When was the last time you searched for a gutter repair service in the Yellow Pages? Or how long has it been since you looked at the classified ads in the newspaper? Chances are it’s been ages since you did.
Your clients, the homeowners, no longer search offline. In fact, in most types of home services, 55% of customers research online before scheduling an appointment. In addition, consumers also look at online reviews first before deciding which home services provider they will hire.
If your potential customers were to search about your business online, would they hire you? In this article, we’ll share with you some strategies on how you can build a strong reputation online.
How To Build a Strong Online Presence
Ask yourself: What image do I want to convey?
The first thing that you should do is to determine how you will approach your online reputation. Ask yourself these questions:
- How do I want my customers to see me?
- What tone will I use to reach out to my audience?
- What are the strengths that I should highlight in my website/online profiles?
- How do I respond to negative reviews?
Be active in answering all reviews
Remember, most homeowners check a business’s reviews first before they get in touch and hire the contractor. When you receive good or bad reviews, be careful how to react to them. Keep in mind that potential clients will see how you respond to feedback and how you deal with them will tell a lot about your image.
Be quick to respond, and show gratitude that the customer took their time to leave their reviews. Even if you receive criticisms, try not to get defensive and instead, acknowledge the issue, apologize and empathize with the client and try to move the situation offline. Reach out to them privately and see how what you can do to improve their experience.
If you want to know more about how you can overcome negative reviews, read our article here.
Make it a habit to ask for reviews
Customers with negative experiences are more likely to leave a review than those with positive ones. You don’t want bad reviews to outweigh the good feedback.
Ensure that you ask the clients to write a review for your company, especially if the project was completed successfully. Don’t hesitate to give the client a little nudge if they haven’t done a review yet. You can send them a reminder in person, via the phone, or by email. Make it easier for them. For example, provide a link where they can conveniently leave their review. Another idea is to offer them a reward as your way of thanks for giving their valuable feedback.
Utilize various platforms
There are plenty of businesses online that offer the same services as yours, so make sure that you utilize different online platforms where possible clients can see you.
We’re not just talking about having your own website. Make sure you’re on social media, claim online listings, create email campaigns and consider also contributing articles to local websites. As a Same Day Pros service provider, you have the advantage of having full control over your profile. You can customize the services you offer and see the reviews from your clients.
Building a good online presence takes time and effort, but it’s all worth it. It helps you get more leads, win new customers, and establish that you are the go-to home services company in your niche.
