The Round-Up: Removing Salt Residue from Carpets, Proper Vacuum Care, and More!

“How to Get Salt Residue out of Carpets,” Cleaning and Rug Institute Blog.

When it snows heavily, sidewalks and streets are often cleared by pouring salt on them. What happens when all this salt gets tracked indoors on our shoes and boots? Click here to read more.

“Taking Proper Care of Your Vacuums,” Corinne Zudonyi, Cleanlink.com

To guarantee a long lifespan for any piece of equipment, you need to take proper care of it. Vacuum cleaners are no different!  Click here to read the full article.

“How to Change without Pain,” Cleanfax.

When you’re running a business, you’re guaranteed to encounter obstacles and adapting to sudden change can be painful. Click here to learn about managing transitions without all the fuss.

“7 Business Lessons from the Sochi Olympics” Michael Fertik, Inc.com.

The winter Olympics in Sochi have been some of the most highly-scrutinized games ever. Click here to read about some lessons that can be learned from the mistakes made by the hosting city.

Mobile Marketing Advice for 2014

So you have a website, but how does it look on mobile devices? Did you know that in 2014, mobile web usage is expected to overtake desktop web browsing?

Here is an infographic from DigitalInformationWorld.com with some tips for mobile marketing this year:

Open Call for Polar Vortex Stories!

The weather outside is frightful. Very frightful.

With all the ice and snow we’ve been bombarded with over the past few months, the service industry has undoubtedly taken a hit. Dangerous roads and extreme cold have made some peoples’ jobs almost impossible. Others, however, have braved the conditions to keep working.

If you have any stories from working during the polar vortex, send them to us at newsletter@principalfocus.com for a chance to be featured in our blog and newsletter!

The Round-Up: Carbon Monoxide Danger, Avoiding Upholstery Damage, and More

Greetings! The Round-Up is where we feature recent news from around the web related to the cleaning industry.

“Bad Habits That Cause Upholstery Damage,” Jim Pemberton, Mikey’s Board.

Are you treating your furniture right? Bad habits can lead to unnecessary wear and tear. Click here to read about how to avoid damaging your upholstery!

“The Perils of Social Media Reviews,” Jeff Cross, Cleanfax.com.

Ever get a negative review on Facebook? Dealing with trolls and anonymous negative comments can be extremely frustrating. As social media becomes more ingrained in everyday life, business owners need to be cautious.  Click here to read the full article.

“Carpet Cleaner Dies Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning,” NewsChannel5.com.

Safety is always crucial when on the job, and opening windows when running a generator in a closed space is ESSENTIAL! Recently, a carpet cleaner tragically passed away on the job after forgetting to ventilate the house after he parked his van in the garage & closed the door. Click here to read more.

Do you have ideas for coverage? Let us know at newsletter@principalfocus.com!

The Round-Up: Janitorial Emergency Plans, How to Deal with Difficult Customers, and More!

Welcome to this week’s cleaning industry news round-up! The Round-Up is where we feature recent news and developments from around the web that relate to the service industry.

“The Importance of a Janitorial Emergency Plan,” Mickey Crowe, CleanLink.com

How should janitors prepare for an emergency such as a natural disaster or terrorist attack? Click here to read more!

“Confessions of a Serial Entrepreneur,” Ivan Turner, Mikey’s Board.

Being an entrepreneur once takes strong will and dedication; being a serial entrepreneur is for serious over-achievers.  Click here to read the full article.

“How to Deal With Difficult Customers” Paul Schoemaker, Inc.com.

Every once in awhile you get a client who is so difficult to deal with, you feel like you’re on the losing end of the deal. Click here for some tips on how to avoid this situation!

Do you have ideas for coverage? Let us know at newsletter@principalfocus.com!

The Round-Up: Hard Surface Demos, Common Janitorial Injuries, and More!

Welcome to the Round-Up, where we feature news and developments from around the web that pertain to the service industry!

“The Art of Performing a Hard Surface Demo,” Bryan Thompson, Mikey’s Board.

Conducting a demo has long been considered one of the strongest selling tactics for cleaning services. How you demonstrate your work will make a big difference to the customer: click here to read more!

“How Often Do You Adjust the Heat on Your Truckmount?” Cleanfax.com Online Poll.

Ever wonder if you’re using your equipment in the same fashion as your professional peers? Find out how your personal truckmount preferences stack up against the rest of the industry. Click here to take the poll!

“The 6 Most Common Janitorial Injuries” Mickey Crowe, Cleanlink.com.

Sore back? Stiff neck? Working in the cleaning industry can certainly take a toll on your body. Click here to learn about the most common janitorial injuries and how to prevent them.

Do you have suggestions for Round-Up coverage? Send us an email at newsletter@principalfocus.com!

The Round-Up: Yelp Critics Must Be Identified, Carpet Cleaning Air Quality Study, and More!

Welcome to the Round-Up, where we post recent news and developments related to the cleaning industry from around the web!

“Yelp Critics Must Be Identified,” The Washington Times.

