Wisconsin Man Aims To Plug Knowledge Gap

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(Newswire.net — April 24th, 2013) Milwaukee, WI — With the economy continuing to grow at a moderate pace, according to both the State and Federal government’s data, and last month’s (3/13) announcement of significant upward revisions in employment estimates by Department of Workforce (DWD) Secretary Reggie Newson still fresh in the mind, the economic outlook in Wisconsin for 2013 and beyond is brighter than it has been for years.

Factor in a housing sector which is finally showing signs of a mild recovery, stronger predicted growth of 2.5% in real personal incomes and an upward trend in the number of people starting their own businesses, and the environment for a skilled tradesperson wishing to join the 156,000 (5.6%) or so people already pursuing a self-employed lifestyle in America’s Dairyland is more supportive than it has been for at least half a decade.

But improving economic data alone don’t guarantees success. That takes a ready supply of customers, great service, hard work and a little luck. And everybody needs good contacts within their chosen field. One local man, ready to offer a helping hand to plumbers branching out on their own, is Bob Kellogg. Not only a useful contact for newly qualified and licensed tradespeople, he’s potentially a catalyst for business transformation among established small and medium-sized plumbing firms too.

Having experienced the highs and lows of self-employment himself over the last decade and having been a licensed plumber, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning technician for more than 20 years, Kellogg has pretty much seen it all. He’s learned the lessons and changed his operation accordingly and now, with the establishment of his new business in La Crosse, WI, he’s ready to help others avoid the stresses and pitfalls he’s encountered.

Kellogg Consulting offers a wide range of internet marketing services to plumbers throughout the tri-state area: the rationale behind the venture being that nobody understands a plumber’s business better than a plumber themself. Offering digital marketing consultancy, site optimization, online reputation management and the building of sales pipelines, Kellogg’s self-learnt techniques have added around 25% to his own plumbing operation’s turnover in the last six months, putting around 40 new customers – some of whom have already gone on to provide repeat business – onto his books.

Conscious also of the significant concerns of customers looking for plumbers, raised repeatedly throughout the thousands of relationships developed over the years, he’s launched http://www.plumbermilwaukeepros.com/ as a resource to help residents and business customers alike remove the hassle from their often nervous searches.

Kellogg explains his thinking saying: “Most customers want a quick and simple way to identify an affordable, reliable contractor, with the requisite skills for their job, whether it’s an emergency fix, remodeling or new construction project. Our new site helps them do just that and also offers users practical advice on the questions they should ask before hiring anyone. It utilizes my experience in locating and recommending the right firm for the job. My hope is that it will boost knowledge levels generally and take away some of the anxiety people feel when inviting something of an unknown quantity into their home or workplace. We’ve started in Milwaukee as it’s the biggest city in the state but have ambitions to develop similar sites in other major population centers.”

“Where professionals are concerned, particularly in smaller scale operations and especially in the current climate, they are so busy working in the business that they simply run out of time or energy to work on the business. And, regardless of the available time, not everyone has the skills to be the plumber, administrator, accountant or marketing expert. Our aim is to help them build a more impactful online presence and maintain a steady flow of business which is especially important now that the majority of buyers are shunning traditional paper-based directories in favor of internet searches. We might even be able to help them reclaim a few hours each day so that they are better able to manage their work/life balance – something I’d have personally benefitted from over the years.”  

With snows dying out, the big thaw setting in over coming weeks and the construction season about to begin – traditionally the period of highest demand for plumbers – the offers of help to fellow professionals and the advice being given to prospective customers are well timed.

For further editorial information, photography or to arrange interviews please contact Bob Kellogg via kelloggconsultinglacrosse@gmail.com  or call him on 1-608-782-1721. 

Editors’ Notes:

• Born and raised in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, Bob Kellogg, aged 45 years, graduated from Western Technical College – top ten in his class – receiving a degree in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration servicing in 1987. By 1991, he had completed his apprenticeship in plumbing and, after 17 years working for other firms, in 2004 he established his own plumbing business in La Crosse, WI: the town where he resides with his wife and two children.  

• Kellogg Consulting, established in the fall of 2011, offers a wide range of internet marketing services to local trades – plumbers, electricians etc – within the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois. Its core services include digital marketing consultancy, site optimization, online reputation management and the building of sales pipelines.

• The website http://www.plumbermilwaukeepros.com/ provides residential customers and businesses situated within the Milwaukee area with a quick and simple way to find affordable, reputable plumbers. In addition, the site provides those searching for plumbing help with useful information, arming buyers with important questions to ask when it comes to identifying the right person for the job.