Getting people to know about your business is hard if you don’t know how to do it properly. That’s why some businesses are having a hard time growing themselves.

This article will show you the easy ways to ensure growth and development of your business. Read on.

Establish a partnership

This strategy often goes unnoticed by tradies in the marketing game. Sadly, many don’t realise how big partnerships can do for them.

So how does this work?

Strategic partnership is an on-going relationship with other tradesmen in the industry. Thus, if you are a builder it is wise to establish partnerships with plumbers, painters, roofers and electricians.

Creating partnerships with other tradesmen can give you more work opportunities, especially if you have shown them the quality of your work, you’ll be their go-to tradie.

Mobile-friendly website

Investing in a mobile-friendly website provides easy access for potential clients to your products and services. Just think of how you would search a product. Most probably, you search on the internet through your mobile phone or desktops. Why? Because its the easiest way nowadays.

So most likely, your potential clients are also doing the same, and if your business doesn’t have a website, they won’t know about you. Don’t have a website yet or are you planning to redesign yours? Send us a messsage.

Google My Business (GMB) listing

GMB helps any business to increase their online presence in their local area.

How?

Technically, GMB listings are shown above in the SERP. In this way, potential customers can easily see the available services related to their search on top of the page. So if you have GMB, you can expect your business info showing above the normal search result. This may include information like business name, address, email,  and contact number.

Use social media platforms

One of the most popular way of marketing your business these days is the use of social media platforms. The most used platforms are Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Through social media platforms, you can tell the world about your business with just one click.

Through these platforms, your business can reach new clients without costing you too much. Plus, social media platforms allow you to interact with your clients real-time. You can share your work in progress and finished products. Your clients can easily share your works and help you gain more customers.

Customer feedback and testimonials

Getting feedback and testimonials from your current and past clients are beneficial for your business growth. If they didn’t like something from your work, you can focus on improving that part, thus, you can avoid repeating it with your next client.

Asking for testimonials can become used as an assurance of your quality of work for your potential clients. This will give insight into how fast you work, how reliable you are, and how effective you did your job.

Offer multiple contact and payment methods

Make sure to provide your customers and potential clients an easy way to reach you. They may not have enough time to call you and you may not be able to answer immediately.  So, instead of just having a contact number, try providing an email address where they can send you enquiries at any time. Or use social media’s messaging platform.

Keep in mind that it’s important to add an automated message. This should state that you’ve received their message and that you will get back to them immediately.

Meanwhile, providing alternative payment methods aside from cold cash shows that you try to make things possible for them. Today’s technology is continuously advancing, even with payments can be done on mobile. Some people are preferring for online payments because it’s easier and faster.

See to it that you provide easy online payment methods such as Paypal and direct debit. This way, your potential clients will that dealing with you is quick and hassle-free.

Having a real hard time marketing your business? Let Mike and Olivia help you.

Social media platforms are an easy way to let several people know about your business. However, it’s a different game out there. You need to know how to properly use it to ensure a positive outcome. To make things easier, here are 6 tips that tradies can use in their social media platforms to boost your online sales.

Analyse the correct platform

Every business is different. Let’s say yes to that. No two business’s services and products are exactly the same. So, you need to know which platform will suit your business perfectly.

Building your presence online doesn’t mean that you have to put your nose on every platform out there. You might get overwhelmed with the various social media platforms and websites around. Rather, you can start focusing on these:

• Linkedin has both an online website and mobile app that is geared in connecting tradies and business.
• Instagram is more on using visuals. It’s best to use if you’re targeting the millennial market. It’s a perfect fit for trades in painting, construction, decoration, and/or renovation.
• Twitter is a platform that can be used for a quick reply on queries or feedback.
• Facebook has topped almost all social media platforms. It has recorded 15 million monthly active users in Australia. What a large market you can get yourself in there right? Facebook is more flexible than other platforms because it allows you to use videos and photos to showcase your business.

Tell about your business

Showcasing what your products and services are is one thing you can do in social media platforms. But, have you heard of the golden rule of online marketing?

It says, “ Tell, don’t sell.”

This means that you’re better off by giving examples of how you can help your customers. Get the attention of your potential clients by telling stories of about your products and services that changed other’s lives.

