How To Keep A Flow Of Traffic To Your Business

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Having your weeks work a little thin on the ground can be frustrating, and damaging to your wallet!

Because if you're not at work, usually you find some way to spend the money doing something else.

You want a constant flow of work with jobs booked in that fill your week up, then if one gets cancelled - you can bring another one forward and free up some space in the future.

That's what I'm going to tell you about right now - How to keep a constant flow of work coming in.

So much so that you with the phone would stop bloody ringing!

Tool Box talk for electricians, helping electricians - reduce stress, gain back time and earn more constant money.

Does it make me a proper British moaner if I mention how wet and cold it's been lately in the uk?

Everyone outside the UK says that the British are obsessed with the weather.

Usually people who live in beautiful warm sunny areas like florida.

It's a cold and wet day, so I'm glad to be here recording this podcast for you.

Now this is not supposed to be advice that gets you so busy you're stressed out and need time off - Well it could be, if you're busy you're earning plenty of money - so take a holiday.

I want to give you some tips on what I have discovered over the years that has kept me constantly busy.

I do know what it's like having a manic few months and far too much to do - to then looking in the diary for the next week thinking - dam! I got nothing on.

If you are trying to build a successful business of your own - be a walking billboard!

If you have a few Tshirts with your logo on, wear them to the kids football match.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that EVERYONE wants an electrician.

It may be just for a quote, or they wonder if it can be done.

Just this week I was sent a photo of a kitchen.

“Will this ceiling be able to have spotlights fitted”

It was from a customer who hasn't even moved in yet - I just said give me a call when you move in, then just to confirm it can be done - anything is possible.

You watch it's going to be a concrete bloody ceiling!

Another thing that happened today is a friend called me up who was sitting in another friend's house - they needed a new element for their oven and wanted to know if I could fit that.

I just responded with - I can do anything!

It's electrical and someone is willing to pay me, I will fit it.

I have fixed swimming pools, saunas, hot tubs

Maybe it was a bit of a challenge, but I did it.

It is not something I promote though, I don't want to be doing that every day.

9 times out of 10 it will be cheaper to buy a new one than pay an electrician to fix it.

At parties, you meet new people - OH you're an electrician, I need some work.

It used to get on my nerves and I told people I did something else, just to not get into talking about kitchen lights!

But if you are looking to get more work, it's Ideal! EVERYONE needs an electrician.

Years ago I used to give business cards out, they get lost or put in a safe place never to be seen again.

The best thing these days is a photo of your website, or a linktree.

Let people take a picture on their phone. This way it is not going to get lost and it's easy for them to share it with their family and friends.

Plus, you always have it on your phone too in your phone.

You can mention your services as an electrician anywhere and everywhere you go.

You sit down at the hairdressers - they love to talk, tell them about your business

You may spot a faulty light at the gym, offer your services there.

Restaurants, shops, garages - basically anywhere you go.

The more customers you can get your business in front of the better your business will grow.

I will admit there will be a lot of people who won't get any work done. There is a garage I go to to get my van fixed - it's a mess and is in desperate need of some work.

Either the owner doesn't have and money or just doesn't care, but they have my number for when things go wrong.

They know me and I trust them with my van, so in return I pretty sure they will trust me to fix their electrical problems.

One garage didn't want to fix the existing problems, but when they upgraded to have a MOT station they needed a proper supply for the equipment they had on hire.

That supply was the safest thing in there.

Then it's just down to you to book it all in. When the work continues to come in thick and fast it can get hectic.

Especially when some customers don't really want to wait a few weeks.

You need to be organised with your time, don't give yourself 10 jobs to do in one day if realistically you can only get 6 done.

Being a let down will damage your reputation in the future and stop that customer recommending you.

Then you come to the problem with too much work to do. I will admit, probably not a bad problem to have.

But working so hard and trying to keep everyone happy is very stressful, the way to get round this is to put your prices up.

Yes you will lose customers who say it too expensive, but there will be more costumers who appreciate the work you do for them and are more than happy to pay whatever you ask for.

I was sitting having as cup of tea in a customers house once, I fixed a light that had a loose connection.

It took me 5 minutes and charged £35.

The customer handed me £135. I said what's this? She thought I said £135.

I gave them £100 back and told them if an electrician charges you £135 to do what I just did - delete their number.

I still do work for that customer to this day. They class me as their electrician as many customers do.

If you keep doing a good job for a customer, they will be loyal and always use you. Even if you're on holiday they will wait until you're back - this happens to me often.

With being a walking billboard for your business, your phone will not stop ringing on a daily basis.

You may think of letting your foot off a little bit.

A little bit FINE, but never all the way off. Keep quoting even if you don't get the job the customer knows you exist and has your number.

You never know when they may need to call on you.

I have created a google spreadsheet that help your kick out quotes quickley, then if the job does get accepted, the invoice is there ready to go.

I will leave a link in the show notes to a video about it.

But if you're quiet on work, go out and get a hair cut, test your skills out on promoting yourself.

So until next time

I will see you again