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  Dale Henning January 18, 2014 at 12:15pm

  I really like what Monique mentioned about reading a few sales letters from Gary Halbert (see her reply and web link to Gary's website resources).  Yes, his writing is a little cheesy, but it's HOW he's writing it is what is important.  Encourage your customer's dreams, and also calm their fears and anxieties.

  
  I would love to look over anyone's sales pitch just for fun and give you pointers.  I have done copywriting for others and enjoy building up my skillset even more.  Just message me and let me know!
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  PoolDraw April 28, 2009 at 3:01pm

  What a great idea!!
  
  Paul Baker said:

  Lance,
  
  One other thing I think has not been mentioned. Go meet and greet with pool builders. Help them win their sales by offering to do the walk through or initial start up with chemicals with the customer on their behalf. Allow any problems to flow through you to the builder and use that to develop your relationship (and you'll learn who to recommend as a builder over time and who to stay away from). Also, the builder can offer incentives such as giving the customer 3 - 6 months of pool service free (to the customer), of course, you charge the builder for that time. Having several builders installing 30+ pools per year and calling you up for start up on ever single one, allows you to do some serious sales, and the marketing was free (excluding lunches with the builders and fuel to drive over to see them).
  
  Just a final thought.
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    Dale Henning > PoolDraw January 18, 2014 at 12:43pm

    Wow, this is brilliant.  Take away any confusion/frustration from the new pool owner thinking "I have a new pool...now what do I do!?!", plus remove any headaches from the pool builder who would rather be building pools than servicing.  
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  Paul Baker April 28, 2009 at 1:08pm

  Lance,
  
  One other thing I think has not been mentioned. Go meet and greet with pool builders. Help them win their sales by offering to do the walk through or initial start up with chemicals with the customer on their behalf. Allow any problems to flow through you to the builder and use that to develop your relationship (and you'll learn who to recommend as a builder over time and who to stay away from). Also, the builder can offer incentives such as giving the customer 3 - 6 months of pool service free (to the customer), of course, you charge the builder for that time. Having several builders installing 30+ pools per year and calling you up for start up on ever single one, allows you to do some serious sales, and the marketing was free (excluding lunches with the builders and fuel to drive over to see them).
  
  Just a final thought.
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  PoolDraw April 15, 2009 at 5:58pm

  Mark / Pool Pro Office has information about something called 'Contact Manager' that may be a good way to keep in touch with potential customers via email you can find his link through the Pool Office Technology Group - Karen
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  Best Service Pools April 15, 2009 at 12:46pm

  Thanks Michelle. Some great design ideas. I'm going to be busy for awhile.
  
  Michelle Forchetti said:

  Newsletters are also a valuable tool to foster repeat business and foster customer loyalty.
  
  The one caveat is that the newsletters need to be consistent.
  
  It's kind of like radio advertising. Do it once and no one listens. Do it over and over and over again. . .and people remember. Newsletters are the same way--consistent, timely, outreach to the consumer. And. . .of course. . .provide content & photos and things that are relevant and interesting too! ((Hint: Write at a gradeschool level. . .and include lots of photos))
  
  http://www.stocklayouts.com has some FANTASTIC newsletter snail mail templates. For email newsletters. . ..there's tons of resources out there--just do a search for Email Newsletter Template.
  
  Much Success!
  Michelle
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  PoolDraw April 14, 2009 at 7:41pm

  I was wondering if you has received any response from your newsletter - when will you be sending the next one?
  
  
  Luke Norris said:

  I did a pool newsletter to all my current and past clients. Today I got a call from a client I serviced 6 years ago. They wanted me to come out and do a opening estimate. At that time I will do a pool inspection report and look for other money makers. Never heard of this long letter writing.
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  Best Service Pools April 14, 2009 at 2:20pm

  Thanks everyone for your fantastic advice. I know I have a long way to go and a lot to learn. I really do appreciate your responses and can say that finding this web site has been a breath of fresh air. Please don't hesitate to call on me if ever I can help with something you are working on.
  
  Thanks again,
  Lance
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  Jeremy Hine April 14, 2009 at 12:50pm

  I've shyed away from direct mail. Though I am tempted to try. Costly and it cant be done half-a$$ed. I've taken up networking. very qualified leads, low cost, higher margin and you've got someone looking out for your best interests. I've got a vinyl liner guy, a pool resurface/remodeler, an electrician, a screen enclosure guy, a gas contractor, a pool solar company, and a couple of pool chemical only stores that feed me leads for repairs and equipment upgrades. I'm looking for a landscaper, handyman, realtors, real estate attorney, caterer, tree trim company, etc. You get the idea. I've been at it now for about 6 months and with just a few of these people looking out for me, I end up with easily 6 leads a month for my equipment repair business and 1 a week for their respective businesses.
  
  I've tried craigslist, bandit signs, and newspaper directories as well. These are low cost, but blankets a very, very wide audience and a lot of unqualified leads.
  
  I suggest you pick up a copy of Guerilla Marketing by Jay Conrad Levinson. It is the best for ideas, it is very dry and was difficult for me to digest a lot of it at once. It took me over a month to get through it, but its a great way to start.
  
  -Jeremy
  Florida Leisure Pool & Spa
  -I fix broken pools, spas, and hot tubs
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  Monique Nelson April 14, 2009 at 10:48am

  Lance,
  I think Rex's direction is fairly all encompassing and a great way to get your message across. I think mailing lists are a good way of targeting specific customers, but like Rex said, it's the message that is the most important. A very enticing Call to Action is the main ingredient of any sales pitch.
  When I first started writing longer sales letters (4+ pages) I found this website very helpful: http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/newsletter-archives.htm
  Gary Halbert's materials are amazing. At the very least, you will get a few laughs and at the very best, a significantly improved approach to sales & marketing.
  I hope this helps! Good luck!
  @MoniqueNelson

  

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