The Home Improvement industry is booming, and it looks like it will stay that way for a while. With the average age of the nation’s housing at around forty years old, there is a large percentage of people that will want to make changes to their home.
As a home improvement professional, you want to take full advantage of these times.
We are in a place where people can’t get enough of HGTV and are constantly hit with new ideas and desires for their homes.
So how do you reach these people and let them know that you’re the one they can count on to make those ideas happen?
Here are 12 ways you can dominate Home Improvement marketing both online and offline.
1.) Content Marketing – While you can use your website to talk about your business and the services you offer, it is also incredibly beneficial to publish helpful information.
This information can be simple tips and tricks, do it yourself guides for projects not requiring professional assistance, ideas for projects, as well as answers to some common questions about home improvement.
When you provide people with useful and helpful information, you show them that you are a trusted resource in your industry. So just because the visitors on your site aren’t working with you now, they will remember you later and know just who to call.
2.) Postcard Marketing w/ free consultation – A great way to entice prospective clients to use your services is with a free consultation.
If you can get prospects to set up a free consultation, it will give you a better chance to sell your services. It gives you a chance to explain your background and experience and make them feel more comfortable about working with your business.
3.) Email Marketing – Since not all visitors to your website are ready to buy right then and there, it is important to make sure they do not forget who you are.
Email marketing plays a big role in keeping contact with these visitors. In many cases, it could take several weeks, and even months before these visitors make a decision.
Get people to signup for these emails and newsletters by adding a signup form on your website. Use this opportunity to send them company news, helpful tips and tricks, and trends that are going on in the home improvement space.
This allows you to directly reach your potential customers and show them your expertise in the field.
However, make sure you do not bombard them with too many emails. This will be an instant turn-off and they will most likely unsubscribe from your listing.
4.) Door Hangers w/ discount – Being in the home improvement industry, you are constantly going to jobs in neighborhoods with hundreds of homes. Odds are that some of these homes need work done, or will need it in the near future.
The great part about this is that you will already have a reference from their neighbor whose house you are currently working on. Take full advantage of this opportunity.
Walk around the neighborhood for about 20-30 minutes and put door hangers on peoples’ doors.
On the door hangers, you can give them a discount code or a free consultation to further entice them.
5.) Referral Program – Implementing a referral program can be a great way of getting people to refer to your business.
People are able to introduce your company to friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues, who can then become leads themselves.
People are also more willing to trust somebody that was recommended to them by someone that they know and trust.
Referral programs also work great if you can offer a reward to both parties involved, the referrer and your new prospect.
This allows them to feel that they are really doing their friend or family member a service, and really helping them out.
You can also make this process even more cost-effective by offering a gift card to their favorite restaurant, or other ideas you come up with.
6.) Web Design – Having the power of a well-designed website gives you the power to convert your website’s visitors into customers.
These days, it’s not enough to just have a website with your information on it. People expect more information and want to have a better understanding of you and your business.
A good website will provide people with all the information they need in order to make a decision. The site should also be user-friendly so users can easily find the information they need.
It is also a good idea to make your website mobile-friendly, as this is where many people will come in contact with your website and business.
7.) Trade Shows – Trade shows are a great opportunity for many reasons.
- Raises brand awareness – Attending trade shows allows your company to be seen by the industry’s key professionals, as well as potential leads who are attending the trade show.
- Business relationships – No matter how big or small your company is, everyone can use some help. Trade shows give you the opportunity to create an alliance with other industry-related companies and help you get into markets you may not otherwise get into.
- Highly targeted leads – Going to a trade show puts you in the presence of a large crowd of targeted buyers. These are the people who are looking for your business. What better place to be?
- Competitor analysis – Trade shows are a smart way to check on the competition. Here you can see what they are advertising, prices they are offering, and any other information you hope to find.
8.) SEO – Having a nice website is great and all, but if you can’t get anyone to find it…then what’s the point?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the optimizing of your content so that search engines, like Google, show your website or blog post as a top result during keyword searches.
When you rank well for keywords related to your business, people in that niche are more likely to come across your website and you will receive more leads.
So instead of using your budget on a widespread shotgun approach, take the approach of reaching people who are searching for you.
9.) Host an open house in our showroom/workshop area – Hosting an open house in your showroom or workshop is a great way to get the attention of local prospects.
Have these prospects come down and meet your team.
You can show them examples of your work, answer their questions, and let them get a better feel for your business.
Maybe they will even take some ideas away from it and call you to do the job.
10.) Vehicle wrap – Having a vehicle wrap is a great way to get your company names out there, especially if you are always driving across town for home improvement jobs.
This allows your business to be seen by thousands of people in just a single day and get people thinking about your company.
11.) Leverage customer reviews – Word of mouth is one of the most powerful tools for recommendations, and online reviews are pretty much the same thing…except that they’re online.
Reviews have so much power and influence today.
It is so easy for us to just look up a product or service online to see the types of experiences people have had with a particular product/service.
If you are not asking happy customers to leave a review on your business, you are wasting an opportunity. This is not something people will always do automatically so it is important that you at least ask them.
This is powerful stuff. Use it!
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12.) Social Media – Having a platform to showcase your work and connect with new audiences can be a real gamechanger.
You are able to show off the work that you have done, and show your audience that you have experience, and are capable of top-quality work.
Social platforms such as Instagram and Pinterest that have an emphasis on visual posts work well in the home improvement industry.
Hopefully, you were able to take away some new ideas to up your home improvement marketing game.
No matter which route you take, stay consistent with it and continue to put in the work. The results will follow.
