Marketing can be tough for tradies. You’re so busy just keeping up with your day-to-day work, processing invoices and running your business that it’s not easy getting to everything on your to-do list. Marketing can seem like just one more hassle.
However, if you fail to get new customers interested in your services, you run the risk of having an empty pipeline of work in the future. After all, you need tomorrow’s customers as much as you need today’s.
In this post, we look into the simple marketing opportunities presented by Houzz. The Houzz website connects everyday people with contractors who can help them with their projects. It also helps people to get ideas about what kind of house they’d like to build, what design ideas would work well with their lifestyles and whom they can look to for professional design and construction services.
Here are simple ways to use the engaged Houzz community to your advantage.
If you want to use Houzz to win more work, build an impressive profile. Houzz allows you to use many different features and functionalities to show off what you can do. For best results, use all of these features.
Your profile should include a thorough business description as well as links to your website, blog, Twitter, Facebook and any other social media accounts. You can also add your business to Houzz’s professional local directory.
You’ll also want to write descriptions of the kinds of services you offer and include information about the exact area you serve. You can even add your professional licence number, compliance certifications and testimonials in your profile, which add a measure of confidence and professionalism.
Houzz has a free Pro version as well as a paid Houzz Pro+ option. With the paid version, you’ll get more exposure on the site, and you’ll also see a metrics report that tracks company profile activity.
IdeaBooks are places where Houzz users can collect inspiration and show off their styles. You can build IdeaBooks to display the kind of work you specialise in and the kinds of projects you’re willing to help with.
IdeaBooks can be either public or private, and people can comment on the images or share them with other users. Keep in mind that keywords play an important role in IdeaBooks just as they do on your website and social media platforms. If you post pictures of some of your work, be sure to add descriptions using location-specific keywords (“Sydney exterior remodel,” for example).
It’s important to remember that many of the people on Houzz are in the early stages of discovery and planning, so they may not be ready to start hiring tradies yet. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t build relationships with these potential future customers.
One of the best ways to start building these relationships is to answer questions and offer suggestions on discussion threads. For instance, if you’re a landscaper, you could offer tips to someone who is asking for ideas about how to design her backyard. This is a great way to showcase your expertise and get people to engage with you.
These days, online reviews are just about as valuable as a friend’s personal recommendation, so encourage your clients to submit reviews to Houzz. The more reviews you receive, the higher you’ll rank in the Houzz directory.
As you can see, Houzz can be a valuable tool for winning more work. Here at Buildsoft, we’re all about using technology to make your work easier, more productive and more rewarding. Get in touch with us to learn about our professional estimating software, or start your 14-day free trial today.