Marketing Software - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

peterarcu · 10-10-2008, 11:04 PM

I am trying to find a company that has a produced a marketing and sales software (not estimating) targeted for remodelers and roofers to use.
I believe there is a company in Washington state that has put out such a product for years.

Peter

**Ed the Roofer** · 10-10-2008, 11:13 PM

Are you referring to Market Sharp out of LaCrosse, Wi.

Ed

http://www.marketsharp.com/products/demo_center.php

mark the coach · 10-10-2008, 11:42 PM

Market Sharp; I have used it with excellent results for both replacement sales and remodeling.
Owner is Tim Munsch. He used to own a chain of window companies in Wisconsin. he understands our business.

mark the coach

www.thecontractorcoachingpartnership.com

Carport King · 10-11-2008, 08:30 AM

I just use excel spread sheet for our marketing and keeping track of sales. I use to call it the bouncing ball spread sheet because that's what it looked like.

My job was to take it and build a flat line across the year. Level out our spending on marketing across the months but increase sales exponentially month in month out.

Not bragging or nothing here but I am the Master at it now. It is a full time job to do but it's a blast once you clearly understand how the numbers work.

Once you do it over years you have a history and I can tweak this bad boy to get you what ever sales you need.

I lay out my marketing budget by the year and buy the media that way. Then I break it down into 3 month chunks and I tweak it by the week to run with our sales goals.

Now we do have a large company but the same can be done to any size company. I like the phrase SET IT AND FORGET IT. This is the key to making marketing work for you.

Good Luck

Glen

peterarcu · 10-12-2008, 03:10 PM

Thank you for referring me Market Sharp. That is who I was looking for.
Also the comment on the excel spreadsheet.
Peter

**Ed the Roofer** · 10-12-2008, 03:46 PM

Peterarcu,

I was in the process of negotiating a buyers group deal with them, but need a few more participants to join in to get the price down for each of the members involved.

Basically, I am looking to cut the investment price down to 1/2 or less with the right amount of participants, which would work out per a previous agreement I discussed with them.

Ed

fez-head · 10-12-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed the Roofer

Peterarcu,

I was in the process of negotiating a buyers group deal with them, but need a few more participants to join in to get the price down for each of the members involved.

Basically, I am looking to cut the investment price down to 1/2 or less with the right amount of participants, which would work out per a previous agreement I discussed with them.

Ed

Ed please tell me more about this group.

Thanks

Ivinni · 10-12-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse Kirchhoff

Ed please tell me more about this group.

Thanks

Second.

pcplumber · 10-12-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by peterarcu

I am trying to find a company that has a produced a marketing and sales software (not estimating) targeted for remodelers and roofers to use.
I believe there is a company in Washington state that has put out such a product for years.

Peter

From Jack:

What do you want the software to do? Do you want to buy a list of customers, import the list to the software and manage the list by sending mail?

Do you want to track your existing customer, track them, and market (sell more you your existing customers.

I have several programs that run with Microsoft Access and I customer software, as a hobby, for free. At the same time, I learn alot about what other people are doing and better ways to do things for my business. Excel does absolutely nothing compared to what Access can do, and I never found a canned program that can do what I want nor what it needs to grow with the business.

Jack

pcplumber · 10-12-2008, 11:42 PM

You can get to the link by going to bestlineplumbing.com and clicking on the pipe man logo. This is the secret entry to access the software and an MS document for instructions. There, you will see another link that takes you to BoxNet where the files are stored. You do not have to login nor sign up to download the files. These files are safe and virus-free because I made this application myself and I am downloading it from my own computer. Plus, you know where I am.

This is a link to a copy of our software that you can download for free. Also is an MS document with some instructions. You will need Microsoft Access to run this software. The cost is about $100 to $200 and you will get your money back several times because this software is going to help you to make a lot more money.

It would take me about two hours to explains the value of this software and what it can do. There is no canned software on the market that can be customized like Access. Excel and other spread sheets are useless as they are not good when you have several records. Excel has no searching nor filtering capabilities.

Access is the most powerful database software for businesses. The searching and filtering capabilities are unlimited. You can print a list of your customers to keep in your vehicle(s), so you can profile your customers. Every time you look at a customer's record, you enter something in the memo field for profiling. This includes information about the possibility of future sales, whether or not the customer is desirable, deceased, or late on a payment.

The database is a powerhouse for marketing to old customers. The software includes four very powerful letters that earn us more that $1 million in annual sales. The database sends letters to our old customers so we can perform inspections, on jobs we did ,several years ago. Of course, many of these customers need more services.

The database manages a list for customers we send credits cards to. This is another advertising campaign that makes $millions. We send customer a very nice-looking credit card that has a $25 credit that can be used at our company and it offers the customer priority service.

The customers you mail to can be divided into three groups. Suppose you have 20,000 customers. Maybe 10,000 are deceased or they sold their homes. You can make these customers inactive so you do not waste money on mailing. Then, you still have three more groups you can mail to. (1) You can mail to every active customer. This can be the remaining 10,000 customers or a million. (2) You can mail only inspection letters and the inspections can be divided into the type of services you provided. (3) you can print letters to send customers with the credit cards, and you can export the credit card list to print the cards on another machine. You can export any list and have a mailing company send your letters.

This program is a component of our bookkeeping system that makes the company very organized and efficient. The database tells us where our paper records are located in the archives, and it is part of a system that is so accurate, our records are never off by even one penny. The database is so easy and fast to use, I have about 30 employee, I work in the field every day, and I do all the record keeping and data entry by myself in about 8 hours a month.

