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Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

In reference to the " Chemical" Post on the Open Side

Advantage Roof Cleaning · May 14, 2011

I echo Bruce’s sentiment. In fact, I need to step back and reconsider part of my marketing strategy. I was planning on incorporating the RCIA logo and website on my marketing materials. But Bruce brought up an excellent point. If a prospective customer does just a little searching on the RCIA open forum to see how it’s done, I may have just lost a customer. Why would I indirectly tell a prospective customer how to do it himself? The open forum should serve to give the premium members credibility and to ease any concerns and hesitations of potential customers through general information – not protected information

Roof Cleaning Virginia 540-949-6277 · Roof Cleaning Institute of America Premium Member/MODERATOR

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning 515-971-1430 wrote:
Granted perception is everything no matter what you do in life. Everyone on here has gone to Google, yahoo or Bing, for what to search. The same purpose the search button is on this forum. To search.
I am okay with anyone asking questions, I do and most of you all do. We network together all the time. But you have to admit this question asked by this guest has been answered many times over in the posts. If he had searched his question it would have been answered. I can see where some can get touchy about these types of posts. I can also see where there is a fine line also in response.
The open side is not the best place for this topic. Homeowners coming here can read this information and take it and just clean the roof themselves, why hire any of us when we put it out for all to see. Something about all this just doesn't make good business sense to me.
I was talking to one of our members the middle of last week and he said one of his customers he referred to RCIA said " after reading that forum, I'll just clean the roof myself, now that I know what I needed." Needless to say he is removing all reference to RCIA from his marketing. I am sure you see my point here.
So why the premium membership, for a place to network out of the view of the world. Yet many just cannot stay off of this open side with all their " how to clean a roof" feedback. That is like cutting off your nose to despite your face.
How many roof cleaners learned how to clean a roof off this forum that are in Fla.? In my opinion that is a great example of what not to do here in Iowa. Granted, I have heard you can go anywhere on the internet and learn this. True. But what is the number one roof cleaning forum. RCIA. How many guest come here in a day? Many.
I am not saying we can't promote the forum. I am saying let's use it for the way it is set up. Use the premium and open sides for there purposes. Look brothers and sisters, this isn't personal, it is just good business. Any smart business person doesn't just up and give their business tools to anyone that comes along. If you do you won't be in business long.
The membership dues are pretty simple. In the end they support the forum. I totally agree that the membership will drop, because why pay when it is free for the taking.
It is hard enough educating the public about having their roof cleaned. But to turn around and tell them how to do it just doesn't make good business sense. To just up and make it easy for all the guests looking to start in the business is even, more so, bad business sense.
Am I missing something here?
Granted for those of you that have been in this business for a number of years and have name recognition this may not be a big concern. But for those of use that are start ups this is a big deal.
How about we use the forum for the way it is set up. Use the open side to post your work and the preimum side to discuss our process.
Personally I could give a rats ass about the guess. They don't support the forum. The majority are just looking for a free ride. Once they get what they want they are gone, to be in a local area near you.
I paid my dues, I paid for certification and I network and share things with many of you and you have done with me.
Look if anyone wants to compete against me fine, let them learn the hard way like I did. If they want to network that's fine to. But if they think I am going to hand over what I have learned and know they are dreaming. I didn't just get off a banana boat with yellow tip shoes on. At the end of the day this is business.
This is a call to action brothers and sisters. With this econmy everyone is looking for an edge to make money. If this guest wants to know what chemicals to use, I say figure it out. I am not going to tell you and then see you next week driving down the road claiming to be a roof cleaner.
Okay I am done venting. LOL

138394, 138394, 138394,

At the time of this post, 20 have viewed, one responded.

"Granted for those of you that have been in this business for a number of years and have name recognition this may not be a big concern. But for those of use that are start ups this is a big deal."

Good point Bruce!

Roof Cleaning Cleveland (216) 323-0552 · May 14, 2011

Great post Bruce.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · May 14, 2011

I agree with you Bruce. Again, for the record, I am not in favor of handing over info and creating competition for myself and my friends here on the forum.

RCIA Founder

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:
I agree with you Bruce. Again, for the record, I am not in favor of handing over info and creating competition for myself and my friends here on the forum.

OK, but please be aware that any potential competitor can call Lori, Bob from Pressure Tek, or any roof cleaning supplier, and THEY will tell them what to do!

We NEED a special Talkshoe dedicated to this subject. We are KILLING ourselves in our desire to protect ourselves from competition. I do not want to post what I will say in a non recorded talkshoe, but you guys nneed to hear it.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · May 15, 2011

Isnt there a talkshoe tonite ( Sunday)? Chris youll be on the next one with something to say on the matter?

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:
I agree with you Bruce. Again, for the record, I am not in favor of handing over info and creating competition for myself and my friends here on the forum.
OK, but please be aware that any potential competitor can call Lori, Bob from Pressure Tek, or any roof cleaning supplier, and THEY will tell them what to do!
We NEED a special Talkshoe dedicated to this subject. We are KILLING ourselves in our desire to protect ourselves from competition. I do not want to post what I will say in a non recorded talkshoe, but you guys nneed to hear it.