Ever had a negative review on Yelp that you suspected was written by a competitor or troll? Soon, you may be able to find out who that person really is. A court recently ruled that Yelp, the popular review platform, must reveal the identities of 7 people who left reviews of a carpet cleaning company: click here to read more!

“Carpet Helps Indoor Air Quality,” FloorDaily.com.

Sure, it makes sense that cleanliness would improve air quality in a home. However, carpet itself could also work to keep the air clear (better than hard surface flooring). A recent study has found that well-maintained carpeting can reduce allergens and keep the air in a home cleaner. Click here for the full article.

“The Importance of Learning to Sell” Geoffrey James, Inc.com.

Whatever type of business you run, knowing how to communicate the value of your services to your potential customers is the key to growth. No matter what your career path is, Geoffrey James from Inc.com believes that learning the art of sales will help you: click here to read why!

Do you have suggestions for coverage in our Round-Up? Send articles to newsletter@principalfocus.com to let us know!

Want More Jobs in 2014?

The new year is here and people around the world are setting goals. Whether they want to be healthier, more fiscally responsible, to keep in touch with their friends and relatives, to pick up a guitar, or learn to paint, people are making New Years resolutions of all kinds.

As you start figuring out how you’re going to make this year awesome, don’t forget to make resolutions for your business!

2014 is the year to focus on getting more repeat business and building a loyal base.

But how do you do that?

Of course it’s important to make a great impression, to be friendly, courteous, and punctual, and to provide a service that will impress your clients. People are naturally forgetful, though, and if you aren’t constantly reminding your customers that you exist, they’re going to forget you.

The solution is intelligent, heartfelt direct mail marketing. That’s what our FillMySchedule program is all about.

We have found that by simply sending personalized thank-you cards, “here to help” cards, and reminder cards, our users have been able to give their repeat business a massive boost.

Our FillMySchedule program is based on the idea that when you reach out to people without putting the “hard sell” on them, they will understand that you care about them as people, not just as a source for more dollars.

The cards that we send out for our users are intended to look like a wedding or birthday invitation, not marketing materials. They are tent-fold, heavy card stock cards that are stamped and addressed to the customer themselves, not “Current Resident.”

FillmySchedule starts with a simple thank you note, then follows up every three months with specially crafted messages to inform them of the additional services you can provide. Maybe their couches are covered in stains? Maybe their driveway needs pressure washing?

After awhile the FMS message shifts to focus on how long it has been since you visited your client and how much dirt and grime has accumulated since then.

When clients perceive that you care about them enough to address them personally and reach out as an individual, the response you’ll get is much higher than if you were to send postcard advertisements with no personalization.

Let’s make 2014 the year of repeat business. If you’re already using FillMySchedule, make sure you’re clicking that button in ServiceMonster! Cards that aren’t approved won’t land you any new jobs.

If you aren’t using FillMySchedule, consider making it a New Year’s Resolution for your business. With an average 800% return on investment, we doubt you’ll regret it.

To speak with our FMS specialist, give us a call at 888-901-3300 or send an email to support@principalfocus.com!

The Round-Up: Using Heat in the Carpet Cleaning Process, Staffing Tips, and More!

Happy Friday, and welcome to this week’s Round-Up, where we feature news stories from around the internet pertaining to the cleaning industry!

“Why You Should Use Heat when Cleaning Carpets,” CleanFax.com.

Ever wonder why so many cleaning practices involve using hot water or steam? Here is a list of the top 10 reasons why using heat can be beneficial when cleaning carpets: click here to read more!

“Overcoming Staffing Challenges” Robbie Garrett, CleanLink.com

A wise person once said that a machine is only as good as the sum of its parts. Making sure that your company has the right staff to keep things running smoothly and efficiently is crucial. Click here for tips on hiring the best employees!

“Portable High-Performance Extractors” Larry Cobb, Mikey’s Board.

What makes one portable extractor better than the rest? It’s always a good idea to do your research before investing in new equipment! If you’re shopping for portable extractors, Larry Cobb outlines some key points to keep in mind in this article.

The Round-Up: Rekindling the Entrepreneurial Spirit, Keeping Floors Clean for the Holidays, and More!

Greetings, and welcome to the latest Round-Up! If you’re new around here, the Round-Up is where we feature recent news from around the web related to the cleaning industry. Now, let’s see what’s hot off the press:

“Never Satisfied,” Jeff Cross, CleanFax.com.

Fatigue can get anyone down, especially around the holiday season. Feel the need to rekindle the entrepreneurial spark? Click here to read this article about getting back in the game!

“Keeping Floors Clean for the Holidays,” CleanLink.com.

Jingle bells, and busy shoppers! The holiday rush brings a lot of foot traffic to retail outlets and shopping centers. Click here to read more!

“The Experience Moves to the Mirage,” Mikey P, Mikey’s Board.

Ever attend The Experience (previously known as Connections)? Click here to learn about the event’s new venue, centrally located on the Vegas strip.

“Toys That Will Turn Your Kid Into An Entrepreneur,” Inc.com.

Aunts, uncles, and grandparents often have a hard time knowing what to get for the wee ones. Looking for a gift that will inspire youngsters to learn and think creatively? Click here for a list of gift ideas that encourage creativity and organization!