Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: bennymon on May 14, 2012, 06:43:34 pm
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Are any of you going to the alltec double dip seminar on the 25th. Del
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double dip seminar??!! Sounds a bit wrong!
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It does Jim that's why I'm thinking of going ;)
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I'm going, no good at Internet thing, so hope to learn about more, just booked Into the Menzies hotel for £70.50 b& b thought that was a good price for what looks like a nice hotel
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Thought I'd go along and have a look, so see you there.
Kev
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Can you tell me what it costs and do you have be a member of his marketing group?
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It went down to £49.50 last week for listening to Webinair now it should have gone to £150 as early bird discounts should be no more
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Thanks for that ian, I did listen to the webinar but didnt sort anything out well you know what they say the early bird catches the worm!!
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Hi Ian - Just thought I would say I have just checked the Altec site out and have realised the webinar I listened to was earlier in the month with Robert on his own and not the one with Steve Clarke I didnt even know it was on!!
Oh well have to wait for the next one its worth it for £48 or even the £97.00 mentioned but not the £147.00 now advertised! :-\
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If I'd have pulled my finger out or been a bit less busy I would have liked to have gone only trouble is this recession keeps passing me work and I'm a fool to turn it down as there's a recession on!
Shaun
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I must admit I always get wound up by the Webinairs , i had to stop myself reaching for plastic.
Went to library got a book on Facebook and also downloaded a load of Face Boook instructions from the Don Jon Site. Not sure if it will tell me what to twitter Also ordered another book from Amazon on Direct Selling for my Library
And I will not know what the new twist is in the three step letter
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I always found these days to be disguised sales days for Alltecs larger marketing packages, you are paying for the privalige of being sold to.
It's a basic sales technique to make people pay as it gives the day value, ....what do you get of value for free?
But if I lived closer I would have paid the £45 to attend, to to have the oppertunity to chat..but not the £150
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Hi - Regarding this thread I know some of you went to the seminar on Friday unfortunatley I couldnt make, I am interested to know was it worth it, did you learn and take a lot from it or was it just another Altec sales day covered up?
Cheers
Wayne
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It was a good day Wayne. very glad I went.
Most of the morning was taken up with 'text marketing' a way to utilise client data i.e. their mobile numbers (cant remember the name of it). Its an extremely effective way to reach clients - but dont just think this is a way to just bulk text and thats it.
The concept is to do things like (amongst other things) text only clients in an area i.e. postcode. This way you can text all the people in that area - with an offer or something, and then get work all in the same area - bang, bang one after the other. It can do lots of other things too.
As a matter of interest we have been developing the same sort of thing actually built in to Cleaners Mate itself. It can do the above but also from when they last used you, what service, what type of client (how much they spent with you) etc etc. So for example if you fancy doing a load of leather cleaning in just one road (or roads together) just text them all at the same time and watch the work come in (obviously the text will only go to those that have leather furniture).
A great example of this would be: "Hi, its xyz company we last came to you 2yrs ago and we are seeing a client in your road on 14th June. If you need your leather cleaned again we can give you a 20% discount if done at the same time? Just let me know. Regards John Smith".
Texting may sound old, but its actually very very effective. I think the figure is a 20% increase in sales. Think about it, you always open a text - you have to otherwise its always on the screen! So this means that it will always be read - as opposed to an e mail or even written mail.
Of course if you wanted to just text all your clients then of course it will do this! Exciting times ahead!
The afternoon was presented by Steve Clarke who is a top guy. It was all about social media and how to utilise it to boost business. I for one have started the ball rolling already on this.
I have to give Robert Saunders his respect because it wasnt a day filled with sales and to use Alltec's system, only a small mention was made.
If Steve Clarke would do another day on social media, maybe slightly advanced than what he went through on Friday, I would definately book that.
