You started your contractor business because you had a knack for a certain type of work. Whether you specialize in plumbing, electrical, or HVAC repair, you’ve built your career offering an in-demand service that you know how to do well.
What you may not be so good at is contractor marketing. Many small businesses struggle with the promotion 
and positioning of their services. Even worse, some business owners neglect marketing altogether, believing that word of mouth referrals and providing great service is all they need to run a successful business.
Unfortunately, that’s not typically the case. Every business needs marketing, but it doesn’t have to be complex or expensive. Below are eight strategies your home repair business can use to quickly begin attracting new customers and to garner new contractor job leads.
- Focus on education
This is more of a mindset shift than a specific tactic, but the most successful companies today are the ones who educate prospects and customers to help them solve problems and achieve goals. Teaching your audience has two benefits: It makes prospects view your business as a source of value, and it positions you as an expert in your field. Customers always prefer to do business with people they know and like, so start building relationships today by sharing what you know – just remember not to get too technical.
- Buy ads on Facebook
Facebook ads have become a dominant force in internet advertising. Google and Facebook are responsible for nearly all the growth in digital ad spend over the last few years. There’s a good reason for this: Facebook has over 1.8 billion users and, with its highly targeted audience features, you can get your business in front of the right people without spending an arm and a leg.
- Videos
While the internet is increasingly saturated with all kinds of content, video is becoming a way to stand out and get attention. Video lends itself especially well to the home repair industry, as you can show visuals of the tools you use, the areas of homes you work in, and the signs of a problem that needs repairing. “Before and after” videos speak volumes (as do pictures). This type of marketing also helps build a relationship with your audience, since they actually see your face and hear your voice. Best of all, you don’t need anything more than a smartphone, a steady hand, and a YouTube account to get started with video. Be sure to get the homeowner’s permission before including their name, house or image in any marketing materials.
- Attend local events and networking mixers
The key to success with this tactic is to spend a little time researching events before you attend. A home repair company might not have much success at a digital sales conference, but you could collect plenty of leads attending a meetup for first-time home buyers or landlords, or even a local Chamber of Commerce or Business Networking International meeting. Events do require an investment of your personal time, but choose them carefully and you’ll find they can be an excellent tool for marketing your business.
- Collaborate with other businesses
Whatever type of home repair work you do, there’s probably a complementary service your business does not offer. Maybe you do electrical work but not drywall, or you repair pipes but don’t install plumbing fixtures. One great way to find leads is to partner up with one of these complementary businesses and exchange referrals. Try to find companies who can offer you an equivalent amount of referrals each month so the arrangement is fair.
- Ask for the referral
There’s no better time to ask for a referral than at the end of a job well done. The customer is happy and you’re top of mind. Be sure to ask the customer to also leave a review on Facebook (if you don’t have a business page click here to learn how to set one up easily) and Yelp. To make this as easy as possible be sure to add your social media account names (Facebook, Twitter, Houzz, etc.) to your business cards, refrigerator magnets, letterhead, etc.
- Reach out to past customers and prospects
You’ve probably had jobs that went well and left both you and the customer with a positive feeling. If you aren’t still working with these customers, follow up with them and see how things are going. Don’t be aggressive – just mention that you enjoyed working with them and would be happy to take care of their needs in the future. If you can also provide them with a helpful piece of information, like weatherizing or something to save on their energy bills, or some new information about your services, you’ll reinforce the relationship even if they don’t need your work at the moment.
- Become part of a home repair plan contractor network
If you’re looking for a great way to steadily bring in jobs, working with a home repair plan contractor network is an excellent strategy. In fact, this step requires zero marketing: a nationwide brand that customers know and trust will do it for you. The top networks also handle all payment processing and can pay you quickly in several ways.
At the end of the day, whether things are busy or slow, you should always be marketing your business. But if you’re looking to bring in consistent work to your home repair company to ease some of the pressure of marketing and selling yourself, think about joining a home repair plan contractor network with a good reputation.
HomeServe USA offers top quality contractors a great opportunity to help build their business and they strive to provide a steady stream of jobs. Want to learn more? Click here to fill out our quick application!
