by Nick Gromicko Eventually, every contractor will receive a complaint from a client, but it’s not necessarily bad news. A complaint provides the opportunity to learn what your client really thinks about your service, which gives you the chance to consider making changes to how you do things in your company. Complaints are actually more valuable than compliments, in some ways. Welcome…
by Nick Gromicko There are some simple yet highly effective things you can do as you near the end of a project that will ensure that you leave your client satisfied with your work and happy to recommend your company to their family and friends. Just because their final check has cleared doesn’t mean that…
by Nick Gromicko If your clients are on site while you’re working, be sure to occasionally let them know how the project is going. You don’t have to spend a lot of time giving them every detail, but they’re paying for your time, so treat their interest in your progress respectfully. If your clients are…
by Nick Gromicko Setting the Tone the First Day On the first day of a new project, if possible, have everyone meet at your office first so that you can explain the project and the general schedule, as well as your expectations for their performance and conduct. This is something you should do before you…
by Nick Gromicko If you’re getting too many requests for estimates that aren’t converting into sales, it might be that your estimates (in and of themselves) have value to the prospects, or that your prospects aren’t really serious about having the work performed. These issues can be resolved by charging for estimates. Other contractors’ clients…
by Nick Gromicko Should a contractor be judged by what s/he wears to give an estimate? We all like to think that people judge us carefully and objectively on our merits. But the reality is that strangers try to stereotype us quickly. So, proper attire is an important part of a contractor’s success. A contractor’s…
by Nick Gromicko What happens when your phone rings? How is your phone answered? It needs to be answered quickly and properly, every time. “Catch” the call. You should have instant access to your calendar every time your phone rings so that you can book an appointment. Your prospect will judge your business based on…
by Nick Gromicko Contractors should use the format of the standard press release to make announcements on their websites and contractor blogs. This lends an official quality to any announcements that deserve particular attention or that are time-sensitive. This will help the website visitor distinguish between sales-type information and general news announcements about the contractor’s business.…
Offer to provide all the hot cup sleeves your local coffee shop can use. You can buy these for pennies apiece. Have them printed to say something along the lines of: This cup sleeve is brought to you by ABC Contracting Hoboken’s Premier Contractor These sleeves act just like a business card, so don’t forget…
by Nick Gromicko Contractors who want to connect with prospective clients, as well as stay in the forefront of the minds of former clients and other home professionals, should consider creating an e-newsletter to email to subscribers every month. The advantages of doing this are many. Newsletters are a great way to improve client retention. …