Episode 5: Odd Business Signs, Marketing Tip For Cleaning Companies

Episode #5 -- Odd Business Signs, Marketing Tip For Cleaning Companies

In this episode we're going to have some fun by looking at some funny and somewhat strange business signs. In Part 2, we have a marketing tip that addresses some of the frequently asked questions:

"How do I market my business?"
"How do I get my first client?"
"I've been sending out postcards and flyers and nothing works, how do I get clients?"

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Episode #5 - Video Transcription

Before I get started on today's topic, I wanted to take a minute to have some fun by looking at some funny and somewhat strange business signs. This first one is from a flower shop, asking "How mad is she? Call us anytime and we'll fix it." This one is supposed to have Gardening tips, but instead says, "Unattended children will be given and espresso and a puppy. Have a nice day!" Kind of a fun way of getting the point across, don't you think?

Next is a Burger King sign. Apparently they're having a Job Fair on Wednesday (hmm, I think the employee that spelled Wednesday needs a spelling lesson!)"

Now how would you like to go to a business for coffee, and while you're there, see the chiropractor and have your colon checked too? Eww... This store's name is "Ick". Apparently even THEY don't like their stuff!

And this Store Hours sign is my favorite."Open most days about 9 or 10. Occasionally as early as 7, but some days as late as 12 or 1. We close about 5:30 or 6, occasionally about 4 or 5, but sometimes as late as 11 or 12. Some days or afternoons we aren't here at all, and lately I've been here just about all the time except when I'm someplace else." Hmmm... I kind of LIKE those hours! Ok, moving on...

One of the questions we get from cleaning business owners every single week goes something like this -- how do I market my business? -- or, how do I get my first client? -- or, I've been sending out postcards and flyers and nothing works, how do I get clients? Do you know what all these people are looking for? A magic bullet -- or a secret formula that will make clients magically appear! IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY PEOPLE!!

We have a friend who is a pretty well-known Internet marketer, and he has a catch-phrase that he says all the time -- Marketing is Everything and Everything is Marketing. Now the first time I heard this I thought to myself, yeah, that's true I guess, but I really didn't think it was this "profound" saying. That is, until I broke it down and gave it more thought.

So let's break this down into two parts. First, Marketing is Everything. Now you might be thinking to yourself, No...there's a lot more to my business than marketing. I have to deposit checks, pay the bills, deal with customers, hire and train employees, and the list goes on and on. And yes, that's all true. But think about THIS -- without Marketing, there there will be no checks to deposit, there will be no customers to deal with, and you won't need to worry about hiring and training employees because you won't have any customers! Hmmm...are you starting to realize that marketing IS everything?

The second part of the equation is Everything is Marketing. Now some of you might be thinking, well, marketing is sending out postcards and attending networking events and updating my website. And you're right again -- all of these things are marketing activities. But let's take it a step further. What about when you stop by the convenience store for gas and a lottery ticket, and while you're waiting in line you notice the floors are filthy? Or what about when you stop by the bank to make a deposit and you notice how dusty the ledges are and how filthy the entryways are? And what about when you're out volunteering at a local charity event - are you wearing a shirt with your company logo?

Here's something else to think about -- have you ever listened to your employees answer your company telephone? What are they saying to your prospects and customers? And what about when you train new employees - do you talk to them about what to do and say when they come across people working late in their offices? Or what to say when you're cleaning a home and the customer is there watching? Are you starting to get the picture? EVERYTHING is Marketing.

Here is a good example of why training employees on customer service is considered marketing. We had a bank as a client, and our employees that cleaned that bank had a great relationship with one of the managers. She eventually left and went to work for a competitor. When she got to her new job she noticed that the cleaning wasn't the greatest so she went to her boss and said, "I know a cleaning company that does a GREAT job at cleaning banks!" And we ended up getting 5 new bank branches thanks to the great relationship our employees had with this bank employee. Do you see how Marketing is Everything?

And let me just clarify one point. When I say everything is marketing, I'm NOT talking about going around selling your cleaning services to everyone you meet. I'm talking about being aware of opportunities throughout your day and planting seeds by putting yourself out in your community, talking with people, seeing how you can be of help, and building a reputation for being helpful, resourceful, and a savvy business owner. I'm also talking about incorporating that marketing mindset into everything you do within your business, including your employees. It all takes time, but pretty soon many of those seeds you've been planting will start sprouting, and before you know it, your business will be booming.

So your assignment today is to put that saying in the back of your mind until it starts to become second nature to you - Everything is Marketing and Marketing is Everything. I'd like to hear what you have to say about this topic. Please share your thoughts by entering your comments below the video at CleaningBiz.TV.