Before employees bought Counsilman-Hunsaker (this author’s former business), the firm was in the same difficult place many long-time pool and hot tub business owners find themselves today. Like Counsilman-Hunsaker, a large number of companies in this industry were founded in the ’60s and ’70s by individuals with strong personalities, who spent many years working in the business—not on the business. … Read More
Education and Training Is Critical to Achieving Goals
The key to assuring a safe and enjoyable swimming experience is directly connected to the higher education of the professionals that maintain pools and spas. It is critical now more than ever. The pool and spa industry is at a crossroads, where the path leading to success depends on continuing education. Whether industry members want to improve their economic situation … Read More
Top Digital Marketing Strategies for the Small Business
A digital marketing strategy is an important part of the overall marketing strategy of a business. This is true whether or not a company is doing business online. It is also true for a small, medium or large size company but especially true for a small company. Small business marketing for a local company can include many offline local advertising methods … Read More
Better Businesses Are Built on Emotion, Shared Relationships, and Trust
Trust and loyalty drive business success, yet many yet many pool and spa businesses forget to ask themselves some of the following important questions: Is there any value in trust? How much do customers trust them? How important is it to connect with customers on a regular basis? Are their customers loyal? Do customers think they are loyal to them? … Read More
A 27-Day Online Marketing Plan For Your Small Business
Small business owners are exceptional at what they do. From creating amazing products and services to delivering unrivaled customer experience, small business owners know how to thrive in their community. There is however, one downfall of some business owners in my experience. They fail to recognize the importance of online marketing for their small business. This simple oversight can be … Read More
How Small Businesses Are Cracking the Online Marketing Code
When it comes to online marketing, the purpose and objectives are generally the same as traditional strategies in terms of increasing brand awareness and finding new customers. There are a number of ingredients that go into a successful digital promotion all the way from planning to sales. Perhaps the biggest benefit online marketing has for small businesses is that it … Read More
Small Businesses Need an Online and an Offline Marketing Strategy
When I had a cold calling job, I spoke to hundreds of business owners, ranging from plumbers to hair stylists. While the majority of entrepreneurs had a handle on their craft, they had no idea how to market their businesses. Most of them were still using ancient tactics, such as advertising on billboards and wishful thinking. They would think to … Read More
How Web Tools Can Be Used to Enhance a Company’s Image
It is no secret, both potential and current clients are increasingly using the Internet to assist them in making both large and small purchasing decisions every year. According to a comScore report, the average North American topped the global charts for the most time spent online, averaging 45.3 hours per month. If businesses are worried their product or service is … Read More
Maximizing Pool Sales
It is an exciting yet challenging time for pool/hot tub retailers and servicers. Challenged by the rising influence of Internet resellers, it has now become critical for businesses to transform and confront typical strategies of how to survive, succeed, and thrive. In the current retail climate, it is almost unthinkable for a pool/hot tub retailer not to have an Internet … Read More
Creating Customer Loyalty Programs That Work
Service operations and retailers are always looking for ways to retain and gain customer loyalty whereby stopping their clientele from looking elsewhere for their swimming pool and spa/hot tub needs. One way of doing this is to establish a customer loyalty program that helps service operations and retailers develop long-lasting relationships with their customers, which is a key part of … Read More