New Year's Resolutions
According to a recent nationwide poll of Angie's List service providers, 75 percent are planning New Year's resolutions for their business. And their No. 1 goal for 2009 - boost advertising and marketing efforts. "Now is not a good time to save on advertising costs," says Brian Kearney of Neponset Valley Construction in Norwood, Mass. "The consumer will soon forget who you are, and when the economy turns around you'll have a long uphill battle to regain name recognition in your field."
Here are five more pieces of advice from service providers that really stood out.
- Invest in your employees; don't have a revolving door.
- Danny Manley of Aquaproof Inc. in Mason, Ohio
"I pay my employees well and I give them full benefits," Manley says. "I treat them well. A lot of people in my industry don't." As a result, Manley doesn't see a lot of turnaround. "If they're with me longer than a week, they stay with me," he says.
- Cut costs, build moral, and don't put your head in the sand. Be proactive to keep your business on top!
- Cindy Faulkner of Valley Heating and Cooling in San Jose
- Advertise and market more. Provide superior service. Be prepared for losses.
- John Everhart of Prudential Foothills Real Estate in Tucson, Arizona
"Traditionally, during tough times people decrease their budgets," Everhart says. "But if you cut back on advertising you're not getting the customers and exacerbating the problem. You have to increase your presence and the types of advertising you do." Everhart recently expanded his web and "snail mail" advertising and upped his print advertising from one full page ad to three. He also increased his team in an effort to provide better service.
"You've got to answer the phone!" he says. "Be there, understand where your client is coming from. Every client thinks they're the most important person in the world and if you don't act like they are, they don't appreciate it."
- Now is the time to work on your image, exposure, and training.
- Joe Grueter of Grueter Construction in Altadena, California
- Do it right from the start. Licensing, insurance, permits, inspections, taxes, etc!
- John Bredehoft of Total Plumbing Services LLC in Pelham, Alabama
Keeping things organized is important for Bredehoft. He keeps his files in order and dated so he's always on top of his game. "I keep in mind which things expire at the end of a year and which are auto-renewed," he said.