I appreciate your advice, Mr Blees. I've read your comments on many other posts and you're quite experienced and wise. We'll consider that, for a fact. I appreciate all of your input, folks! I think we have different ways of operating, our businesses, though, and that's ok!! Good Lord, that's ok! I've been in business since 1976 and we have several techs on the road, so we have a secretary who schedules for everyone. The newsletter isn't used as a reminder or to create new business, but as a service to our customers. The only way it creates business is by our customers sharing it with their friends, other professors, or piano teacher's colleagues, which happens quite a lot. We never try to sell anything, so the letters get a really high open rate. However, after eight years of monthly newsletters, I'm running dry on ideas and needed something fresh. One of you suggested a book a couple weeks ago entitled, "Piano, How Are You?" which I purchased. That helped a lot with new ideas and whoever made that post, you have my gratitude! Again, thanks for all the input folks. I love reading the experience and wisdom of your group here!
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Ted Rohde
Central Illinois
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2019 13:23
From: Willem Blees
Subject: Newsletters
Ted
Scheduling by phone is probably the least efficient way to set up appointments. I used to do that, too, until I attended a business class with Julie and Ron Berry who said post cards is much more efficient. So to test this, I made phone calls one month, and sent out post cards the next asking customers to call me. I did this for six months. I kept track of how many appointments I got. The result was that I got as many appointments with both methods. I changed to post cards only after that. It takes me about an hour to print out and send roughly 100 post cards to every one I tuned in a particular month for up to 5 years ago. That's a lot more efficient that spending several hours a week to schedule appointments.
Getting back to newsletters. This is where you have to get really creative. As I said, my newsletter was a tuning reminder, and I had used pianos for sale. The rest of the newsletter was filled with jokes or cartoons about pianos, and small tid bits of useful information about taking care of the piano. I don't know what else you're trying to tell you customers. But to me it was a lot of work for very little return on my time investment.
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Willem "Wim" Blees, RPT
Mililani, HI 96789
Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2019 12:04
From: Ted Rohde
Subject: Newsletters
Wait. I guess I wasn't clear with my question. As far as reminding people about tunings, we do that by phone. Customers know that they'll get a call from our office in a set number of months to schedule their next appointment. I'm wondering if anyone sends email newsletters just as a customer service thing for informational or educational purposes? If so, where do you get your ideas and what kind of things do you present? Sorry for the confusion on the first post, folks!
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Ted Rohde
Central Illinois
Original Message:
Sent: 03-16-2019 11:55
From: Roger Gable
Subject: Newsletters
Charles,
Although I don't send out reminders in any fashion, I'm with Wim on this one. One of the fundamentals of stimulating action is to draw the person out of their comfort zone – a postcard.
Roger
Original Message------
Guys-get in this century! Send either a text or an email reminder. If you wish , include a link to a newsletter or your website-or better yet a scheduling link.
Chuck Raynor
Beaufort, SC