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Why You Should Ask for Photos Before Every Job (And How to Do It)

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Why You Should Ask for Photos Before Every Job (And How to Do It) Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only recommend tools I genuinely use and find helpful. For tradespeople who want to run smoother, more professional businesses without losing their sanity. How many times have you turned up to a job and found it wasn’t what the client described? An unexpected step, a hidden wall, a rotted frame — it happens all the time. That’s why I ask for photos before confirming any booking now. In this post, I’ll show you why asking for photos is one of the easiest ways to save time, avoid mistakes, and offer better service — plus how to ask without putting clients off. 📸 Why Photos Make a Big Difference You don’t need perfect lighting or pro angles. You just need a rough idea of what you’re walking into. Here’s what I look for when clients send photos: The condition of the...
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How I Organise My Trades Business with Zoho CRM and WhatsApp (The Easy Way)

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How I Use WhatsApp & Zoho CRM to Stay on Top of Client Enquiries


📲 How I Use WhatsApp & Zoho CRM to Stay on Top of Client Enquiries

Running a busy carpentry and handyman service means juggling calls, texts, voicemails, quotes, and bookings. For a long time, it felt like I was chasing my tail trying to keep track of who said what and when.

But now, with a bit of help from Zoho CRM and WhatsApp for Business, I’ve built a simple system that keeps everything organised — and I think it’s something other tradespeople could benefit from too.

✅ Step 1: Start of Day Routine

Every day, my admin assistant (or me, if I’m solo) starts with a 2-hour work block. Here's the process:

1. Check CircleLoop

  • Listen to any voicemails.
  • If there's a message, save the number to CircleLoop and Google Contacts.
  • Let it sync (~15 mins) before moving to WhatsApp.

2. Message via WhatsApp Business

“Thanks for your voicemail. To help us estimate accurately, please complete the form at https://www.bluewood.pro/enquiry with your site address. You can upload photos/videos of the task area there, or send more here on WhatsApp. Cheers!”

3. Use the Sync Delay

  • Check Zoho CRM leads
  • Follow up on messages
  • Plan next actions

🧰 Zoho CRM Pipeline for Handyman Carpentry Jobs

I use Zoho CRM’s 'Deals' feature to forecast and track jobs. My custom pipeline has these stages:

  1. Needs Analysis 🤔
  2. Estimate Sent ✍️
  3. Booking Scheduled 📆
  4. Closed Won ✅
  5. Closed Lost ❌
  6. (Optional) Closed-Lost to Competition 🕵️‍♂️

🏷️ WhatsApp Labels to Match the CRM

Because most of my client chats happen on WhatsApp, I’ve matched my CRM stages with WhatsApp Business labels:

Prospect Journey

  • New Enquiry 🤝
  • Needs Analysis 🤔
  • Estimate Sent ✍️
  • Booking Scheduled 📆
  • Follow Up ⏱
  • Lost 😩

Contact Types

  • Lead 👀
  • Contact 👤🙏
  • Account 🏪🦺

Misc

  • Avoid 😶 (cold callers, time-wasters)
  • Supplier 🔗
  • Tenant 🏘️

💡 Tips & Tools That Help

  • Use Quick Replies in WhatsApp (e.g., /thanks, /formlink)
  • Use a Contact naming SOP like “caller-0001” if no name is known yet
  • Consider a shared Tracker Sheet for early contacts
  • Visual Workflow Diagram coming soon!

If you’re a tradesperson trying to stay organised without spending a fortune, give this workflow a go. I’m refining it with my own admin assistant right now and rolling it out to clients like Bluerock Electrical via BlueWood Office.

Got questions? Drop me a message or connect on WhatsApp!



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