet on Tapatalk.
 
Went to your website.

TOO MANY SERVICES OFFERED.Narrow it down to 2-3

Where are you in the Google search. No where ?


You need to develop a reputation. You're a contractor. Sales ? Leave that to someone else ?
 
The biggest companies specialize, but to get to the specialty, you might need to do a few things that you wouldn't normally consider.
 
The biggest companies specialize, but to get to the specialty, you might need to do a few things that you wouldn't normally consider.

Scott, can you exspand on this. have a client that that wants 2 story roof wash and rust removal. Removale from drive way. I do not have safety gear for that hight but do not want to loose customer for flat work and also yearly pool cage cleaning. This client also is a very good at referrals.
 
Hes not talking about risking safety....he's saying you may have to clean a few things that you may not ordinarily WANT to clean, or know how, to get where you want...I think thats what he means.
 
Follow up until they buy or you die.

so much awesome advice on this thread, but I think this quote gets my vote for best advice out there. We specialize in large-scale commercial building cleanings, it is a rare time when we walk in on the first appointment and walk out with a $5000 cleaning. Make friends with them, make sure you're dealing with the right person. Make friends with the receptionist, make friends in general. Follow up , follow up ,follow up. Be their second favorite cleaner out there, eventually their number one will drop the ball.
 
Scott, can you exspand on this. have a client that that wants 2 story roof wash and rust removal. Removale from drive way. I do not have safety gear for that hight but do not want to loose customer for flat work and also yearly pool cage cleaning. This client also is a very good at referrals.

Randy - I realize that your question is directed to Scott. If I may interject - sub it out! Just ensure that all of your i's are dotted and your t's are crossed as they say. Including being name listed on the subs insurance policy. And if this particular client is as important as you say, I'd be there for their for the roof cleaning too - just to give them peace of mind if nothing else.

As others have said, great thread. I hope the OP is succeeding at whatever he's doing these days.
 
Exactly. If it is unsafe you should never do it. It is always better to go home at the end of the day.
 
The first no puts you one step closer to the first yes.
 
There are some basic "sales skills for dummys" that I follow.
1. Price is the last thing you discuss. You want to establish value, then establish a price. If price is something that comes up right away, those are not long term residual customers. They are shoppers that just want to be able to say they got it done, and don't care, or understand, what good results are.
2. Never expect a potential customer to get back with you. You need to call them back. If you find that they are there every Monday between 2-4 and are willing to talk, then I would make an effort to get there Monday between 2-4 and be willing to talk. Some of my best accounts have happened on the 5th, 6th or 7th sales call.
3. Certifications are nice to show to people, but everyone knows of a lousy doctor that passed all of his state requirements. You need to show them what you can do.
4. From how you typed, it appears that English is a second language to you. If you are going to print out any materials, you need to make sure that they are properly proofed. There are very few people in this industry that can write a consistently good sentence without someone else proofing. In fact, I will throw Ron under the bus and say his writing is horrible. He knows it, so if it is something that is important, he will have someone proof it that he trusts. I know for a fact that he does it, because it is often me that he sends stuff to.
5. Did you catch that Ron sends me stuff to proof for him? Did you realize that we are in the same market, and that we have been in competition with each other for years? There are some synergies that occur when two contractors in a local market work together. There is a lot of work out there, and there is a possibility of having a lot of million dollar contractors in one area. In my area, I can think of at least 6 that are million dollar plus operations, and a couple of us are much higher than a million. We all know each other, and some of us actually refer business to each other. There are things I don't like to do anymore, so I refer them, and there are things others don't like to do, so they refer them to others. Figure out where your power area is, and concentrate on it.
6. There are a lot of people that say that certain areas cannot be profitable. Don't listen to them. Work your strong points, and figure out what works for you. Don't undersell yourself.

Now, I am going to get off my soap box.
Great, very helpful info as usual Scott!
 
Back
Top