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Thanks Kev, very informative reply the main reason for me wanting to go is to listen to Steve Clarke as I rate him very highly (unfortunatley Ive had a run in with Robert in the past) should of swallowed the fact I missed out on the inductory rate and paid the £150, the text marketing sounds interesting I will have to wait untill the next one!! :)
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What software would you use to send those texts Kevin and where would you get the phone numbers from? Also how would you know if they have leather or not?
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I assume he means from your existing database?
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I've been playing with text marketing and it works.
I use Text Marketer and I topped up with £60 in text credits. I've had over £1200 worth of work from the texts we sent out and I still have around 200 text messages left from that £60. I really need to sort out my database properly to make it more effective as Kev describes but take it from me - it works!
To get the most from it, try to keep within 160 characters in the message as if you go to 161, this takes up 2 messages worth of credit and is less cost effective.
Linds
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The feature is all in the software and is integrated - not a standalone program, not a byproduct. Details will follow on its release! Like Ash says, the numbers are from clients - in our case from the database. This is why its NOW crucial to obtain mobile numbers from enquiries as you can market those that turn in to clients - and even those that perhaps havent (its worth marketing the ones who didint as they may have used a splash n dasher and want someone who can do a proper job).
The reason you know what service they had is because it draws data from invoices. It seperates automatically so even if you had multiple services in an invoice it will pick these up independently. Obviously dates too etc etc.
The actual process of text marketing takes seconds. It will become the most used feature to market as it is so much quicker than normal methods.
Linds is absolutely spot on - it does work 8)
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My Son gets 3000 text a month for £17 this includes line rental, Internet etc..etc
i can see how this is a cheap way of contacting customers and with average contract lasting now 18mths - 2yrs at least the number will be valid for a while...... which is what i have always consider a flaw with email marketing, that people will change their email address every time they change ISP
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I proposed text marketing back 2009 and got a lot of negative comments about it,
I've carried on doing it since then and works for me, 3 years later you guys are just catching up ;D
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=82663.0
Happy texting
Steve
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Although i think its a great idea its no good to me as I never figured even bothered to find out how to text. ;D ;D
Got fed up with my daughter phone going off every three minutes with text messages.
But maybe I better start studying this also in case I start up again.
I just wonder how many of you have the required data protection documentation
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didnt think you needed data protection documentation for txting!! dont think you do! almost certain you dont! ::)
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Would be even handier if there is some way of buying a database of mobile numbers in a specific area. If that isn't possible yet I bet it will be at some point.
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i went to the alltec thing and found it really good, lot of good ideas not just the same old same old, steve clarke spoke a lot of sense and i think to stay in business the stuff talked about will difinitley work, with some effot, nowhow and actual "doing stuff" then things me finks is gonna be rosey,
have to talk to you kevin about the cleaners mate side to it
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Yes Steve I remember your thread the way I took it at the time was that you text messaged like cold calling not a reminder service which I have been doing I do find that a personal call albeit taking more time is better but that's just me.
Shaun
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I think its a bit too in your face.
One thing sending a letter/postcard or an email but i think a txt is a bit too personal IMO.
I myself get annoyed when i get promotion type txt messages. I dont want to annoy clients, even though i might convert a few into sales.
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i see tony's side and yet i see the fast trackers side, heres how i personally put it into perspective.
lets say ive just had my boiler serviced by a plumber who i thought was good.
1 month later i get a text saying "hi blah blah blah i have a special on outside taps" this would pish me off.
now if i got a text a year later saying "Hi blah blah blah this is a reminder that its been a year since your last boiler service" then that would be fine.
so to sum up.
quality over quantity and i think its fine.
that my 3 bob threpenny's worth.
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Agree with Derek about the texting.
On my old mobile I used to be able to create a business
card for texting.
I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace which doesn't seem to have
this application.
Apart from the fact that if a plumber serviced my boiler
I wouldn't have a clue if he was good or not.
John
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I have never done reminders, postcards or any type of database marketing before. Bad i know, something i should look into.
