With recent research claiming that 59% of tradespeople have said social media has added more challenges to them than anything else in the last decade, we offer some simple advice.
The poll of tradespeople, including plumbers, electricians, builders, and decorators, found that over half (53%) felt that getting new customers was harder than ever before. More interestingly however was the fact that 59% cited social media as their biggest challenge in the last decade.
Here we help to explain how social media can provide the key to getting new customers. It’s not as hard as you might think.
Word-of-mouth is key in finding new customers and there are many platforms that can help to elevate your business. Social platforms are a great source of comments and reviews from your previous customers, but can also be seen by your prospective ones too. Platforms such as Rated People and TrustPilot, as well as Facebook and Twitter provide potential customers with an insight into you, your business and your experience, making it essential to have a presence online, increasing your chances of gaining future business.
It’s worth considering being on at least one of the two main social channels - Facebook or Twitter, but having a presence on platforms like Trustpilot should also be considered. Most channels are free, incredibly easy to set up and you tend to only need an email address to get things up and running.
Post pictures and videos of your latest installations, interact with other installers, manufacturers and industry bodies and ask your customers if you can link to them in the posts. This will demonstrate your credibility and the pride you take in your work, and will assure customers that you’re a safe pair of hands. If they can start following you too, you can begin to build your own social community and when they like or comment on your post, it will be shared in their news feed as well as yours. This opens you and your business up to a wider group of people – presenting further business opportunities.
Follow up with customers post-visit and provide them with a link to your profile or review site. Consumers are more reliant on peer opinions than ever, so developing trust and authority with your business online is key to setting you apart from other competitors in your area.
Believe it or not, it’s rumoured that your posts on Facebook only reach 1% of your followers, so if you have a small amount of money to put behind a post, targeted at those within your area/ specific location – it will be viewed by more people and potential customers that you may not have been able to otherwise reach. Social media sites offer easy how-to guides to ensure you spend your money effectively.
These are just a few tips to social media engagement. Interested in finding out more about marketing and sales techniques for your business?
Adam Callow from Expert Trades is back this Summer, to help equip you with all of the relevant Marketing & Sales techniques you'll need to grow your business and increase profitability! He'll be in Leeds and Glasgow in July and then Exeter in September. Plus, due to demand we have now added two additional courses; one in Warwick in July and then in Dartford in September. The 1 day course, subsidised by Baxi, are only £90 each. For more information and to book your place, click here.