Word-of-mouth is not only the most reliable method customers use to find and hire trusted Tradies nearby, but it is also the number 1 source of leads for Tradies.
The logic behind it is simple.
People trust people, not businesses.
However, as simple as it sounds, when not done right, generating leads for a small business via quality referrals is a challenge for many.
To uncover the secrets of using referrals to generate leads, we went right to the source – successful trades business owners. We talked to them about their referral strategy and it turns out that to win referrals for your business, they have a process in place and follow it to the dot rather than a trying several ad hoc techniques.
Without further ado, here are 7 sure shot ways to win referrals for your trades business:
At the core of every successful referral strategy are customers who are delighted with your work and are happy to sing your praise. All your marketing and sales activities depend on this one factor because great work speaks for itself.
Great workmanship starts with the basics:
These will create an instant connection and make your collaboration smooth. Also, customers remember how you made them feel. This is the foundation for a fruitful, long-term relationship that will help you win referrals for years to come.
On each project you undertake, are you taking “before” and “after” pictures? If not, you are missing out on a valuable opportunity to showcase your expertise to prospective clients who would love to work with you.
If your job management app does not let you to capture and record before and after job images, get one that does.
With i4Tradies, when a consumer skims through the app looking for a tradie nearby, they get to look at your track record too. Great before and after pictures pay homage to a job well done.
Next, set up a work gallery on your website that you could update regularly with your latest projects.
Finally, share your work via social platforms to get more eyeballs and show your customers exactly what you are capable of delivering.
You are doing a great job and your customers are loving it, but a lot of people don’t think about recommending a business until they are asked.
Don’t hesitate to ask for a recommendation or a referral right after the job is done.
It’s one thing to ask your customers to provide a referral and it’s an entirely different thing to handhold them and show them exactly what they need to do. The latter has a higher success rate.
Here are some ideas you can implement right away:
If your potential clients are on a social media community groups, ask your existing clients to give you a shout out there with pictures of the completed job.
Relationships and partnerships go a long way in the trades industry.
As the saying goes: Keep your friends close and your competitors closer. Rather than playing tug-of-war with trades businesses that complement your service, why not collaborate?
If a mate you know provides an exceptional service, why not recommend them the next time someone needs their service and so they can return the favour when you are looking for more work?
Similarly, maintaining good relationships with a few builders or becoming the go-to trades business for a real estate company would guarantee consistent work all year round.
i4Tradies streamlines the operational workflow for real estate companies and helps them work efficiently with Tradies. When both parties are on the platform, it's a match made in heaven.
The power of networking in the trades industry cannot be stressed enough.
Business Networks have proved to be great for Tradies, where members meet weekly to discuss business and support each other by sharing referrals. Since some groups could be better suited to your business considering who is in the room, find your local chapter and contact a few for a visit. One of our partners, Tribe of Tradies is a great place to start.
Business networks allow only one member of each trade. Another great way of networking is to hop onto community groups on Facebook and connect with like-minded Tradies and even customers who are looking to get a job done.
Your existing clients can be your most vocal advocates when it comes to clinching new business.It’s all about how well you have worked to build a relationship with them over the years.
If a client has referred you once to a friend or family, make sure you are taking good care of them so they would happily do it again.
To keep good jobs flowing regularly to your trades business, give your existing customers a reason to refer your work by offering loyalty programs and giving them rewards and privileges such as discounts on their next service.
However, make sure the reward system works in a way that customers would get to avail your offer when the person they have referred actually books a job with you.
In addition to the above-mentioned tips, to win referrals for your trades business, make sure you have an online presence strong enough to convince potential customers about your business credibility and skills you have to offer. Get your Google My Business Listing and a few ads running to keep showing on the top spot when someone is looking for a similar business online.
Keep doing the old-fashioned but still very effective ways of marketing your business such as letter box drops, vehicle signage and the like.
i4Tradies business management app for Tradies allows you to showcase your awesome work by capturing and posting before and after photos on your website and social channels. Not only this, but having partnered with several big real estate companies, it lets Tradies secure a spot on their preferred tradie list and enjoy regular property maintenance work flowing their way.
Talk to us to learn more about how i4Tradies can help you win referral work for your business or register for a Free Trial today!
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Written by
Content Manager and Community Strategist at i4Tradies | Social Media Evangelist | Writer | Editor
Support@i4Tradies.com
03 7064 6066
