Water Filtration, Reverse Osmosis, Water Softeners and More Highlighted On Phoenix Contractors Site

Canyon Quality Water today announced the launch of www.canyonqualitywater.com as an information portal for Phoenix area home owners to find information about water filters, reverse osmosis, and home improvement tips. With articles being added almost every day and an online monthly newsletter of home improvement tips the website is anticipated to quickly become Phoenix’s primary resource web site for water filtration information.

Future plans include educational guides on selecting a water filter, professional advice from local experts, and a question and answer forum for Phoenix homeowners.

The web site will be an invaluable resource for homeowners in finding accessible information to address their water needs. Information will be efficiently categorized for easy navigation.

Aaron Means of Canyon Quality Water stated, “Our goal is to be the best home and family resource center and information portal for assisting all Phoenix homeowners with their water needs. The depth of knowledge and resources at www.canyonqualitywater.com is simple, concise and offers every homeowner some information about their home.”

About Canyon Quality Water – Canyon Quality Water has grown our business and built a solid reputation with a professional, expert staff, fair pricing and industrial proficient products. From Service and Installation. We solve any water quality problems you may have. Our professional team specialize in hard water removal by softening and drinking water by reverse osmosis.

CONTRACTORS NAIL BREAST CANCER

In celebration of its first year of operation and in association with its member contractors, thecontractorsside.com, announces its “Spring Thing,” by conducting an Ebay auction of “Mommie Hammers,” proceeds to go to The National Association of Breast Cancer Awareness. The donations have been designated for mammograms for women who cannot afford them.

thecontractorsside.com believes the best solution for the problem of breast cancer is early detection.

The Mommie Hammer has a pink handle so there’s no mistaking to whom the hammer belongs. It is a durable, quality product that in no way resembles a bouquet of flowers, but it will remind the user every time she picks it up that the giver was thinking of her when it was bought.

Every woman needs a hammer, a high heel shoe just won’t do the job of hanging a picture, pounding down staples, or prying off sticky thingys that kids get in the darnedest places.

This event, to be launched on Mother’s Day, the first annual fundraiser for thecontractorsside.com, was chosen because so many members have been touched by the disease, either a mother (we all have mothers) or other family member or loved one.

thecontractorsside.com hopes the auction will begin a concerted effort to catch breast cancer in its earliest stages, thereby eliminating the tremendous costs associated with advanced breast cancer. Contractors are always looking for ways to prevent problems before they arise, so this project is a natural for them.

Contractors care, and this is just one way they can show it.

The auction will be a go by Mother’s Day, and the site can be found by logging onto
http://thecontractorsside.com, http://contractors-united.com, http:4allcontractors.com, http://thehardwarecity.com, or go to Ebay and key in thecontractorsside.com.

Eighty percent of the proceeds go to the charity, the rest covers handling, shipping, and administrative costs. Bids open at $25.00 USD.

On thecontractorsside.com will be the names and locations of all the contractors who have participated in the event, and some will have personal stories of their experiences with the disease. Click on the “Honor Roll” to read.

Magnetic Business Cards

Business cards are definitely the most affordable and most influential promotional material for your business. This is the reason why I encourage you to make the most out of your business card. Do everything to make it a memorable permanent advertisement for your company.

The magnetic business card does just that. It is more than just a card. It is the one marketing piece no one will throw away. I look at my own refrigerator and see the various contractors, lawyers, etc and whenever there is a time I may need someone, there is the card right on my refrigerator.

Magnetic business cards can be a very effective marketing tool. In addition to supplying your potential clients with your contact information, you are also ensuring that they will see your information on a daily basis. A magnetic business card is something that homeowners can and will actually use. They can put them on their refrigerator at home or at work or on their desk. Every time they use your magnetic business card, they will be reminded of your service.

Magnetic business cards are easily accessible and are a lot harder to lose, once you stick them and forget them. The refrigerator is not the only surface that your magnetic business card will stick too. File cabinets, lockers, and even cars can become places of advertisement for your business and its services.

Most business card printers will also be able to supply you with magnetic business cards. These magnetic business cards can appear exactly the same as the paper version, but printed on a magnet. If you would rather have a different design printed, you can do that as well and your Footbridge Media marketing consultant can help you with the design.

Listed below are several companies on where to get magnetic business cards at reasonable prices:

http://www.magnets-4-less.com/business-card-magnets.htm

http://www.paylessmagnets.com/

http://www.mavericklabel.com/product/business-card-magnets.html

What Are You Leaving Behind?

