Debbie Sardone, Maid Service consultant and author of Cracking The Dirt Code--Learn How to Bid and Price Jobs Accurately discusses the biggest obstacles to growing your residential cleaning business.
The Four L's new cleaning business owners must overcome:
-Intellectual-Developing the 'you are now a business owner mindset'
-Emotional-Learning to "Let Go" of perfection
-Technical-Developing your technical skills including job costing, estimating cleaning jobs
-Capital-Under capitalized businesses find it hard to grow. It takes money to make money...
Listen to a 30 minute interview where she discusses and elaborates on the four L's and provides tips for profiting from your new residential cleaning business. http://www.thejanitorialstore.com/public/557.cfm?sd=148
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Writing killer sales letters
Sales letters can be a great tool when marketing commercial cleaning accounts.
They really aren't hard to write at all and after you read the article below putting together a great sales letter will be even easier for you :)
'
Tips On Writing A Killer Sales Letter
by: Andres Munoz
Writing a sales letter doesn’t have to be that difficult all you need is the right writing style and some tips to knock out a killer sales letter
Benefits The first thing you need to do is focus on the benefits the reader will find useful. Tell the reader what’s in it for him. Promise them increased sales, better skin, better results in writing a resume or whatever it is that you’re selling. Tell them how your product can help them. Don’t beat around the bush and get right to the point. Stick to benefits, facts and features. Whatever you do don’t be vague it will turn them off.
Give additional benefits. Show additional value other than main benefit. Give product/service features. Support benefit promises with product/service facts. Show how your company will help him. Don’t start sounding arrogant and brag.
Writing Style: An emphasis should be placed on “you” and not “I”. Use words like you and your, so that the reader feels you are writing for him. Write clearly. Make sure your reader doesn’t have to think about what you’re saying. Your main points must be understood immediately. Make yourself believable. Make sure your claims or representations appear to be realistic and believable. Don’t promise a 200% increase in sales because most people won’t believe it even if it’s true! You must be able to back up your claims. Use repetition; repeat benefits throughout letter. Present the same ideas and benefits in different ways.
Ask for action. Ask the reader to place an order, return the sales envelope or the sales card or phone for more information. Give reasons to act now. For example: Make your offer time sensitive a limited supply, two-week sale, and special purchase. Most sales letters fail to do this.
Understand that people are emotionally motivated. They want to:
Make more money
Save money
Do a good job
Experience love
Have a satisfying home life
Get something for free
Look good
Use simple graphics to get the reader’s '............Read the rest of this article
They really aren't hard to write at all and after you read the article below putting together a great sales letter will be even easier for you :)
'
Tips On Writing A Killer Sales Letter
by: Andres Munoz
Writing a sales letter doesn’t have to be that difficult all you need is the right writing style and some tips to knock out a killer sales letter
Benefits The first thing you need to do is focus on the benefits the reader will find useful. Tell the reader what’s in it for him. Promise them increased sales, better skin, better results in writing a resume or whatever it is that you’re selling. Tell them how your product can help them. Don’t beat around the bush and get right to the point. Stick to benefits, facts and features. Whatever you do don’t be vague it will turn them off.
Give additional benefits. Show additional value other than main benefit. Give product/service features. Support benefit promises with product/service facts. Show how your company will help him. Don’t start sounding arrogant and brag.
Writing Style: An emphasis should be placed on “you” and not “I”. Use words like you and your, so that the reader feels you are writing for him. Write clearly. Make sure your reader doesn’t have to think about what you’re saying. Your main points must be understood immediately. Make yourself believable. Make sure your claims or representations appear to be realistic and believable. Don’t promise a 200% increase in sales because most people won’t believe it even if it’s true! You must be able to back up your claims. Use repetition; repeat benefits throughout letter. Present the same ideas and benefits in different ways.
Ask for action. Ask the reader to place an order, return the sales envelope or the sales card or phone for more information. Give reasons to act now. For example: Make your offer time sensitive a limited supply, two-week sale, and special purchase. Most sales letters fail to do this.