For example, show your potential clients how a kitchen renovation brought a family closer than before. Or how a newly repainted wall gave a new burst of life in a house. Stories like this stimulate people’s imagination, thus, pulls them closer in dealing with you. You can discuss the problems that your clients had and how you’ve helped them get through it.

Use #hashtags

Hashtags are commonly used on Instagram and Twitter to easily find and connect specific topics or issues. So if you’re planning to use Twitter and Instagram, keep hashtags on top of your mind.

Utilising hashtags will help you connect your post with other contractors in the same field. Thus, this will allow your potential client to find you easier in the pool of tradies. To do this, search for the generic terms that are related to your line of business such as:

• #tradielife
• #construction
• #renovation
• #plumbingworks
• #painter

To make it more relatable, make sure that your content is also inlined with the hashtag you want to use. Then, choose hashtags with the largest number of users. Make sure to add at least 5 hashtags on your post. Please try not to overdo it because you can be penalised for hashtag spamming.

Learn more about hashtags. Click here.

Check the type of post

Before clicking “post”, you should observe and analyse the type of posts that will for your target audience. Many social media users use contents that show how they can add value to the lives of their potential clients.

You can include information about your business, tips and hacks, and/or your completed works. Successful posts for tradies has high definition visuals of their works. This will give your potential clients what to expect from you. Make sure to keep your contents visually appealing to grab people’s attention, thus, bring enquiries to your business.

Have a schedule

To get followers on social media, you need to have consistency. This means consistently posting contents on your social media accounts. Choose a posting schedule that can ensure high traffic and engagement. This varies per social media platforms. Let’s say you’re using twitter, wherein posts have short durations, so your ideal post per day is 3 to 4 tweets.

This will be experimental on your part. You need to observe the time and day your posts get attention. Create a posting schedule, strictly follow it and wait for the results.

Be unique

Being unique amongst many businesses in the same field can be challenging, but doing so can have a different impact on winning your potential clients. You can try being hospitable and empathic towards your clients.

See to it that your social media accounts clearly show your company’s culture and staff. Keep your contents informative and professional, but make sure to balance it with something funny and interesting. You might engage more followers and client by being a mix of work and fun.

Make sure to follow these 6 tips for tradies to use in social media platforms and you won’t be lost. Diving into the social media world can be daunting, but with persistence and use of the right tricks, it’s easy to swim in it.

Would you need professional assistance? Send us a message.

How long has it been since you settled in your house in Toowoomba? Has years quickly passed by without you making any changes with it?

Give it a new look to create a new vibe! Start with repainting your walls. A new wall paint can surely make a big impact on your household.

Find yourself the best painter in Toowoomba with this helpful guide. Read on.

No. 1: Create a plan

Creating a plan can help you sort things properly. For example, list down the colour, type of paint, and even how many coatings that you want for a specific wall. This can ensure that you know what you want before hiring a painter.  This will make their job easier and your service quote cheaper.

No. 2: Check job history and client reviews

Before hiring a specific painter in Toowoomba, it’ll be better if you check their job history and the reviews from their past and current clients. Go to their website and check their review section to see the comments of their previous clients.

This can help you seek for their previous client and ask for their job history. Ask things such as how long they finished the job, how do they treat their clients, and what are the problems they’ve experienced with the painter.

Make sure that you also check if they are registered and have the license to perform the job. This way, you can avoid scammers and painters with bad records.

No. 3: Get some estimate

If you now have a list of your prospect painters, ask for detailed job estimation from each of them. Make sure that it includes material costs, labour costs, their scope of the job, and the number of coatings and paints. This will show you which painter will be more expensive or cheaper to work with.

No. 4: Request for a detailed contract and guarantee

You need to request for a detailed contract that includes the following:

• Complete information of the painter (e.g address, contact number, license number)
• The painter’s scope of work, liabilities, coverage
• Their worker’s compensation insurance certificates

A detailed contract and guarantee is a must before starting any work. In case something goes wrong, this will serve as your protection. A confident and trustworthy painter should also be able to provide a guarantee against chalking, peeling or blistering, with little to no cost. If they can’t, that is suspicious on their part.

