The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports that at the end of 2013, tradesmen were in the highest demand since the first quarter of 2004. It’s time to step up your marketing efforts and build a customer pipeline that will take you and your remodeling business through 2014 and beyond. Tradesmen in every niche can improve their marketing efforts, no matter what services they provide. Roofers can look for a Roofing Marketing Company, carpenters can look for ways to boost brand awareness, and handymen can improve their local SEO. However, this article will be focussing on how home remodelers can attract new customers. The following techniques will help you gain visibility and draw new customers:
Show Your Community Spirit
Get involved in local volunteer activities that provide home repair and remodeling help. People watch these projects, and they will see your signs on the property and note the quality work you do. It also enables you to network with people from all parts of the community, many of whom would be happy to get the word out about your company and its community connections.
Get Busy on Social Media
Maintain an active presence on social media. According to Pew Research, 72 percent of adult Americans use social networking sites on a regular basis. Sites like Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn are great opportunities to increase brand awareness and interact with current and potential clients. Give remodeling tips and ideas, share before-and-after photos of your projects and invite customers to ask questions and then share your expertise. Promote your business by offering social media-exclusive deals or showcasing highlights from ongoing projects.
Direct Mail Still Works
Don’t abandon print advertising altogether, however-direct mail is still effective. People leave fliers and postcards on their counter or desk to remind themselves they are interested in the services they advertise. The U.S. Postal Service offers an Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) service that delivers mailers to every household in a certain neighborhood or zip code(s). Work with an online printing service that participates in the EDDM program, and you can target every homeowner in an area for pennies apiece.
Create Unique Incentives
Create some special customer giveaways that will entice people to at least see you for an estimate. Offer to do a free home energy audit with every work estimate, suggests For Construction Pros-but do so sincerely, not in an effort to upsell them. Go that route, and word will get out that it’s not useful. A review of the home with indications of where they could save energy and money is beneficial for the customer, and it may generate additional or future business. It certainly creates goodwill.
Or, implement a referral program. These are popular because the encourage people to do something they may have done anyway if they are pleased with your work. After a job, explain your program to your customer. For every person he or she sends your way, you could give them a gift certificate to a local home improvement store.