CRM, or customer relationship management, allows you as the contractor to organize and analyze your clients and processes so that you can reach people most effectively. You can also continue to contact them as the years go on, capitalizing on repeat customer experiences. So how does CRM for general contractors work? It all depends on what relationships you would like to develop and how you are reaching people. Let’s take a look.
Maximize your reach.
First and foremost, before you can be in a contractor-client relationship, you have to have customers, right? In the age of radio and newspaper advertising, it was easy to gain local clients. Especially in small towns, word-of-mouth was honored, and newspaper ads brought in business. In the age of technology, however, a single ad alone will not get you the customer results you need. In general, print classifieds aren’t enough for a general contractor. What you need is a great online presence to relate to your customers well. From a well-maintained, fresh-looking website to ongoing social media where you can display pictures of your work and interact with interested people, an online presence is a must.
Using WordPress to Launch Your Business
First off, as a general contractor you are going to need a good website. Before a client becomes a client, they have to be able to find you! Getting great Google leads from people searching for a general contractor in your area is important. And in the age of digital marketing, you have to come up as a search option to have a chance against the competition. A WordPress site is a cost-effective solution, has great general contractor templates you can use or purchase, and is unbelievably user-friendly. You can also offer content on your site to boost your organic reach to potential customers.
What should you feature on your website?
So what should be on your website? Overall, your website needs to be client friendly, both on desktop and handheld devices. You can use your website to tell about your company, offer important contact information, and show off your incredible products, services and work. It’s also a fantastic idea to create content about your company, including tips for renovation and construction projects that customers may be interested in. Client reviews are also a huge bonus, letting prospective customers know that you are the leading authority in your area and exceptional at completing projects that people are happy with.
Next, capture a potential client as a customer lead by offering a brochure or guide that they can download. You’ll be able to continually reach out to the client in the future through your CRM technology. And when you couple that with an offer for incredible contractor financing that potential clients can apply for right from your website, you’ll quickly find that your customer base builds nicely. With the best contractor financing for customers, you will have a leg up over the competition.
Social Media Fits into Customer Relationship Management
If you have an online presence, you may think that that’s enough, but in the age of social media, it’s important to have an ongoing online presence. Although you probably won’t update your website time and time again each month, social media is a great space to give updates that don’t take a lot of time. However, a picture is worth a thousand words. So whether you are posting to Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or LinkedIn, you have an unmatched resource to reach out to clients and prospective clients who are interested in your work. Glean extra Facebook leads and likes, Instagram hashtags and more from people who love viewing all the great things you can do. You’ll also be able to build good reviews from happy clients.
Guiding Your CRM for Success
Once you have gotten leads from your website, Google or Facebook, you now have the opportunity to expand your reach. Load all your lead data into your CRM software and see where it takes you. With easy tracking and easy outreach, your prospective customers can receive automated messages that are tailored to their specific wants and needs. It will make them feel like you have them on your mind. And you do! Developing those ongoing relationships is key for having a successful contracting business. Let your CRM system schedule appointments, follow up with clients, send email marketing and offers, and so much more. Your automated CRM will free up your time for you to do what you do best.
When the Calls Come Flooding In
Do you know what will happen when your CRM starts doing it’s job? You’ll have more jobs to do! Calls flooding in are what your CRM has been working all this time to make happen, but more work on your plate means knowing how to handle an uptick in demand. You need to have a plan in place. Whether it is additional training for employees or solid vendor lines for contracting materials, make sure that you can handle the increased work. An efficient and effective response time will make your client feel like their project is your priority.
Wrapping it All Up with Fantastic Financing
When you want your client relationship management system to do its best, give it one more asset that will make your clients clamor to work with you—customer financing. Marketing contractor financing options to your clients will enable them to have the money upfront for their project. This means that you get paid on time, every time. With no staged funding and great rates and terms, your clients will be thrilled that they can get financing directly through you. By partnering with HFS Financial today, you’ll ensure that you have the best customer relationship management process around. Give us a call today at 1-800-254-9560 to get started. “You Dream It, We Finance It.”