Finding new customers and expanding the reach of a brand is key for any contractor. Traditional marketing strategies are one way to accomplish this, but in today’s world, that’s not always enough.
With the advent of social media, various new platforms have emerged for contractors to grow their business and clientele. As of Feb. 2019, 72% of adults in the United States used some form of social media.
Tens of millions of people use sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more on a daily basis. Those users represent prime chances for contractors to reach a new audience and grow their business.
Mastering the art of social media may seem like a daunting task. But for any contractor trying to use every available source to get leads and work, taking the time to do so is vital.
Here are some of the ways that contractors can use social media to get leads.
Promotion Without Intrusion
Print ads, television commercials, and other forms of advertising have long served as ways for contractors to expand their business. In today’s digital age, these forms of marketing have a harder time standing out, and they’re also intrusive in nature. They interrupt other types of communication to reach the target audience.
That’s why adding social media for contracting businesses can serve as a better way to find new customers. People can search for pages on various social networks to find the contractor they need, and they can follow the pages of contractors they trust.
How Social Media Benefits Contractors
There are multiple ways social media can benefit contractors. Here are some of the most important factors that go into social media marketing.
Word of Mouth
Customers want to utilize businesses they trust. With an established client base, it can expand when satisfied users tell others about your service, and they direct potential new leads to your social media channels.
A friend or colleague’s recommendation, plus a clear, direct social media page, can be more than enough to convince a new person or group to use your business.
Brand Recognition
Part of establishing success as a contractor involves building brand recognition. There are plenty of competitors offering similar services, and it’s vital to stand out from the rest.
That’s where social media can play a role. Having a page that can connect to the community serves as a way to promote your business and show why people should patronize it.
Growing your social media page shows other potential clients you have a reputable business with the trust of other people.
Generate Traffic to Websites
Relying on search engine optimization is one way to pull traffic to your website. Using social media can be another avenue.
Instead of searching the internet for news or business needs, many people have turned to social media as a way of finding those services. Having active and informative social media pages can help you reach potential leads using those search methods.
When potential clients find your social media pages, they can be directed directly to your website. This allows for possible leads to come directly to you.
How Contractors Can Get the Most Out of Social Media
Now that we’ve explored some of the benefits of social media for contractors, here are some of the strategies to make sure your business can get the most out of it.
Put in the Work
Social media pages won’t grow overnight, and simply creating them won’t be enough. Contractors need to put time in to manage them.
This can take a considerable amount of work, but there are ways to streamline the process for maximum payoff. Scheduling several posts to publish over a period of time can help keep your pages fresh and relevant.
Instead of sitting down every day to update a page, making and scheduling a week’s worth of new posts in one sitting can help create time for other aspects of your business.
Post Intelligently and Consistently
Social media posts can serve a wide variety of purposes, from promoting a new product, sharing a discount, or explaining a service.
You don’t want to overwhelm your pages with so much content that people miss important information. But it’s necessary to show a wide range of benefits people can get by using your business.
Several posts per week can show potential customers your business is active while giving them multiple reasons to reach out.
Engage with the Audience
Part of building a successful small business is showing customers that you care about the community you are serving. Being active on social media and engaging with your audience can help display that.
By answering questions and comments, giving advice, and using a friendly voice, you can show people your business cares about their needs.
Which Social Media Platform Is Right for Your Business?
Between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and more, there are plenty of options in terms of growing your social media presence.
For contractors looking to utilize social media, Facebook is likely the best choice. For one, Facebook boasts more than 1.62 billion daily users, making it the world’s largest social media network.
Facebook also ranks as the most-used social network by adults. This is the best place to find prospective clients, with 69 percent of American adults using the platform in 2019.
With a Facebook page, your business can include all relevant info, including a link to your website. You can tailor posts to promote your company and services. Comments and messages allow for easy engagement with people in your community.
If you’re new to social media, starting with Facebook and mastering the platform is the smartest move. Once you have the ins and outs of that down, you can expand to other social media sites.
Conclusion
Social media has become a necessary tool for contractors to market their businesses and generate new clients.
An overwhelming number of Americans use some form of social media. Finding ways to connect with them can help any contractor attract and retain more customers.
Growing a brand through social media takes time and commitment, but that effort can pay off in a variety of ways.
