I don't know if my method is the most effective but it works for me...
I use my calendar in my iPhone
I have several colored categories.
First of all I hardly ever answer my phone otherwise I'll get nothing done and that also helps to filter those who are shopping or just want to wast my time with questions.
My message asks for scope of work, square feet and request to send pics to my cell.
Then as I listen to my messages, I log it all on paper in a composition book by city & date so if my phone fails I have a paper copy. It looks Like this...
DV12-5 John Dow 9256256447. Then Address. Then Abbreviated scope of work note.
"DV" is The city abbreviated Danville
12-5 is the day the call came in.
Then I transfer it on the calendar in yellow labeled "Call backs"
From there I call them back & get a few more details then cut & past them to "estimate List" colored Orange which is categorized in notes below by city.
On the day I do estimates I'll copy a few city's to my notes app, enter them on my navigator and go do estimates starting with the closest ones first to minimize back & forth.
As each one is completed I cut & past it on the calendar in blue according to time of day so I know where I been that day. What ever I don't get to on the note app list I delete because it's copied from the main list.
Then I return to Estimate list in orange and delete the ones I got to that day that are entered in blue for the day.
Because of the volume of estimate coming in I put a $$ before the city to note they are priority and most preferred.
I seldom schedule estimate dates unless it's a really big $$ job. Most all of my estimates are done last minute on the fly because I can't commit because too many last minute emergencies on the jobs.
If don't respond we don't get paid then have to return & the prospective work schedule for the week is lost.
So I'd rather make sure I'm available to make sure the techs finish the job before I commit to any estimate.
It seems to me theirs probably a better way... I think it's called an assistant. Then that's additional payroll.
Because work comes from so many places i.e. Email, website, text, phone messages, yelp, this works best for me.
Is their a better way?
