Social media has made a huge impact on the realm of advertising across virtually any industry you can think of, and the contracting sector is no exception. Contractors who utilize social media optimally as a way of showcasing their business often achieve great success with this approach, and knowing how to think about social media in the contracting world can pay big dividends.
At Contractors School, we’re happy to assist contractors around Utah with the management of their contracting business, from simple tasks like business name and licensure upgrades to many others. How should contractors be thinking about social media to boost their business? Here are some basics.
Should You Outsource?
One of the first big questions to be asking yourself is whether you should outsource your social media marketing and management to a third party. This is a great option if you don’t have the time or skill to manage the job yourself, but bear in mind that it can be expensive.
On the other hand, if you’re willing to take on the task of managing your own social media presence, you can save a lot of money and still get great results. As long as you have basic understanding of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you should be able to handle the job yourself.
This really comes down to how much time you have available and whether you feel you can devote enough to robust social media efforts. The rest of our post will speak to those who are managing social media on their own, but if you feel overwhelmed by any parts of this, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with reaching out to professionals.
Which Social Media Sites Are You Using?
Another of the most important initial questions to be asking yourself is which social media sites you should focus on. Different industry niches respond differently to different platforms, and so it’s important to know which ones will be most effective for your particular business.
For example, if you’re a landscaping contractor, then Instagram may be the best platform for showcasing your work and connecting with potential customers. On the other hand, LinkedIn may be better suited for a more corporate contractor who’s looking to network and make connections with other professionals in their field.
Posting Frequency
One of the key elements to successful social media usage is knowing how often you should post. Of course, this will depend on the type of content you’re posting and which platform you’re using, but in general it’s important to post consistently and regularly enough that your followers don’t forget about you.
For instance, if you post a few times a week on Instagram, then you can expect to slowly build up an audience who is familiar with your brand and content. However, if you don’t post at all for weeks on end, then your followers are likely to forget about you and move on to following other accounts.
Be Active and Responsive
A big part of the value-add of social media is your ability to engage directly with your followers. This means that it’s important to be active and responsive when people comment on or interact with the posts you’ve put up.
Answering queries, responding to comments, and generally being available to talk are all essential for building up a strong relationship with your social media followers. It also helps make sure that they remember who you are and what services you offer, increasing the chance that they’ll reach out to you when they have contracting needs.
Read and Utilize Reviews
Down related lines, it’s also important that you make use of reviews and feedback from your followers. Not only does this help you refine the services you offer, but it can also be a great source of social proof – potential customers will get a better sense of your quality service if they see others talking positively about their experience with you.
Therefore, take the time to read and respond to reviews from your followers, and use them as a way of giving yourself an edge over the competition. For negative reviews, use these as a way to improve and make sure that such problems don’t happen again in the future.
Showcase Your Successes
Because so many social media sites involve visual elements, it can be a great opportunity to show off your successes. This can range from photos of completed projects, reviews and ratings from happy clients, or any other content that helps make your contracting business stand out.
This is also an ideal way to start building up a portfolio of sorts, which you can then use as a way of connecting with more potential customers. Showcasing your successes can also be a powerful way of showing off the quality and value of your services, which is essential for any contractor who wants to be successful in this industry.
By following these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to making sure that social media becomes an integral part of your contracting business. Remember, being active and responsive to followers is essential for success, as is showcasing your successes and utilizing reviews to your advantage.
At Contractors School, we’re happy to help contractors around Utah run and promote their businesses. Contact us today to learn more about any of our programs or services.
