HEY MIKE HOW IS THAT PAY FOR CLICK DOING

[Mikey P]

I stopped it.


After two solid months I got two jobs.




More then likely the reason it didn't work was because I was only willing to give 10% off.


No biggie, I was hoping it was going to keep me busy through feb and march but as it turns out we're swamped with out it.


I am turning work away at this point so bring down that POS and I'll put you to work in my slum jobs.

 

[Jim Williams]

I have been trying it too and so far about 80 clickers but no callers. I'm trying to figure out how to get the money back that I put into the Yahoo account. You have to give them money and they deduct for eack click and leave you a balance. I want my money back!

Oh, and on top of that I got an e-mail from them yesterday saying they debited my account for another $100.

 

[Ken Snow]

Mikey, Mikey, Mikey~ Turning work away? Perhaps it is time to get another V, and a quality specialist to clean for you (not a chimp) and double, or close to at least, your revenue stream plus give you the start of an ongoing marketable business vs a job (well paying as it may be).

If you have not taken it, I would really suggest carving out the time for a SFS class. I worry about you man~ wtf happens if you wrench your back next week, or somebody blindsides you on the road, and you can no longer clean?

Please take the above as care and concern, and obviously a grain of salt~ no offense intended

Ken

 

[Steve Toburen]

WOW, Ken. I'm trying to imagine a Strategies seminar with Mikey in attendance. Well, we would definitely have to mind our P's and Q's or be held accountable.

Seriously, Mike, Ken brings up the down side of the owner/operator business model. (Of course, there are many advantages to running solo too!) For anyone who makes the decision to continue long term running the truck without adding employees I would implore you to:

1. Buy good health and disability insurance. Health insurance alone isn't enough. You also need the cash flow to keep on coming in. Good insurance like this is not cheap and is just an overhead cost of staying small. Look into high deductible insurance combined with a HSA account.

2. Keep at least three months of business and personal expenses on hand in a liquid investment such as a money market fund.

3. If you aren't doing so now start "sweeping" 10% of your business gross into a personal investment plan. If you can't do this with your current cost/fee structure then raise your prices. Your clients should understand that having the owner on every job will cost them a premium.

4. I would look into investing in rental properties. They can be a pain in the neck but also extremely lucrative over the long term.

5. Develop one or more "strategic partnerships" with other local carpet cleaners. Even if you have good disability insurance your business could be destroyed (or at least severely damaged) if you could not serve your customers for an extended period of time. But with a "partner" you both agree to care for the other's customers as your own AND "return" them.

6. Most importantly, take really good care of your health. And drive defensively!

Ken, I hope your boys are all primed and ready for the Spring cleaning season.

Steve Toburen CR
Director of Training
Jon-Don's Strategies for Success

PS On the bright side of Mikey's attending we might get that slacker Yeadon to actually put on a good show on marketing!

PPS One addition to Ken's endorsement (which I prize greatly) is that SFS is not just for small operators who want to "get big". We've had a lot of owner-operators who want to stay that way become SFS members and they have greatly benefited from the program. In some ways if you are going to stay small it is even more important to "do it right".

 

[Mikey P]

Does the circus ever come west?

 

[joey895]

I started using google pay per click about 2 weeks ago. So far 5 clicks for less than $8 and 1 job. Not exactly burning down the town but a good return none the less.

 

[Steve Toburen]

Absolutely, Mike. May 14-18 in Portland, OR. You don't get much more "west" than that. OR next week in Dallas, Texas if you are talking about the "old west". Our only two times "out west" this year.

Steve

PS Mike, if you (or anyone else) is wondering what the heck this SFS stuff all about I just finished shooting a 30 minute "orientation DVD" on the management concepts behind Strategies for Success. I'm pretty proud of this DVD.

Anyone who wants a free copy just needs to e-mail me with their business name, UPS shipping address and business phone number. (We use your phone # for tracking and trust me, no salesman will call.)

 

[randy]

Hi Mr. Toburen, I hope you guys consider doing a SFS a few days before Connections while everyone is already in Vegas. Better yet a SFS before and one the week after. They would probably go down historically as the best attended ever. I remember when Steam way put on a special event the day before connections.It was a blast and well attended. As an added benefit there would be less time for slot machines ( those tools of as my grandmother liked to say).