Real Estate Digital Marketing – 6 Proven Strategies To Grow Your Business

Real Estate Digital Marketing – 6 Proven Strategies To Grow Your Business

by | Feb 4, 2021 | Digital Marketing, Sales

Real Estate digital marketing has changed in the new millennium.

As a realtor, you must have an online presence and knowledge of technological advancements. Once you have established an online presence, the rest is simple!

So let’s take a look at those first steps you need to take, to get the best out of your Real Estate business.

First Steps Into Real Estate Digital Marketing

Clients today tend to buy houses differently, starting with online market research and a near-perfect vision of their future home.

Digital marketing has moved to the forefront of realtor marketing efforts. Establishing new ways to closing sales,

It is not wrong to say the real estate industry is dependent on digital marketing now.

Why Is Digital Marketing Important For Real Estate?

Why Is Digital Marketing Important For Real Estate?
Digital marketing for real estate can be very cost-friendly. Real Estate Developers and Investors can connect with their target audience in less time and create an impressive and lasting impact on buyers.

“But wait! Normally people make real estate decisions after viewing the property!” -You may say, and you would be right!

The thing is people and investors like to conduct extensive research before even visiting the properties. That’s why realtors must have a strong online presence.

Having a digital presence will assist brokers in executing the purchasing process a little easier for their clients.

With all the technological development we’ve had since COVID stroke, now you can give your potential clients the total tour of the properties completely online. And by doing so, the paperwork process becomes easier, because now nobody needs to go to your business office.

Pay Attention To The Real Estate Market In Social Media

Pay Attention To The Real Estate Market In Social Media
Social media has certainly changed the game for realtors finding different ways to get noticed online. Buying Facebook Business Ads and sharing pictures of new listings, numerous social media platforms have allowed real estate professionals to rebuild their brand and increase business.

Around 84% of realtors are currently using social media platforms. Modern-day real estate brokerages and realtors in the United States commit to differentiate themselves in a saturated market.

Create A User-Friendly Website

Many times you open a website and it takes forever to load, right? Well, we have to move away from that.

Having heavy pictures and many links can turn your website into a developer’s nightmare.

A Real Estate Marketing professional can also develop a more responsive website that is optimized for mobile browsing. So we strongly suggest you get a good one.

6 Proven Strategies To Grow Your Real Estate Business

6 Proven Strategies To Grow Your Real Estate Business
Keep in mind you need to develop a marketing strategy that stands on itself, and then, use the different platforms to bring that strategy to life.

That said, you also have to understand how different platforms work and which ones can help your business. Not all platforms work great for all businesses.

1 Different Plan For Different Platforms

Even if some of them look very similar, the audience and the mindset of the people visiting social platforms are very different.

It is crucial to understand this and develop an adequate strategy for every one of them.

You can use Facebook to build or even join neighbor groups while using Twitter to keep your audience up to date with Real Estate Developments.

Take your time to check what people are sharing on the different platforms, and get together with your team to come up with the best message for every social app.

2 Email Marketing

Email Marketing
Email marketing can help you reach and talk to your clients, customers, and other interested parties.

You can put your database to work for you at practically no cost at all! Email marketing works great to keep in contact with clients and potential buyers.

Another great benefit of this strategy is that you can build your database with clients who already said they are interested in what you offer. Besides, building a list of clients’ emails sounds way harder than it is.

As there is no real cost for sending emails to your client list, you can try different campaigns and strategies until you find the one that works for you.

3 Digital Marketing With Facebook

Digital Marketing With Facebook
Facebook allows you to reach a massive audience and offers a wide range of paid advertisements.

It also allows organic posts, ideal for businesses to promote their brand and services. There can be too many ways to promote your business on Facebook.

Here are some steps you can take to get started with your Facebook campaigns.

First, you would want to create a business page.

If you want to have a solid and professional Facebook presence, you need to create a separate page for your business – your personal Facebook profile will not cut it. A page is like a regular profile, but it’s for brands and businesses.

Also, instead of asking to “friend” someone, users must “like” a page to see its posts. When you set up your Facebook page, you will notice there are a lot of options to customize it.

You should add as much information about your business as possible, including your address, contact information, website, business hours, products, etc. It is important to also add a profile and cover photos that reflect what your business does.

4 How To Use YouTube For Real Estate Marketing

How To Use YouTube for Real Estate Marketing
Youtube works great to showcase houses, but also to share your company values and to get involved in your community. The best part is that, just like email marketing, getting started has no cost.

It is one of the most useful tools when trying to build your brand or market your company. It is considered the second-largest search engine, and if you’re not using it, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity.

Is Video Content Effective?

Video content is already important, and with the advancements of streaming technology and mobile integration, video could likely become the most dominant form of content in the future.

