Jean-Claude
02-11-2014, 12:43 PM
More of a rhetorical title but feel free to express how you are improving business during times of nasty weather.
If you're here, chances are you earn income by detailing cars. For many of us, weather can have a direct impact on our schedule and the volume of calls we receive.
So when the weather gets bad and business slows down, what are you doing? Do you enjoy television, movies or video games? If your goal is to be successful in this industry, you need to have those things take a back seat to your business. Being a successful business owner means you live your business. That doesn't mean nothing else matters to you. Personally, my family remains #1 and I make time(make time) for them. But what I do do, is not a ton of TV watching or game playing. I enjoy those things as much as I ever did. But I recognize that staying busy is as much a result of hard work while not detailing, as it is doing amazing car detailing for clients.
Goofing off on automotive forums can be a pleasant way to conduct some business and market yourself. But don't get hung up on forums as your sole source of business. There is a gigantic market in people who want something more than they can find in their local detailers but don't know where to find it. THAT is where you can put some of your attention.
We have been putting more efforts into youtube presentations. Here: Detailed Designs Auto Spa Car Detailing - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaintCorrectionPro) Notice how from the early videos to our most recent how things have improved... Frankly, they are not the most amazing productions. But until I can find the right company to handle this aspect, I maintain complete creative control and focus on my target audience. In the mean time, the video production value has improved. Why am I bringing this up? When we are slammed(we are now and have been since the beginning of summer ...but on these ice-days we take them off), I can't make time for working on videos during the day. We are busy and I find myself staying up until 1am or later to work on our online presence and videos.
So what are you doing? When things slow down in this time of the year, are you playing video games or are you pursuing growth for your business that you would otherwise not be able to do while busy?
What about designing a brochure or writing blog pieces? Can you build value in your brand/company by providing helpful information to potential clients and other industry professionals? Blog pieces are useful to people and they help with SEO. SEO should be a major part of your time investments. For us, the Atlanta SEO market is a real tough one and requires constant attention.
If I had to do it all over again I would have first paid for the absolute best website I could afford...or even get a loan for the best one possible. Image is everything in this industry. If you're great at your craft but have a budget-image, it will be an uphill struggle getting folks to give you an opportunity to prove yourself. If you know your website lacks something, use downtime to work on it. Other professional's time can be expensive. What is your TV watching time worth? Nothing. Educate yourself and invest your time in learning new ways to improve your brand/company.
Over the last few months I've spend time working with a few guys new in the industry who are trying to build something special that they can make a living on. One gentleman was a bit lost as to how to invest his down time. I suggested he make videos showing off, say, a coating he likes to apply. That same guy had a video DAYS later. That's impressive to me. That's ambition and drive. That inspires me as much as helps him. That's what we should all aim for.
We've seen growth from quarter to quarter since 2007 because downtime has been used in productive ways. In some ways, I look forward to downtime so we can do these projects. If you're in the position of not having work, I suggest you make some. Hustle for your projects. Work hard at working hard. Keep busy and live your business. Remember that nothing worth attaining is easy to get.
If you're here, chances are you earn income by detailing cars. For many of us, weather can have a direct impact on our schedule and the volume of calls we receive.
So when the weather gets bad and business slows down, what are you doing? Do you enjoy television, movies or video games? If your goal is to be successful in this industry, you need to have those things take a back seat to your business. Being a successful business owner means you live your business. That doesn't mean nothing else matters to you. Personally, my family remains #1 and I make time(make time) for them. But what I do do, is not a ton of TV watching or game playing. I enjoy those things as much as I ever did. But I recognize that staying busy is as much a result of hard work while not detailing, as it is doing amazing car detailing for clients.
Goofing off on automotive forums can be a pleasant way to conduct some business and market yourself. But don't get hung up on forums as your sole source of business. There is a gigantic market in people who want something more than they can find in their local detailers but don't know where to find it. THAT is where you can put some of your attention.
We have been putting more efforts into youtube presentations. Here: Detailed Designs Auto Spa Car Detailing - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/PaintCorrectionPro) Notice how from the early videos to our most recent how things have improved... Frankly, they are not the most amazing productions. But until I can find the right company to handle this aspect, I maintain complete creative control and focus on my target audience. In the mean time, the video production value has improved. Why am I bringing this up? When we are slammed(we are now and have been since the beginning of summer ...but on these ice-days we take them off), I can't make time for working on videos during the day. We are busy and I find myself staying up until 1am or later to work on our online presence and videos.
So what are you doing? When things slow down in this time of the year, are you playing video games or are you pursuing growth for your business that you would otherwise not be able to do while busy?
What about designing a brochure or writing blog pieces? Can you build value in your brand/company by providing helpful information to potential clients and other industry professionals? Blog pieces are useful to people and they help with SEO. SEO should be a major part of your time investments. For us, the Atlanta SEO market is a real tough one and requires constant attention.
If I had to do it all over again I would have first paid for the absolute best website I could afford...or even get a loan for the best one possible. Image is everything in this industry. If you're great at your craft but have a budget-image, it will be an uphill struggle getting folks to give you an opportunity to prove yourself. If you know your website lacks something, use downtime to work on it. Other professional's time can be expensive. What is your TV watching time worth? Nothing. Educate yourself and invest your time in learning new ways to improve your brand/company.
Over the last few months I've spend time working with a few guys new in the industry who are trying to build something special that they can make a living on. One gentleman was a bit lost as to how to invest his down time. I suggested he make videos showing off, say, a coating he likes to apply. That same guy had a video DAYS later. That's impressive to me. That's ambition and drive. That inspires me as much as helps him. That's what we should all aim for.
We've seen growth from quarter to quarter since 2007 because downtime has been used in productive ways. In some ways, I look forward to downtime so we can do these projects. If you're in the position of not having work, I suggest you make some. Hustle for your projects. Work hard at working hard. Keep busy and live your business. Remember that nothing worth attaining is easy to get.