A TELEMARKETING TIP:

[JOLA47@OPTONLINE.NET]

For those of you familiar with telemarketing,it may come as no surprise that the DO NOT CALL LIST has severely restricted a carpet cleaners ability to add new customers by phone.
I helped build my buisness by telemarketing for 25 years. I chose to call
homes instead of buisnesses;therefore I was hurt a great deal when the DO NOT CALL LIST
was put into effect.
But not to worry! If you are in a highly populated area as I am, calling local LIBRARIES and FUNERAL HOMES could turn out to be time well spent.
This winter,while the winds were howling ,I picked up the phone and did quite well .
LIBRARIES AND FUNERAL HOMES for the most part have tons of carpet,[if you'll excuse the expression] and unlike residential work they can't afford to have many soiled carpets or upholstery for a long period of time.
Maybe start a phone campaign--just a thought I hope some of you will find helpful.

 

[ACE]

Cold calling business on the phone and in person works, but unlike residential you cannot make the sale over the phone. It takes a dedicated effort to succeed because often you will have to make 5-6 calls and or visits before you make a sale. I have a lady doing sales that dose everything from the cold call to the estimate. It’s working out well so far but, I was very lucky to find just the right person.

 

[-JB-]

open fire! :mrgreen:

 

[ACE]

MR. Layton,

You would not by chance have a marketing program or service you would like to tell up more about would you? Why after 25 years of stressful marketing are you still a one man band with a porty and shampoo machine?

 

[SRI Cleaning]

Cold calling business on the phone and in person works, but unlike residential you cannot make the sale over the phone. It takes a dedicated effort to succeed because often you will have to make 5-6 calls and or visits before you make a sale. I have a lady doing sales that dose everything from the cold call to the estimate. It’s working out well so far but, I was very lucky to find just the right person.

Mike, if you dont mind me asking, how do you compensate your sales woman. I am trying to find someone to do just the same. Is it straight commission?

 

[ACE]

Mr. Layton, Sorry that was a cheap shot.

Anthony, I really felt like she was the right person so, I paid her a base of $1,000.00 plus commission for the first three months to get her over the learning curve and through the winter. Now she is commission only. The commission depends on how profitable the work is but averages 33% for new customers and 10% for repeat costumers she brought in. That way, it’s in her interest to take on a customer service role.

 

[SRI Cleaning]

Wow thats a high percentage! But I guess it makes sense and motivates her. This is something I would definitely like to do. Does she start primarily with a cold call or does she stop into places too? Thanks Mike!

 

[ACE]

She cold calls on the phone and sets appointments for estimates. I put together some slick looking brochures and other marketing material for her to hand out with the estimate. If you like I can show you the brochure, just give me your email. She is paid well yes, but she really is doing most of the work finding new clients. All I have to show up and do a great job. Most of the guys here are too cheap to think about giving a sales person 1/3 commission. Many of the commercial accounts will turn into repeat customers or will want ongoing maintenance. It’s worth it to me to give up half of the profit on new jobs if I can convert some of them into long term, well paying customers. The money I make on new jobs she finds is about the same as subcontract work I do but now the customers are mine! The 10% residual she gets works as a base salary. It’s a long term success plan for both of us. I’m about 5 mo in and am just starting to see ROI.

 

[SRI Cleaning]

Yeah I agreee that sales are really most of the work. Without them, you have no work. I would love to see the brochure. My email is firmani99@comcast.net. Thanks again. Now I just have to go about finding the right person.