Favorite Articles

The Dollar Store Syndrome will crush you when you are a service provider like we are in the cleaning industry! Lower prices are not going to build your customer base. If you are under the impression that low price is a virtue in your business, it's time to ditch that concept....keep reading

Your customers fast forward through TV ads; they tune out radio commercials; they add telemarketers to the "do not call" list, and they don't read the newspaper or use the yellow pages anymore!...keep reading

When potential buyers first come across your business or service, the process begins where they're mulling over whether you have what they are looking for, and if so, should they consider buying from you or not! Many people don't first encounter you on your sales page but instead, they encounter you on social media, at events, and through shares of others....keep reading

The real secret about price objections is they are rarely ever about price! Understanding this is the important first step toward handling any of these types of objections effectively.
When a prospect indicates that they feel the price is too high, it really means they don't realize the true value of your proposal. On the other hand, if the prospect feels that your unique service process package- will solve their problem, they'll be happy to pay virtually any reasonably cost effective price. However, there may be other reasons why they're objecting based just on the price. Consider the following...keep reading

Most small businesses actually know what to do to make progress!
The actions required are simple, BUT they are never easy! And, even though most of us know what to do, for one reason or another, we just don't do it!...keep reading

Just because you're a small business doesn't mean you have to blog like one. That's the great thing about the Internet -- it creates a level playing field. Even if you run a business out of your garage, you can blog like a Pro. Here are 10 secrets to blogging just like the "Pro's"....keep reading

Focusing on current technical and micro-business trends that may have a major affect on cleaning professionals. IN THIS ISSUE -- The Simplest Concepts Are The Best Concepts, CLEANTIP ALERT -- Biggest 'Get Out of Debt' Mistakes You Can Make, Nine Mistakes to Avoid, NEWS YOU CAN USE, EDUCATION ALERT: COLOR REPAIR -- December 2 & 3, 2008, 8 AM TO 5 PM...keep reading

An upholstery cleaning technician recently commented regarding a white cushion that had developed a red stain on one side after drying. During some subsequent discussion, the cleaner revealed that the cushion was placed back onto the platform after cleaning while still damp!...keep reading

NOTE FROM LEE:  Psychologist, researcher, and author Carol Dweck popularized the term growth mindset (and its 'shadow', the fixed mindset) in her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. .  .  .  Her theory states, factors like intelligence and talent, while important, don't guarantee success! Her theory goes on to state that it is our mindset and our belief in our abilities, positive or negative, that fuels or discourages success. As the name implies, if you develop a growth mindset, you will have faith in your ability to grow. You become confident that your talents, intelligence, personality, and skills can be developed through a combination of hard work, effective practice, and guidance from others....keep reading

We have discussed the marketing value of positive reviews for service businesses. However, getting these reviews is only part of the marketing issue. Knowing where a published review has the most impact is the other part....keep reading

How to Choose the Right 'Micro-Niche' For You - - - -
Your best approach is to start with business niche ideas that you find interesting, then check each item on the list to see whether it's profitable. Make a list of special services you feel strongly about and that you believe your marketplace has problems they want solutions for. ...keep reading

FACT: No matter how good your services, or how well trained you & your technicians may be, the 'First Impression' your business makes on potential customers is largely what influences them to eventually do business with you! From the very beginning, you need to make an impression that builds.
...keep reading

When you're putting together packages of high-value, specialty home cleaning service processes to recommend for your customers, the best way to offer the value they're looking for is to focus on providing not just packages of specialty cleaning service, but the even more valuable solutions they deliver. If you present a clear, understandable explanation of the value of your packages of specialty service processes in solving their problem, you'll see far better ongoing customer satisfaction resulting in more profitable business for you....keep reading

Upholstery fabrics can be made of so many combinations
of fiber types, as well as constructions, styles,
textures, and patterns, that unlike carpet, you just
can't clean each piece of upholstery the same way....keep reading

You want to provide cleaning services to your local commercial/institutional cleaning market, but you are squeezed by a tight marketing budget, right? I suggest that you use the following smart, and affordable process to put your business on the local map....keep reading

Often it's the clever way you promote your referral marketing system that can make the difference. Sometimes your referral marketing effort just needs the right offer to get people to pay attention and participate. In the next few weeks I am going to lay out some referral offer starters so you can think of ways to creatively wrap your business around one or more of them....keep reading

Your blog shouldn't be all about your business and it must never sound like an advertisement. Writing about your own company is too limiting, and really, who cares but you? But writing about any of the ongoing problems that concern your customer opens up many possibilities....keep reading

Today our culture has changed astonishingly. We absolutely must recognize this and modify or diversify the service solutions we currently provide to our market area as well as the way we provide them professionally!...keep reading

Over the last year and the beginning of this year I have received more emails and phone calls about texture distortion problems in upholstery than I have in decades....keep reading

Here is a type of storytelling you probably haven't considered . . .
I'm referring to "internal" storytelling with your company team. Trust me, this is an effective way to share your values and goals with your team in a way that they will remember!...keep reading