Marketing Tips
SO WHY DO I NEED A SUMMER POSTCARD?
A high quality postcard with a well-placed retention message (not a hard-driving ‘sales’ message) gains credibility, sales, referrals and great TOMA (top of mind awareness). Plus, postcards require no envelope, can be metered, and are very inexpensive to print. They can be out to your entire database almost immediately. When developing your postcard, follow these guidelines:
Courtesy of Hudson Ink
A high quality postcard with a well-placed retention message (not a hard-driving ‘sales’ message) gains credibility, sales, referrals and great TOMA (top of mind awareness). Plus, postcards require no envelope, can be metered, and are very inexpensive to print. They can be out to your entire database almost immediately. When developing your postcard, follow these guidelines:
- Focus on a singular summer-themed headline. This is simple since you can refer to the “heat” of summer versus the “cool” of your service and systems. You can also use a July 4th theme since that is a powerful and popular tie-in.
- Tie the headline to an appealing photo. Not equipment or trucks! Royalty-free photos are available at many websites and can have thousands of photos. (Caution: the discs can be $2,500, but this beats a professional photographer at $300 per photo.) We sift through 300-400 to find the “right” ones, but this process is what draws the reader or turns them away. Best bet: Children in summer activities rank #1 in female-oriented focus groups, which account for nearly 70% of the readership.
- “Sell” them on your relationship with a soft call to action. This means to draw the reader into the copy, then remind them of your service and that you can “fix” many of the ills connected with the hot weather or plumbing related issues.
- Two extra “lead bumps” for smart marketers. You can include a request for referrals such as, “We’d be delighted to hear from you or your friends anytime.” Also you can turn the postcard into a $10 off coupon (or whatever amount) with one sentence at the end or on the front.
Courtesy of Hudson Ink
Tech Tips
14.5 SEER VALUE SERIES HEAT PUMP
Rheem Heating and Cooling is pleased to introduce the new 14.5 SEER Value Series Heat Pump. Branded as Rheem or alternately as WeatherKing, the 14PJM offers the customer money saving 14.5 SEER / 12 EER / 8.5 - 9.0 HSPF performance. This Energy Star® qualified heat pump with enhanced features, delivers efficiency, dependability and value for the new construction and price-sensitive replacement segments.
Developed with installation flexibility in mind, this heat pump is matched to the multi-position RCFL coil and high efficiency RHLL air handler. The 14PJM can also be configured using the variable speed RHKL for added comfort, quiet operation and improved indoor air quality benefits. Additionally, select furnace match-ups make this an ideal dual-fuel system.
To decrease service time and increase system dependability the 14PJM features the following service enhancements:
Provided by Rheem – Rheemote.net
Rheem Heating and Cooling is pleased to introduce the new 14.5 SEER Value Series Heat Pump. Branded as Rheem or alternately as WeatherKing, the 14PJM offers the customer money saving 14.5 SEER / 12 EER / 8.5 - 9.0 HSPF performance. This Energy Star® qualified heat pump with enhanced features, delivers efficiency, dependability and value for the new construction and price-sensitive replacement segments.
Developed with installation flexibility in mind, this heat pump is matched to the multi-position RCFL coil and high efficiency RHLL air handler. The 14PJM can also be configured using the variable speed RHKL for added comfort, quiet operation and improved indoor air quality benefits. Additionally, select furnace match-ups make this an ideal dual-fuel system.
To decrease service time and increase system dependability the 14PJM features the following service enhancements:
- Factory installed "3-Strike" low pressure control
- Optional-field installed high pressure control
- 10 diagnostic code defrost board
- Field installed heat pump service light kit
- Filter drier
- Scroll compressor
- 10 year compressor warranty / 5 year parts (*Registration Required)
- Maximum unit height 35"
Provided by Rheem – Rheemote.net
Credit Tips
BUSINESS CREDIT CARD
Business credit cards can be a very useful tool for your company. They can help you establish and build a solid business credit profile and also be a source of financing for needed expenses and purchases. When considering which credit card to apply for, it is important to understand the terms and conditions, as well as any “bonus” features associated with each credit card.
If you do not initially qualify for an unsecured business credit card, it is a good idea to consider opening a secured business credit card for a short amount of time. Despite the drawbacks, secured accounts are an excellent way to build business credit.
One of the first sources of business credit that a company can usually qualify for is a business credit card. While these cards can be very useful when it comes to charging travel and business meals, they can also be used to finance the purchase of needed equipment and even get cash advances when cash flow is tight. In addition to using credit cards to finance the items and services that a business needs, they are also an excellent way to strengthen a company's business credit rating. Since most major credit card companies report spending and payment histories to D&B and the other credit rating bureaus, every purchase and payment increases the credit history of a company and its potential credit score.
Business vs. Personal Credit Cards
During the early stages of establishing a company, many business owners use their personal credit cards to finance needed purchases and payments. Statistics show that over 65% off all small businesses use credit cards on a regular basis; however, less than half of those credit cards are actually in the business name. The others continue to use the owner’s personal credit cards for business transactions.
Using personal credit cards for business purchases is fine early on, but once the business is established, it is important to think about getting business credit cards in the name of the company. There are many reasons why it is important to use business credit cards for business purposes and to stop using personal credit:
Courtesy of Companies Incorporated
Business credit cards can be a very useful tool for your company. They can help you establish and build a solid business credit profile and also be a source of financing for needed expenses and purchases. When considering which credit card to apply for, it is important to understand the terms and conditions, as well as any “bonus” features associated with each credit card.
If you do not initially qualify for an unsecured business credit card, it is a good idea to consider opening a secured business credit card for a short amount of time. Despite the drawbacks, secured accounts are an excellent way to build business credit.
One of the first sources of business credit that a company can usually qualify for is a business credit card. While these cards can be very useful when it comes to charging travel and business meals, they can also be used to finance the purchase of needed equipment and even get cash advances when cash flow is tight. In addition to using credit cards to finance the items and services that a business needs, they are also an excellent way to strengthen a company's business credit rating. Since most major credit card companies report spending and payment histories to D&B and the other credit rating bureaus, every purchase and payment increases the credit history of a company and its potential credit score.
Business vs. Personal Credit Cards
During the early stages of establishing a company, many business owners use their personal credit cards to finance needed purchases and payments. Statistics show that over 65% off all small businesses use credit cards on a regular basis; however, less than half of those credit cards are actually in the business name. The others continue to use the owner’s personal credit cards for business transactions.
Using personal credit cards for business purchases is fine early on, but once the business is established, it is important to think about getting business credit cards in the name of the company. There are many reasons why it is important to use business credit cards for business purposes and to stop using personal credit:
- Building Business Credit : If a company continues to use the personal credit cards of the owner, it will not ever build separate business credit. Only by making purchases and payments on a business credit card will a company strengthen its credit rating.
- Increased Credit Limits : Often times the limits on personal credit cards are significantly lower than those of business credit cards. So if a business has to rely on the personal credit cards of the owner, it may not be able to finance the purchases that the business needs. For instance, if a business qualified for a credit card with a limit of $25,000, the business owner would have much more spending power to finance purchases the company needs than if he had to use his personal credit card which may only have a limit of $10,000.
- Bookkeeping and Tax Issues : If a business uses the owner's personal credit cards for business purposes, it can potentially create accounting and tax problems. For example, you may be prevented from writing off the interest paid on personal credit cards if they are used to purchase items for the business. Personal tax deductions for interest expenses are considered miscellaneous itemized business expenses and can only be deducted if the total exceeds 2% of the adjusted gross income.
Courtesy of Companies Incorporated