Skip to content
  • My Account
  • Contact Us
    • Request your seat at SFS
      • Attend SFS: Business Transformation for FREE
    • Subscribe to our weekly QuickTIPS
    • Request Steve’s advice
    • Join us in Industry Forums online
  • SFS Training Options
    • About SFS: “Winning over your caller!” Online Course
    • About SFS: “Hiring the Very Best!” Online Course
    • About VAST Training
  • About Us
    • SFS: “Business Transformation” Curriculum – Day by Day
      • SFS Seminar Curriculum: Day 1 – Monday
      • SFS Seminar Curriculum: Day 2 – Tuesday
      • SFS Seminar Curriculum: Day 3 – Wednesday
      • SFS Seminar Curriculum: Day 4 – Thursday
      • SFS Seminar Curriculum: Day 5 – Friday
    • The Strategies for Success Team
      • Nick Paolella
      • Angela Buege
      • Steve Toburen
      • Bill Yeadon
      • Chuck Violand
    • Why Consider SFS?
    • What Others Say
    • SFS History
    • FAQ’s about SFS
  • SFS Members Only
    • Blue Door Access
    • Operations Manual
  • Jon-Don

Search

Strategies for Success – (SFS)
  • Equipment
  • Training
  • Technical
  • Hiring
  • Telephone
  • Sales
  • Diversify
  • Office
  • Finances
  • Downloads
    • Special Reports
    • QuickFIXs
  • More

telephone formats

How to ‘prep’ your customers for extra-charge items.

by Steve Toburen

Whether you perform a separate Pre-Inspection or do a ‘walk-through’ with the customer just before cleaning you must set your client’s expectations during the initial phone call, text, email, etc.

Categories quickTIPS Tags additional cleaning services, communication, online reviews, raising prices, telephone formats Leave a comment

Always Ask a ‘Courtesy Question’

by Steve Toburen

Stop ‘barging in’ on people on the phone without ‘knocking’! instead, use this ‘Courtesy Question’ to get permission first!

Categories quickTIPS Tags carpet cleaning marketing, common courtesy, moment of truth, personal space, phone sales, respect, sales, telephone, telephone formats, time management Leave a comment

What’s on YOUR phone?

by Steve Toburen

Listen carefully to your voice mail message through your prospective customer’s ears.

Categories quickTIPS Tags carpet cleaning marketing, communication, customer eyeglasses, first impression, listening skills, marketing, phone script, professional, sales, telephone, telephone formats, voicemail 2 Comments

Implement winter ‘comfort procedures’ for your customers

by Steve Toburen

Take the FEAR out of your customers winter cleaning when you follow these winter safety procedures.

Categories quickTIPS Tags cleaning equipment, cleaning methods, customer eyeglasses, fear, technical cleaning skills, telephone formats, winter season Leave a comment

Never give up on a phone prospect!

by Steve Toburen

Instead of meekly giving up when your prospect says, “Let me check with my husband/ wife/ boss” etc. you reply…

Categories quickTIPS Tags business questions, carpet cleaning marketing, carpet cleaning marketing strategies, communication, customer interview, marketing, telephone formats Leave a comment

Use a ‘Winter-time-excuse’ to ‘reach out’ to your clients.

by Steve Toburen

Need work fast? Grab previous customers attention (and money!) without appearing “desperate”.

Categories quickTIPS Tags carpet cleaning marketing, FREE Lifetime Spotter, increase sales, marketing, phone sales, production, slow season, Spot and Spill warranty, Spot-Out, telephone formats, winter season Leave a comment

How to convince impatient callers to leave a message

by Steve Toburen

Your callers don’t want to wait for a return call. So in your phone message you must “sweeten the pot”! Here is how to do it…

Categories quickTIPS Tags carpet cleaning marketing, discounts, phone sales, Symbolic Atonement, telephone, telephone formats, voicemail Leave a comment

Using a Telephone Format

by Steve Toburen

The dreaded question of “how much?” meets it’s match in this Special Report.

Categories Special Reports Tags bidding, carpet cleaning marketing, cleaning business pricing, cleaning pricing profit, communication, competition, emotions, inspections, phone script, procedures, sales, stage play, systems, telephone, telephone formats 2 Comments

Seven smart reasons to make a pre-inspection

by Steve Toburen
preinspection residential cleaning

Does a residential cleaning preinspection save money or waste money? Consider these advantages for pre-inspecting new clients.

