Georgia,
I talking about an e-mail to people who refer me business not to past customers. Conclusion is, I will try both, e-mails and frequent visits as my schedule allows!.
 
Thanks,
RK

--- On Mon, 7/27/09, Georgia Rivera <georgia@stonebuff.com> wrote:

From: Georgia Rivera <georgia@stonebuff.com>
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] Developing referrals !
To: "Restoration and Maintenance" <sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.com>
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009, 3:08 PM

Roger,

Are you talking about having an online e-mail newsletter type of thing?  Something to just keep all of your customers updated with your "latest and greatest"? And to keep your name in their heads?

On Mon, Jul 27, 2009 at 3:45 PM, John Freitag <jfreitag@thestoneandtileschool.com> wrote:
Roger ,
 
Nothing beats the personal touch, spend your time visiting your network and it will pay high returns.  By visiting your network you are developing a relationship with your network.
 
Email will help but they need to know you and have a comfort level with you in order to refer you. This only happens by building personal relationships.
 
 
JOHN
 
 
From: Roger Konarski [mailto:qm144@yahoo.com]
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2009 1:48 PM

To: Restoration and Maintenance
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] Developing referrals !
 
John,
Thanks for your response. I was looking @ this as a way of keeping my name in front of referral sources, not prior customers. As you know there are numerous people or businesses that could be referring us business. I looked @ it as a way of keeping my name in front them and the services we offer.
 
What are your thoughts about that?
 
Thanks,
Roger Konarski

 


--- On Mon, 7/27/09, John Freitag <jfreitag@thestoneandtileschool.com> wrote:


From: John Freitag <jfreitag@thestoneandtileschool.com>
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] Developing referrals !
To: "Restoration and Maintenance" <sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.com>
Date: Monday, July 27, 2009, 12:38 PM

Roger,
 
The email constant contract work OK for commercial  business, I’m not sure I would use it for my residential business, at least not on a monthly or even bi monthly cycle. In most cases the residential customer need our services on an average of every 3 to 5 years depending upon the care the customer gives their stone.  obviously some customer will need our services more often than others.  If I would use constant contact for residential it wpould probably be on a yearly cycle reminding the customer of their yearly check – up. Kind of what you would receive from your dentist or others.
 
 When I completed the customer job I would let them know that I will do a follow up email once yearly in case they need something. The best  networking is still the retailers , the fabricators, the installers etc.
 
Commercial customers I would set up on a bi monthly cycle with some type of  message, one educational and one offering services for restoration and or maintenance
 
 
John E. Freitag
President/Director
The Stone and Tile School
Office 407-567-7652
Cell 407-615-0134
 
schoollogo
 
 
 
 
From: Roger Konarski [mailto:qm144@yahoo.com]
Sent: Sunday, July 26, 2009 6:07 PM
To: Restoration and Maintenance
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] Developing referrals !
 

John,

What are yours or anyone else thoughts on a  type of constant contact type e-mail campaign to current and possible future referral sources?  That is reminding them of your services, possible included before and after pictures and may be testimonials from recent customers.

Thanks

RK


--- On Wed, 7/22/09, John Freitag <jfreitag@thestoneandtileschool.com> wrote:


From: John Freitag <jfreitag@thestoneandtileschool.com>
Subject: RE: [sccpartners] Developing referrals !
To: "Restoration and Maintenance" <sccpartners@stoneandtilepros.com>
Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 4:12 PM

Roger,
 
Networking is an important part of developing your business. In my sales and marketing class we talk about networking and how to go about it . Below is some of the ways I use and teach networking.
 
 
 
1.       The first thing you need to do is to develop a list of companies that you can and should network with these companies would be:
Tile and Stone retail stores, fabricators , installers, builders, janitorial service companies etc.
 
2.       Take a local map and mount this on a wall and pin every person you need to network with .
3.       When making your sales appointments with your customer, look at a map to see what networking partner you are going past or close to, schedule time before or after your appointment to see that networking partner.
4.       Make sure when you stop at a network partner you have information to leave behind, your business card is NOT you leave behind materials, you  need brochure and information about you , your company and your services.
5.       Networking is an ongoing project that never ends,   you need to make these networking visits on a regular cycle, if possible monthly or bi monthly the more they see you the more they will remember you when a customer needs help..
6.       Drop off snacks for the sales staff, employees etc. food make people remember you.
7.       Work all you contacts, there are organization such as BOMA ( Business office Managers Association)  in many markets these managers control the commercial office buildings and a good place to network , this one will cost you some $$ but very well worth it .
8.       Builder and remodels are good networking partners, sure the building market is down now but these companies are doing remodel projects and there maybe stone and tile in them.
9.       Hardwood floor refinisher,

 

This is a start, on networking contacts, be sure to educate the people you are working with and leave behind print material are a must!!

 

Some retail store you should consider seeing if they are interested in selling Care products, many times customers come in looking for the magic fix in a bottle, when they really need your services, the retail store can sell care products and tell the customer if  product does not fix their problem they probably need a professional. This is where they refer YOU. You fix the problem the store sell product , you do the professional service when needed and everyone wins.

 
The key to  successful networking is visit, visit , visit the companies you want to network with. These cannot be visited once every 3 to 6 month they need to be regularly scheduled building solid relationship will bring you business.
 
Hope this helps
John E. Freitag
President/Director
The Stone and Tile School
Office 407-567-7652
Cell 407-615-0134
 
schoollogo
 
 
 
 
From: Roger Konarski [mailto:qm144@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 9:18 PM
To: Restoration and Maintenance
Subject: [sccpartners] Developing referrals !
 

All,

I was looking for any suggestions on how to foster a relationship with a potential referral sources, which are fabricators, stone warehouse or anyone that has something to do with natural stone. Yes of course you can go by a introduce oneself and leave some business cards. But   I think you need more than that to help develop the relationship.

Thanks, any suggestions would be appreciated!