About the sleaziest move a competitor could make!
- Thread starter Bob Foster
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Steve Toburen
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- Steve Toburen
Bob Foster said:
That is a big 10-4 for every single business person in the world, Bob. No one likes competition. (Well, I admit to personally really liking Scotty Warrington.) But having good competition it forces us to up our game. If you have "bad competition" you up your game plus get a great deal of personal satisfaction out of whipping them while you are at it.
So say "thank you" to "Mr. Expert Carpet Care"!
Steve
http://www.StrategiesForSuccess.com
PS I confess to a huge advantage over my friendly internet jouster, Scotty W. He is stuck there in frigid Utah (Mountain Time Zone) while I am here in the sunny Dominican Republic. (One hour ahead of Eastern Time Zone which means I have a 3 hour and fifty degree temperature advantage.) So while I am leisurely typing away in the sun after a blissful mid-morning brunch by the ocean poor Scott is still trying to get his frozen eyelids to open.
Poor guy. Personal friendship only goes so far in business!
Desk Jockey
Member
Man that's a low blow!So while I am leisurely typing away in the sun after a blissful mid-morning brunch by the ocean poor Scott is still trying to get his frozen eyelids to open.
daniel@procarpet
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Studebaker said:
I like the citruso site. It has some neat videos. Really it is just a hydramaster direct drive with drimaster but in the eye of the consumer it is something different and unique. Check out the video on filtration removal. I have heard the drimaster is great for commercial carpet. Harper uses one so it must do a decent job.
http://www.citrusocarpetcleaning.com/ca ... aning.html
rhyde
Member
i'm not sure you have anything to complain about, he's using a phrase common in the industry?
A local cleaner thats been around 110 years Atiyeh Brothers Inc. had an employee who was a distant relative start a carpet cleaning business and used ATIYEH CARPET CARE they almost took him to court over it.
FYI, you should register not just your exact business name but similar ones with your state business registry.
say your name is "expert carpet care" also register, expert cleaning, expert cleaning service, expert textile cleaning , expert steam cleaning and so on.
A local cleaner thats been around 110 years Atiyeh Brothers Inc. had an employee who was a distant relative start a carpet cleaning business and used ATIYEH CARPET CARE they almost took him to court over it.
FYI, you should register not just your exact business name but similar ones with your state business registry.
say your name is "expert carpet care" also register, expert cleaning, expert cleaning service, expert textile cleaning , expert steam cleaning and so on.
Bob Foster
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Doug Cox said:
Just to clarify - I do not use display ads in the YP. I believe there are better ways to spend advertising dollars these days.
The ads I displayed are for some on-line advertising I am working on.
Royal Man
Member
Bob,
If one of your better ways is through the Internet you may want to consider changing your companies name.
When you type in :expert carpet care bc canada
14K searches pop up with Aquamist right on the top.
So even if a client is specifically searching for your company they will be directed to Aquamist.
A more unique name would avoid this problem.
At least this problem has been discovered.
So, that you can make changes now before the cleaning season begins.
Just wanted to brighten your day-
Bob, You don't have a website?
Also, Let us in about the oranges.
Does your process leave an orange scent?
My cleaning leaves a cinnamon scent.
Clents love it and it sets my services apart.
If one of your better ways is through the Internet you may want to consider changing your companies name.
When you type in :expert carpet care bc canada
14K searches pop up with Aquamist right on the top.
So even if a client is specifically searching for your company they will be directed to Aquamist.
A more unique name would avoid this problem.
At least this problem has been discovered.
So, that you can make changes now before the cleaning season begins.
Just wanted to brighten your day-
Bob, You don't have a website?
Also, Let us in about the oranges.
Does your process leave an orange scent?
My cleaning leaves a cinnamon scent.
Clents love it and it sets my services apart.
Bob Foster
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The oranges play into a larger picture that has yet to be revealed. I deliberately choose the name and knew of the possibilities of something like this happening and given the same situation I would choose it again. The name works well in spite of what has happened today. I offered 4 names to call the company to about two dozen people and the majority picked this name. If you don't think I'm good at naming names for things in this industry ask me to drop a few.