When it comes to digital assets, video -both streaming live and pre-recorded pieces of content- is attractive, versatile, digestible, and shareable, which is not always the case for other forms of content.

It is estimated that video content is 600% more effective as a marketing tactic than print and direct mail combined.

Build A Community

Build A Community
Building a large, sustainable community is one of the best ways to grow your brand. By publishing quality videos consistently and interacting with your users, you can build an audience that is engaged and eager to share your posts.

Having a loyal audience provides unlimited opportunities to market your products and services.

YouTube Is Mobile-Friendly

Creating content that is viewable on all devices is vital. The growth of mobile use is quickly outpacing desktop, so if you are not publishing content that is easy to see on smaller screens, you’re alienating a large population.

Fortunately, YouTube’s platform is mobile-friendly, which means videos you publish on YouTube will provide a similar experience on every device.

Make sure to add “subscribe” buttons to your videos and don’t be afraid to ask for users to follow your channel. If you want to build an engaged audience, you will need to post consistently; don’t just expect to go viral with one video.

Lastly, pique people’s interest by posting unconventional videos. This means to tell an interesting story uniquely. There are millions of videos on YouTube, so to stand out, you need to think outside the box.

Once you establish your account and start getting comfortable with the basics, you may want to consider YouTube’s advertising options to further grow your channel and brand.

5 Real Estate Marketing On Instagram

Real Estate Marketing On Instagram
Instagram is a social platform in which users can share videos and pictures. You can also add captions, filters, and engage with others.

It is a platform that gives priority to visual content. Take this in mind when creating your campaign, and share here your best pictures and videos.

Here are some tips that will get you going on Instagram

Powerful Instagram Marketing Tips (That Actually Work)

  • Switch to a business profile

    • Before you start thinking about your Instagram marketing plan, be sure that you have an Instagram Business Account.

    How to switch: You’ll know if your Instagram account has access to the business profile by opening the app and clicking on your profile icon on the bottom right of the screen to access your profile. If you see this message on the top of the screen, you’re eligible to switch to a business profile:

  • Use free Instagram tools

    • You can even get a breakdown of the demographics of your followers, including information on their age, gender, location, and most active hours.

  • Use product teasers

    • Instagram is a great place to advertise your products. And if you play your cards right, you will not annoy users or scare them off with advertisements, either.

  • Create sponsored ads

    • Instagram ads have become commonplace on the platform. The best part? You can control exactly how much you want to spend on them by setting an ad budget.

  • Use Instagram Stories

    • If you want to generate leads, Instagram Stories are here to help. They are only live for 24 hours, but Stories can be saved to any of your devices and reused at a later point.

  • Partner with influencers for a wider reach
Partner with influencers for a wider reach
More and more people are buying services or products based on what they see in their feed from the influential people they follow. They trust them.
  • Collect user-submitted photos

    • Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a way to create great content for your Instagram page without doing any of the hard work? And your followers will probably enjoy user-generated content even more than they enjoy yours because it is authentic and unpredictable.

  • Come up with an interactive branded hashtag

    • Creating a hashtag that your company (and other users) can search for is essentially free advertising.

  • Post at the right times

    • Over-posting on Instagram is a surefire way to turn off your existing followers. But you want to post consistently so that you stay in their news feed regularly. One of the best ways to do this is to only post during peak days and hours when your followers are online

  • Make sure you track the right metrics

    • You cannot improve your Instagram performance and optimize it unless you know how well your page and posts are performing (or underperforming). When you keep an eye on what the growth rate of your followers looks like, you can see how the kind of content your posting (or your posting frequency) is affecting things.

6 Digital Marketing On Pinterest

Digital Marketing On Pinterest
Pinterest for business is seriously underrated. This social application can help you reach more clients than you may imagine at first.

There are 22 million users there looking for ideas, inspiration, and DIY projects for their homes.

One of the best things Pinterest can do for your business is to turn people’s curiosity into interest for your business.

To get a better picture and a good basis to set up your Pinterest strategy, here are some of the most important facts about who is using the platform

Pinterest Demographics

  • Female Users: 71%
  • Age groups:
    • 18-29 years olds: 34%
    • 35-49 years old: 35%
  • College Graduates: 70%
  • Non-US users: 50%
  • Adult women in the US: 42%
  • Women that are mothers: 80%
  • 34% of users make $50,000 to $74,00 per year
  • 94% of MKT professionals use the platform.

How To Use Pinterest For Real Estate?

This can be a highly effective tool to gain more exposure and reach otherwise inaccessible clients. To get it right from the beginning let’s see some of the basics of pining.

