user182

I have to start focusing on lead generation. I have been focusing on my sales process in an effort to increase my close ratio.

I am gong to put that on the back burner for now and start doing something to bring in more leads.

New leads have tapered off to almost nothing recently.

I’ve got to start getting some appointments with homeowners.

Last year I started putting together a list of churches, commercial and retail properties that look like they have worn out roofs. When I am driving around I’ll write down the address of a property that looks like it will need a roof soon.

Last year I did one mailing to the list but did not get any response.

Occasionally I’ll make cold calls to property managers of apartments that need roofing but I have not been able to close any deals through cold calling lately.

With property managers it’s hard to get through to the ultimate decision maker and if you do they are usually happy with the roofer they have been using.

Ed the Roofer

Do more than one mailing to your list.

I know that you are aware that it typically takes around 7 impressions to brand your name into their head.

Keep on plugging away.

Ed

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Just Wait A Minute, I Will Be Right Back With A Link For That.
http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com
Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois

user182

I mailed out around a 1000 postcards to homeowners last week and so far 2 calls have come in.

I got 1 lead from my website today.

One thing about internet leads is they can be far away; this one is about 1.5 hours away.

I also got 1 referral and set an appointment for later this week.

Grumpy

Mail to the list 3 - 4 times before you can expect to see any signifigant response. And then expect about 1% to respond. Also nice to cold call the list you are mailing, although I seldom do the cold calling.

How are you promoting your website? I didn't even know you had one. To increase its page rank put your web address in your signature on every forum you visit. It helps alot.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

Grumpy

It has tapered down for us a little bit also, but that's because I've been so completely overwhelmed and have cut some of my paid advertising temporarily. In addition the kids are at home and when the kids are at home the leads always slow down (spring break, summer vacation).

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

user182

I want to be able to communicate freely on this forum that’s why I am not revealing my identity.

I don’t want to worry about competitors, employees or customers reading my comments.

Remember anything you say can be used against you.

I read a thread on Contractor Talk where a guy said that he was involved in a lawsuit and a lawyer brought in thousands of posts that he had made as evidence.

I promote my site using Adwords and some people find me organically.

I have not invested a lot in Adwords because I would like to develop my site more. I think last month I spent about $325 on it.

Grumpy

I spend $325 a week on google and on yahoo each. However I temporarily took down yahoo and lowered my google bids for now.

Direct mail has been the only predictably effective way I have found to find commercial buyers.

I too enjoy the same anoniminity, and although someone with a little know how can perform a specific web search they could find my site link, I don't care about it that much. I am very careful to not say my company name in posts, nor my true name either. I have requested on several occasions administrators edit threads containing this information.

I found my production manager frmo a forum post I made. Specifically we were discussing my views on imigration and she was impressed and applied for her husband who was currently working out of state. I get several leads each week from my various forum posts, people following the links in my signature asking for an estimate based on something I had read. Not to mention the tremendous page ranking I get in the search engines for all the back links. It's worth it to add your link, you don't have to add a company name. I didn't.


You can be sued by anyone for anything at anytime. I don't live in worry about being sued since it can happen if I fart in an elevator and excite someones asthma. I wory about alot of things, but this is one thing i have no control over so I don't worry *that* much about it. I do make sure not to say anything slanderous especially when talking about hack competitors, I may describe them by their truck color or an activity people in the area would recognize like the massive signage seen everywhere. People can read between the lines and infer, but who is to say they are infering wrong?

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing

internetguru

Have you thought of your google search rankings? Many people now go straight to google to find what they need. You can talk to me more about this if you have questions.

internetguru

Instead of spending $325/week on google, you could spend a lot less and get better results. Google adwords can be very expensive and not produce the same results that a high ranking in the organic google search can produce. I can answer more questions for you if you want.

Grumpy

I am very well ranked organically too. Organic rankings are most important for sure, but I laugh at people who say PPC is money wasted. I buy the obscure keywords to grab more market share. The obscure keywords don't cost much and are not often searched, but when they are, I am there. $325 really isn't alot when you're talking about 300-600 hits ONTOP of your organic hits.

The more fingers I have on my hand the more I can hold. Organic hits are one finger PPC hits are another finger. I'd be a fool to ignore any of my fingers.

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-Grumpy
Chicago Gutters Chicago Roofing