<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <META content="MSHTML 6.00.6000.16640" name=GENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Lee,</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>You might think about getting involved in some charity or fund raiser events that would put your services in front of a lot of people, often affluent people as in high profile fund raisers. Donating a tuning to a silent auction, tuning for a big fund raiser event with the promise of your name mentioned here and there. Offering your services to piano teachers for a scholar ship or needy student. All advertisement cost you, an add in a paper or phone book cost you money, doing this type of work or going the extra mile for a client cost you time and effort but shows off your services rather than just an add you threw your money at.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Fenton</FONT></DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> <DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A title=wimblees@aol.com href="mailto:wimblees@aol.com">Willem Blees</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=pianotech@ptg.org href="mailto:pianotech@ptg.org">pianotech@ptg.org</A> </DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, April 13, 2008 12:07 PM</DIV> <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: Drumming up business</DIV> <DIV><BR></DIV><WBR>Lee<BR><BR>I used to only send out post cards.But I found out that here on Oahu, people really like the personal touch. So after 25 years of not calling customers, I've had to get back on the phone. I spend about an hour on Monday and Wednesday evening calling my customers. I've set up my data  base so that I can ask it to give me all the customers due for a certain month, and I've added a field for me to write down comments like, "left a message", "not now", "I'll call you", or "call me in May."<BR><BR> <DIV style="CLEAR: both">Willem (Wim) Blees, RPT<BR>Piano Tuner/Technician<BR>Honolulu, HI<BR>Author of <BR>The Business of Piano Tuning<BR>available from Potter Press<BR>www.pianotuning.com</DIV><BR><BR>-----Original Message-----<BR>From: lee innocent <ljinno@googlemail.com><BR>To: pianotech@ptg.org<BR>Sent: Sun, 13 Apr 2008 3:10 am<BR>Subject: Drumming up business<BR><BR> <DIV id=AOLMsgPart_2_50466d5b-8bd7-4d57-9284-f498ff8ce026> <DIV>Hi, </DIV> <DIV>I am in the process of trying to revive my business, kids need shoes, wife needs new outfit etc.  I have been sending out reminders but its not very effective......Well what I mean is, customers, when they eventually get in touch say "I got your note" but this is very often over a year after I sent it to them!.  </DIV> <DIV>So, can any of you give me guidance on effective wording for a reminder.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, if anyone has a database that throws up names and addresses of customers due for tuning and is willing to share it, many of us would love to here from you.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks in anticipation</DIV> <DIV>Lee</DIV></DIV> <DIV class=aol_ad_footer id=u8CA6BB0D2B7414E-E44-82D1><FONT style="FONT: 10pt ARIAL, SAN-SERIF; COLOR: black"> <HR style="MARGIN-TOP: 10px"> Get the <A title=http://www.mapquest.com/toolbar?NCID=mpqmap00030000000003 href="http://www.mapquest.com/toolbar?NCID=mpqmap00030000000003" target=_blank>MapQuest Toolbar</A>, Maps, Traffic, Directions & More!</FONT> </DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>