Blog

Plain talk for local businesses.

How to explain what you do, what to post, and where a song fits. Written for the trades and the towns we make songs for.

Basement waterproofing

Basement waterproofingHow to Explain Hydrostatic Pressure and Wet Basements in Plain WordsEveryday pictures a basement waterproofing company can use to explain why water comes through a basement wall, and how the fix works.Basement waterproofingWhy Basement Waterproofing Jobs Stall at "We'll Wait and See", and What to Say InsteadWhy homeowners put off basement waterproofing after the estimate, and honest words a contractor can use to help them decide.

Car washes

Car washesHow to Explain an Unlimited Car Wash Membership in 30 SecondsA simple 30-second way to explain your unlimited wash plan at the pay station, on signs and online, so drivers understand it and trust it.

Churches

ChurchesChurch Anniversary Ideas for Homecoming Sunday That Bring People BackPractical ideas for a church anniversary or homecoming Sunday: who to invite, what to plan and how to tell the story of your congregation.ChurchesChurch Anniversary Program Ideas: A Sample Order of ServiceChurch anniversary program ideas with a full sample order of service you can copy, plus ideas for the fellowship meal and the afternoon.ChurchesChurch Anniversary Themes: 15 Ideas With Scripture and How to Use Each15 church anniversary theme ideas, each with a scripture reference and a plain way to use it in the service, on the banner and in the bulletin.ChurchesPlanning a 100th Church Anniversary When You're a Small CongregationChurch 100 year anniversary ideas for a small congregation: a small committee, a year-out timeline, finding your history and inviting people back.

Dentists

DentistsHow to Explain Dental Implants to Patients Without the JargonPlain words a dental office can use to explain implants to patients, plus what to leave to the dentist in the chair.DentistsSedation Dentistry: How to Talk to Patients Who Are Scared of the DentistKind, plain words a dental office can use with nervous patients, and how to mention sedation options without making promises.

Electric co-ops

Electric co-opsElectric Co-op Annual Meeting Ideas to Boost AttendancePractical ideas to make an electric co-op's annual meeting feel like a gathering members want to attend, from the invitation to the last song.Electric co-opsElectric Co-op Community Event Ideas: Fairs, Parades and Safety DemosElectric cooperative community events members enjoy: parade floats, fair booths, line-worker safety demos, coloring contests, youth tours and member days.Electric co-opsHow to Celebrate an Electric Co-op's Anniversary: 50th, 75th or 90thIdeas for planning an electric co-op's 50th, 75th or 90th anniversary that honors the founders and gives today's members a reason to celebrate.Electric co-opsHow to Tell Your Co-op's Founding Story So Members Feel Part of ItHow an electric co-op can gather, shape and share its founding story so today's members see themselves in it, not just read about it.

Electricians

ElectriciansElectricians: How to Explain a Panel Upgrade to a HomeownerPlain words an electrician can use to explain a panel upgrade: why it's needed, what happens on the day, and what it costs, without losing the homeowner.

Family businesses

Family businesses50th Business Anniversary Ideas for a Small, Family-Owned Business50th business anniversary celebration ideas for a family business: gathering the history, the party, honoring founders and a 3-month plan.

Foundation repair

Foundation repairFoundation Repair: Turning a Big, Scary Quote Into a Story Homeowners TrustHow a foundation repair company can explain a big quote as a clear story: what's happening, what you'll do, and what the house looks like after.

Hail and dent repair

Hail and dent repairHail Damage and Insurance: What a Dent Shop Can Say to Worried Car OwnersHow a dent repair shop can answer common hail and insurance worries honestly, without giving insurance advice it isn't qualified to give.Hail and dent repairHow to Explain Paintless Dent Repair to Car Owners Before Hail SeasonPlain words, a simple calendar and ready-to-use lines that help car owners understand paintless dent repair before the storms come.

Heating and cooling

Heating and coolingHVAC Companies: What to Post Before the First Cold Snap and the First Heat WaveWhat a heating and cooling company can post on Facebook before the first freeze and the first hot spell, with simple wording you can use this week.Heating and coolingHVAC Event Marketing Ideas: Open Houses, Fairs and School VisitsHVAC event marketing ideas for small towns: county fair booths, home shows, tune-up clinics, school career days and youth baseball, with what to bring.

Mold remediation

Mold remediationMold Remediation: How to Be the Calm Voice When a Homeowner Is WorriedWhat a mold remediation company can say on the phone and at the door to calm a worried homeowner, using only what the EPA and CDC say.

Pest control

Pest controlPest Control Video Marketing: What to Film and Post, Season by SeasonPest control video marketing made simple: what to film on your phone each month in the Midwest and Texas, how to keep it short, and what not to show.

