Website Resources

Hi everybody this is my first post, I've been lurking around for the past couple months and decided I better dive in. I am getting a lot of insight out of PGN and PGA.I am gathering ideas and resources for a pool service and repair company website, this will be my first site. One of the things I am hearing is a good marketing idea is to have some sort of free resources on the website to help and to educate the visitor to your site. Now as far as pool builders I am hearing that they will offer a free DVD and/or a "10 things you should know before choosing a Pool Builder" download. Being that I am a service company what can I do or offer that would have a similar effect to someone shopping for pool service or repair? Now I do have a couple ideas but I would like to hear what you folks think about the concept, about my ideas, and do you have any additional ideas?My first idea is to offer a "5 or 10 things you should know to choose a service professional" pdf download. Does anybody know if any organizations have this resource available?Number two is to offer a free pool care guide for download in exchange for there e-mail address. Again I am wondering if this resource might already be available? I would rather not have to write it myself.Thanks a lot,Cort

Replies

Merry Wise October 28, 2009 at 3:36pm

Cort, I am thinking you would really benefit a lot from joining the Pool Genius Academy. I wish we had had it available when we were starting out. We still learn new things and change things even though we have been in business almost 40 years now.

Cort said:
I just downloaded the worksheet for the Academy's webinar today "How to attract "Future Buyers" it appears that Rex will in part be talking about different ways to get future buyers contact info.

Great timing for me this is exactly what I am working on!

Cort
Cort October 28, 2009 at 7:10am

I just downloaded the worksheet for the Academy's webinar today "How to attract "Future Buyers" it appears that Rex will in part be talking about different ways to get future buyers contact info.

Great timing for me this is exactly what I am working on!

Cort
Cort October 28, 2009 at 7:01am

Thank you Merry,

I appreciate the advice. I might just take you up on that offer. I will get in touch at a later date regarding details. The other things you mentioned I am definitely going to implement. The two levels of service and the discount for credit card payers sounds good the report card is a great idea. The website is not all I am working on, I am actually tearing my business down to the foundation and rebuilding with a new perspective and focus on customer service and education.

Thanks a lot,

Cort

Merry Wise said:
Hi, Cort. We have some great people on here with resources that would help you. Brett Abbott is terrific on websites and makes them for people in the business. I wrote a pool care book that is already done if it might work into your program some way. You could offer a free chapter for download perhaps and the hard copy of the book itself as a gift with signing up for 3 months' service or something.

I would also suggest offering a couple of levels of service perhaps at different prices- basic and an upgrade including enhanced chemical service such as metal control products and enzymes, perhaps. I also suggest offering a small discount for automatic credit card payment. That saves a world of hurt on collections problems for service. If you have employees, I also found it helpful to send the customer a "report card" to return and gave the employee a bonus for each customer and month he got an "A+" from them. This could be done online as well, I imagine.
Cort October 27, 2009 at 9:03pm

Mark,

Thanks for the input. I was thinking the same thing as far a liability goes and possibly shooting myself in the foot on the manual. Although I think the point of the free giveaway is to gain there trust, start a relationship and to get there e-mail address for future e-mail offers or newsletters.

What would get perspective customers to input there name and e-mail address to receive free from a pool service website?? manual? 10 things you should know? Monthly drawing for free service maybe?

Thanks again,

Cort

Mark Lyons said:
Just a quick thought that from a liability standpoint, you would probably be better off posting resources on what not to do rather than what or how. There lots of safety type resources: Aqua Magazine, Pool and Spa News, IPSSA, etc.... Also it's probably not a good idea to teach your customers how to do your job, help is one thing but the idea is to increase "your" business. I have seen articles in our IPSSAN regarding promoting our service businesses, check the website @ www.ipssa.com. Look for IPSSAN under the resources heading, there are also some safety videos located there. Good Luck!
Merry Wise October 26, 2009 at 3:29pm

Mark, I honestly always found the more I educated my customers the more they bought. Most people will be better customers if they are educated and happier with their pools and with you. I know how to clean a commode but wouldn't give up maid service because I do, LOL!
Merry Wise October 26, 2009 at 3:26pm

Hi, Cort. We have some great people on here with resources that would help you. Brett Abbott is terrific on websites and makes them for people in the business. I wrote a pool care book that is already done if it might work into your program some way. You could offer a free chapter for download perhaps and the hard copy of the book itself as a gift with signing up for 3 months' service or something.

I would also suggest offering a couple of levels of service perhaps at different prices- basic and an upgrade including enhanced chemical service such as metal control products and enzymes, perhaps. I also suggest offering a small discount for automatic credit card payment. That saves a world of hurt on collections problems for service. If you have employees, I also found it helpful to send the customer a "report card" to return and gave the employee a bonus for each customer and month he got an "A+" from them. This could be done online as well, I imagine.
David Penton October 26, 2009 at 9:22am

Government safety page... http://www.poolsafety.gov/index.html
Mark Lyons October 25, 2009 at 4:06pm

Just a quick thought that from a liability standpoint, you would probably be better off posting resources on what not to do rather than what or how. There lots of safety type resources: Aqua Magazine, Pool and Spa News, IPSSA, etc.... Also it's probably not a good idea to teach your customers how to do your job, help is one thing but the idea is to increase "your" business. I have seen articles in our IPSSAN regarding promoting our service businesses, check the website @ www.ipssa.com. Look for IPSSAN under the resources heading, there are also some safety videos located there. Good Luck!