Are you thinking about starting a flooring business? Do you want to grow your existing business? Do you just need more leads? No matter where you’re at now, we are here to help. ProMatcher helps small business owners find new marketing strategies and lead generation services. Here are 16 marketing ideas to get you started.
1. Do quality flooring work
This should be your number one priority. The best way to promote your flooring business is to do quality work at a fair price. A satisfied customer will naturally refer you to their neighbors, friends, and family members. Positive word-of-mouth marketing can really help take your flooring company to the next level.
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2. Build a great website
If you don’t have a website already, it’s time to get one! Every flooring contractor should have one. This is how prospective customers will find you online. There are many affordable website builders out there. If you have a website that is five or ten years old, it might be time for a redesign. A sleek, modern website lets prospective customers know that you are someone worth contacting. Make sure your contact information is easy to find on every single page!
3. Optimize your website for search engines
Search engine optimization (SEO) can help to improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your homepage. However, SEO is not an exact science. There are many factors that influence these rankings. If you’re going the DIY route, try publishing original content on your site (articles, blog posts, etc.). Make sure to include relevant flooring keywords in each post. Don’t copy and paste other company’s articles and blog posts. This can cause way more harm than good.
4. Take high-quality photographs of your work
Blurry cell phone pictures are not going to cut it. Show people exactly what you can do with professional-quality pictures of past jobs. If you specialize in refinishing hardwood flooring, you might even want to include some before-and-after pictures. You can showcase these pictures on your website in a photo gallery. You can also use them in your brochures, emails, and direct mailings.
5. Build a strong brand
Your company needs to have a unique identity. How is your company different from other local flooring companies? Think about what makes you the best flooring contractor in town. Your company name, logo, advertising slogans, and business card design should all work together to create a memorable brand.
6. Build relationships with local contractors
Networking is not just about handing your business card to new people. Take the time to really get to know new contacts. Take someone out to lunch or ask them to stop by one of your job sites. Flooring contractors should get to know home builders, general contractors, developers, real estate agents, and handymen. Think about people who need flooring. What types of people are in a position to refer you?
7. Purchase flooring job leads
There are several lead generation services that sell leads to flooring contractors. You are charged a fixed price for each local lead that matches your account preferences. Before signing up for any lead generation service, make sure to do some research.
Learn more about buying flooring leads »
8. Put an ad in the phonebook
You might think we are crazy for including this on the list. Believe it or not, yellow pages advertising is still effective for some flooring specialists. Older clients, in particular, are more likely to use the phonebook. If you are targeting younger homeowners, your advertising dollars may be better spent on internet advertising.
9. Take advantage of pay-per-click advertising
Running a PPC campaign can help drive more traffic to your website. When done correctly, pay-per-click can help flooring contractors reach a very targeted audience. For example, you may want to target people in your area who searched for “local hardwood installers” or “best tile flooring contractors”.
10. Use a flooring pay-per-call service
A pay-per-call marketing service can help increase your flooring company’s call volume overnight. They work to find local consumers interested in starting a flooring project, then send the calls directly to your business. Each call is tracked with the help of a unique number. At the end of the billing cycle, you are charged a fixed price for each incoming call.
RELATED: How to Get More Flooring Leads
11. Send out direct mail flyers
Many successful flooring companies use direct mail to generate new business. This is a low-cost way to get people interested in your business. If you want to DIY, you can print the flyers on your home computer and deliver them yourself. If you need a little assistance, a direct mail vendor can help you with everything from developing a list to designing the mailer.
12. Join online business directories
If you haven’t done so already, you need to claim your local listings. You want to make it easy for people to find you on the Internet. You should have a profile on all of top directory sites like Yelp, Google, Bing, and Yahoo. There are even several, reasonably priced tools to help you manage your local listings all in one place.
13. Interact with customers and prospects on social media
Social media platforms (ex. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) can be great for communicating with clients and reaching new customers. You can post pictures of current flooring jobs, collect reviews from past customers, or run promotional specials. Be careful not to spend too much time on social media though. If you don’t feel like you are getting a good return on investment, try another one of the marketing strategies listed here.
14. Use customer reviews to your advantage
A 2016 consumer survey found that many people trust online reviews just as much as they trust word-of-mouth recommendations. This is why flooring companies with high ratings are so successful! They tend to get more exposure on these review websites. This means more incoming calls and traffic to your website.
15. Run an email marketing campaign
Don’t forget about your past customers! It’s super important to maintain a good relationship with these people. You want them to call you every single time they have a flooring project. You want them to recommend you to their friends. Sending out a newsletter (even if it’s only once a quarter) can be a very effective way to do this.
16. Use your truck as an advertising tool
Adding a vinyl wrap to your truck or van is great way to grab people’s attention. People will take notice no matter where your car is parked. If your company name and phone number are displayed clearly, interested people can call you directly for a quote.