Artificial Intelligence

Business

Field Service

Founder’s Journal

Projects

Al Banan is a pest control & cleaning service company based in the UAE. They’ve been using Heffl for over a year now, and the transformation is crystal clear:

20+ field workers managed by a single admin

Revenue growth without growing the operations team

We’re not just throwing numbers around. Here’s exactly how they did it:

Leads, follow-ups, and quotes lived in Excel sheets, WhatsApp messages, and inside the salesman’s head. It was chaotic.

Follow-ups tracked and reminded automatically

Email integration keeps communication in one place

Quote status clearly visible (Draft, Sent, Accepted, Rejected)

“I can sleep in peace now. I even worked on sales while vacationing in India — because everything is in Heffl.”

Jobs and schedules were on paper or Excel. No centralized visibility. They weren’t sure what was missed or what was billed. Scaling was painful.

Both one-off and contract jobs managed easily

Field workers receive updates via the Heffl mobile app (no more WhatsApp)

Admins & schedulers see everything in real-time

Reports for contract renewals, job status, and more

Reports like contracts, water tank cleaning certificates, and work completions were created manually in Word. Time-consuming, error-prone.

“Even if Heffl only had the document section, I would still use it. That’s how much time it saves us.”

Al Banan’s entire workflow was transformed from paper chaos to digital clarity.

Sales, operations, documents, all streamlined. Heffl gave them time back, helped them scale, and made their team more productive without increasing headcount.

Ready to do the same for your service business?

How Al Banan Saved 200+ Hours a Month Using Heffl

When we think of a salesman, we often picture someone loud and talkative who can convince you to buy something in the first meeting. But is that really what makes a good salesperson?

I'm someone who came from a tech background and transitioned into sales and marketing because I had to sell our own startup subscription. Here's what I learned about what makes a truly effective salesperson:

If you’re selling a soap and you know where it was manufactured, why it’s better than others, and all the side effects, and you can confidently answer every question your customer throws at you, then your chance of closing that sale is over 80%.

. You can be charming and persuasive, but if your knowledge is weak, someone else with more expertise can easily win the deal.

Top salespeople document everything. They log calls, meetings, and messages in a system (ideally a CRM) so they don’t miss any follow-ups or lose context.

Most sales don’t happen in the first meeting. You need more actions, timely follow-ups, and consistency. Customers may ghost you, not because they’re not interested, but because they’re busy. It’s 

One lead told me this after texting me two months after our initial contact: "I was busy, but you should’ve followed up." I assumed she wasn't interested. That was my mistake.

Using a CRM and being systematic about follow-ups can help you close 

I used to jump straight into product demos. Big mistake.

I realized this when one day, I let the customer talk first. I asked a few questions, understood their needs, and only showed the parts of the product that were relevant to them. Half the features didn’t matter to that client, and I didn’t waste their time.

 and helps your customers feel heard. It completely changes the direction of the call.

First impressions matter. Whether we like it or not, people judge within seconds.

dress well, speak well, and be genuinely interested

 in the conversation. Being prepared and confident will always give you an edge.

The truth is: you can absolutely learn to be a great salesperson. Do it consistently and you'll get better.

I'm not the same person I was when I started, and I’ve closed many deals for Heffl because of these learnings.

To become a better salesperson, you also need a CRM that works for you.

Use an AI Agent that supports your entire sales flow

What Makes a Great Salesperson (From a Founder Who Had to Learn It)

I used to think LinkedIn was cringe and mostly noise. Everyone looked like a “founder,” and real signal felt hard to find. I was only half right.

Yes, there’s fluff. But if you sell to businesses, the 

 on LinkedIn are real, and bigger than I expected.

This is my simple, practical guide on why LinkedIn works for B2B and how to make it work for you.

 Owners, GMs, heads of ops, finance, people who can actually buy.

 Create targeted posts and you’ll start showing up in their feeds.

 You can attract interest with content and still do smart outreach with context.

 Social proof (comments, reshares, client stories) compounds.

Short version: If you sell to businesses, LinkedIn is the best platform to show your work, meet buyers, and start conversations.

Step 1: Optimize your profile for conversion

Most profiles look nice but leave you wondering, 

 Clear, friendly, and recent. This is your scroll-stopper.

 A simple visual that says what you do or your one-line USP.

 What you do + for whom + outcome. (E.g., “CRM for service companies, close deals faster.”)

 Your short story + what you solve + how to contact you. End with a CTA.

 Link your best work, top posts, case studies, demo video, or booking link.

Make your profile pass the “5-second test”: Can a stranger understand your offer and take the next step quickly?

Step 2: Build momentum (not a content prison)

Don’t over-plan. In the beginning, just post.

Start with what you can talk about easily:

Personal updates from the builder/founder seat

Mini case studies, before/after snapshots, small wins

Post 3–5 times a week for a few weeks. Once you feel the rhythm, then study what’s working—yours and others’ in your niche.

Momentum beats perfect “content pillars.” You’ll find your voice by using it.

