Beating to the same drum.

have thought about this in great detail since i have been disabled. Alot of companies do the business the same as everyone else. Isn't the idea to break away from the pack? Not do what the other guy is doing? Making your company standout looking more professional? Here in Michigan i have seen 67 guys go under in the metro area. Guys use a dump service and it has worked in a starting up business. But when established purchasing a dump truck a nice one, i know it's expensive but why let a roll off tear up a driveway or a wheeled job sit there untill someone picks it up?

I am fully aware that the credit issues in todays market is a problem. The contsruction business is not what it was last year or the year before. Sit and think about it. The days of charging whatever is not the norm anymore. With the ever changing market and homeowners using the internet do gain the knowledge on what project they are looking to have done the contractor must be smarter and more well versed than whomever walks thru the door before you.

It's eat or be eaten now worse than ever. Marketing your company effectivly is very important. Take a stand and use methods that differ from others putting distance between you and the others is what it will take in todays ever changing market. Adapt and overcome or go under like i have seen too many that were mighty go under. For example, going the extra mile for the customer making the purchase an enjoyable experience rather than a pain.

Im sure all of you can agree that things have changed. Im speaking of the way business is done. Sell performance, and track record and prove it rather than used car style. And i am not meaning anyone is doing that its a general statement. There are many ways you can stand out you have to make the choice to be the same or different no one else can but you.

Sell the product like you would want to be sold. Make sure your not the jerk they throw out of the home. When you bring it down to a personal level think about it, you will level the playing field with the customer, but you have the ability to adjust the conversation at will. If they do not trust you they will not buy from you, and when i say that you must earn their trust not fake it thru the sale.

When i made the statement make it personal i do not mean if you lose the job or any of that get upset, bring it to a level that makes the customer comfortable with you.

If you lose the job, so what the lead is still not dead. Reverse the business card trick. Put 5 cards in the mail along with a letter stating to the effect: Mr. and Mrs. Jones, we at (whatever company name) feel we owe you the opportunity to pay up to 500 dollars toward you project on your biggest investment. We will send you a certified check for 100 dollars for each referral that you feel may need our services and decides to do business with us. XYZ construction has also enclosed a 25 dollar gift card for giving us the opportunity to become our customer. Respectfully, (owners name and sign it). This method i have used when i was selling and had very good responses to this and got quite a few jobs from it.

these are just a few thoughts i have had. I hope it helps at least 1 person and i will be happy. God bless.

Good stuff, Kevin.

I'm with ya GTP1003....We've always "differed" from the so-called "competition", however it's frustrating, as most people, ("sheeple"), this day an age, don't typically align with some of us, when it comes to ethics/morals....It is rewarding though, when customers do appreciate that we do not practice the "sub-game", (missrepresenting employees as subcontrators), and that we hire U.S.A. legal, English-speaking employees only. BTW; We've alweays utilized rubber-tired dump trucks for demo, primarilly for the reason you indicated....Good idea on the card thing too! I like it.