In the janitorial industry, success is not only measured by how frequently you acquire clients or how often you complete each deal. In any industry, success hinges on how you build and nurture customer relationships.
Networking is a very crucial thing here, especially in the cleaning business. It helps you create new opportunities and build your company name as a trusted brand in a competitive environment.
Whether you are running a home cleaning office, or you are already growing a lot! A proper strategic network encompasses all valuable partnerships, office cleaning leads, and contributes to your long-term business growth.
So if you are in a dilemma on how you can grow your networks in the janitorial industry, you are not alone! For service providers like you-we have come with an expert guide.
Read our expert guide on -Top Janitorial Industry Networking Tips for Long-Term Success!
After reading, what? Boom blast across your area? Or worldwide??
Let’s see!
10 Janitorial Industry Networking Tips
“85% of business success comes from effective networking and communication.”
–Carnegie Institute of Technology, as cited by Forbes
Before we dive into our expert suggestions, let’s give you some personal advice. My grandpa always told me that “networking is all about how you feel about others and how you treat them! There are no structural guidelines that can provide a direct way to network. If your emotions do not guide you to spend time with others, how can you expect good networking with others?’’
Effective networking involves connecting with people who share your mindset, engaging with them on an emotional level, and investing time and effort to spend quality time together.
Okay, now be professionals with realistic ideas.
Here we are with our top janitorial industry networking tips. These networking tips will help you become more outgoing and extroverted. (ha ha! Kidding!)
1. Understand the Value of Industry Networking
Why does networking matter? Only to get work or clients? Nope! Not at all! It is a matter because-
- It is to spread your values.
- It is to say people-oh! He is such a good professional!
Think a little bit technical! In the janitorial business, referral is gold. When you connect to the janitorial network, it opens a bigger door. This door provides an opportunity to explore joint ventures, subcontracting opportunities, vendor discounts, and insider knowledge.
More importantly, strong networking can help you build a long-term cleaning partnership with the individuals and industry peers!
2. Attend Janitorial Trade Shows and Industry Events
Janitorial trade shows and industry events are an excellent source for building an extensive network. So, try to attend as many janitorial fairs as you can, such as the ISSA Show North America or local cleaning expos. Attending those fairs/expos will help you to stay up to date with trends.
- Connect with clients, vendors, and other competitors face-to-face.
- Get the idea of how your competitor is doing their marketing!
- Stay up-to-date on industry trends, technologies, and tools to stay ahead of the curve.
- Spark collaborations that ultimately lead you to Janitorial Marketing
Bring your business card. Be prompt/proactive even with the newbie! Your prompt action will certainly spark collaborations, which ultimately lead to janitorial marketing partnerships for you.
3. Join Local Business and Cleaning Associations
Actively join a local cleaning business association, such as the Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI) or your local chamber of commerce.
Becoming a member of these associations means you are an active participant in a community where you can demonstrate your credibility among like-minded business professionals. Here is why it matters-
- Networking with the professional group (from solo cleaners to large contractors) who have a mix of networking.
- Gain access to educational events and workshops that can lead to direct office cleaning leads for you!
- Get the chance to generate direct office cleaning leads.
4. Engage on LinkedIn and Online Cleaning Communities
Social media is a fantastic networking place if you can utilize it correctly. LinkedIn is primarily a powerful tool for expanding your janitorial networking. Do the following-
- Join janitorial service or cleaning-based groups and engage here with various posts to catch the attention of facility managers.
- Follow the facility managers, share their posts, and make valuable comments on behalf of your janitorial company.
- Be consistent and professional in every action you take. Factory managers will then automatically get a good idea about you.
You are proactive on social media, which means that, over time, good networking with like-minded people/clients will occur. Additionally, don’t overlook niche forums and Facebook groups where janitorial owners share valuable tips, vendor recommendations, and opportunities for collaboration.
5. Offer Help Before Asking for Help
One of the golden rules for networking is to give before you get! Newcomers in this sector often face dilemmas. So, you can help them with their business insight, resources, tools, or supply details.
You have a helping mentality, meaning you can grow your network anywhere and at any time. When people feel you are generous with your knowledge-
- They are more likely to refer to you
- More likely to take advice from you
- More likely to make connections with you.
- More likely to offer you long-term cleaning partnerships with industry insiders.
‘Offer help before asking for help’ approach not only strengthens your relationship. It also allows you to be involved in a trust-based, long-term cleaning partnership with your collaborator or industrial partner.
6. Network with Related Industries
Don’t limit your network to just the cleaning business. Instead, grow your networks to other areas like-
- Property managers
- HVAC technicians
- Pest control services
- Construction companies
- Real estate agents
These companies also frequently collaborate with janitorial professionals. Thus, they can be a continuous source of employment for janitorial services. Yet they do not directly work as office cleaning lead service providers.
But they can help you passively. So, emerging to these companies and doing cross promotion with them helps you to get more referrals (means more service).
When you can make a good partnership even with your surroundings, it automatically increases the chance of your business expanding its capabilities.
7. Host Local Meetups or Workshops
Organise local get-togethers, seminars, and simple coffee meet-ups with your networks. These meetups make you the thought leaders in the same competitive market. Invite the same professionals, local businesses, and factory managers into your meetups.
This will help you to
- Get a perfect excuse to connect directly to the janitorial service person.
- Grow your business/ brand’s visibility through in-person janitorial marketing.
8. Use Email and CRM Tools to Stay Connected
Don’t let your connection forget you. Use CRM tools to track details of your new connections. CRM tools will help you-
- To track the conversation of your clients.
- To schedule a follow-up.
- To send newsletters.
You can use many automation tools in collaboration with the CRM tools. Monthly sharing of your success stories, updates of your service, and new certificates you have received will help your customers stay in touch with you.
Als,o go for email marketing! Email marketing supports your janitorial marketing by keeping you more professionally connected.
9. Build a Referral Program with Peers
Collaborate with the non-competitive cleaning agencies from other areas. Collaboration with other companies like-
- Carpet cleaning
- Post-construction cleanup
- Window washing
- Backyard /garden cleaner
All these are mandatory when you want to grow your network in a broader aspect.
However, you can choose to opt for a mutual referral system, in which if these companies make a successful referral, you will offer a generous bonus or discount.
It’s a nice hack to bring unity among different professionals and take credit for offering them discounts or bonuses.
10. Stay Consistent and Genuine in Your Networking
Consistency is the final key to unlock your good networking opportunities! Suppose you started by taking good care of any relations. After a few days, if you’ve forgotten entirely about those relationships, it won’t provide you with any good networking opportunities. So-
- Avoid forming a fake relationship solely for business purposes.
- Be very genuine with your partner.
Professional people nowadays are highly intellectual, so when you make a relationship with them only for business purposes, they feel it! That’s why you have to be very genuine with them.
Again, forming a partnership with one agency doesn’t mean you always need to be professional with them. A professional relationship is established when getting in touch with a personalized tone, and the purpose is fully met.
Another thing is that, in any effective networking, donors win quickly. Effective networking deals with authenticity and consistency. So be consistent -show regular interest in others’ success.
Conclusion
Networking never comes in a second! It’s a long road to start off, which might be easy, but to complete the whole path, you have to be very active, consistent, and authentic.
Let’s follow the 3 B’s here: Be authentic, Be Supportive, and Be active (both online and offline). Gradually, your reputation will grow, and your business will continue to provide high-quality service for janitorial needs.
Last Janitorial Industry Networking Tips: Give More Than You Take!
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Knock us, we will sort it out!
