Business strategy - in tough times experiment more

[Steve]

We have been talking a lot more on the forum here about expanding the amount of services to offer in order to try and widen the net we scoop customers up with. If we only offer one service and a potential customer isn't interested in that service at the moment, they will pass us by. We can spend a lot of money on marketing and we simply didn't connect with the customer. However if we find competition heating up and to defend ourselves we offer a broader array of services, we can get more bang for our marketing buck. To take a look at this concept in a bigger picture. Let's look at the latest big business deal. Oracle just bought Sun Microsystems Inc. Why do you ask? Let's look into the article about it. Oracle to buy Sun Microsystems for $7.4 billion - "The acquisition announced Monday illustrates how some of the biggest and richest technology companies are racing to become one-stop shops for corporate and government customers..... . The companies hope to find more hooks into customers and use those relationships to sell other kinds of stuff...." Now isn't that interesting? Do you feel you could adopt this strategy when the economy is in a downturn? Could you broaden the services you offer in hopes of finding more hooks into customers and use those relationships to sell other kinds of stuff. What's your view on this?

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[majoe7]

Lawn care business tips

Could you broaden the services you offer in hopes of finding more hooks into customers and use those relationships to sell other kinds of stuff? A suggest to all of you is to stand out in front of your clients homes with a pen and paper. Try to write down all the services you can offer to your client, IE; Not only the standards like, mowing, edge, line trimming, blow, mulching and flowering but how about small home repairs, change out of outside lights, gutter cleaning, touch up on home (paint), putting up Christmas lights or decorations, cleaning out and organizing garages and shelving in the house or garage, the list can go on and on. Just use your imagination and stay with in your realm I just took over this account and reviewed with this client what services I do and gave her a hard copy of it as will so she can reference it later, just in case she needs something done. As we were speaking, she stated that she needs her 2nd story windows cleaned. About 12 of them. I told her that I could do it and it would take me about 2 – 3 hours to do. She said okay and just bill me. I asked her if she wanted to know the price and she says, “No, because I’m not going up there to clean them,(we are outside and she is looking up at them) whatever you charge is okay with me”. So tomorrow I am cleaning some windows and adding maybe a service that can happen several times a year.

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Last edited by majoe7; 04-20-2009 at 10:06 PM.

[swstout]

Originally Posted by Steve

We have been talking a lot more on the forum here about expanding the amount of services to offer in order to try and widen the net we scoop customers up with.

If we only offer one service and a potential customer isn't interested in that service at the moment, they will pass us by. We can spend a lot of money on marketing and we simply didn't connect with the customer.

However if we find competition heating up and to defend ourselves we offer a broader array of services, we can get more bang for our marketing buck.

To take a look at this concept in a bigger picture. Let's look at the latest big business deal. Oracle just bought Sun Microsystems Inc. Why do you ask? Let's look into the article about it.

Oracle to buy Sun Microsystems for $7.4 billion - "The acquisition announced Monday illustrates how some of the biggest and richest technology companies are racing to become one-stop shops for corporate and government customers..... . The companies hope to find more hooks into customers and use those relationships to sell other kinds of stuff...."

Now isn't that interesting? Do you feel you could adopt this strategy when the economy is in a downturn? Could you broaden the services you offer in hopes of finding more hooks into customers and use those relationships to sell other kinds of stuff.

What's your view on this?

The number 1 thing you can do that will lead to more you can offer is ask! Ask what other services you need? What are you looking for? How can I help you? You can try to guess, you can try to second guess, but , what does that get you? Ask them to think about it and get back to you!

By asking Real Estate companys what they needed, I found that they wanted foreclosed homes cleaned, rugs shampooed, walls with picture hole filled in and re-painted, etc. I also found they need properties winteriszd. They pay $50.00 per property ($100.00 if property has a sprinkller system). A good Fall extra income. Properties that I will leave brochures at!

Their suggestions (wants - needs) can and will lead to new services to offer.

Steve

[swstout]

Originally Posted by swstout

The number 1 thing you can do that will lead to more you can offer is ask! Ask what other services you need? What are you looking for? How can I help you? You can try to guess, you can try to second guess, but , what does that get you? Ask them to think about it and get back to you!

By asking Real Estate companys what they needed, I found that they wanted foreclosed homes cleaned, rugs shampooed, walls with picture hole filled in and re-painted, etc. I also found they need properties winteriszd. They pay $50.00 per property ($100.00 if property has a sprinkller system). A good Fall extra income. Properties that I will leave brochures at!

Their suggestions (wants - needs) can and will lead to new services to offer.

Steve

By doing this, you show you care as much about their business as you you do yours!