Newbies

T

Tim Smith

Member
When I first found this board - there was a lot of new contractors asking basic questions, etc.

Have you notice that theres not that many new contractors or want to be contractors on the board this winter (off season)? They use to come out of the woodworks.


Do you think that they (newbies) feel more comfortable on other boards that sell products? One stop shop for the new contractor: information, chemicals, and equipment -- all in the same place. Also, people selling product with their replys are going to be more helpful - they have something to gain other than giving free help or advice. They have an opportunity to gain a sale.


It just seems that new contractors are attracted to the "One Stop Shop" boards. Any other opinions on this or maybe I'm not seeing it correctly?

How can this board be tailored to the new contractor?
 
The curious thing to me is that this board is the lesat restrictive,a nd that there definite places to go to talk to a distributor. Then again, a lot of people have fallen intot he cracks lately, and have gone to the other boards, for one reason or another. Maybe, we should concentrate on getting someofthe old hands back.

Scott
 
Scott

Thats an excellent idea. Any ideas on how to do so? What does the other boards offer the old hands that this board does not?

When I first came to this board, the members were happy that this board was for the contractors -- not the distributors.

It seems that this board has been a launching pad for individuals to learn and start their own boards. Theres nothing wrong with that, The problem, they take other contractors with them.

How can we reachout to the new and old hands?
 
I have only been in the power washing business for 1 year. I find this board very refreshing, as products are not being forced down my throat. On this board you can ask what products someone uses for a specific problem and get advise without a sales pitch. Keep doing what you are doing and people will realize where the value really is.
 
Jack

I agree - When starting out in this business - I too, was attractive to this board for the same exact reasons.
 
The problem is diversity. There are choices and people like making choices. Almost everyone on this board spends some amount of time on other boards as do I. You have some Like Ron that will see something on one board that is of interest and post it here which is great. This happens visa versa. I think the goal would be to try and combine all boards into one thus causing one he.. of a board for the industry.

How we do this ? I dont have a clue. Since some work off advertisers, some work off donations and some use it as a tax right off.

To my knowledge, you have the following boards:

Delco - Not very good, 1st started but very old layout. Just went there the other day for first time in about 3 months. They had someone posting porn sites. I noticed it was removed the next day.

Grimescene - See Dirt Runs Board, Very good board, looks good and informative. Beth, which is the owner of Grimescene and "See Dirt Run" is very helpful and pleasant to work with.

PWN - The second board to ever start- Very Fast, Looks good, very informative. Seems to have clicks now and then. Mainly boastered by donations, advertisers. Not many advertisers though. Dan and Mark that run the board are great guys and know this business in/out.

PWNA - Great board, looks good, very informative. Of course one that goes there feels as if they should join. Some limitations unless you are a member of PWNA.

PWI - Third board to ever start. Great board, the only truly open forum, looks good (although, Mike, I would change the logo a bit), very informative. I believe PWI has the most members to date. I could be wrong on that one. I just became a moderator on this board and ( Hey its the best da.. board out there hands down) Mike Hughes is the admin of the board and also has an abundance of knowledge. (Always helping someone)

The Cleaners Network - Cannot comment. Have not been there.

Needless to say, you have basically five boards out there. I dont count Delco as a board. Each one different in its own way. On the issue of getting back lost members - I dont know yet, been pondering this for several days now. I have noticed that the majority that play a roll on this board also plays a roll on other boards as I do also. It does seem foolish to have four boards with the same info but I have also seen topics that were not the same come up on each one.

Just my 4 cents.
 
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Yes I also think it would be great if there was 1 board or better yet the Mother of all Boards but its just unrealistic.

I go to all the above boards and find that each one has there strengths and weaknesses.

I will add that the 2 boards that are the most unique are this one(PWI) and PWNA. The PWI bbs is the bb with by far the most freedoms and of course the PWNA bbs represents and organization that tries to represent us(This is unique in itself).

I think with the speed of this board back up to par you will see alot of the old hands coming back here.

Also the More Mr. BBS Ron Musgraves responds here you will see this bb ride his thunder.
 