Take Advantage Of Boards And #Hashtags

Make sure to create boards that can catch the eye of people interested in real estate. For instance, you can create a board about Modern Architecture or themed interior decoration, and use hashtags as #Architecture, #RealEstate, #HomeDeco, #Interior, etc.

Make Your Pins The Right Size

Make Your Pins The Right Size
Best looking pics on Pinterest are those which use a 2:3 or a 1:2 ratio. And the best resolution for images is 600 X 900 pixels.

To show, not to tell
Write a brief text for your pins, but remember this is a visual platform. Do not overwrite.

Test Your Pins

Check your profile on different devices to make sure it looks the best way possible. Sometimes your boards and pins won’t look the same on your desktop computer as on your smartphone.

Enhance Your Pinterest Experience

Alternatively, you can use tools as Tailwind Create to create pins and board that hook your audience.

Enhance Your Pinterest Experience

If you want to know more about how to use Pinterest for your Real Estate or any other business, we have an entire guide about how to do that, take a look here and let us know how it worked for you!

Other Real Estate Marketing Opportunities

We develop a complete guide about all social media platforms and the best way to use them for Real Estate. Check the full article

For now, here are some of our best tips to use those platforms for Real Estate Marketing

Twitter

It was a hit in the early 2000s, but now it is more of a niche community. Many companies still use it to share news and updates.

It still has a growing base of about 500k million users. Since posts here are limited to 280 characters, you need to use good concise copy to get the most of it.

Linkedin

Linkedin

Linkedin switched from a job-searching app to a content platform, and that gives you big advantages! It has already more than 50k million users and it can mean a lot of networking opportunities. Since Linkedin’s reach is not limited to your network (like Facebook) you can reach practically anyone with a profile there.

Blogging

Many people tend to think blogging died a few years ago, but nothing could be far from true! The truth is since all search engines work based on SEO content, blogging became more relevant than ever.

An appropriate SEO strategy can drive a lot of organic traffic to your website, but most important, it can drive people with a genuine interest in the topics you are writing about.

Conclusion

As you can see, transitioning from traditional to digital marketing in Real Estate is something you should think about seriously, if you want to get ahead of the competition.

This is a great moment to do it! Since many competitors are still trusting traditional media, and the ones succeeding on Digital are just a few. There is still a lot of room at the top of that mountain. Do not let others take it from you.

And please! If you still have any questions about the best way to get your Real Estate Business into the digital world, let us know!

If you found this article helpful, I advise you to read this one as well. How To Sell Real Estate With Social Media. 

 

_______________________________________
Sources:
https://contentfly.com/blog/8-types-of-real-estate-content-that-are-going-to-work-best-in-2019/
https://articles.bplans.com/9-real-estate-marketing-strategies-to-expand-your-business/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSQSvKlZLF4
https://www.facebook.com/business/learn/courses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZZnxXyES80&vl=en
https://neilpatel.com/blog/instagram-marketing-tips/

 

How To Create Videos For Real Estate Agents – 20 Infallible Tips

How To Create Videos For Real Estate Agents – 20 Infallible Tips

by | Feb 1, 2021 | Sales

Creating videos for real estate agents is not only important. Many would say that it is vital to their survival.

According to CISCO, By 2022, 80% of the content on the internet will be video.

Video has quickly become an indispensable marketing tool for Real Estate Agents. The reason is very simple:

  • In the digital world, video is the favorite medium for creators and consumers.
  • Making videos used to be slow and very expensive, but today anyone can grab their smartphone and broadcast themselves.
  • Social networks give you access to a considerable audience in an organic way, and a global audience paying a fee.

Advantages Of Using Video In Real Estate Marketing

Advantages Of Using Video In Real Estate Marketing

To give us an idea of ​​the power of video marketing, here are some interesting data:

  • 90% of Internet users watch videos online.
  • 75% of users agree to see advertising in exchange for free content.
  • 90% of online shoppers find it helpful if the sites where they go to buy offer videos.
  • For buyers interested in purchasing constructions under development, puts investors at ease.
  • Emails with videos receive 96% more clicks, while the unsubscribe rate drops up to 75%
  • Showing a video of the views and neighborhood hook more customers than a brochure

Video On Twitter And Instagram

Video On Twitter And Instagram

On social media, video marketing means more engagement than text or photography, regardless of the product being sold. According to Twitter analytics, tweets with video attract 10 times more tweets. Also, Instagram anticipates that video will account for 78% of total mobile data traffic in the next few years.

Why Should A Real Estate Agent Care About Video?

The real estate market is a very competitive and continuous industry.

Real estate listings with videos receive 403% more inquiries than those without video.

For a local business trying to penetrate a saturated market, video production and optimization can be a key driver of growth.

9% of agents use videos on their listings, but 73% of homeowners said they would rather sell their property with an agent who uses videos.