Understand that people are emotionally motivated. They want to:
Make more money
Save money
Do a good job
Experience love
Have a satisfying home life
Get something for free
Look good
Use simple graphics to get the reader’s '............Read the rest of this article
Monday, May 19, 2008
CleaningForCancer.com
If you own or are starting a cleaning business and you have considered offering a charity cleaning or community outreach program to your list of services we encourage you to visit our Cleaning For Cancer blog. http://cleaningforcancer.blogspot.com/
This completely free to join site will open on May 29 and will provide cleaning companies with marketing items and ideas for starting their own charitable cleaning program along with a free listing in our directory.
Companies who don't have a website or who don't have the ability to add the information to their company website can use one of our free templates. We have volunteers on hand who will help you create your page if needed.
The structure of the site is to be a completely free resource to both people with cancer or other critical illnesses as well as to cleaning services wanting to reach out and give back to their community. Because our structure is free CleaningForCancer.com will not accept monentary donations instead will we have a list of organizations in which you may make donations.
Contributions of time by volunteers will always be welcomed and there is a sign up form along with tasks that could use a helping hand on the site.
If you run a commercial company and don't see what you could possibly do to help....think again. We'll have some ideas how you can have your own outreach program that will in turn benefit the residential sector of our participating companies.
Current CleanOutlook.com customers who want one of these free pages added to their website should contact Christy christy[at]cleanoutlook.com. There will be no charge for this page. In addition new customers coming on board after June 1 will be offered a free page at time of purchase.
This completely free to join site will open on May 29 and will provide cleaning companies with marketing items and ideas for starting their own charitable cleaning program along with a free listing in our directory.
Companies who don't have a website or who don't have the ability to add the information to their company website can use one of our free templates. We have volunteers on hand who will help you create your page if needed.
The structure of the site is to be a completely free resource to both people with cancer or other critical illnesses as well as to cleaning services wanting to reach out and give back to their community. Because our structure is free CleaningForCancer.com will not accept monentary donations instead will we have a list of organizations in which you may make donations.
Contributions of time by volunteers will always be welcomed and there is a sign up form along with tasks that could use a helping hand on the site.
If you run a commercial company and don't see what you could possibly do to help....think again. We'll have some ideas how you can have your own outreach program that will in turn benefit the residential sector of our participating companies.
Current CleanOutlook.com customers who want one of these free pages added to their website should contact Christy christy[at]cleanoutlook.com. There will be no charge for this page. In addition new customers coming on board after June 1 will be offered a free page at time of purchase.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Commercial cleaning contracts
Our article "Putting together a cleaning service proposal" continues to be one of our highest traffic pages. The other day I came across a binder of information I collected years ago from James Nokes at Build A Business. When I checked his site, yes the example Commercial Cleaning Contract is still there :) http://build-a-business.com/cleaning_contract_sample.html
This article gives a good explanation of necessary items for your contracts such as monthly fees, late payment fees, and a termination clause that is followed by a sample written contract for janitorial services.
Don't forget that you can also get a pre-made contract for commercial cleaning services from the Cleaning Business Forms Storefor $20.00
This article gives a good explanation of necessary items for your contracts such as monthly fees, late payment fees, and a termination clause that is followed by a sample written contract for janitorial services.
Don't forget that you can also get a pre-made contract for commercial cleaning services from the Cleaning Business Forms Storefor $20.00
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Hiring employees for your cleaning company
Hiring staff for your cleaning company
As you grow your cleaning business you will be faced with needing to hire employees.
In an industry where turn over averages over 300% annually recruiting can become expensive and time consuming.
One of the most common questions asked by cleaning companies recruiting for the first time is ‘where to advertise’ for employees.
Newspaper ads in most medium to large cities can be very expensive. If your community has a free ‘shopper’ these are usually more affordable than a newspaper ad.
Many churches will allow members to place employment ads in their bulletins.
Putting flyers on laundry mat bulletin boards in the areas you are recruiting for have proven effective for many cleaning contractors.
Local employment service directory websites are good resources but can become expensive.
Craig’s List employment ads are free and can generate a lot of applications. (If you are using Craig’s List for recruiting we recommend you read our tips here http://www.cleaningdesign.com/customerarea/showthread.php?t=2982 or you could end up with so many phone calls that you shy away from using their website again.)
Friends, family and neighbors- talk to everyone you know, let them know you are looking for quality workers and ask them to spread the word then hand them a business card.