If I was to start doing them it would be a reminder type letter rather than a special offer. So i guess this wouldn't be as bad if it was a year later.
I'm going to start to study customers! Work out which one's will take kindley to a letter/email/txt and only send a reminder to those ones. :)
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i think dont knock it till you try it, when i 1st started the fasttrack in 2002 i was told it was a load of bunkum but 11 years on and well although not everything works, most things did........IF YOU ACTUALLY GET OFF YOUR TOOSH AND DO THEM .sorry was i shouting then....i speak to other cleaners who are bitching how quite its been, but then find out they have do naff all to get the dog and bone ringing...... :o :o :o :o...so if texting works then i am happy to annoy a minority to get to the majority
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Glorified begging then!? ;D
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I text but they are asked first so they are expecting me to offer this with my service I do find that the personal touch means that I can confirm days, times and what is to be cleaned better.
Shaun
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The good thing about using the web based texting service is that my business name is displayed on the customer's phone and not a mobile number. I like that a lot!
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I found some very old paperwork the other day,for jobs i done 5 years ago
i text 3 numbers,2 out of the 3 rung me ,they were really pleased as they had lost my number,they both booked me for work. it just works and is harmless
gary
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Well done Gary! Just shows you.
Now imagine hundreds or thousands of clients :o.....contacted in seconds by an easy instant format - by whichever filter you want (using any combination of, or none at all):
Type of client
Last invoice date
££ value of client
Postcode area
What service they had
What source they contacted you from
All clients
8) 8)
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That's all well and good Kev if you have that database of customers in the first place.
I think once you have that volume of customers, if you are sensible with it then text marketing is great idea.
The only company I get text messages from is Dominoes Pizza, I reckon they send out about once a month. I can cope with that and don't find it to bad, any more than that though would be too much.
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The good thing about using the web based texting service is that my business name is displayed on the customer's phone and not a mobile number. I like that a lot!
Can you send emails from your computer . With these Web based services can you do it pay as you go rather than monthly subscription.
Although i never read text messages I know the rest of the World loves them
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Your absolutely right Garyj, but it shows that even a small number as above can be effective :) Its all about building the data - unfortunately there's no other way, but time does fly. Even if you have only been going for a little while, it can be relatively simple getting mobile numbers.
For instance on a leaflet put a mobile number on and get them to text you if they want to take advantage of an offer i.e. a code or something, and then you can build this very quickly. Or on your website, text for a quote etc. Put these in to your database and you can market them independently from your normal clients.
At the same time you can naturally build up clients in the normal way, the building blocks of the future.
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For instance on a leaflet put a mobile number on and get them to text you if they want to take advantage of an offer i.e. a code or something, and then you can build this very quickly. Or on your website, text for a quote etc. Put these in to your database and you can market them independently from your normal clients.
will clearsmate let me do this?
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That's all well and good Kev if you have that database of customers in the first place.
I think once you have that volume of customers, if you are sensible with it then text marketing is great idea.
The only company I get text messages from is Dominoes Pizza, I reckon they send out about once a month. I can cope with that and don't find it to bad, any more than that though would be too much.
this is what worries me about this type of marketing, gary says he can just about stand 1 text a month from dominoes. question gary, how often do you eat? see where i'm going with this?
ps... not saying i disagree with text marketing, i'm just throwing stuff in to think about.
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Derek, as you know one person getting fed up with a text doesnt mean another person will! Also if the database has an unsubscribe, that means a particular client doesnt have to receive them in future - so no problem 8)
Colin - you have Microsoft Word, so YES! You can design anything in Word i.e. flyers, leaflets, newsletters, letters, address labels etc etc etc. Thats the beauty of our system.
With new enquiries that are not yet clients, you can simply put them into a client type called say 'prospects' and market them differently. When they become a client you simply click a button to change them to normal 'domestic' clients.
Remember, these things are designed to make things easier, quicker and much more proftable - not harder, slower and having less money in your pocket.