Regardless if you are on a service call, or giving an estimate or consultation, what are you leaving behind when you walk out the door. This article will give you a laundry list of ideas and marketing potential of excellent leave-behinds that you can use.

Besides the bill or estimate that you are leaving with the homeowner here are some ideas that you can use to leave behind. It is even better to keep everything in a folder, so that the homeowner can reference all of your materials. Make sure that the folder is labeled with all of your company information. In most cases they will use the folder to collect all of their project information, leaving another marketing piece in their hands. Also, Always make sure that the bill or estimate is enclosed in your packet. Other things include:

• Testimonial Sheet (Either a list of testimonials or a sheet that can be
  completed if you have already completed service) You may want to include
  actual references of people that have received similar services as well.
• Consumer Information Report (Tips on Hiring A Contractor)
• Maintenance Service Agreement Brochure and Sign Up Form
• Magnet Business Card ( A Must)
• Brief Customer History Brochure with Valid Licenses and Professional
  Memberships ( This can be a one pager)
• Copies of relevant insurance
• Print out of all guarantees and warranties
• Newsletter
• Information about your company referral program
• Coupons For future services or products or even partner companies that you
  strategically align with.

Holiday Marketing For Contractors

The holiday season is upon us and this is a great time to get your products in front of your clients again. After all, marketing to our clients is our core importance in business throughout the year. Below we are going to list some tips and brainstorming ideas to help you promote your business for the holidays.

Tip One:
Don’t make your clients feel as though you only want their money! Take this time to thank them for being a loyal customer throughout the year by sending them a holiday card or even a postcard. The personal touch goes a long way, especially to your clients.

Tip Two:
Also take this time to offer them an incentive to buy from you this holiday season. Offer a discount on planning summer home improvement projects, or offer a discount on your maintenance plan.

Tip Three
If offering a discount, try to extend the expiration date past the holidays into January. Offering a discount on home improvement services for after the holidays is a good way to draw in your clients. They may want a little something for themselves or have some fun money they want to spend; that is where your discount comes in. Most people are apt to buy something when they are receiving at a discount, it’s that extra nudge to purchase.

Tip Four
The holidays are about giving, and part of that holiday spirit is reaching out to the less fortunate.
Pick a charity and offer to donate a percentage of your sales to it. Tell your subscribers what percentage you’ll donate, keep track of your total donation as sales increase, and make that information available to subscribers — via your newsletter

When deciding between buying from you, and some other contractor who doesn’t participate in holiday giving, who do you think consumers will go with? Your appeal to conscientious consumerism can be the edge.

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Postcards For Contractors

The postcard can be a very powerful marketing tool for contractors. Many of our clients use them throughout the year. The key is to set up the card to market effectively for you. Concentrate on a specific service or offer and not just your overall company.

When used correctly a post card can become very powerful marketing tool. Be sure the front of your card is explicit. It should be clear to your customer what you are selling. A color postcard is a must, unless you are using black and white to your advantage, that is, to make a point.
The front should motivate your customer to turn it around and see what you are offering or what you can do for them.

The back of your card should make your points in a clear and concise manner. After this is done be sure to give your customer a number of ways to contact you: by phone, by email, or visit your website.

Remember you need to take a limited amount of space and address the main concerns that your customers have or to delineate what you are selling and its advantages. Give your customers reasons to contact you. For example, a limited time offer, a special product or service or a free report.

Address their concerns rather than tooting your own horn, you can do that in your follow-up. Your postcard is not the place to discuss you, but what you have to offer to your customer, or how you can help your customer. You need to have a unique selling proposition on all of your cards.

If you decide on conducting a postcard campaign, please understand that you will not receive leads from a one time mailing. Direct marketing, especially postcards work when they are sent overtime. If you are going to make the commitment, get ready to send out to your list 7-9 times throughout the year.

Before contacting Footbridge Media to help you with the design and mailing of your postcard, please have a mailing list ready. A good source for creating a customized list is www.melissadata.com

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Energy Efficient Heating

In terms of energy efficiency, space heaters are great for adding supplemental heat when the main heating source is inadequate or when central heating may be too costly to install or to operate.

In fact, the use of a space heater may even be less expensive to operate if it is only used to heat a small room or area, or to boost the temperature of rooms used by individuals sensitive to cold. In addition, space heaters do not lose any energy through ducts or combustion, so they are considered to be almost 100% efficient. Almost all of the warmth generated by a space heater will radiate into a room.

For industrial areas such as warehouses and workspaces, fueled heaters such as kerosene and propane heaters are great because they use little to no electricity. However, these cannot be used in areas without adequate ventilation, and they can carry some safety risks.