Conclusion

Ensuring the reputation of the painter you choose to work with your house walls, you can ensure that it is worth your time, money, and effort. Thus, you can make sure that at the end of their work, you can peacefully relax with the newly painted walls in your home.

Finding yourself a good painter to help you recreate the walls of your home isn’t that hard. Check out Tradie Australia for the list of the best and reliable painters in Toowoomba.

“Kitchen. Noun – A gathering place for friends and family. A place where memories are homemade and seasoned with love.”

The kitchen is one of the most essential parts of a home, thus, it needs to be functional and comfortable at the same time. It’s no wonder why it’s the most renovated part of the houses in Australia.

But, the challenge is finding the perfect kitchen renovator to make your dream kitchen into reality. Of course, you wouldn’t want your money to go to waste and not achieve the kitchen you desired.

Where do you begin? Let’s start!

1. Check for their license and registration

When you’re searching for kitchen renovators, get at least 3 to 5 contractors who will fit your goals and preferences. Begin by looking at Kitchen Renovator Directory sites. Afterwhich, check for their license and registration.

This will help you know if these kitchen renovators have a license to do the renovation. Thus, it is important to ensure that their license and registration is current and not expired.

What if I can’t find them on my list?

If you can’t find them in your local building department, you better slash them off your list.

2. Check their track record

After checking with your local building department, you should also check for their track record. Check the contractors rating, reviews, and even complaints from their previous clients through their website or Facebook Pages.

This will help narrow down your choices. It also makes it easier for you to see the kitchen renovator who exhibits good working ethics.

3. Look for a certificate of insurance

Ask for their certificate of insurance. A responsible contractor should have their insurance that states their duties and liabilities. Their insurance will let you know their coverage and limits on renovating a kitchen.

4. Get references

Ask the contractors you listed for a work reference. Get at least 3 of their previous or recent clients and contact them. Otherwise, look for the portfolio on their website. This will give you a glimpse of their previous projects.

5. Request for an estimate or quote

Now that you’ve done with the background checking, you will request for an estimate, quote, or proposal. Once they’ve given it to you, compare it and see if which quote can your budget match with.

With this way, finding the best kitchen renovator to recreate your kitchen will be easier, thus, you can avoid dealing with bad and low-quality contractors. We can’t afford to spend money and not get what you really want right?

Should you need help in finding the best kitchen renovator near you,

Visit, Tradie Australia now.

Due to the shortage of building supplies, tradies in the construction industry are feeling the challenges brought about by the coronavirus. And the builders and painters are not the only one feeling it; other tradies are also bracing themselves for the impact it will bring. But what are you to do to lessen the pressure brought about by these tough times?

In the recent vlog of Olivia, he mentioned that it’s best to stay calm and focused. In this way, you can concentrate on the facts and its implication to your business.

So how do you begin?

STEP 1: Start with finding a FACTUAL SOURCE of INFORMATION

Peace of mind! This one thing you wish to gain during these tough times. But with multitude of “news” circulating in Social Media, it can be difficult to spot the fake from the factual ones. Thus, the first step you need to do is to identify factual sources of information, such as official government pages and associations.

STEP 2: Now that you have gathered the facts; take a good look at your finances. Work on your books and use it as a guide for you to plan your next move.

STEP 3: REACH OUT for ASSISTANCE

Support is available for tradies. Just reach out and enquire.

Are you leasing a place? Do you know that banks are authorising a six months hold on amortization. Your landlord may also extend this to you. Ask them.

STEP 4: LASTLY, KEEP YOUR BUSINESS RUNNING

Rather than suspending your business, it is better to keep it running. You may lessen your staff or just work with you and your family handling it. But keep it open and don’t shut it down.

Equip yourselves with new tools, like FACEBOOK MARKETING so you can continue to reach out to your customers. Enroll in courses while you are on quarantine or ask the help of a professional to guide you with these.

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 is an unexpected phenomenon the whole world is facing. Be vigilant, focused and calm. You are not alone in this battle. The government is doing its best to help small to medium scale businesses and we at M Business and Marketing Solutions are also offering solutions for your business worries. Reach out to us. We are here to help.