This competitor went to the trouble of meta tagging his web site with my name over a year ago.
I am very aware of the implications of not having a website and what calls I have not gotten because of it. There were very good reasons why I haven't done it up to this point. I have been for over a year contemplating leaving the industry but recently I made a commitment to continue.
For the last couple of months I have been putting a plan into action as circumstances permit. Within the next 6 weeks I will have a very good website up and appropriately optimized.
I sincerely welcome everyone's feedback as it reinforces some of the obvious things that I am aware of that I intend on implementing in my marketing and advertising plan.
This competitor went to the trouble of meta tagging his web site with my name over a year ago.
I am very aware of the implications of not having a website and what calls I have not gotten because of it. There were very good reasons why I haven't done it up to this point. I have been for over a year contemplating leaving the industry but recently I made a commitment to continue.
For the last couple of months I have been putting a plan into action as circumstances permit. Within the next 6 weeks I will have a very good website up and appropriately optimized.
I sincerely welcome everyone's feedback as it reinforces some of the obvious things that I am aware of that I intend on implementing in my marketing and advertising plan.
Royal Man
Member
Sound good,
Remember it can 4 weeks or longer before your site shows up on most search engines.
Remember it can 4 weeks or longer before your site shows up on most search engines.
Mack Justice
Member
I think you are taking the Ed Valentine approach in thinking that people are copying off of you.
topnotchman
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A friend called me today from a city I dont service like 30 miles away. He asked if quit cleaning carpets and started cutting trees down now. I asked "no, why" he said "I just drove by a big truck that says Top Notch Tree Cutting Service! haha I just laughed.
Lee Stockwell
FOJL
Nick Nello's biz in TX is called "Expert Carpet Cleaning", and another "America's Finest".
I expect America to sue him shortly...
I expect America to sue him shortly...
Seriously, who does read the YP anymore???
Mine was delivered the other day in a nice yellow bag on the front porch, it had a convenient carry handle on it which made it quite easy to carry and deposit in the recycling tote. :mrgreen:
Mine was delivered the other day in a nice yellow bag on the front porch, it had a convenient carry handle on it which made it quite easy to carry and deposit in the recycling tote. :mrgreen:
GeneMiller
Member
It happens a lot , raider rooter ,rapid rooter , all used the well advertised company roto rooter to base their name. They know people will call by accident and they can steal some business. Take it as a compliment, I did when it happened to me.
gene
gene
Bob Foster
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Normally I really couldn't care less about most of my competition other than being mindful of their service offerings and price structure.
Up to today I had a lot of respect for this company and its staff and thought of them very much the same way as consumers perceive them - VERY professional. What surprised and disappointed me is that they would stoop to such a low level. Make no mistake about it; what they did was deliberate.
Up to today I had a lot of respect for this company and its staff and thought of them very much the same way as consumers perceive them - VERY professional. What surprised and disappointed me is that they would stoop to such a low level. Make no mistake about it; what they did was deliberate.
Royal Man
Member
Since they brag on their BBB awards maybe that would be a way to resolve it.
F
FB7777
Guest
Dave Yoakum brings up a very good point regarding your comapny name Bob, as it relates to search engines
You should at least consider accentuating the name Expert to make it appear less generic as it applies to your business
something like 'Call the Experts' at Expert Carpet Care
how you can boast your google rankings with that name is another challenge...
oh and Lee Stockwell .... ROTFLMAO!!!!!
You should at least consider accentuating the name Expert to make it appear less generic as it applies to your business
something like 'Call the Experts' at Expert Carpet Care
how you can boast your google rankings with that name is another challenge...
oh and Lee Stockwell .... ROTFLMAO!!!!!
Royal Man
Member
I'm shocked!!
Fred agrees with one of my posts.
Wonder if this will become a habit?
The time is right to get your web presence on the top
and targeted for most cleaning related terms.
Mobile web devices are becoming more popular every day.
Soon they will become the norm.
