How to Generate Leads for Your Handyman Business
About 80% of new leads never turn into sales. Meanwhile, 96% of the people who visit your website aren't ready to convert. About 65% of businesses struggle to generate web traffic and leads in the first place.
Without leads, your handyman business could struggle to grow.
Don't fall behind the competition. Instead, learn how to get handyman leads with a comprehensive marketing strategy.
A strong strategy can set your handyman business up for long-term growth by creating a pipeline of high-quality leads. You can boost your ROI and get leagues ahead of competitors.
Here are 11 ways to get handyman leads:
Get started with these simple tips today.
1. Update Your Website
You'll struggle to generate leads if your site is old and slow. Instead, make sure your site is fast, mobile-friendly, and secure. Your handyman company website will work as the backbone for the rest of these lead generation tips.
In some cases, your website is the first time potential customers interact with your business online. You'll want to make a strong first impression.
After all, design has a 75% influence on a website's credibility. Without credibility, clients might decide they can't trust your business. They might leave your site without converting into a lead.
Another 88% of visitors won't return to your site after a bad user experience (UX). Improving the UX on your site can encourage visitors to click around and explore. If they like what they see, they might decide to convert.
A positive UX can also help you rank higher. Higher rankings will help you appear in front of more potential customers online.
Consider working with an experienced web design and development agency this year. They can improve the UX on your site by:
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Improving load times
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Making sure it's mobile-friendly and responsive
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Adding an SSL certificate for security
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Simplifying forms
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Adding negative space
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Organizing the navigation
It's also important to make sure your website content is fresh and engaging. Make sure to update your site as you offer new services or deals.
2. Start Blogging
You can keep the content on your website fresh by posting blogs throughout the year. This is generally referred to as content marketing.
First, take the time to research your target audience. Define who your customers are based on:
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Location
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Marital status
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Age
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Gender
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Pain points
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Careers
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Education
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Household income
Then, group your customers into distinct buyer personas. You can create a personalized blog post with each persona in mind.
For example, you might want to create posts for property owners versus renters. Perhaps you want to separate commercial versus residential clients.
Next, gather keyword research. What questions are your customers asking while online?
You can use tools like Keyword Planner, SEMRush, or Answer the Public to build a list of keywords. Look for longer phrases to create a content marketing strategy that appeals to their search intent.
3. Use Search Engine Optimization
Once you've gathered audience and keyword research, you can learn how to generate leads with search engine optimization (SEO). SEO can improve where your site appears on search engines like Google. Higher rankings will help your handyman business:
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Build brand awareness and recognition
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Generate website traffic
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Appear as an industry thought leader
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Build credibility and authority
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Generate leads and appointments
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Improve your ROI
Start creating content for your blog. Write each post with a specific keyword in mind. Then, optimize your post using that keyword.
As part of your SEO strategy, make sure to update your company's Google My Business (GMB) listing, too. Your GMB listing displays your phone number, website, and other helpful information. Consumers will have an easier time reaching you after searching for a handyman.
4. Control Your Reputation
Your GMB listing will also display reviews from your recent customers. Positive reviews can boost your brand's reputation. Future customers might have an easier time trusting your handyman business.
You can learn how to generate handyman leads by improving your online reputation.
First, have a strategy in place when asking customers for reviews. For example, you can ask them in person or send a follow-up email. Provide a helpful link or QR code to simplify the process.
Make sure to respond to the reviews you receive, good or bad. If you receive negative reviews, strive to fix the problem.
5. Create PPC Ads
Pay-per-click (PPC) advertising will help you expand your reach online. You can create text ads that will appear in Google search results. You can also create display ads that will appear on other websites or social media platforms.
Make sure your PPC ads are engaging. Add a strong call to action to each ad encouraging people to contact you. When they click on the ad, they'll reach a landing page on your website.
Align the language between the ad and landing page. Then, reiterate your call to action to encourage people to take action. You can improve your lead generation strategy, gain site traffic, and boost brand awareness.
6. Social media marketing
Once you start creating content for your blog, share it online. Post links to your content on social media. Share your latest customer reviews and pictures of your most recent handyman work, too.
Answer any questions people start asking about your services to let people know you're there to help.
7. Use Google Local Service Ads
You can also create Google Local Service Ads. With these ads, you'll pay by the lead (instead of per click or impression).
