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The very demanding nature of this current Pandemic- environment has devastated consumer/business relationships! In addition to dealing with the financial damages to our businesses, small businesses like ours have to put a vigorous and accommodating customer-focused approach into place if we hope to rebuild....keep reading

The consumer of the 21st century is the most litigious (read: "sue happy") generation that small service businesses like ours have ever dealt with! Whether you are dealing with new customers or long time pre-existing customers, you must especially pay attention to pre-existing conditions. In the past, we comfortably assumed that the customers were aware of the damage or "wear & tear" existing with heavy soiling factors. Not so today!...keep reading

I just got an email back last night from the cleaner who asked about removing a wine stain from a cotton cushion last week. I shared my recommendations in last weeks Clean Tip, and felt it important to share the outcome here. This is what he sent:...keep reading

You're offering valuable home environmental services that can help your customers save time, money, & headaches. The goal of your sales and marketing is to demonstrate this to potential customers. At this point, what if you've done everything you need to do and you're still not seeing the revenue you should be? If this is the case, it's probably because you're not making your unique services easy enough to buy. How you present your services to potential customers has a major impact on how much you sell. In this article about 'Packaging Specialty Service Processes'-, you'll review possible reasons you're not selling more of your services and steps you can take to overcome them so you start getting the business you deserve....keep reading

It varies from company to company, but there are a few common attitudes all good customer service needs to have. In my opinion, as long as you make sure you focus on developing and maintaining the following six, your customers are almost always guaranteed to be pleased with your service....keep reading

The purpose of an "Identification & Value Proposition" statement! to prospects & customers is to clearly and quickly answer the questions "Who are you?", and "What are you going to do?" in 20-30 seconds or so....keep reading

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It has been my experience over many years that when small businesses like ours are faced with decisions of this type, they are usually made emotionally and impulsively, then an attempt is made to justify the decision logically ...AFTER THE FACT!...keep reading

This has become one of those quotes that many take as true without even thinking about what it means or how it relates to their business. Nor do they often think about how much they may be investing into that one tip for a successful business....keep reading

Today there is stiff competition in the general market place for just about any type of product or service. Because of this, you need to explain to your potential customers not only what you can do for them, but what sets you apart from others in the market place who are offering something similar. This is referred to as 'positioning' -- and it uniquely defines your 'position' in you specific market place. ...keep reading

Just when you thought decorators could not create rugs any worse than choosing fibers like sisal or viscose for their clients... here's a new one for you - paper. Yes, I said paper. With the recommended method of cleaning rugs always being to wash them, you now have a fiber that literally cannot get wet....keep reading

Businesses engaged in today's cleaning industry who wish to capitalize on emerging opportunities created by social and technology changes are going to have to learn new skills as well as prepare themselves to take on new competitive challenges with enlightened creativity as well as a heightened approach to improving their professionalism and their business expertise....keep reading

We cleaning and restoration business owners wear many hats. Too many! How can we possibly get everything done AND make a pile of money when we have so many things pulling us in many directions?
Get everything you need to change your company's direction... ALL IN ONE DAY, ALL IN ONE PLACE! Check our calendar-- http://www.ecleanadvisor.com/public/mgcal.cfm?calID=1&cmonth=11/1/2006...keep reading

In today's digital, visual age, well meaning customers now send pictures of soiled or spotted upholstery as well as related information that might be attached to it to their cleaner to "help them"!
3 REASONS WHY THIS INFORMATION IS NOT USEFUL, OR EVEN WORSE!...keep reading

The real challenge in growing your environmental home service business is -- How do you learn to understand people? Understanding people is an absolutely vital part of effectively operating and growing an environmental home services business in today's marketplace!. When you work to improve your ability to understand people you provide services for, this is perhaps the key area. It actually starts with "learning to how to put yourself in someone else's shoes"...keep reading

There are two "schools of thought" when it comes to upholstery cleaning: #1 -- is simply, "Let's make some money and stay out of trouble" #2 - is more complex, "We are fine fabric care experts"....keep reading

This is a question I am asked over & over - "Do I really need a Web site?" Here is as honest an answer as I personally can give you at this point . . . Yes, but be aware of these current facts......keep reading

Focusing on current technical and business trends that have a major effect on 1-10 employee professional cleaning services. IN THIS ISSUE -- DEVELOP YOUR OWN UNIQUE MARKETING SYSTEM, RECENT POST AT LEE'S NEW BLOG - Revealing Trip to the Past & EDUCATION ALERT: DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES - Successful Pet Urine Decontamination, Deodorization, and Stain Removal....keep reading

Storytelling helps provide a clear picture to potential customers of what you stand for, what your values are, and how you can help them.
In fact, the real story of your business has more to do with your local customers' experiences than it does with you!...keep reading

Following are seven of the most common mistakes that specialty cleaning professionals, who are providing unique home environmental cleaning services tend to make when they get started with video marketing. Review them closely so that you can avoid them and reduce your learning curve.
Keep in mind that practice makes permanent, not perfect Your first videos won't be your best, but you'll quickly get better at producing interesting, reasonable quality videos that your audience will love as you consistently publish them....keep reading