When you started your contractor business, you probably didn’t realize how much of your time was going to be spent chasing down leads and doing all the other behind-the-scenes stuff. In fact, we bet you consider lead generation and management one of the unwelcome surprises of running a business. But don’t worry, lead management doesn’t have to be tough — and it doesn’t have to take up all your time. There are plenty of resources out there to streamline the process. Here are a few tips.
Lead Generation
You’ve probably heard that old saying that word of mouth is the best way to find new customers. That’s not quite as true as it once was. Word of mouth is still golden. If you create satisfied customers, you’ll definitely see referrals come in. But in the computer age, there’s another, equally great way, to find customer leads. Many contractors have found they can hit the customer jackpot by utilizing lead-generation sites like:
Sites like these can serve as a middleman between you and potential clients who are actively searching for contractors. Joining a site like Angie’s List is relatively inexpensive and can help ensure your name pops up in the right place at the right time for a customer who is looking for your services.
Create a Database and Organized System
It’s important to manage and keep track of leads so you don’t let any fall through the cracks. Also, you don’t want to waste time or become a pest to potential customers by contacting them more than you should. There are a lot of options out there for managing leads but the many contractors and small business owners rely on software like Keap Infusionsoft® or Hubspot®, to name a couple of the most popular options. Programs like these help you capture leads from all your sources and organize your contacts and all the pertinent data about each one, automate emails to your leads, and more.
Reputation Management
Managing your company’s reputation is just about as important as learning how to obtain leads in the first place. Reviews are one of the top ways customers select service providers. Beyond that, the quality of your website, social media platforms, customer service, and more all go into creating your company’s reputation. How can you build a positive reputation?
Of course, it starts with providing a great service. But also, make sure your website is professional and try to solicit a review or testimonial from every client. Those can be reviews on Google, your website, Facebook page, Yelp page, you name it.
To recap, the three starting points for lead management are generating leads, capturing, organizing, and managing your leads, and managing your reputation. But remember, you don’t have to go it alone! Utilize the great businesses and software companies that specialize in helping you find and manage customers and you’ll find your own load lifted.
Keep us in mind, too! The last thing you want to do is lose a potential client because it’s tough for them to find financing to complete their project. With HFS Financial, you’ll have the ability to offer customers financing, and that just might make the difference in turning a lead into a sale.