Social Media Marketing Tips
Growing your business is incredibly important, but knowing just how to market your services can prove to be tricky. We’ve gotten quite a few questions over the last few months about how to best reach out to possible customers. Here’s a quick list of tips to start generating more leads and revenue.
1. You have to spend money to make money.
Spending money can be scary, especially in a business situation. Advertising services boast large price tags that a lot of companies can’t afford, and even if they can, businesses aren’t sure where to start. That’s okay! The important part is recognizing that any sort of advertising that isn’t word-of-mouth will cost money. Once you’re okay with that and ready to spend, you can move on to the next step.
2. There is no one-size-fits-all advertising budget.
The repair industry can be difficult to advertise, but that doesn’t mean that every store needs to spend the same amount of money to get the word out. Location and demographics will change how much you need to spend to be heard online, and local regulations can boost budgets up. If you need to generate business, start by investing an amount that you’re comfortable with. For the sake of illustration, we’ll say $100 a month. That’s extremely low for most companies, but it’s easier to get started in the world of advertising when you ease in slowly. See how much $100 can do for you. If it’s not the sort of results you wanted, start slowly increasing that budget until you start to see more pleasing outcomes.
3. Social media is a great way to connect with customers.
We live in a digital age, which means that most people are on social media multiple times a day. But there are so many platforms that it can be hard to decide where to start. For repair shops, the most effective platform will most likely be Facebook. Here you can set up a business page, interact directly with customers, get and respond to reviews, and more. Plus with Facebook Ads, you can target the customers you really want to get noticed by. Build relationships by posting, commenting, and taking part in discussions on your page. Customers want to know you so that they can feel like they trust your services, too.
4. Make a consistent social media schedule.
It’s easy for content to get lost in the always-moving newsfeed. That’s why it’s important to consider who your audience is, when they will be on social media, and what they would like to see. You don’t have a post every single day. Posting 3-4 times a week will work well for most markets. Facebook has a “Publishing Tools” section where you can schedule, create drafts, and publish posts.
5. There is more to advertising than social media.
Social media is a great tool, but it’s not the only way to connect with prospective customers. Try partnering with other local businesses to refer customers to each other. You can also look into billboards, sponsoring local events or teams, and even putting flyers on car windshields. See what other businesses in your area are doing to get the word out, and consider adopting similar strategies. The only limit to your advertising potential is your creativity.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Advertising tips can come from even the most unexpected sources. Do you have a regular customer? Try asking them what they’d like to see from you in terms of advertising. Do you know someone in another retail industry? Reach out and see if there’s anything you can learn from their strategies. Make sure to also talk to other repair shops so you can collaborate on what works best in your industry. You’ll never know what tip is the one that will change your business for the better.
Not sure how to reach out to industry peers? Join the Repair Talk Facebook group, filled with industry news, tips, and resources for repair shops everywhere.