This isn't just about competition, hell we have 4 new start ups this year up here. That's life! It's about why pay membership when you can come on ask a question get it answered and then move on. Again, that is like cutting your nose off to despite your face.

Chris this is our opinions but at the end of the day it is your forum. I had the impression we were to assist in building membership to support the forum, Lord knows I have paid my dues, membership and certification. I have spoken to a number of members in the last few weeks that don't come on any more, trying to sort out this packet thing, and they said they won't come on anymore. One, they don't see any benefit being a premium member. Two, they do see the open side as offering to much information for the taking. Third, they are busy trying to run their business. The feedback has been in that order generally.

The numbers speak for itself. We have 150 people that have paid membership. Go through the posts for the past 6 months of paid members and it is the sme 15 or 20 of that 150.

You know I am always working on ways to improve the industry, as you have and others. As an example, I get many calls about cedar roof cleaning, I share that information with "some" of our members, but I can assure you I won't put that on the open side nor do I post that on the premium section because we have people on the premium side that are not premium members. All they need is the pass word and some have it.

If the purpose of premium membership has changed or will change then so be it. I for one will drop this concern and move on to other things.

The point of this post had to do with this person asking the "chemical" question, which if he wasn't so lazy or trying to cut corners he could have it answered by some research. Clearly he has no interest in coming on board unless we give him a interest. Just up and answering his question, to me, gives him no incentive to have to put skin in the game.

Is competition a concern for many? Of course it is! But if we truly networked and had a solid membership, united, the low ball competition would not have ground to stand on. But as long as "we" provide them the car they will drive it. All I am saying is make them at least buy their own car.

This point of you can find this information all over the internet doesn't work for me. I like many others searched the internet but ended up at RCIA. Why? Because unlike all the other places, it is a roof cleaning forum and what was I looking for roof cleaning. Come on, the numbers speak for itself how many guess come on here daily. I cannot speak for the rest, but I haven't had one customer tell me they found me on RCIA. I have had people call me saying they saw me on RCIA and want to get in the business. LOL

I have spent alot of time and effort on this forum because I am grateful for what it offered me. I believe from an industry point of view this has great potential to make a difference in the industry. I like others try to be positive and learn. Then you have some who are just negative and try to inflate their ego's. Hey, welcome to the world of forums. LOL

So let's have a talkshoe and finally put the food on the table. I am game. Would like to know is this about the peole that butter the bread or about the people that just eat it? Either way I am good to go. biggrin

aaron61 · Guest

The HO that is looking to do it himself will find out how to do it and that is not our customer anyway. As many of you know I also run a painting business and there are a million ways for HO's to do that themselves.All the big boxes,TV shows,Sherwin William's you name it.They all talk to the HO about doing it themselves and yet my business is thriving.We have grown substantially every year.
That is not my customer!!
I'm pretty sure there is more info out there on painting then roof cleaning.I even have HO's call me and ask me for advice on how to do things themselves. I gladly help them in anyway I can.They will remember us when the time comes that they need a larger project completed or after they do it themselves they realize what a job it is!! Or maybe not.
It really doesn't do much good to fret over this. Those that take info & leave are not the type that I would want to stick around anyway.These are not team players and I wish them luck on their roof cleaning adventures.
Standing guards at the door is futile!

RCIA Founder

I just think we need to take a 'kinder and gentler' approach to our new comers. I HATE freeloaders as much as anyone, and often it is hard to tell the good people from the bad!

I think Kim had a suggestion all new people be screened and approved first ?

But even that is not a perfect system. One of my main cut throat competitors ACTED like a friend to me, until he got the info he needed to launch an all out war on us!

Just because someone pays 100.00 don't mean they will not cut your throat someday.

I really shouldn't SAY in a public post what I want to say, but here goes. MOST will not make it in the roof cleaning business.

W/O wishing any bad things on anyone, that is how it is. I have been doing this a LONG time, and that is just how it is. Your potential competitors WILL find out how to cut your throat, either here, some other forum, or more likely from the seller of the roof cleaning equipment. Lori has set up several new competitors I never had before. This is what she does, and she is not to blame.

Now, we can do 2 things.

1 - we can refuse to talk to these new potential competitors

2 - we can be nice to them, realizing they probably will not make it anyway.

Though we wish success for everyone, we realize it is not always going to be. Seldom does a month go by that some competitor who did not succeed we helped in the past sends an old customer of theirs our way. They remember I helped them.

It is said "Keep your friends close, your enemies closer"

Try as we might, we are not going to stop competitors from popping up. There is too much money to be made, and it is too cheap to get into. If we close the forum, we hurt our own SEO, and they just learn somewhere else.

Though our roof cleaning knowledge I think is the best, that is not the REAL reason to be a paid member. It is the SEO power of this forum, and what it does for you in a local search and your blogs/websites.