If you like this system, and I get positive feedback that contractors will use these applications, I will elaborate more and send more applications.

Don't just open the application and look at it. You need to learn how this will work to make your business easier to run and more profitable. If you have ideas to make the software better, or if it does not do what you want it to do, please comment.

This database is so much fun I stay awake at night playing with all the buttons like it is a video game. I can't wait and I get excited when it is time to enter and update records. It really is fun to use. Probably only after you get acclimated with it

Jack

Incidentally, in regards to a reply from a member, from my last forum, I am 100% straight. I don't want you guys to hit on me. I have a gorgeous Filipina wife. His post was one of the many reasons I asked the last forum to remove all my posts. I was banned from the forum during the first two days because they thought I was spamming. I left the forum, several other times, on my own, and decided to try it a few more times. I see many more serious contractors on this forum and I think both of us will learn a lot. Members accuse me of preaching and being on the podium. My style may rub many people the wrong way because I want to say what it critical and get it over-with without senseless arguing. I will tell you what I am doing and what works for me. While questions are fine, it is senseless to argue with something that has been working for 35 years+. As we go along, you will find that all my sales methods are as very honest. This was an issue at the last forum for almost every post. Every time I mentioned an amount of money, I was accused of many horrible things.

fez-head · 10-13-2008, 10:34 AM

...

fez-head · 10-16-2008, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed the Roofer

Peterarcu,

I was in the process of negotiating a buyers group deal with them, but need a few more participants to join in to get the price down for each of the members involved.

Basically, I am looking to cut the investment price down to 1/2 or less with the right amount of participants, which would work out per a previous agreement I discussed with them.

Ed

Ed please tell me more about this group when you have the time.

Thank you,
Jesse

**Ed the Roofer** · 10-17-2008, 10:47 AM

Jesse,

Also anyone else that would be interested, send me an e-mail so I can add your names to a group that is interested.

I will need about 20 contractors with the current deal I discussed last year with the owner, to get the full priced package to be 50% off.

I think if I had that many people interested and ready to go, the deal could be sweetened up some more.

Just to let you know, I would get the exact same deal and not make any profit or get any special discount. I wanted to share the discounts equally amongst as many as possible to get as many contractors on board.

Ed

MEL · 10-17-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed the Roofer

Peterarcu,

I was in the process of negotiating a buyers group deal with them, but need a few more participants to join in to get the price down for each of the members involved.

Basically, I am looking to cut the investment price down to 1/2 or less with the right amount of participants, which would work out per a previous agreement I discussed with them.

Ed

Ed,
Are you aware that MArketSharp is getting ready to launch an online version of the software?

Would you be able to get special prcing for the online version?

I currently use MArketSharp

fez-head · 10-17-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MEL

Ed,
I currently use MArketSharp

What are the pros and cons in your opinion Mel?

Thanks

Kenny K · 10-21-2008, 12:32 PM

I would be intersted in this proposal. thanks please let me know of any advancements

fez-head · 11-29-2008, 10:37 AM

This is not a cheap program! Is it worth the cost for a small contractor even with a discount? EDIT: I guess the mailers are nice http://www.marketsharp.com/store/tem...674dd2a569d4b0

From http://www.marketsharp.com/downloads...Comparison.pdf

You can choose from the most comprehensive package to
a more basic version. Each version can be simply set up
right out-of-the-box with built-in industry specific data or
you can quickly configure fields and templates to suit your
individual business needs.

MarketSharp CE PRO Package $4995

For the company that needs it all! MarketSharp CE Pro is our most
comprehensive package incorporating all three segments of your
market: Prospects, Leads and Customers plus four business enhancing
modules.

Software includes:
• The powerful “Prospect, Lead & Customer” modules
• 4 Additional Modules including - Proposal Generator, Service Files,
Work Orders and QuickBooks® Pro Link
• “Ultimate” Technical Support Package
• MarketSharp 101-Introductory Online Training Classes
• MarketSharp Online University (MSOU)-Advanced Courses

MarketSharp CE STANDARD Package ........$3995

A great package to start tracking, marketing and reporting!
MarketSharp CE Standard is our flagship product integrating the
essential market segments of your business including: Prospects,
Leads and Customers. Additional modules are optional.

Software includes:
• The powerful “Prospect, Lead & Customer” modules
• “Ultimate” Technical Support Package
• MarketSharp 101-Introductory Online Training Classes
• MarketSharp Online University (MSOU)-Advanced Courses

MarketSharp CE LITE Package $2995

Track and build important contact relationships! MarketSharp CE Lite
controls your day-to-day efforts with the Lead and Customer segments
of your marketplace. Additional modules are optional.

Software includes:
• The powerful “Lead & Customer” modules
• “Ultimate” Technical Support Package
• MarketSharp 101-Introductory Online Training Classes
• MarketSharp Online University (MSOU)-Advanced Courses

MarketSharp CE PROSPECTOR Package.....$1495

Implement highly effective direct marketing campaigns!
MarketSharp CE Prospector targets the Prospect segment of your
market to drive new business from jobsites, neighborhoods, zip codes
and more. Easily upgrade at anytime to the full version.
Software includes:
• The powerful “Prospect” modules
• “Ultimate” Technical Support Package
• MarketSharp 101-Introductory Online Training Classes
• MarketSharp Online University (MSOU)-Advanced Courses

Grumpy · 02-05-2009, 12:43 PM

I wanted to bump this as I am considering getting this program this year, but will only be able to afford it if we do some kind of group discount thing like Ed was proposing.