A friend of mine is about to open her first restaurant. Well, not really. She’s a long way from being ready to open the doors. But the framing for the kitchen and bar area has been set. Now, for all of you entrepreneurs out there, I’m sure you can agree with me…that’s progress, right?
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
How many jobs have you completed this week...this month...this year?
How proud of that work are you?
How did you capture the marketing value your work?
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
“After my techs came out of that airflow class, their confidence level skyrocketed!”
Chris Hunter made this statement to me in a recent discussion we had on technical training.
He went onto say, “Technical competence is one key element in successful service call training. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like there’s been more emphasis lately on the sales and customer service part of the call. A tech who is confident in her customer service, communications, AND technical competence becomes a powerful marketing source!”
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
In order to figure out where you and your business are going, you need to clearly understand where you are at now, how you got to where you’re at, and why. The first thing we say when someone calls and asks for directions to get to our location is, “Where are you now?”
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
Having been in this industry for over 30 years, I have seen many amazing changes. There have been technological improvements in equipment – furnaces and air conditioners that will tell a technician the last 20 faults that occurred. Technological improvements have enhanced interactions with the customers – instant billing of customers from a hand-held tablet, programs that allow a customer to schedule a service call on-line. Improvements in business processes – recognition of the value of maintenance agreements for the customer and the business, the importance of maximizing the return from labor through pricing methodology and pay for performance systems.
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
Try Facebook with your business they say, it’ll work great! So you try it and it stinks. You post and get three likes. One was you, your mom, and someone who accidentally hit the like button while scrolling.
What are you doing wrong? Why can some have great results and you try it and nothing happens? Facebook has an algorithm that can make or break your page. I put together some best practice tips based on information from Facebook for my team recently and decided to share with you!
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
Recently, I was reading an article about health and fitness as it relates to the misconception of dieting. My recent speech at Service World revolved around this same subject, and I thought I would share this information with you here as I believe there is a great correlation between our physical fitness and the technician’s training diet.
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
"Can you lead a session on how to create an effective training plan?" asked Angie Snow. She is the co-owner of Western Heating and Air. She is also a great trainer in her own right and a leader of Service Nation Alliance’s AB group for women in HVAC/R, so I was honored to receive the request. This article follows the essential notes from the training session completed, with a few stories for context and emphasis. Many ask, “What if I train my technicians/plumbers and they leave?” Or “What if you don’t train them and they stay on board?”
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
Three Time-Saving Technologies That Put Talent to Work
Just as ATMs free bank tellers from handling many routine tasks and allow them to focus on customers’ more complex needs, automation and artificial intelligence in accounting and bookkeeping can redefine skilled workers’ jobs and save your business time and money.
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service
Nine Guaranteed Takeaways from the Service World Expo
Are you vacillating about Service World? Do you wonder if it’s worth it? Do you think you cannot afford the cost or time away from the shop? Here are nine takeaways you will benefit from if you attend Service World.
Topics: Building a Business, Plumbing, hvac, Marketing, business culture, learning, knowledge, Management, team building, Leadership, Business Growth, Business Leadership, creative marketing, Branding, Customer Service