And we are slowly destroying that SEO Power guys, by limiting roof cleaning questions and answers to the paid, closed side of the forum.

We are running off our newcomers.

Look, here is how it really is. A 129.00 12 volt pump, 200 feet of garden hose, and SH and water alone will clean a roof.

Not as good as us, but it will still allow someone to compete with us by advertising roof cleaning.

Maybe we should take a different approach, be nice and answer questions, then suggest they pay to advertise here, and add signature links. The fact is you could pay a SEO guy thousands, and he will not do for you what this forum can.

How can we certify anyone unless we teach them first.

They ARE going to learn, somewhere. Count on it. Other Forums and sellers of roof cleaning equipment WILL make it easy for them. Guys, we might want to rethink things, we are making enemies.

Roof Cleaning New Jersey · May 15, 2011

Smells like wisdom.

Roof Cleaning Missouri 417-230-8103 · Guest

Roof Cleaning New Jersey wrote:
Smells like wisdom.
Yes it does, I have a roof cleaner about 50 miles from me that pop up this yr,
He uses a pitch witch to clean with, and I think that bothers me more than having some one near that was cleaning the proper way. I feel he will give us a bad name. I'm kinda stuck on this one whether I should talk to him or not. He is also a lot cheaper than us,
he has no web site other than face book , so for now I have just let it go.
So , is it better to have competition that cleans correct or one that uses a pitch witch and a power washer?

Dave

deleted member

There are approximately 250,000 people in the "metro" area where I live. I don't fear a legitimate competitor like one of you guys because you are professionals and you wouldn't drive the price down. I do fear some hack doing it wrong, or doing it right but driving the price down. I see the wisdom of helping others, but the first two things they need to learn are the importance of doing it right & the importance of not driving the price down.

aaron61 · Guest

I don't think we ever talk "price" around here.So how can we say what is the right price?? I might think you are to high or to low??? Price is very subjective. I would love to know "the going rate" around here

. Not really!!
Again,this being a relatively new field I think you all are just experiencing what we in the other trades have dealt with for years. Call it competition,HO choices,low ballers....whatever.It's just part of running a business.Honestly I do not worry about "others" I try to create value and if the potential customer is looking for Johnny low baller she will find him.
For me it's very interesting how you all are reacting to guys learning the same way you did. Just lighten up a little,keep your side of the street clean and work on "your" business.

Central Iowa Roof Cleaning · Certified Cedar Shake Roof Cleaning Specialist

aaron61 wrote:
I don't think we ever talk "price" around here.So how can we say what is the right price?? I might think you are to high or to low??? Price is very subjective. I would love to know "the going rate" around here . Not really!!
Again,this being a relatively new field I think you all are just experiencing what we in the other trades have dealt with for years. Call it competition,HO choices,low ballers....whatever.It's just part of running a business.Honestly I do not worry about "others" I try to create value and if the potential customer is looking for Johnny low baller she will find him.
For me it's very interesting how you all are reacting to guys learning the same way you did. Just lighten up a little,keep your side of the street clean and work on "your" business.

That's a no brain-er! LOL I ran a seafood/fishing business in Maine for 27 years. You want to talk about competition try 350 other boats out there positioning for the same market. Needless to say fishermen on the North Atlantic are not afraid to throw a bunch first and talk later. LOL Just another day in paradise.

My point, this isn't my first ticket on the train for business.

I agree I learned alot on here, but I can tell you I use alot of stuff that isn't on here in my roof cleaning service. My customers are very happy and I am plenty busy. Competition, I say let the best service win, as it will speak for itself.

I can assure you that a number of members do have concern about competition, that is paid members, there concern isn't the paid members but the hit and run guys. They are popping up everywhere and some, even Chris T. pointed out to me, are flying the RCIA certification and haven't even been on the forum actively. What's that say about membership? What value does it have?

I have beat this horse until it won't ride anymore, so I am going to put it to pasture. I guess we'll just let time be the answer.

Oklahoma Roof Cleaning · Guest

Keep your Friends close and your Enemies closer. Not sure who said it first but I think it applies here.

RCIA Founder

Tell you guys a little secret. If you are going to copy a local competitor, copy someone who has been in business awhile, because he charges what is necessary to survive.

The truth is, you will scare quality customers away if you are a lot cheaper then your competitors. The same people who will shop you to death for a 50 dollar driveway cleaning will not use you for their roof.

Baltimore MD Roof Cleaning 410-482-4367 · guest

Apple Roof Cleaning Tampa FL (813) 655-8777 wrote:
Tell you guys a little secret. If you are going to copy a local competitor, copy someone who has been in business awhile, because he charges what is necessary to survive.
The truth is, you will scare quality customers away if you are a lot cheaper then your competitors. The same people who will shop you to death for a 50 dollar driveway cleaning will not use you for their roof.

So True

The Roof Cleaning Institute Of America Training & Certification Forum "Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"

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"Find A Certified Roof Cleaner Directory"