You can use your reviews as the primary content. These ads also allow for faster conversions like messages or phone calls.
8. Traditional Marketing
While digital marketing is essential in today's online world, it is also important to invest in traditional marketing tactics. Traditional marketing methods remain potent tools for generating high-quality handyman leads.
So what is traditional marketing and how can you use it to generate more leads?
Traditional marketing methods are time-tested strategies that businesses have relied on for years, long before the advent of the digital age. These methods include:
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Print advertising such as newspapers, magazines, flyers, and brochures
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Broadcast media like radio and television
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Direct mail marketing
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Telemarketing
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Outdoor advertising such as billboards and signage
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Word-of-Mouth
Direct mail campaigns, for instance, allow businesses to target a specific demographic, like homeowners in a particular ZIP code or region. By providing tangible materials such as flyers or postcards that outline your services and benefits, you can effectively grab potential customers' attention and inspire them to reach out for their next home repair or improvement project.
Similarly, print advertising in local newspapers or community magazines can increase your visibility among local customers, generating leads within your service area.
Word-of-mouth marketing, perhaps the most traditional method, is not to be undervalued. Encouraging satisfied customers to refer your handyman services to their friends and family can often result in high-quality leads, as these potential customers already have a degree of trust in your services from a direct endorsement.
Traditional marketing methods such as these, when executed well, can significantly amplify lead generation for handyman businesses.
9. Lead Generation Services
To augment your traditional and digital marketing efforts, consider the use of a handyman lead generation service. These services employ various methodologies to find and capture qualified leads who are actively looking for handyman services, ensuring that the leads you obtain are highly likely to convert.
Lead generation companies use advanced strategies to make your business more visible online, particularly in search results. When homeowners in need of handyman services do a quick Google search, you want your business to be one of the first they see. In addition, these services may use pay-per-click (PPC) advertising that places your business in front of local customers online, based on their search history and online behavior.
Lastly, some lead generation services offer a pay-per-lead model, where you only pay if you receive leads. This can offer a cost-effective solution, especially for smaller businesses as it minimizes risk and guarantees a return on your investment.
10. Thumbtack, Angi, etc.
Exploiting the potential of lead generation sites like Thumbtack and Angi can significantly bolster handyman lead acquisition efforts. These platforms connect service providers with new customers in need of their services, effectively acting as a digital marketplace for handyman services.
Thumbtack, for instance, allows businesses to create a profile and receive requests from potential customers looking for specific services. This targeted approach ensures that the leads generated are relevant, as these are individuals actively seeking the handyman services that you provide.
Moreover, Thumbtack provides the opportunity to interact directly with potential customers, answer their queries, and clarify project specifics, facilitating a more personalized and effective lead nurturing process.
Similarly, Angi, formerly known as Angie’s List, connects homeowners with trusted service professionals. The platform has a rigorous screening process, and only reputable businesses are listed, enhancing credibility and trust among potential customers.
A strong presence on Angi, reinforced by positive reviews and testimonials, can significantly enhance your visibility and reputation, leading to a steady influx of handyman leads.
By leveraging such lead generation sites, handyman businesses can gain access to a vast pool of new clients actively seeking their services. This not only amplifies lead generation efforts but also offers a cost-effective strategy, as you primarily connect with leads already interested in your services, thereby increasing conversion probabilities.
11. Automate Emails
Add a newsletter subscription form to your website and encourage people to subscribe for news or discounts. Then, keep nurturing your leads with email marketing.
Email marketing can help keep your handyman business top-of-mind with future or recent customers. Add call to action buttons to your emails that direct customers to your service or contact pages.
Here at BidClips we can help you automate your follow-up process with automated emails and text messages.
Repair Your Marketing: How to Generate Leads for Your Handyman Business
In conclusion, generating quality handyman leads demands an integrated approach that combines traditional marketing, digital marketing, and lead generation services.
With strategic planning and execution, you can boost your business's online presence, increase visibility among potential customers, and create a steady stream of high-quality leads eager to use your services.
Remember, the key is to stay consistent in your efforts, continually evaluate the effectiveness of your strategies, and adapt as necessary to maximize your return on investment. By doing so, you're not only securing leads today, but laying the foundation for sustained business growth in the future.