When you finish contractors school and
get your license, you have many avenues in front of you. Many newly
licensed contractors join an established firm. However, you may have
gone to contractors school to facilitate going into business for
yourself.
Well, for your own firm to become
established, you'll need to attract customers. One step in that
process is to market your business. Below are some ideas to help you
get started marketing your new firm.
Set up a Website
The first step for any new business
should be to set up a website. Your new website will be your online
representation of your work, so you want it to put you in the best
light. You can hire an outside agency to build the site, or your can
undertake the task on your own. If you choose the latter, you'll need
a domain name and host.
Because a contracting business offers
visible results, you'll want to include many photos on the site. The
landing page should feature professional photos related to your
business. However, you should also have a page that includes photos
of your work. If you can include before-and-after sets, you'll show
potential customers how your services can benefit them.
Start a Blog for SEO
When homeowners are looking for
professional contractors, they typically conduct an internet search.
You want that search to drive potential customers to your website
specifically. Well, search engines are the mechanism that drive
traffic to sites, and you want your website ranked highly. To that
end, you want to improve your search engine optimization (SEO).
One method of increasing your SEO is
through on-site blogs. If you add a blog post regularly to your site,
search engines rate it as being fresh and current. What's more, as
your content builds, your website serves as an expert site on that
subject. Therefore, search engines will be more likely to direct
traffic to your site.
To that end, you'll want informative
blogs on a manner of topics related to your contracting business.
Posts can be related to general industry topics, such as components
that go into a remodel project, or niche topics, such as paint or
trim work. Blog posts also offer an opportunity for internal links,
which drive traffic to the business-oriented area of your website.
Try Appropriate Social Media
Another relevant online tool is social
media. You have a dizzying array of platforms to choose from.
However, you probably need to focus on only a couple.
First, consider who your target market
is. Different audiences use different platforms, so you'll want to
narrow down your marketing to that social media. Facebook and Twitter
are two of the most common platforms for reaching target audiences.
Since you're starting a contracting business, and you'll have
relevant pictures, Instagram is another likely platform.
A good plan is to look at a successful
contracting firm, the one you hope to emulate. Research their online
presence. You should get a feel of their social media profile that
way.
Mix up your Marketing Strategies
While an online presence is imperative,
the old methods of marketing are still valid. Indeed, some
contracting firms target an older, more established audience, and
such potential clients are less likely to turn to the internet first.
So, you'll want to mix up your
marketing strategy to reflect both old-school and new-school
methodology. For instance, don't let your website stand in for
business cards. When you're on-site for a project, you'll want to
leave a tangible marketing tool that your satisfied customers can
pass along.
Likewise, consider joining an industry
association. Such associations are great resources for business
marketing and even general business skills. What's more, they're an
excellent place to network. The bigger your network, the more likely
you are to get referral business.
Make your new career as a self-employed
contractor a successful one by marketing your business. To obtain
your contractors license, contact Golden
State Contractors School.