A short breakdown of a problem they face and how to fix it

A teardown of a process (with screenshots if possible)

These posts won’t always go viral, but they will generate 

I write my posts myself, then let AI polish the hook, trim fluff, and fix grammar. Keep a single thread that “learns” your tone.

Add 1 ICP post/week (educational, useful).

Start light, relevant outbound (warm comments > cold DMs).

Mix in vulnerable stories, milestones, product updates.

Review analytics: what brought replies, DMs, or calls?

Expect a few inbound leads and real conversations by the end of 3 months—and a small audience who reads you daily.

 Endless planning, new docs, “working on my strategy.”

 Hitting publish, learning in public, iterating next week.

 so you can nurture leads without leaving your CRM. LinkedIn DMs can get noisy, AI template pitches, recruiter messages, and random hiring requests, so handling everything inside LinkedIn gets messy fast.

See and reply to LinkedIn messages next to the lead/deal

Tag, assign, and set reminders like you do for WhatsApp

Save notes and move the conversation into your pipeline

Together with WhatsApp, LinkedIn will complete the day‑to‑day sales loop inside Heffl: capture → chat → follow up → close.

LinkedIn still has its cringe moments. But for B2B, the signal is worth it. If you show up consistently with clear value, the right people will find you. Inbound and outbound both work here, and they work better together.

Give it 90 days. Publish, learn, and keep going. That’s how you turn a feed into a funnel.

Why B2B Companies Should Use LinkedIn (From a Former Skeptic)

If you run a pest control, cleaning, HVAC, maintenance, or any on‑site service in the UAE, getting found online is half the battle. The easiest wins? List your business on the right directories and marketplaces. Below are 10 high‑impact places to start, plus tips to turn those listings into real jobs.

The 10 best places to list your service business in the UAE

 Shows your business on Google Maps, pulls nearby customers, collects reviews, and powers "near me" searches.


 Create/claim your profile, verify your location, add categories (e.g., “Pest control service”), hours, service area, photos, and WhatsApp/phone.

 Long‑standing UAE directory with strong search visibility.


 Use keyword‑rich descriptions (Arabic + English if you can) and add product/service tags.

 Widely used local search portal; good for citations and local SEO.


 Keep NAP (Name, Address, Phone) identical to your Google listing.

 Popular UAE business lookup with category pages for most field services.


 Upload before/after photos and ask clients to leave reviews here too.

 Niche Dubai directory with detailed service categories.


 Small firms targeting Dubai neighborhoods.

 Large B2B directory used by companies to find vetted vendors.


 Commercial contracts, facility management leads.

 Another UAE‑wide directory with good category coverage.


 Add rich media and keep your profile updated monthly.

 Marketplace for home services (cleaning, moving, maintenance). Customers compare quotes and book.


 UAE platform connecting customers with vetted service providers.


 Handyman, maintenance, AC services, small projects.

 Massive traffic; service categories for local providers.


 Use clear pricing bundles (e.g., “Studio deep clean – AED ___”) and reply fast.

, and local community portals (free zone directories, community groups).

What you gain by listing on these platforms

 from people already searching for your services.

 via public reviews and photos of completed jobs.

 through consistent citations and backlinks.

 when you connect WhatsApp and offer instant quotes.

, staff IDs, municipality approvals (if relevant).

 (e.g., “1BR Basic Cleaning – AED 149”).

Business trade name (exactly as on license)

Trade license & permits (for verification when asked)

Service areas, working hours, and emergency fees

Logo + brand photos (square and landscape)

Short description (100–160 chars) + full description (300–600 words)

WhatsApp number, booking link, and accepted payment methods

Create a simple tracker (Sheet or your CRM) to log:

Directory name, date listed, lead source tag

Leads received, jobs won, revenue, review count

After 30 days, keep the 3–4 sources that produce real jobs and trim the rest.

Running field service operations? Heffl can help

suite lets you take leads from these directories into one system, schedule crews, create quotes/contracts/reports, and invoice in minutes, plus a shared 

Google Business Profile • YellowPages UAE • Connect.ae • LocalSearch.ae • DubaiLocal • DCCIINFO • Yello.ae • ServiceMarket • mrUsta • dubizzle Services

10 UAE Directories to List Your Field Service Business (and Why They Matter)

In the past few months, I’ve received more than 

Here’s the surprising part, I haven’t posted a single hiring ad.

Some people even messaged saying they’d work for free, just to learn from us.

It’s flattering, and I’m genuinely happy people are noticing our startup and want to work with us. That’s not a small thing for us. It means the work we’re doing is being seen.

But I’ve had to reject every one of these offers.

More importantly: we won’t be hiring engineers for at least the next couple of years.

In my experience, hiring without proper planning can slow you down tremendously. The most important part of being a founder is knowing 

. This isn’t simple, and most founders get it wrong.

I don’t want us to be the kind of company where engineers and staff are walking around not knowing what to do, pretending to work. That’s how speed dies.

