There is a problem in the contract service industry, but unfortunately, most cleaning contractors can’t see it. It has to do with how they sell their services. If you ever look at a contractor’s website or marketing materials, you are likely to see a long list of the features of their service.

What’s the problem?

The cleaning contractor fails to tie these features to the benefits they provide for the customer.

This is the conclusion of Ron Segura, president of Segura Associates, who works with contract service companies such as cleaning contractors, landscape firms, and others, helping them market and build their businesses.

“Sometimes you can feel their enthusiasm listing these features. However, what they usually do not realize is that to the web visitor or potential customer, they mean little or nothing at all.”

Segura says that service contractors, no matter what their industry, must understand what a feature is and what is a benefit. To do this, they must understand the following key differences:

• Features are facts about products or services. They tell the customer what you can provide.

• Benefits explain how those features can help the customer, such as improve their lives or improve the health of their facility.

“When I am working with a client, I go through their website, and as soon as I see lots of features listed on their site, I ask them, ‘So what?’ Answering that question is the easiest way to turn a feature into a benefit.”

To explain, Segura provides some of the most common examples he encounters:

Feature: We’ve been in business for 20 years!

So what?

Benefit: In those 20 years, we have encountered all types of situations and learned how to handle them quickly and effectively.

Feature: We use the latest cleaning technologies!

So what?

Benefit: Because we use the latest cleaning technologies, we can streamline our service, allowing us to cut costs, which we pass on to our clients.

Feature: We use only green-certified cleaning solutions!

So what?

Benefit: Because we use green-certified cleaning solutions, we are better able to protect the health of your staff and all building users.

“It’s easy to bombard your customers with the features of your service,” says Segura. “But always remember, they want to know how those features will benefit them.”

Contact us to discuss your cleaning needs by calling —732-901-5337—or by clicking on our logo below. We will take care of it.