For home use, electric space heaters are more suitable. Most electric space heaters use convection to heat a room. When used as a supplemental heat source in combination with an existing central heating system, portable electric space heaters can be very affordable. As well, some electric heaters also rely on radiant heating, meaning they emit infrared heat in the same way the sun warms the earth. Only the objects around the heater are warmed, and for this reason, the use of these heaters can be very energy efficient, as an infrared heater immediately transfers heat to occupants and not the entire room or area. These heaters can also heat up a room or area much faster, as heat is easily directed to the space being heated in a precise beam. Lastly, consider the use of an oil-filled radiator heater. Like electric space heaters, oil-filled heaters are ideal when your central heating system is not sufficient. These are safe, silent, and energy efficient because they automatically maintain optimal room temperature.

Therefore, with all of the above heating choices available, you can still save money on your energy bill and keep your home or living space comfortable. For additional money savings, follow these tips as well:

1. Choose a heater with a timer or that is thermostatically controlled. These heaters can avoid the energy waste of overheating a room.

2. Purchase a heater of the proper size for the room or area you wish to heat. Do not choose an oversized heater, and pay attention to watts. With a 10/1 ratio of watts to square feet heated, a 1500 watt space heater (120 volts) will heat an insulated area of 150 square feet, and a garage heater rated at 5,000 watts should heat an area over 400 square feet.

3. Try not to leave your space heater on the high setting, and turn the heater off when you are away. Space heaters can consume large amounts of energy if left on continuously.

4. Keep your doors and windows closed in order to minimize heat loss and for optimal heating effectiveness. Frequent switching a heater on and off and adjusting the thermostat will also increase energy usage.

Jeanie Wong is a marketing writer with extensive knowledge of heating systems

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeanie_Wong

Dallas Roofing Contractors

We are pleased to announce the launch of Roofing Professionals a roofing company that specializes in roof repairs, replacement and roof inspections for homeowners in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

If you are looking for a Dallas roofing contractor, make sure to contact them today.

Michigan Remodeling Contractors

We are pleased to announce the launch of Lincorp, a design-build remodeling firm located in Bloomfield, Hills Michigan.

Ron Jedwab, owner of Lincorp shares his passion for building: He founded Lincorp in 1989, following in his builder father’s footsteps. He has been honored with numerous awards for design construction quality, and overall value.

Sales Tip of the Week - Two Ears & One Mouth - Get The Picture?

Provided by ContractorSelling.com

The average sales person or tech spends about 60% of their call doing all the talking, 30% of the call being silent and only 10% actually listening to want customers want. See if you can improve your listening skills by following some of the strategies below:

Maintain eye contact with the customer. Stop fiddling with tools, notebooks and work orders and by all means shut up and listen. Eye contact is one of the secrets that keep you focused on the job at hand and keeps the customer involved in the importance of solving problems and in generating solutions.

Focus on content, not delivery. Stop looking around the house for something nice to say about their belongings. Focus on the content of what the customer is saying not the way they look or act. Did you leave the house when the customer said they want to think it over? If so, you weren’t focusing on content. After all, they didn’t say they wanted to think about it without you right?

Avoid emotional involvement. When you are too emotionally involved in listening, you tend to hear what you want to hear–not what is actually being said. Leave your problems at home and at work behind and focus on the situation instead. Also leave your mother in the truck and your beliefs about money and how much someone will spend as well. Don’t profile people or “mind read” them. Try to remain objective and open-minded.

Avoid distractions. Don’t let your “monkey mind” wander by what is playing on TV in the background or be distracted by the customer’s demeanor. Also don’t allow people like your wife, kids or others to interrupt you in the middle of your call. A new phenomenon is the text message and the interruption that this brings. Leave the phone in the truck.

Treat listening as a challenging mental task. Listening to a customer is not a passive act–at least it shouldn’t be. You need to concentrate on what is said so that you can process the information to arrive and the best diagnosis, solution and options that will be a fit for your customer.

Stay active by asking mental questions. Active listening keeps you on your toes. Here are some questions you can ask yourself as you listen. What key point is the customer making? How does this fit with what I know from previous calls I have done? Why is the customer saying this right now? Who else has been to this call and failed? How can I stop from repeating the same mistake?

Use the gap between the rate of speech and your rate of thought. You can think faster than the customer can talk. That’s one reason your mind may tend to wander. All the above suggestions will help you keep your mind occupied and focused on what being said. You can actually begin to anticipate what the customer is going to say. Be careful at that point to keep listening completely as opposed to prejudging what point they are trying to make. Your mind has the capacity to listen, think, write and reflect at the same time, but it does take practice.

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