Categories quickTIPS Tags communication, inspections, phone script, production, telephone formats Leave a comment

‘Pre-inspecting’ vs. ‘Immediate Pricing/Booking’

by Steve Toburen

Keep BOTH options open by asking your caller “Qualifying Phone Questions”

Categories quickTIPS Tags business questions, carpet cleaning telephone procedures, in the home script, phone sales, phone script, sales, telephone formats Leave a comment

Do your clients think you are a “bait and switch” company?

by Steve Toburen
avoid impression of bait and switch

IF your client has “clearly defined expectations” you will never be accused of being a “bait and switch” guy! Here is how to get there …

Categories quickTIPS Tags bait and switch, emotions, expectations, inspections, telephone formats Leave a comment

How to get paid BEFORE your client “disappears”

by Jeff Cutshall

Making the Cheerleader is your prime objective but if you don’t get paid it doesn’t feel quite so good!

Categories SFS Instructor’s Blog Tags carpet cleaning technician, customer cheerleader, customer eyeglasses, customer service, getting paid, in the home script, new carpet cleaning customers, On The Job, telephone formats, value conscious cleaning customers Leave a comment

Why you must ask “Valid Business Questions”

by Steve Toburen

What are “Valid Business Questions”? Steve gives sample questions to help you build confidence with the customer and make the sale.

Categories quickTIPS Tags customer interview, first impression, inspections, marketing, moment of truth, On The Job, price shoppers, price wars, raising prices, telephone formats Leave a comment

Never argue “cleaning methods” with a client!

by Steve Toburen

Steve agrees with healthy debate between cleaning and restoration professionals. However arguing cleaning methods is not a good idea. Here’s why…

Categories quickTIPS Tags cleaning methods, communication, Emotional Dynamics, in the home script, inspections, phone sales, technical cleaning skills, telephone formats 2 Comments

Give your customer multiple ‘reminder options’

by Steve Toburen

A huge problem for any service provider is clients forgetting/ blowing off appointments. Schedule these tasks for your office staff …

Categories quickTIPS Tags cleaning methods, communication, efficiency, email marketing, forward scheduling, office staff, technical cleaning skills, telephone formats, texting, time management Leave a comment
Older posts
Page1 Page2 Next →

Log In

  • Register
  • Lost your password?

SFS Online Training

SFS: Winning over your caller $149

Upcoming dates:

Online Apr. 6, 2023 ⇒ RESERVE NOW

Online Jun. 15, 2023 ⇒ RESERVE NOW

SFS: Hiring the Very Best $149

Upcoming dates:

Online May 4, 2023 ⇒ RESERVE NOW

Want even more help?

Join the SFS facebook group!
Join our SFS Facebook group to Grow your Business!

Looking for forms?

Free Form Downloads

Still looking for answers? Ask us!

I WANT TO…

Start

Start a Business


Employees

Add Employees


Freedom

Achieve "Freedom"


More Categories

MY FOCUS IS…

Restoration

Restoration


Residential

Residential


Commercial

Commercial

More Industry Sectors

NEW POSTS

  • Profits in Trauma?
  • Desperate carpet cleaner or smart niche marketer?
  • Is there a down-side to the “Five Around” door hanger concept for carpet cleaners?
  • Don’t “order” your clients around!

WEEKLY QUICKTIPS

  • A lesson from dentists and quick-lube shops
  • ‘Atone for your sins’ with a Gift Card!
  • “Breaking bread” brings your team together

more quickTIPS...

Sign up for our weekly QuickTIPS

* indicates required

ATTEND SFS

What is SFS?


You now have five SFS training options!


Meet the SFS Team


Even more...

Class Curriculum

What Others Say

SFS FAQs

Join Jon-Don on Social

  • Jon-Don on facebook
  • Jon-Don on Twitter
  • Jon-Don on YouTube

Need a login? Register Now

By Industry

Upholstery Cleaning
Fire Restoration
Carpet Cleaning
Janitorial
Smoke Damage
Mold Abatement
Water Damage
Commercial

By Topic

Diversifying
Marketing
Employee Training
Website / SEO
Finances
Pricing
Equipment
Customer Service
Sales
Telephone
Hiring / Firing
Technical

By Resource

QuickFIXs
QuickTIPS
Videos
Procedures
Special Reports
Steve’s Advice
Bill’s Blog
Chuck’s Thoughts

SFS Members

Operations Manual
Contact Steve
Contact Bill

About

What we teach
Our History
Class Reviews
SFS Member Profiles
About VAST
FAQs
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy

Contact

Contact SFS
Request Help
Call Jon-Don
Jon-Don on Facebook
Jon-Don on Twitter

SFS Classes

Check here for updates

© 2023 Jon-Don, Inc. | Privacy Policy