<html><body> <DIV>Hi Terry,</DIV> <DIV>Back in the Philly area where I grew up and miss dearly of course, we had something called, "welcome wagon "  or something to like that.  As for YP ads, I guess it depends on the area who gets more calls and who doesn't, is how it ads up.  </DIV> <DIV>Marshall</DIV> <DIV>ps. I wonder if a dentist could give me good word of mouth advertising. ;) or will I have to pull teeth to get him to use me again. :)?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">-------------- Original message -------------- From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com> > Some excellent points Ron. A couple I've never thought of (although that's > not saying much). > > Another couple things that can work: Get hold of a list of members for the > local music teachers association - cold call them. Also, if there is a > "Welcome Newcomers" service in your area, retain their services - I have > found them to be very low priced, and I get a print-out of everyone they run > across that has a piano - and being that they just moved into the area, they > don't have a regular piano tuner yet. > > Terry Farrell > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > OK Marshall and list > > > > Now you are in my ball park from another life. > > > > Over my past many years I've done a number of things and 2nd only to being > > one of the last students of Braid White one of my biggest assets in this > > business has been sales and prospecting skills learned in several sales > > positions. The best being the Life Insurance Industry and a lot of > > training from a fellow every good salesman knows by the name of Dale > > Carnagie. This training has helped me in building two very good and > > successful piano service businesses. One in Columbus, OH and now again in > > Vero Beach,FL and continues to help me everyday in this business. > > > > First of all the best sourse of business be it piano tuning or selling > > cookies is that of a third party influence. Otherwise known as a referral. > > Marshall you should never leave anyone's home without the name of several > > of your customers friends that own pianos. "Mrs. Jones, I am just > > beginning my piano tuning business and I need your help, Can you give me > > the names of a couple of people you know that own pianos and may need them > > tuned" Once you get them it is simple to call or send a card to the > > referral and say "I tuned your friend Joe's piano and he suggested I > > contact you" > > When you get good enough to take care of Piano Teachers, ASK FOR a > > referral to their students and give them a bunch of cards. IF YOU DON'T > > ASK-YOU PROBABLY WON'T RECEIVE > > > > Second nothing takes the place of a cold call. As you are driving down > > the street and pass a church or private school, Walk in the door with your > > card in hand. Ask for who ever is in charge of the music department or > > pianos tell them what you do and ASK FOR THEIR BUSINESS. I guarantee you > > that no other technician has done that. > > > > Third make up a simple post card with your advertisement on it and mail it > > to all the churches, nightclubs schools, etc. > > > > Fourth Take care of your customer like they are GOLD because they are. > > > > If you do these things, you will be further business wise in 1 year than > > most will be in 5. > > That is one reason that 20% of the salesforce sells 80% of the > > merchandise. > > > > Fifth: Get Dale Carnagie's book "How to win friends and influence people > > and practice what it says. > > > > Sixth: Do what my kindergarten Sunday School Teacher taught me to do with > > my first Bible lesson: > > "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" If you are > > running late for an > > appointment, call them etc. etc. etc. > > > > Good Luck Marshall > > > > Ron May, RPT > > Vero Beach > >> > >> From: "pianotune05" <PIANOTUNE05@COMCAST.NET> > >> Date: 2006/01/26 Thu PM 10:24:57 EST > >> To: "Cy Shuster" <CY@SHUSTERPIANO.COM>, "Pianotech List" > >> <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> > >> Subject: Re: prospecting for customers > >> > >> Cy, > >> Thanks. Do I need to be a member to access it? My membership app. is in > >> progress everyone. I"m excited. > >> Marshall > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "Cy Shuster" <CY@SHUSTERPIANO.COM> > >> To: "Pianotech List" <PIANOTECH@PTG.ORG> > >> Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2006 9:51 PM > >> Subject: Re: prospecting for customers > >> > >> > >> > Marshall, > >> > > >> > The PTG has a "Business Resource Manual" that answers many of your > >> > questions: > >> > https://www.ptg.org/store/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=74 > >> > > >> > --Cy-- > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Pianotech list info: https://www.moypiano.com/resources/#archives </BLOCKQUOTE></body></html>