Physical therapy

Physical therapyDirect Access to Physical Therapy: How to Tell Patients They May Not Need a ReferralPlain words a physical therapy clinic can use to tell patients about direct access, with the right caveats about state rules and insurance.Physical therapyHow to Market a Physical Therapy Clinic in a Small TownPractical, low-cost ways a small-town physical therapy clinic can get its name known and remembered, from the front desk to the football field.

Plumbers

PlumbersWhat a Plumber's Jingle Should Say: Your Name, Your Number and One PromiseA plumber's jingle has room for three things: your name, your phone number and one promise you keep. Here is how to pick them, with an example verse.

Radon mitigation

Radon mitigationHow to Explain Radon Mitigation to Homeowners Who Can't See, Smell or Taste the ProblemPlain words a radon mitigation company can use to explain a problem nobody can see, from the first phone call to the kitchen table.Radon mitigationMarketing a Radon Mitigation Company Through Fall and WinterA month-by-month plan for a radon mitigation company from October to February: what to post, what to say and when to say it.Radon mitigationWhat Should a Radon Mitigation Company Post on Its Facebook Page?A plain list of Facebook posts a radon mitigation company can make, with example wording you can copy and change.

Septic service

Septic serviceSeptic Service: How to Talk About the Thing Nobody Wants to Talk AboutPlain, friendly ways for a septic service company to talk about pumping, inspections and what not to flush, without making anybody squirm.

Small businesses

Small businesses10-Year and 25-Year Business Anniversary Ideas That Fit the Milestone10 year and 25th business anniversary ideas for small businesses, and why a tenth should feel different from a twenty-fifth.Small businessesBusiness Anniversary Ideas for Customers: How to Thank the Town That Kept You GoingBusiness anniversary ideas for customers at any budget: thank-yous, giving back locally, sharing memories and the mistakes to skip.Small businessesBusiness Anniversary Post Ideas: What to Post the Month Before, the Day Of and AfterBusiness anniversary post ideas with ready-to-copy examples for the month before, the day of and the week after, plus a staff work anniversary post.Small businessesOne Year in Business: Small Business Anniversary Ideas That Don't Cost MuchOne year business anniversary ideas for a small business on a tight budget: thank-yous, posts, a simple event and what to plan for year two.

Sump pumps

Sump pumpsSump Pumps: What to Tell Homeowners Before the Spring RainsA simple pre-spring checklist and plain words a sump pump company can share with homeowners before the snow melts and the rain comes.

Water treatment

Water treatmentHard Water and Water Softeners: How to Explain a Problem People Live With Every DayPlain ways a water treatment company can explain hard water and softeners to homeowners who've gotten used to the spots, scale and scum.

For any business

GeneralChoosing a Genre for Your Business Song: Country, Bluegrass, Gospel, Polka, Classic Rock and MoreHow to pick the right style for your business song, from country and bluegrass to gospel, polka and classic rock, based on your customers and your town.GeneralCommercial Jingle Examples for Local Businesses: What Makes One StickFive fresh commercial jingle examples for made-up local businesses, from a plumber to a feed store, and why each one sticks.GeneralHow Much Do Companies Pay for Jingles? Local vs National, Explained PlainlyHow much companies pay for jingles, why national jingles cost so much more than local ones, and what a small business actually needs to buy.GeneralHow Much Does a Custom Jingle Cost? What You Get at $750, $1,950 and $3,900What a custom business jingle costs, what to ask any seller before you pay, and exactly what our $750, $1,950 and $3,900 packages include.GeneralHow to Put Your Own Song on Hold: On Hold Music for a Small BusinessHow to get hold music for your business and change it yourself: what to ask your phone provider, file formats, volume, and why not to use a radio song.GeneralHow to Write a Jingle for Your Business: What Fits in 30 SecondsWhat fits in a 30-second business jingle, what to leave out, and a simple way to draft one yourself, with example lines.GeneralJingle, Explainer Video or Ad Agency: What Fits a Small Local BusinessA fair look at jingles, explainer videos and ad agencies for a small local business: what each does well, what it costs you in time, and how to choose.GeneralOn Hold Message Examples for Plumbers, HVAC and Other Service BusinessesReady-to-read on hold message examples and scripts for plumbers, HVAC, electricians, dental offices and pest control, plus tips on length and timing.GeneralWhat Happens After You Order a Business Song: The Seven Days, Step by StepExactly what happens after you order a song for your business, from the form to the finished video, and what you'll be asked to do at each step.GeneralWhere to Use Your Business Song: Facebook, On-Hold Music, Local Radio and the County Fair BoothEvery place a small business can put its song to work, from Facebook and on-hold music to local radio, your website and the county fair booth.