For you new guys, dont make the mistake I did..

[Mikey P]

Do more freebies for designers, RE agents, contractors and others that can and will refer you.


I not only charged too much but did not show enough appreciation to some and I lost them.

I blame it on the Boards. Hanging out with some of the ICS prima donnas led me to forget that I am just a well paid Janitor who should be far more grateful for the essentially free customers they were giving me.

Paying for customers sucks.

Treat your cheerleaders like royalty folks.

 

[Chris A]

whadda hells' amatter with you anyway?

 

[Mikey P]

I blame Keith Collins.

 

[hogjowl]

I don't necessarilly agree with doing it for free, but I agree about the results of not showing your appreciation.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Good advice Mike.

Part of that is the wisdom that comes with age. I have noticed a bit of a stronger streak of compassion and perspective in you since I first followed your posts in the old ICS/Cleanfax days.

I hope the young bucks who have fire in their bellies will listen to your advice.

Would the "younger you" who tormented BB administrators and industry old timers listen to the "maturing you" that you are today?

Or, what would you have had to hear, and from whom, that would have gotten through that bull in a china closet that you tended to be in those days?

 

[Charlie Lyman]

I agree with you, but it seems like whenever you go the extra mile for some, they always take advantage of you and make you contact them 3 or 4 times before paying. Contractors are real bad.

 

[Bob Savage]

One of the best human traits is humility.

 

[hogjowl]

Ranks right up there with smart ass.

 

[rick imby]

With giving out free work you have to give with no strings attached.

One of "Ricks Rules" on how to get someone to hate you. Make them feel like they "Owe you"

We tend to hate the ones that we owe. A funny part of the way the human brain works but the entitled brain does rapidly change from owing to hating.

The free work you give away must be humbly done. If you get things back in return great, if not, that has got to be OK also. If you land one super cheerleader your business will never be the same.

Kinda like Vortex had a super cheerleader in Mikey at one time.

Rick

How can "The Savage" be so civilized?

 

[hogjowl]

Boy ... a free Judson changed his tune real quick ... huh?

 

[Heathrow]

I agree with you, but it seems like whenever you go the extra mile for some, they always take advantage of you and make you contact them 3 or 4 times before paying. Contractors are real bad.

Charles - those ones should be dropped like hot potatos. The good ones however are a real blessing - as Mikey says they are a goldmine just spitting out referrals that you don't have to pay to get. Mostly for me the customers pay me direct anyway..

I'm making up all my chocolate and wine christmas gift baskets this week :wink:

 

[handdi]

what ya all think about this idea? May be slow may not be in january

JAn comin this is our 2nd year in business i was thinkin
goin around to the realator offices and offering a free room of cleaning
to a agent?My tech has to make a check this may be a good idea Give him
a check every week and some advertising

feedback please

 

[randy]

Hey business is like everything else in life, we are all just one turn in the road from humility. Things can change overnight, your health, wealth and yes even your happiness. Life can get really dark, really fast but that is also where all the incredible growth comes. That's when the creativity that we have within us starts really flowing, the search for solutions rockets full speed ahead and we end up in a better spot when the dust settles. There is light at the end of every tunnel, EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE A TRAIN COMING STRAIGHT TOWARDS YOU. There are solutions and we can get back to peace, eventually it will happen.

 

[truckmount girl]

Good advice Mike.

Part of that is the wisdom that comes with age. I have noticed a bit of a stronger streak of compassion and perspective in you since I first followed your posts in the old ICS/Cleanfax days.

I hope the young bucks who have fire in their bellies will listen to your advice.

Would the "younger you" who tormented BB administrators and industry old timers listen to the "maturing you" that you are today?

Or, what would you have had to hear, and from whom, that would have gotten through that bull in a china closet that you tended to be in those days?

Oh, I know the answer to that one....but I'm not sure Mike does....

Take care,
Lisa

 

[Jimmy L]

Let's all gather around and have a big group hug!


:shock:

 

[Greenie]

Lillard did say there was a jump in his Aptos sales this quarter. :shock:

 

[Royal Man]

Mike,

You should just clean for free and make it up in volume.

Soon, You'll be so busy you won't have time to see that you are broke.


Anyway.

