RJ Cleaning Service Inc:

it only lets you enter as guest.

just click sign on.

 

If you delete the nickname "Guest" and create your own, just add a password and you will be registered.  That's how I did it.  :)

Torrey

No Idea what i am doing wrong but like RJ I can only get in as guest.  I see no where to register & deleting the name guest did not do the trick. 

Sorry Bri.  I will give another link to see if that works better:

www.tailoredmaid.com/chat.aspx

Let me know if there are any kinks using that link.  Thanks!

Torrey

that one just work for me.

We went to see a speaker at a chamber luncheon today who spoke on marketing.  I wont get into details but maybe touch on a few things they mentioned that I liked.

*using video email  * creating a blog about your company  * be creative  * be visible ( join boards, clubs, send out news releases, be consistent )

*  having a plan for your sales efforts & work it daily.

Something we started doing consistently this year is using a client or sales software.  Something to enter in prospect names that will allow you to insert notes & set reminders for call backs etc.

She said that marketing isnt a one shot & your done thing it is something that has to be handled consistently by someone in your company. She mentioned that you cannot have the "ok I did my marketing for the year, im all set attitude" 

For us it really seeems like alot of work since we have begun doing sales the right way & taking the time to enter information into the computer.  It also seems that we waited way to long to start plugging away & now there is a big gap between needing clients & having bids out there etc.

We have been doing cold calls, flyers, emailers, & had a service also deliver flyers for us to about 1200 businesses.

Soon I will hit chamber members again.  We belong to 2 chambers & can say that we are a bit disappointed that over the last 2 years we havent gotten much business from them.  We do a couple of buildings from people who looked us up in one of the chambers but that is it.

How about you?  Do you get much from a chamber or networking group.  What is working, what did not...............

I been a member of the chambers for a long time, never really got anything out of it.

went to all the meetings and so forth, seemed everyone there was looking to sell

and not buy. only reason we keep our membership is because the Health Insurance

companies in our state make it mandatory for ever business to be a member of an association

that they recognize or they will cancel the company  health insurance policies.

Those are some good marketing tips Brian. Thanks. I've gotten way behind on my marketing for lots of reasons and could kick myself now, but I can only do so much. I think they key is to market all the time... that woman told you to have someone dedicated to the marketing... I think that's a good idea and hope that someday I can have someone strictly devoted to sales & marketing.

I still feel sorry for you, RJ. Even if you can afford $800.00 + for health insurance, I still think that's way too much to have to pay for a family of 4 or 5. Ridiculous. There should be a cap on that premium, and it should only be a certain percentage of your income. AND... you should be able to deduct the premiums from your taxable income. Ya'll need to raise hell over there and patch the hole. You're throwing too much money into it.

TailoredMaid:

Just wondering what some of you consider to be your BEST marketing ideas to bring in clients/customers for your business?

Mine?
1. Word of mouth
2. Craig's List
3. Local advertising (print ads)
4. Flyers
5. Internet search (I have 8 of the top 10 links on Google)

So...who's next? []

Hey All!

I have all of the usual stuff:

1. business cards

2. brochures

3. website

4. client referrals

5. online service site listings (free)

Also, I belong to a referral organization that has brought me an annualized yield of around $6000.00. The yearly dues are around $400 and you must attend all meetings (once a week) but 2. The organization is called Business Network International and it has served me well. The chapters in Atlanta are often looking for cleaners. There are chapters all over the world.

One other marketing tool I have is my mouth. I talk about my business every opportunity I get. I belonged to Toastmasters a number of years ago and found that I love public speaking. If you can give an entertaining talk about what you do, its great for business.