Contractors Marketing, Part 2: 6 “People Power Tips” for Successful Internet Marketing

Hi and Thanks for checking out my blog again. Where there is always something new to learn.

I’ve been in marketing for close to 30 years now and I’m amazed at how fast IT (Internet Technology) develops for business applications. Such as how lead generation enabled by new contractors marketing techniques is now so affordable, any small business cannot afford to not jump in.

A whole new sea change in getting through to customers is now wide open—thanks to the Web 2.0 enabled Internet facilitating a total social media marketing strategy. And, interpersonal exchanges that are on a whole new level of more personal interactions between contractors and their customers.

As I like to iterate, people buy from people they know and trust. It’s that simple.  You need to generate leads that ultimately convert to actual sales for service providers. 

On one side of the sales equation, you have homeowners ready to buy and actively shopping for a best-fit provider in terms of trust, cost and reliability in getting home improvement jobs done on time and within budget.

On the other side of the sales equation are contractors offering specialized services that speak to these homeowner needs.

How to get both sides connected, talking and agreeing to work with each other? Answer: social media marketing bridges the gap by generating leads that are targeted and qualified in enabling both sides to take it to the next level of contractor engagement.

Here are 6 “people power tips” for successful social media lead generation. BTW, there are more tactics in my book, SUREFIRE SOCIAL for CONTRACTORS.

TIP 1. Free & Useful Info. People turn to the Internet for ideas to resolve problems. When you present free information in a press release or article that speaks to them, it immediately strikes a chord in them.

TIP 2. Customer Education. When people feel they learn something, they’ll feel their time is well spent. For example, with the current interest in energy conservation, if you were a green builder you could outline HERS (home energy rating system) guidelines to cut utility cost savings for homeowners and commercial accounts—that homeowners can adopt by hiring you to do them. When cost-savings are clearly outlined, no reasonable homeowner will walk away without considering them.

TIP 3. Listen to Customer Feedback. Yes, especially at this day and age of break-neck instantaneous communication with viral online communication, it’s even more important to listen to your customers. Not only in terms of positive feedback on product development, but also for negative feedback. When a disgruntled customer “tweets” poor product and service, a whole pack of consumers in his group know about it. Before long, it’s everywhere. 

But, therein too, lies the beauty of Internet communication. By subscribing to Google Alerts, your company knows when it’s “pinged” (or mentioned online). Soon as you know of negative feedback, you can immediately put out viral wildfires, so to speak. My book has examples and suggests tactics to deal with online crisis communication.

TIP 4. Leadership Approval. The more often you write articles that people enjoy reading about (product updates, trend-setting ideas and problem solutions, etc.), the more people come to know you. When your common sense and money-saving ideas hit home, you’re perceived as a “leader” with “followers.” It follows people buy from people they trust.

TIP 5. Customer “Resellers.” When *YOU* become a household name, your innovative home improvement lead generation starts spinning off in new directions—with satisfied customers talking you up to friends and family on social-site networks. No spinning your wheels here.

TIP 6. Ongoing Engagement. Social media networking works because it’s based on giving and taking freely. Meaning, you will need to ask questions of others, comment on their articles, offer new ideas, refer an article worth reading and provide helpful updates.

That’s all it takes for “people power” to power up contractor job leads for your company. 

Chris Marentis is founder & CEO of GenNext Media, LLC and author of Surefire Social Contractor Edition DIY Guide to Social Media Marketing Success. Scott Siegal is president of Certified Contractors Network (CCN) and a roofing contractor.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-marketing-articles/contractors-marketing-part-2-6-people-power-tips-for-successful-internet-marketing-1456904.html