FREE CLEANING!

You been hanging around Joe P again?

 

[FB7777]

Mike,

You should just clean for free and make it up in volume.

Soon, You'll be so busy you won't have time to see that you are broke.


Anyway.

FREE CLEANING!

You been hanging around Joe P again?

Hey Chumley the Walrus, you've been at this for 28 fricken years and you still are trolling the waters for new customers?

Do you even have a helper yet?

Joe P has about 600 people show up to his conventions and we haven't heard from one "Yankum for free marketing" satisfied customers speak up in over 3 years :shock:

 

[Jeremy]

You have been bitch-slapped one time in this post...

 

[Royal Man]

Didn't know you were so sensitive about Joe P. Fred.

Are you 2 dating?

 

[dealtimeman]

:shock: cant say i saw that coming.r

 

[FB7777]

Just one person Brokum, thats all we're asking for

I've never bought anything from Joe... or Howard for that matter.

What I've seen of them and their testimonials is that they have helped many people improve their businesses.

What you get from the likes of you is a run around " I can't tell you the idea" , virtually no satisfied customers and ad nauseum whining about ICS promotion from other advertisers because you're too fricken cheap to invest in your grand marketing idea


If it was all that, you'd have added a truck by now... 28 years on your own JHC

Do you do stake outs with Brummet in your free time too?

 

[Jack May]

Can't say I 100% agree with you Mike.

Most of these guys KNOW there's a cost of business and I'd be more inclined to offer a significant discount (one of the rare occassions that I do) rather than totally free.

Also, totally free can imply you're trying to 'buy' their referrals.

Definitely you MUST show them appreciation.

That's what works for me anyway.

John

 

[Jim Morrison]

I not only charged too much but did not show enough appreciation to some and I lost them.

I blame it on the Boards. Hanging out with some of the ICS prima donnas led me to forget that I am just a well paid Janitor who should be far more grateful for the essentially free customers they were giving me.

Paying for customers sucks.

Treat your cheerleaders like royalty folks.

Ditto Jim, I've been wondering if he is feeling OK?

 

[Royal Man]

sar·casm (särkzm)
n.
1. A cutting, often ironic remark intended to wound.
2. A form of wit that is marked by the use of sarcastic language and is intended to make its victim the butt of contempt or ridicule.

 

[daniel@procarpet]

Mikey, you don't need to mislead new guys into thinking they should work cheap. This is a great thread. You have to know what your service is worth and provide the service your customers want. If someone else will do the same job for 200 and you are charging 400, then yes you should adjust your price. Just charge a fair price where you can make money and your customers still feel they are getting good value. That is a strategy for real growth.

 

[RIP IT]

Mikey I get the distinct feeling that your are at a low point in your Biorhythm Cycle.
Do not think that for a minute you are nothing more than an overpriced janitor. That's crazy talk man!
You need to get back on the happy horse however you see fit... and fast.
I dont care if you need a bottle of single barrel and a pound of tofu, a caffeine suppository, a 4 hour session of motorboats at Hooters or an invite to a scat party....just do it.

 

[Jim Bethel]

lol - Nice advice Dr Rip IT

 

[Dolly Llama]

led me to forget that I am just a well paid Janitor who should be far

only to the com accounts

to the res jobs, you're just an extension of Carmela the cleaning woman......


..L.T.A.

 

[daniel@procarpet]

Do more freebies for designers, RE agents, contractors and others that can and will refer you.


I not only charged too much but did not show enough appreciation to some and I lost them.

I blame it on the Boards. Hanging out with some of the ICS prima donnas led me to forget that I am just a well paid Janitor who should be far more grateful for the essentially free customers they were giving me.

Paying for customers sucks.

Treat your cheerleaders like royalty folks.

I have a feeling HP may be making a speech like this one day. CAAW is nothing more than SS with an ego. It is a great business, but there are far too many good companies consumers can call and get great service without paying a fortune. You can still charge what you are worth. Just make sure your customers know why they are paying that amount. I just sent my best referral source an email to get tile cleaned and cs at a50 percent discount and he was very happy. I will still make around 75 dollars an hour instead of 150. Charging a customer that sends around 10 jobs a month your direction full price is ludicrus.