This week’s installment of Behind the Review features our first home services business: Temp Rite Services, a heating and cooling company in the small North Carolina town of Yadkinville. That’s not the only first, though. Enter this week’s reviewer, Sam A., a self-described “meat and potatoes” guy, who wrote this business’ very first Yelp review.
Temp Rite is the epitome of a local business. Owner Scott Tyree and his team built their reputation on honest, hard work and “word of mouth” marketing. And for them, it goes back to the basics—with communication being the most important. Scott prioritizes communication and always responds to his customers as quickly and honestly as possible. “I always tell customers, I’m not going to lie to you. I may not tell you what you want to hear, but I’m gonna tell you something. So that’s it. You just communicate. That’s all you gotta do. Communicate.”
Scott’s 20 years in business has given him a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Some of the biggest takeaways from this episode include:
- Always prioritize: Have a ranked list to help you prioritize requests as soon as you get them.
- Provide as much information as you can: Be upfront with your customers. It’s important to share as much info as possible so they can make an educated decision.
- If you make a mistake, own it: While we all hope mistakes are few and far between (and in Scott’s case, they are), it’s important to own up to your mistakes and focus on fixing them.
- Be honest: Being an honest business person always pays off in the long run.
By focusing on these best practices, Scott was able to build a sincere and successful business. These values also attracted enthusiastic customers, like Sam who felt compelled to get Temp Rite on Yelp and write its first review. “Any time I come across a business that I want to succeed—because they’re doing such a good job, the customer experience is there, the value is there, the service is there—I want to make sure they’re on Yelp,” said Sam. “I want other people to be able to go and find a company I liked.”
Interviews by Emily Washcovick
These lessons come from an episode of Behind the Review, Yelp & Entrepreneur Media’s weekly podcast. Listen below to hear from Sam and Scott, or visit the episode page to read more, subscribe to the show, and explore other episodes.
The information above is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice and may not be suitable for your circumstances. Unless stated otherwise, references to third-party links, services, or products do not constitute endorsement by Yelp.