Growth During A Pandemic

 Well it certainly has been crazy during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic,..from toilet paper shortage to material for the home owners fence line,..

It has taken this little fence company called Fix-A-Fence LLC,..here is the link to the web site  https://fixafencellc.com/ from myself and one other employee to two trucks, four employees and I have taken myself out of the field to concentrate on the phones calls to set up the estimates,..still approx. 80 days out from scheduling work and the phone continues to ring,..

It's been a bit overwhelming to say the least,..but I praise God that He continues to provide. 

Anyway,..just thought I would spread some hope during these harsh times we are going through,..remember that faith is evidence of things unseen and that faith without work is dead. So I guess what I am saying is,..continue to work the faith that you have and you will see the hope that is in which to come,..it is a hope that only comes through the One and only Son of God Jesus Christ,..I know it's tough to believe,..but it's really not that hard,..read the New Testament and check it out for yourself,..the bible really is transforming,..especially once you have been illuminated by the Holy Spirit after reading it,..things do and will change,..I can't explain it but I have seen it happen and am one to experience this transforming change in my own life,..

There is hope,..keep smiling!

Fix-A-Fence LLC and Continuing Education

Last night I took a three hour class on High Impact Marketing as part of my continuing education to be a licensed contractor here in the State of Oregon.

There was a lot of great information that was laid out for a powerful marketing plan and strategy. Currently I have already implemented a lot of what was taught last night. As a matter of fact I believe that I was some sort of value and help to the rest of the class.

One thing for sure is that I need to get hooked up with some sort of networking organization that meets up every week for coffee and a chat about business. Sharing leads and referrals is a big part of growing any kind of business. Just as education is important being around people with like minds is just as important.

As you are well aware the internet is a huge factor in advertising from a soft sale to hard sale. The more trust you can create on the internet the better chances you will have at getting hired and that means getting paid in my book. As a result from my internet marketing, I believe mentioned in an earlier post, that the last several phone calls for estimates have been from Google search.

There are several traditional ways of marketing products, in the past and still today there are businesses that utilize yellow pages, The Oregonian, direct mail, signs and brochures. However with the shift in technology and thanks to the internet we now have at our disposal e-mail campaigns, spark interest with a web site, draw a following to a webinar, write fresh content on a blog such as this one, Facebook is a great social media service, and then there is the all so powerful Youtube videos that really help with the face to face advertising part of the sale, and then don't forget to keep people up to date with a tweet from time to time.

There are plenty more ways to market your product but the main thing is to get started.

Fix-A-Fence LLC Positions With Google On Four Pages

Moving forward into this year of 2012. The Google advertising campaign has resulted in quite a few phone calls for estimates that have turned into work orders. It has also brought other marketing companies to my phone as well. Just today I received a call from some kind of contractor web site that said he was only going to allow four contractors exclusive positions. He wanted to know if I would be one of them for $150.00 a month? He is not the only person that has called me trying to get me to give in to their method of attraction marketing.

Fix-A-Fence LLC is positioned with Google on four relative pages for fence estimates. That has all been from my own personal efforts. Now other people want me to pay them for something I have already done. Hmmm

As I have mentioned before the winter months are rather slow but this year so far has not been the case. However I would like to invite you to view a dream of mine that has become a sort of reality.

The Turf Byrd's

The Turf Byrd's Blog 

I have to keep myself as active as I can even during the busy months. The Turf Byrd's can and eventually will be the next novelty craze since those rocks.

People have asked me why build fence when I have such a great product to sell. Currently Fix-A-Fence LLC makes quite a bit more over the year than The Turf Byrd's  have.

The Turf Byrd's  craze really hasn't hit full speed yet. I am sure there are a few kinks to get out as with any other venture. The biggest kink has already been unraveled. One step at a time.

A New Fence Blog For A New Year

This is the first blog of the new year for Fix-A-Fence LLC. Work has slowed a bit out in the field the phone rings but not as constant as the warmer weathered months. So during these winter slow months I focus my attention on my internet marketing businesses. Like last night for instance I built a new web site to promote my affiliate product from TriVita branded as Nopalea the wellness drink made from Cactus plants right here in America.

