| Some of you may be thinking "How can a Plumbing | | | | CARED. |
| Business be different from another Plumbing | | | | Within 30 minutes he was there, had an idea of where |
| business?" | | | | the mains tap was located and turned it off. Whew! |
| Believe me; it is so easy you won't believe it! But it is | | | | Saved! By someone who knew what he was doing. |
| something that is so rarely done. | | | | Talk about money well-spent. I had no hesitation in |
| When someone goes to the Yellow Pages to look for | | | | paying his after-hours call out fee because to me it |
| a plumber because they have a blocked sink or a sink | | | | represented a bargain. |
| tap that is leaking through all the cupboards under the | | | | I would recommend that you have a varying call-out |
| sink, they really don't give a proverbial about who you | | | | fee for after hour's service. Why? Because it is only |
| are an agent for or a long list of all the things that you | | | | fair. If you have to get out of a nice warm bed at 3am |
| (and every other Plumber) does because that is what | | | | to go and stop a toilet from leaking through the |
| Plumbers are supposed to do. | | | | carpeted house, you should be compensated. So long |
| What people in that situation want to know is when | | | | as it is not obviously exorbitant, no one minds paying it. |
| you can come to fix their immediate problem. And if | | | | How else can you be different? |
| you advertise that you are a 24/7 business, believe | | | | By using email. 68% of Construction contractors don't |
| me, you do have to live up to it. When the kitchen is | | | | use their email address effectively. I will cover this |
| being flooded by a leaking tap/pipe, people are only too | | | | subject in more detail in another article but right now I'm |
| happy to pay a call out fee to get the problem fixed. In | | | | simply letting you know how you can serve your |
| the end, it's a darn sight cheaper for them to pay a | | | | customers better, for a longer time, get repeat |
| reasonable and fair call-out fee rather than having to | | | | referrals and earn more money per customer. The |
| replace all the cupboards under the sink. | | | | "one-off' customer is nice but it gets much, much |
| Let me tell you what happened to me just after I | | | | better if you keep that customer for decades. |
| moved into my new home on the Gold Coast. I had | | | | Keep in touch with your customers. When you |
| just finished putting everything away and had the | | | | complete a job, ask them for their email address or if |
| packing boxes stored in my garage ready for the | | | | they don't have one, get their mailing address. Sooner |
| removalist to pick up. | | | | rather than later they will get an email address. Then |
| The "flickmixer" tap on my sink decided to cark it and I | | | | just send them an email or newsletter letting them |
| had water going everywhere! And I had no idea | | | | know of new ideas, specials or other industry |
| where the main tap was to the place. Good grief, I had | | | | newsworthy items. I would suggest doing this either |
| only been there 10 days or so and finding where this | | | | monthly or quarterly. Even have an employee of the |
| water main to the house was located hadn't been high | | | | month / quarter and make sure their exploits are well |
| on my list of priorities. I had absolutely no idea where to | | | | described. |
| even start looking. | | | | This also has an added benefit as every good |
| I went to the Yellow Pages and looked up Plumbers. | | | | employee/subcontractor likes to be acknowledged and |
| Water was soaking through all the towels I had tried to | | | | appreciated. By appreciating your staff it helps stop |
| shore up the leak with and I was confronted with a list | | | | them from moving on to where they do feel |
| of plumbers who were listing all the manufacturers | | | | appreciated. |
| they were the agents for. | | | | Another great idea is to find out the customer's |
| What an exercise in frustration! | | | | birthday date and send them a birthday greeting. Or a |
| It was 11:30 at night and I had water soaking through all | | | | different idea could be to get the birthday date of their |
| my newly-put-away dishes. I just wanted someone to | | | | favourite pet and send an animal birthday greeting! It's |
| come ASAP and fix the problem. Skimming through | | | | different and memorable and that is what all |
| the long list of Plumbers in the YP an Ad caught my | | | | advertising should be achieving. |
| eye. Probably because it stood out by having some | | | | I could come up with oodles more advertising ideas - |
| space around it so I could quickly see what they | | | | as you will see on my website so be sure to go and |
| offered. And prominent was the 24/7, anytime | | | | have a look - but this article is long enough so it's time |
| day-or-night. I rang and the phone was answered | | | | to go back to work. |
| promptly, politely and he actually sounded as if he | | | | |