10 Tips to Succeed as a Tradesperson in 2019
Posted by Paula Stead on
No matter whether you’re an established tradesperson or just starting out, getting new business/more customers is important. We live in a world flooded with information, so getting your name out there is more difficult than ever before. However, if you know a few tips and tricks, you can cut through a lot of the noise and raise the awareness for your business. This, in turn, should help you grow and prosper in 2019 and hopefully beyond!
Here’s a selection of tips to help you grow in 2019:
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Consider registering on trusted trade websites
Are you listed on websites like Checkatrade.com? If not, you should consider it. Such websites often appear when people search for terms along the lines of “hull plumbers” on search engines. This means you could get your business in front of people who otherwise wouldn’t know you existed.
In addition to the above, websites like Checkatrade.com are often trusted because people know who they are. This is a result of them spending thousands upon thousands on their own marketing.
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Create a Facebook business profile
Facebook is hugely popular. Create a business profile and regularly update it with pictures of the work you’ve done (before/after photos work extremely well) and any offers you may have. This will appear when people search for your business on Google or Facebook and it can work wonders to build trust in your business/services.
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Get online reviews for your business
Not only are people searching for your services online (by typing in phrases such as “plumbers in Yorkshire” to Google), they may also be looking for information about your business online.
Before choosing a tradesperson, people often want to know that they’re choosing someone who’s done good work for others. Look to get customers to write reviews of your business on places such as Facebook.
According to a study by a company called BrightLocal, 86% of consumers read reviews online for local businesses. This rises to 95% for people aged 18-34. This clearly highlights the importance of reviews.
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Don’t rely on one form of marketing
If you currently get most of your business through word of mouth, does that mean you’re as successful as you ever will be? Probably not. Although word of mouth is arguably one of the oldest forms of marketing, you shouldn’t stop there if you want to grow your business.
Below are some very simple marketing methods to grow your business:
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Post Flyers/Leaflets
If your aim is to raise awareness of your services to homeowners, then start with sending flyers or a letter detailing your services.
It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, either. You could even take a learning directly from this page and ensure your flyer or letter has a customer review on it.
Chances are you will be getting your name in front of people who don’t need your services right now, but it’s still a great way to raise awareness of your business and services.
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Facebook Groups
Join local buying and selling groups on Facebook and share a link to your Facebook business page. It might not work wonders, but it’s completely free and you can do it whilst watching TV.
- Online advertising
This is the most complex of the three suggested and we would recommend sticking to advertising on Google. If you feel out of your depth, seek the assistance of a marketing expert. They should be able to do this quickly.
Online advertising through Google can be extremely effective as you can get to the top of the search results when people search for phrases related to your business (e.g. “plumbers in hull”). You get to choose exactly how much you spend, so if you only want to spend £25 a month, you can. -
Look professional
Although people can forgive tradespeople wearing dirty clothing due to the nature of their work, consider wearing branded clothing with your logo on it as opposed to an old hoodie. Branded clothing goes a long way, as people see you as more professional and established.
Closing Notes
These are just a few tips that can help you grow your trades business in 2019. Do you have anything you’d like to add to this list? We’d love to hear if you do.