For any business to succeed, you have to meet your customers where they are. More now than ever, customers are spending their time on digital platforms and mobile devices. No home contractor can afford to ignore social media these days, especially if you want to stand out from the competition. An engaging social media presence on popular apps that are part of people’s everyday lives will build your online reputation and drive new clients to your website. Here are 9 social media strategies for siding contractors to use in 2022:
1. Before & After Images
Illustrate your products’ superiority and your craftsmanship by posting before and after images of your home siding projects on visual social media apps. The two most prominent platforms for visuals are Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for videos.
For example, a before-and-after image of a home that sustained hail damage is perfect for posting on your social media channels. The stark difference in the photos will grab users’ attention as they scroll through their newsfeed. Take the opportunity to link back to a photo gallery of your projects to drive traffic to your website.
The chances are that users on Pinterest who are collecting ideas for home exterior design will take notice and pin your image to one of their boards or even reach out for a quote.
2. ChatBots on Facebook
If you haven’t experienced it yet, the sheer amount of customer service queries that arrive through chatbots and social media inboxes might astound you. These days, it’s not enough to be active on social media; you also have to be responsive since prospective customers will expect you to answer their questions and concerns via their social media apps.
Be sure to set up a chatbot on websites like Facebook that have the feature built-in, and always monitor your inbox on your different social media accounts. You never know when responding promptly could result in booking a new client for siding installation.
3. Publish Helpful Content that Offers Value
In addition to posting showstopping photos and videos of your latest home projects, it’s essential to publish helpful content that delivers value for potential clients who are researching contractors and builders. If you have a blog on your website, post a link to your social media articles. The more helpful the content, the more users are likely to read it, click through to your website, and share it with their friends. To get the most out of a social media strategy, your headlines have to be as intriguing as possible. Here are some examples of headlines for social media posts that will engage your demographic:
- How Siding Can Transform an Outdoor Space
- Why Fiber Cement is the Best, Most Durable Material for Your Home
- How to Choose Affordable Siding Material that Will Last a Lifetime
- Exterior Home Designs Still Trending Into 2022
4. Customer Testimonials
The power of word-of-mouth is undeniable when it comes to marketing. It’s the most powerful tool in your arsenal. Let your previous clients tell their stories to encourage prospective clients on social media to investigate your products and services. Ask past customers to provide a review. It’s best if you can get a video customer testimonial for YouTube and platforms like Instagram. Ask them questions like what they liked about your service and what they love about their home.
5. Local ads
Stay competitive and top-of-mind by running social media ads. Geo-targeted ads are optimized for users in specific locations. These ads perform even better for local businesses like contractors and siding installers by getting the attention of local homeowners. Most of us don’t use the phone book anymore, so place your advertising where it counts.
You can test different combinations of visuals and text and stick with the best performing ads. To provide even more value, offer a coupon code for 10% off or a similar offer to incentivize users to click through to your website or call you.
6. Capitalize on the Latest Trends
One valuable aspect of social media for a small business owner is the opportunity to capitalize on the latest trends while keeping yourself relevant in front of potential customers. Make sure that you’re frequently posting (daily would be ideal), and post on the latest home design trends, like colors and patterns that pop.
7. Monitor & Reply to Reviews
Social media has undeniably solidified its presence in our culture, so people are accustomed to using it to research products and businesses before purchasing. For a building professional, that means you have to monitor the reviews published about your business.
First, be sure you have filled out complete profiles on the most prominent websites for contractors and home improvement like Houzz, HomeAdvisor, Yelp, Next Door, etc. This will help potential customers find you and is also good for your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Then, monitor incoming reviews and reply to any negative reviews with a comment offering to resolve the situation and asking for the user to send you more information via a direct message.
8. Ask for User Generated Content
Reach out to customers for user-generated content (UGC). Ask past clients to post photos of your work on their social media accounts and tag you in it. Leverage UGC as much as you can because it shows others the quality of your work and a message from a happy customer. To get the most UGC possible, ask customers to post a photo of their home with a hashtag and try offering an incentive like a $25 Amazon gift card prize for a random winner.
9. Poll Your Followers
Interactive content works incredibly well on social media, so ask users to interact with you and share their opinions. Polls on platforms like Twitter and Facebook are great for this type of activity. With some creativity, you can get users excited about interacting with you while also making them aware of your services. For instance, poll users with a prompt like “Vote for your favorite home design” or “Vote for your favorite siding color,” and give them four different photos of your past projects from which to choose.
Use These Strategies to Propel Your Siding Business
Your marketing strategies are incomplete until you’ve fully invested in the power of social media. Use these strategies to take your marketing to the next level, gain new clients, and grow your business.