I too like Steve's board. He is a extremely nice guy. I don't buy much product from him, but he always takes the time to talk to me. Sometimes, we may be on the phone for an hour or so. Thats what happens, when you get two southern boys on the phone. haha

I think the PWNA board will be the last one standing. PWNA have made great strides in the past year or so. They are without a doubt heading in the right direction.
 
One Call Power said:

PWI - Third board to ever start. Great board, the only truly open forum, looks good (although, Mike, I would change the logo a bit), very informative.
Click to expand...


The logo was designed before the board opened. I never really was in love with it, but it has grown on me. I dont think it would be worth changing at this point. Actually, most bbs' don't even have a logo...............they're just words written in a certain font........
 
I like the logo.
 
Dont get me wrong, The logo is ok. It just reminds me of my few college days. Some of those I would like to forget.

Change the guy to a girl, Have her in a see through and dancin around the logo with a pw wand in hand.

Now, that would go over well with the guys until their wifes walked in and saw it. And, I think the ladies in the industry would not like it very much but hey, I tried.
 
I too visit the above mentioned boards,I think each has it's own personality.I actually like the old Delco board,maybe it's just nostalgia,since they started it all.I think as more boards pop up,you dilute the amount of posts to each board,only so much time in a day!I think there is the most activity on a board when there is a flare up between posters,not trying to suggest a professional wrestling atmosphere,but it is fun to read!Just think back when Russell Clark would post in the kitchen exhaust cleaning forum the fur would fly!!and many people would pop in to see what was next.Sometimes many of the posts are just a rehash of questions that have been asked and answered many times over and most don't feel the need to answer the same question over and over.Overall,I like this board the best,I check it
everyday,but do not post that often.Just my 2 cents.........
Jim
 
I've been to all of the pw boards and many others on gutters and other things my company does. Many of them are based on promotion of products and personally, I'm not that interested in those. I tend to visit all the boards to keep up with the latest stuff but I prefer somewhere that isnt based on selling products. Some bbs boards almost seem to have a background channel going where someone is always posting with a problem just so someone else can jump in and say HEY, try this chemical it really works!!
Selling products is fine but in some cases it seems like it's some kind of a setup just to sell them. I've always believed if your product is really that good it will sell itself.

In the very begining of this thread, Tim mentioned people coming here asking questions. Why don't we ask some ourselves?

I would like to know what sealers everyone is considering using this year and I think it would be a good idea to put up a poll about it but I don't know how. Can someone make one listing all the sealers you can think of so we can all vote on what we use?
 
Henry Bockman said:


I would like to know what sealers everyone is considering using this year and I think it would be a good idea to put up a poll about it but I don't know how. Can someone make one listing all the sealers you can think of so we can all vote on what we use?
Click to expand...


You can do that in the residential / wood section.

Start a new thread, and below where you type in the text there is a check box for a poll. Set how many choices you want (max 10) and choose whether you want them to be able to choose more then one answer or not.

Enter some text to describe your poll, then click submit..........it will then give you a list to enter all of the multilpe choices for your poll.
 
I have been with this board since it's beginning. I visit daily and post when needed. One board that was left out that I feel is another unbiased board is DeckGuide. As with this board, any product can be mentioned and DG is a great site for just wood. This site has brought a great amount of knowledge and help to my business and hope it continues. I have a concern of the boards that promote products because if I am posting about a product that is not "board oriented" then I feel a little uneasy. Never have I felt this way about this board, PWNA, or Deck Guide. I hope we can get some of the "old posters" back.

Reed
 
Of course, the board that are driven by selling products are bias. I don't fault someone for having a board that is driven by products - its a great marketing tool. Its an awesome marketing tool. Its the "One Stop Shop" type board: Chemical, Equipment, & Information. Those boards are great for targeting individuals new in the business.


Back to the best board - this one. If everyone thinks this board is so great, then why do I see you guys posting on others more than this one? It seems to me, that this board is tailor to the more experience contractor - thats great, but we need to ask each other questions.

Ron

I,ve read a ton of your post. You always stress the importance of educating the customer. Whats your opinion on sharing information, such as your marketing plans?
 
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