Our Current “Secret” to Shipping Fast

Most startups would be shocked at how quickly we ship features at Heffl.

As of this week, all 3 of us have transitioned into marketers who code part-time.

This keeps us focused on what matters most, getting features into the hands of users as fast as possible.

When we do hire in the future, I already know exactly the kind of person we’ll bring on. Your resume won’t matter. What will matter is your ability to take ownership, manage product decisions, and build features that solve real problems.

We want a small team, maybe 3 to 5 engineers, who are as good at product management as they are at writing code.

We also don’t want to create a buggy product where we’re stuck in endless bug-fixing cycles.

If we find a bug, we don’t log it into a backlog and forget about it. We fix it right away.

This keeps our product clean, reliable, and fast to improve.

I could be wrong. Maybe in the future, I’ll want a big team to reach our vision.

For now, the focus is clear: stay lean, ship fast, and only hire when it truly makes us better.

Why We’re Not Hiring Engineers (And Why That’s Intentional)

When we started Heffl’s website, we had 

. No organic traffic. No search visibility.

 directly to the landing page so users would route through our site to log in.

Tracking Blog Indexing Without Spreadsheets

While doing all this, I wanted to track whether each blog page was indexed by Google.

I could’ve used Excel. But instead, I used 

I recorded a short video showing exactly how I set this up in Heffl.

If you want the same setup for your SEO process, 

How I Grew Heffl’s Website Traffic from 0 to 400 Monthly Visitors

Most businesses today use WhatsApp to chat with clients. A CRM that handles those chats well can make a big difference. Two options you might come across are Heffl and Folk. Let’s break down how they compare, so you can decide which works better for your business flow.

 that centralizes chats for teams, it’s just data sync.

, assignment to team members, and one-click quoting inside chats.

A simple, contact-first CRM focused on relationship tracking.

Syncs with WhatsApp, but staging follow-ups and pipelines still require manual steps.

Combines CRM, quoting, service jobs, and invoicing workflows seamlessly.

Offers WhatsApp as a central communication layer connected to 

Syncs chats and contacts but doesn’t handle conversations as assignable tasks.

Good for individual users, limited shared workflow features.

Designed for teams, assign chats, follow up reminders, and collaborate from one place.

Smart reminders and AI help with follow-ups.

: Basic free tier available; WhatsApp integration via extensions; pricing not centered around service workflows.

: Affordable for growing businesses, built with real functionality like WhatsApp Inbox and quoting in mind. Includes support and ready workflows.

You just need contact syncing for solo or small-team outreach.

WhatsApp is your main communication channel with clients.

You want one CRM that handles chats, quotes, jobs, and payments in one place.

Heffl vs Folk: Which WhatsApp-First CRM Works Better for Your Business?

“What’s the difference between a lead and a deal?” 

you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions new CRM users have.

In this post, we’ll break it down simply (no jargon), show how we handle it in Heffl, and give a real-world example that might match your business.

A lead is a person or company that has shown interest in your business, but you don’t know if they’re serious yet.

•	Someone filled a form on your website
•	A person called to ask about pricing
•	You got a WhatsApp message saying “Can you share details?”

These people might become customers. But first, you need to qualify them, are they serious? Do they have a budget? Are they your target customer?

 Qualify them → then convert them into a deal.

A deal (or opportunity) is what you create once a lead is qualified.

They’ve shown clear intent. Now, you’re trying to close the sale.

•	They asked for a quotation
•	You’ve scheduled a demo
•	They’re comparing you to other vendors
•	You’ve sent a proposal and are negotiating

 Move the deal through your pipeline → and win the sale.

Let’s say you run a pest control service in Dubai.

•	A visitor submits a “Get a quote” form, this becomes a lead.
•	You call and find out they need a monthly service, great, they’re qualified.
•	You create a deal, add quotation details, and assign it to your sales agent.

•	Track stages (Quote Sent → Follow-up → Closed)
•	Log calls, emails, or meetings
•	Convert to a job after it’s won

Heffl handles all of this, from lead to deal to job — in one place.

A lot of small businesses manage everything in WhatsApp or Excel. But when you separate leads from deals, you get clarity.

•	Focus your energy on deals that are ready to buy
•	Know which stage each customer is in
•	Avoid letting good leads go cold

You can create your custom pipelines, set up automation, and qualify leads easily inside Heffl CRM.

🎯 Start managing leads in Heffl CRM →

Leads vs Deals: What’s the Difference in a CRM?

We didn’t need onboarding when no one visited our website.

For the first 30+ users, I did direct sales. Every single one.

One by one.
Call after call.
Manual demos. Manual follow-ups. Manual everything.

Then I started posting on LinkedIn.
Website traffic picked up.
We added a basic signup form.
People started registering.

Blogs & Articles

Ready to Transform
Your Business?
Start with Heffl Today

Blogs & Articles

Ready to Transform Your Business? Start with Heffl Today

Ready to Transform
Your Business?
Start with Heffl Today