45 Ways to Make Your Business More Successful

Economic Affairs CommitteeInstructed by Ruth Van Dine, RPT, John Parham, RPT

and Mark Purney, RPT Co-developed with David Pinson, RPT and Roger Gable, RPT

Where are you on this scale?

One piano technician may be “just getting by”

Another piano technician may be supporting a comfortable lifestyle and saving for retirement

4 ways to increase your bottom line:

1) Earn more money per client

2) Service more clients

3) Diversify (offer more products and services to each client)

4) Expand (grow your business to the point that you must hire others to support all the work)

Interpersonal Skills

1

Give a great experience with your product.

2

Talk on the phone as if face to face with the client. Smile, even on the phone!

3

Be part of the local music community.

4

"How do you say your name correctly?" Van Dean

Van Dinie Devine Dine Vee Dine Van Vine

5

Compliment something in the client's home

Personal Development

6

Improve Continually.

7

Pass the RPT Exams.

8

Volunteer to teach a class at your local PTG monthly meeting.

Business Practices

9

Develop people’s appreciation of the experience and end product.

10

Be clear, confident – answer any questions at the end of the meeting.

11

Keep office with you at all times.

12

Work on your business paperwork daily.

13

Forward your office phone to your cell phone.

14

How to save time during and in between appointments.

15

Advance scheduling.

16

Offer full-service appointments.

17

Preventing and Dealing with No-Shows

18

Increase your fees.

19

Leave something behind.

20

Guarantee your work.

21

Create a business plan.

22

Offer more services, refer more services.

23

Alternate payment methods pay for themselves.

24

Hire a professional accounting service.

25

Hire some help and delegate.

26

Start planning your retirement yesterday.

27

Insure your business.

28

Give away work.

29

Document shop work and repairs with pictures and video.

30

Consider discounting church tunings as a way to donate or tithe.

31

The Magic Question: "What are you trying to accomplish?"

Concert Instrument?

32

Use a database to regain control of your office functions.

33

Be on time.

34

Open the client’s mind to other services.

Advertising

35

How did they find me? (Which advertising worked?)

36

How awesome is your website? PART 1 What, you still don’t have one yet?

37

How awesome is your website? PART 2 The secrets to a successful site.

38

How awesome is your website? PART 3 No web design skills? No problem!

39

Make a visual impact without going broke.

40

Free (and cheap) methods to boost your Internet presence.

41

Advertise in local school publications.

42

Localized marketing pays off.

43

Obtain customer testimonials for your website and online listings.

44

Deliver flyers door-to-door.

45

Set goals for your marketing efforts and contact-building

The End

45 Ways to Make Your Business More Successful