So ,with the increased visibility Google Local may become the dominate player.
Not organic sites and especially not the Yellow pages.
Fred agrees with one of my posts.
Wonder if this will become a habit?
The time is right to get your web presence on the top
and targeted for most cleaning related terms.
Mobile web devices are becoming more popular every day.
Soon they will become the norm.
So ,with the increased visibility Google Local may become the dominate player.
Not organic sites and especially not the Yellow pages.
royalkid
Supportive Member
2 words: over-reacting.
Is it that time of the month :shock:
Is it that time of the month :shock:
everfresh1
Member
CanYouHemiNow said:
:roll: Thats a Stupid ass video. :mrgreen:
daniel@procarpet
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Yes it is pretty dumb but this video is great imo. Those trucks look great.
http://www.citrusocarpetcleaning.com/bl ... aning.html
http://www.citrusocarpetcleaning.com/bl ... aning.html
Bob Foster
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If he already hasn't, I'll be sure to have Wayne Miller read this thread.
All good points! Thanks everyone.
All good points! Thanks everyone.
everfresh1
Member
I still get good results from a small add in the Yellow Pages, Mainly becouse, It comes with a free web listing, And I have a link to my websight plus other gerneral info there, I get 2 or three jobs a week from it. :mrgreen:
everfresh1
Member
danielc said:
They must be the Hagopian of that area. Tell me something for you guys that use the edge tool , How to you keep from marking up the base boards on the houses that have been painted in a flat paint? you barely touch the stuff and you'll leave a black mark on it.
Mikey P
Administrator
renegade_cowboy
Member
Its tough picking out a good name.
I first started with Independant Carpet Cleaning, used a porty at the time.
I moved west and came up with SteamPro
Then came up with Go Green Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning. I get alot of compliments with my current one.
Just curious why dont you call him and ask him. Its really not a big deal if you do. I think when you use a name like Expert in a industry that needs experts I can see it being thrown around alot.
I see Go Green on other carpet cleaning vans and ads, even bensurdi has it on his site. It just a common phrase right now.
Cheerio
I first started with Independant Carpet Cleaning, used a porty at the time.
I moved west and came up with SteamPro
Then came up with Go Green Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning. I get alot of compliments with my current one.
Just curious why dont you call him and ask him. Its really not a big deal if you do. I think when you use a name like Expert in a industry that needs experts I can see it being thrown around alot.
I see Go Green on other carpet cleaning vans and ads, even bensurdi has it on his site. It just a common phrase right now.
Cheerio
Bob Foster
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Mikey P said:
The next will be better yet!
Wayne Miller
Member
I wouldn't be losing sleep over this one, Bob. Any professional cleaner ought to be expert in what they do. Saying their expert is expected. I doubt anyone reading the ad is going to take it any further than that.
For what it's worth, we've operated under three different names over the past 20 years. It hasn't made a big of a difference one way or the other. Regardless of the name SOME people have a hard time remembering it, SOME people confuse it with other names, SOME people remember it just fine. More people remember my name suggesting perhaps it's more about relationships than it is clever, catchy names, especially as an O/O.
A name is a name. We can all pull apart any name and over-think it. We can all find examples of successful businesses with terrible names and failed business with great names. How much can it tip the scale when you're determined to succeed? Personally, I like Bravo better than Expert but when you go out and do the right thing everyday, in the long run, it's six of one, a half-dozen of the other. And, I think your van was really cool.
For what it's worth, we've operated under three different names over the past 20 years. It hasn't made a big of a difference one way or the other. Regardless of the name SOME people have a hard time remembering it, SOME people confuse it with other names, SOME people remember it just fine. More people remember my name suggesting perhaps it's more about relationships than it is clever, catchy names, especially as an O/O.
A name is a name. We can all pull apart any name and over-think it. We can all find examples of successful businesses with terrible names and failed business with great names. How much can it tip the scale when you're determined to succeed? Personally, I like Bravo better than Expert but when you go out and do the right thing everyday, in the long run, it's six of one, a half-dozen of the other. And, I think your van was really cool.