Here is the site if you are interested in checking out my internet handy work.

http://mypowerlinewealth.webstarts.com/?r=20120102012829

Sort of a long URL but what can I say for free. When I am ready to spend some money the URL will be shorter and it may even be a different name. I like trying to capture the audience and not lead them all over this internet dessert.

Last year Fix-A-Fence LLC has positioned itself with Google on four front pages ranking from 1st on the page to 5th and 6th positions on the pages of the category fence estimates Portland, OR. Categories such as free, wood, chain link and just plain fence estimates. I have learned quite a bit about how to position my company to get the phone call first before the larger fence companies in the Portland, OR and surrounding areas. For instance the last three out of four calls have been from as a result of Google searches.

Soon I will be using and applying the same tactics I have used to position Fix-A-Fence LLC on Google to my businesses on the internet. If there is anything I have gained from all of this knowledge is how to achieve a web presence. Some people say to me know I wish I could do that or how did you do that? I tell them it took me work and hustle. I show them how and it just boggles their mind at what I know. It kind of boggles my own when I stop to think for a second where I was a year ago, but that's all. Because my mind just keeps moving forward.

So until the next blog, stay safe - keep smiling and don't let anything rain on your parade.

Committing Fraud is Illegal

The last time I checked committing fraud is illegal. Over the past few weeks Fix-A-Fence LLC has experienced just that another company committing fraud by submitting a bad check for materials. I didn't find out that the check for materials was insufficient until the bank called me while out on an estimate. The contract is complete and still lacking labor fees.

There are three things that I have learned from this experience:

1) Always take the check to the bank where it was drawn from if possible.

2) How to file for a lien

3) My God is bigger than any problem I have.

Talk about putting the brakes on, the bank acct. was frozen and there was little cash flow. I felt helpless for the time it took me to get a loan and bring the acct. to working order. One thing for sure is that you can not keep a good man down. I am very thankful for the people in my life that have the means and thought to care for someone in a position like this.

Now it is just a matter of time before the check shows up. I have hired a company called RoHillCo. They specialize in liens and other business services. I was referred to them from a fence supplier that uses their services when they have a problem to solve.

This has certainly been a valuable and costly lesson for me to learn. I do hope that nothing like this happens to you. Remember to cash the check at the bank where it was drawn from if possible. Or wait until the check clears before purchasing the material. Especially on the larger jobs.

Another thing if something like this should happen, never give up and remember it was the other guy that gave you the bad check. You are just doing what you said you will do.  

Networking - Building Exposure For Your Business

One of the biggest things for any business is exposure. One of the ways to expose your business is by attending a networking association. There are plenty of networking associations to get involved with. For instance here in Portland, OR, Portland Business Alliance, Oregon Executive Association, Oregon Entrepreneurs Network just to name a few. These network groups are made up of like minded people that share in each others business in one way or the other. This is a positive growth factor to be affiliated with in one way or the other, if you happen to be a guest of someone, or just decide to attend to check things out you are able to give a 30 second to one minute pitch about your business.

Now I don't know about you but I could use the business when ever possible. I really don't like sitting around unless I am sitting behind my computer screen working somehow whether it be posting on craigslist, making a video for the youtube acct., or blogging. The point here is to just stay active on the computer. There are so many distractions that the internet has to offer today that it is necessary to stay focused on what you are doing and what your really after.

I like the freedom of owning a business. I like telling myself what to do and when to do it and not having someone else telling me what and how to do what I already know how to do. Now if this was a customer telling me how they wanted their fence to look then of course I will be listening and complying with their requests. That is freedom of business.

If your now involved in some kind of networking association may I suggest that you seek one out and attend an event to see what is really happening behind the scene of business. There are a lot of great experienced and motivated people that attend these functions and they are a wealth of information once you get to know some of these people that are associated with these functions. Build exposure for yourself and your business, remember word of mouth is huge, because how will your business ever take off if you or someone else doesn't speak about it to anyone else? Even if you contact an advertising agency to place an ad your creating word of mouth exposure. Let your word be impeccable to your business. Help your business grow by attending a networking association event. Who knows you might gain a new customer or a new friend and the possibilities from there should lead to success and with that success it should demand more action to maintain the results your looking for.