If a tree falls in the forest and nobody’s around to hear it, did it make a sound?
Being a tradie without any exposure is a bit like that proverb. You might be the best plumber, sparkie or builder around. But not letting others know about it? That’s a huge mistake.
It’s a bit like discovering a great invention but keeping it to yourself, or the poet whose works are kept hidden and only discovered years after their passing.
If your goal is to grow your tradie business, then a proactive approach towards promotion is needed. That means the traditional offline mediums such as billboards and newspaper ads… and more than ever now, online promotion as well!
It’s no secret that tradies are getting more and more of their business from the internet nowadays – whether that’s an online ad, a Google search or through a Facebook post.
And the key to that is your online visibility. If potential customers can’t find you on the internet, then that’s all they’ll ever be to you – potential customers.
So how can you improve your online visibility as a tradie?
What is online visibility?
Online visibility is your overall presence everywhere on the internet.That means more than just your website – it’s your entire presence in the online environment, as well as how easy (or difficult) it is to find evidence of you online.
That means your:
- Social media profiles
- Presence on catalogue websites and online stores
- Online banner ads
- Online reviews
- Mentions in someone else’s blog
- Absolutely everything to do with you online!
Online Visibility for Tradies
As a tradie, you no doubt already make an effort to be visible in the real world – wearing a shirt with your logo, putting your business name on the side of your van, newspaper ads, and maybe even a sponsorship of the local footy club. No doubt, you’ve seen each of these bring in more jobs.
Your online visibility is no different. In fact, with Google having replaced the classifieds section of the local paper and yellow pages, it’s more important than ever! So how can tradies such as yourself ensure that they are visible online?
Own more than a website
Everybody has a website now. With the sheer amount of content out there online, it’s fair to say that many of your competitors will also have their own sites.
Having a personal home page or a site for your business is one best way of letting others know that you exist online – however, simply having a website by itself is no longer enough.
This is where search engine optimisation (SEO) comes in. SEO focuses on optimising the content of your website to make it more visible on Google.
That way, when potential customers use search engines to look for help for their leaky pipes or their fried electrical devices, they find your website and give you a ring
Put yourself on social media
If you want your voice to be heard and your site to be visible, you need to join the conversation.
And that means being on social media.
Social media is without a doubt one of the most effective ways of increasing your online visibility. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, or any other platform, social media is a powerful tool (almost as powerful as your trusty hammer or wrench).
Social media is the perfect platform for reaching entirely new people. Tradies can use mutual connections, targeted ads and compelling content to reach other users – many of whom might need your services in the future.
And with this greater online visibility, comes more visits to your website and more people remembering your name for when they need a tradie. The bottom line is that social media presents huge opportunities for tradies to not only make themselves visible online, but also drive growth.
Join Online Groups and Forums
Are you on forums, message boards and subreddits dedicated to your trade?
If not, you should be!
Why would a non-plumber go to a plumbing forum?
The answer: they wouldn’t.
But when they do, we’re willing to bet it’s because they have some sort of plumbing emergency on their hands!
Answering any enquiries and urgent needs immediately establishes your credibility with these visitors. You might even receive a recommendation or two from your previous clients if they are participants in such groups!
More importantly, these forums can be great advantage in promoting your service and making yourself known – and not just to people who are in the market for your services. Forum posts provide another avenue for potential customers to find your services… and if they’re in your area, they might even call your number while you’re there.
Let’s Make it Happen
We know it’s a lot to take in. Fortunately, you don’t need to go it alone!
Do you want your tradie business to get noticed? If so, get in touch with iformat today.
We work to generate leads and sales for your tradie business. From SEO, to web development, to social media to content marketing, our online marketing strategies draw people to sites and get them picking up phones. We ensure that your website is easily found, enabling potential customers to contact you immediately.
Online visibility is a huge deal nowadays. If you want your tradie business to be noticed, don’t wait – for effective online marketing strategies, give iformat a call on 1300 88 64 50 and together, we’ll make it happen.