Existing employees- let them know about the job openings you have. Offer referral bonuses for any employees that send you people you hire.
Once you find a system that works for you make sure you are always recruiting. By doing so you will be able to maintain a database (collection) of people you could interview right away and will reduce the likelihood of having to do ‘crisis hiring’.
Other articles for after you have recruited employees
Prescreening cleaning company employees- http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=45
Communicating with your cleaning staff- http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=42
Determining wages for your cleaning staff-
http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=41
Motivating your cleaning staff- http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=40
As you grow your cleaning business you will be faced with needing to hire employees.
In an industry where turn over averages over 300% annually recruiting can become expensive and time consuming.
One of the most common questions asked by cleaning companies recruiting for the first time is ‘where to advertise’ for employees.
Newspaper ads in most medium to large cities can be very expensive. If your community has a free ‘shopper’ these are usually more affordable than a newspaper ad.
Many churches will allow members to place employment ads in their bulletins.
Putting flyers on laundry mat bulletin boards in the areas you are recruiting for have proven effective for many cleaning contractors.
Local employment service directory websites are good resources but can become expensive.
Craig’s List employment ads are free and can generate a lot of applications. (If you are using Craig’s List for recruiting we recommend you read our tips here http://www.cleaningdesign.com/customerarea/showthread.php?t=2982 or you could end up with so many phone calls that you shy away from using their website again.)
Friends, family and neighbors- talk to everyone you know, let them know you are looking for quality workers and ask them to spread the word then hand them a business card.
Existing employees- let them know about the job openings you have. Offer referral bonuses for any employees that send you people you hire.
Once you find a system that works for you make sure you are always recruiting. By doing so you will be able to maintain a database (collection) of people you could interview right away and will reduce the likelihood of having to do ‘crisis hiring’.
Other articles for after you have recruited employees
Prescreening cleaning company employees- http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=45
Communicating with your cleaning staff- http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=42
Determining wages for your cleaning staff-
http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=41
Motivating your cleaning staff- http://www.cleanpeers.com/peers/viewtopic.php?t=40
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
A name for your cleaning business....
Everyday we see several people come in thru the search engines with the phrase 'name for a cleaning business' and we thought why not include that as another thing we do since helping cleaning companies IS what we do and enjoy :)
Feel free to post information about the cleaning service you are starting or hoping to come up with a name for in our forums and let's see if our staff can help you pick out a great name to get you started. http://cleanoutlook.com/portals/viewtopic.php?t=714
Who knows, if you select your cleaning company name on our site we might even throw in a discount on cleaning business logo design!
Feel free to post information about the cleaning service you are starting or hoping to come up with a name for in our forums and let's see if our staff can help you pick out a great name to get you started. http://cleanoutlook.com/portals/viewtopic.php?t=714
Who knows, if you select your cleaning company name on our site we might even throw in a discount on cleaning business logo design!
Friday, March 14, 2008
Interesting Articles
Cold Calling for Sales-
Intimidated by knocking on a door? Can’t find the right words? Afraid you can’t get past the gatekeeper? These are probably some of the most frequent requests for help READ THE FULL ARTICLE by Ken Galo of Cleanpeers.com
The History of Spring Cleaning from Plano and Lewisville, Texas Cleaning Service, RZJ Janitorial http://www.rzjservices.com/articles/
Are You The Kind of Janitorial Service Customers Are Looking For? Los Angeles Janitorial Company Advanced Cleaning Concepts: http://los-angeles-janitorial.advccleaning.com/articles.htm#choosing-a-janitor-service0
Intimidated by knocking on a door? Can’t find the right words? Afraid you can’t get past the gatekeeper? These are probably some of the most frequent requests for help READ THE FULL ARTICLE by Ken Galo of Cleanpeers.com
The History of Spring Cleaning from Plano and Lewisville, Texas Cleaning Service, RZJ Janitorial http://www.rzjservices.com/articles/
Are You The Kind of Janitorial Service Customers Are Looking For? Los Angeles Janitorial Company Advanced Cleaning Concepts: http://los-angeles-janitorial.advccleaning.com/articles.htm#choosing-a-janitor-service0
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