The Floors Were Great, but the Calls Stopped Coming
My name’s John, and I’ve been installing floors for over a decade. Hardwood, tile, laminate—you name it, I can make it look like it belongs in a magazine spread. For years, I relied on one thing to keep my business running: happy customers spreading the word.
It worked—until it didn’t.
When the Calls Slowed Down
At first, everything was smooth. I’d install a floor for someone, and they’d tell their neighbor or cousin, and I’d get another call. I didn’t spend a dime on ads or social media. “Why fix what isn’t broken?” I thought.
But then I noticed something. The calls started coming less frequently. Sure, I still had a few jobs lined up, but it wasn’t the steady flow I was used to. One day, I got curious and asked a customer how they found me.
“Oh,” they said, “a friend told me about you, but I almost hired someone else I found online. They had great reviews and videos showing their work.”
That was my wake-up call.
The Missed Opportunities
I realized that while I was waiting for people to recommend me, other floor installers were making themselves easy to find. They had websites, photos of their work, and social media accounts filled with tips and transformations. They weren’t waiting for people to talk about them—they were starting the conversations.
Meanwhile, I was relying on luck. If a satisfied customer didn’t mention my name, I was invisible. And if they did mention me, who’s to say the person they told was even in the market for new floors?
Taking Control
That’s when I decided to make a change. I started by taking pictures of my finished jobs and sharing them online. At first, it felt weird. I wasn’t used to putting myself out there. But then I noticed something: people were commenting, asking questions, and even sending me messages about their own projects.
I also set up a simple website with my contact info and a gallery of my best work. I asked happy customers to leave reviews online, so when people searched for a floor installer, my name actually popped up.
Within a few months, I wasn’t just getting calls again—I was getting the right calls. People who had already seen my work and trusted me before we’d even spoken.
The Lesson I Learned
Here’s the thing: word of mouth is great, but it’s not enough. If you’re just waiting for someone to recommend you, you’re leaving your business’s success to chance. You have to put yourself out there. Show people what you can do, where they can find you, and why they should choose you.
So, if you’re like I was, waiting for whispers to grow your business, take it from me: it’s time to speak up. Don’t let your work stay hidden. Share it with the world—and watch what happens when people actually know you’re there.