Incorporating video into your online marketing can boost your real estate agent’s efforts in generating leads. However, for videos to work as an effective property marketing technique, you need to:

  • Produce the right types of video
  • Promote them effectively.

In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the best types of video for real estate marketing that a real estate agent could use, give examples, discuss how to effectively market videos online, and finish by looking at the different production options available.

What Can You Get By Making Videos For Real Estate?

What Can You Get By Making Videos For Real Estate?
It’s difficult to calculate the correlation between video usage and faster sales or increases in sales prices, but agents who incorporate video images into their ads say it’s worth it for several reasons.

One of the biggest benefits is that a video can capture the attention of a wider range of buyers.

Video helps enormously in the sale of a property and also helps the buyer, It gives them information in a faster, simpler, and more understandable way.

Video also takes some of the guesswork out of the home search process, providing a more accurate feel for a property than a photo slideshow.

Another plus is the ability to connect with younger shoppers who are more used to finding luxury goods on social media.

Marketers don’t necessarily have to expect immediate results from the video, but rather see it as a way to attract more people. So, allocate some of your real estate video production time and effort towards creating some of these unique video types to add another layer to your digital marketing presence.

How To Use Video Effectively

Video is most effective in helping to sell a home when it is relatively short, well-produced, and widely shared on social media.

Not all real estate buyers want to see a 90-second movie, so you could have shorter videos providing the opportunity to capture and hold potential clients’ attention long enough to allow a conversation to take place.

According to real estate experts, posting explanatory videos on Instagram and YouTube is useful for buyers to notice a property. Some of its clients even say they request to be informed about new properties through videos sent through the WhatsApp messaging service.

Use Drone Footage

Use Drone Footage
Drones have been widely used in real estate with amazing results!

A good reason for that is that the cost of drones has dropped dramatically in the last decade. That means it is really easy to get a decent drone with good video quality.

If you do not feel sure about it, here are 3 reasons to give drone footage a chance.

  • Create unique, emotional and dramatic videos
    You can have all sorts of dramatic movements, slow contemplative shots or amazing 360 views from any residence.High quality video footage not only looks amazing, but it also makes your website and social platforms look appealing and professional.
  • Create virtual tours
    You can get a drone to fly through every room of the house, and then create virtual tours for your customers to experience the property without even stepping out of their house.
    If we get to lockdown again, you will be the only real estate agent still showing houses. Pretty cool right?
  • Show more of your property
    A drone will help you get footage you won’t be able to get any other way. Use it! Landscaping, backyards, chimneys, neighborhoods. There are a lot of features no other real estate agent can show with conventional video or photography. Use that to your advantage and deliver unique value to your customers

Although if you do not feel sure about investing in a piece of technology, you can hire a professional to shoot your video.

How To Carry Out A Real Estate Video Strategy Step By Step

How To Carry Out A Real Estate Video Strategy Step By Step
These are the steps that will help you create a good real estate marketing video.

1. Manage Your Properties And Clients, And Keep Control Of Your Strategies

As always, in real estate, everything you do has to be measured and have objectives, so … the first thing of all is to think about which one is going to be the goal. Based on the objective you define, the video will go in one direction or another.

For example, The objective of the video is to get more potential clients to visit.
Another example of a goal: I want to increase visits to my website. Or the objective of the video is to download the guide that I have prepared on the valuations of a property. Or they sign up for face-to-face training.

See Where Your Customers Are

The point is to identify where your clients or potential clients spend their time online and meet them there. Spend time exploring different social networks, and you will have an advantage over many other agents fighting for the same business

2. Define The Resources You Have

Define The Resources You Have

You have to adapt the resources you have to the idea of ​​the video. I leave you a list with all the resources that you would have to plan previously.

  • Budget: Do you have a budget for the video? How much?
  • Time: How long will you have to record and edit the video?
  • Equipment: What camera do you have to make a video? Are you going to use a tripod? Spotlights? Tie microphones? Are you going to use a chroma? A drone?
  • Location: Where can you record?
  • Actors: Who will be in the video?
  • Music: this point is important. Don’t use copyrighted music. Your video will automatically be deleted.

3. Define A Previous Script

Try to be specific and clear about your idea before you start recording. A good video always has planning behind it.

The videos that most excite and sell the most are those that tell a story. Think about the story in advance and even make a script with the text. Think about whether it will be a voiceover or there will be dialogue. If there is a dialogue between people, send the script beforehand so that they can learn it.

Type Of Videos You Can Create

Now that you have a better idea of the process, let’s check out some of the different types of videos you can create

  • Promotional

    Very similar to television spots but without the time limit of TV. The promotional video serves to sell your services. It can be a promotional video of the agency or a promotional video of the real estate consultant.

    Promotional videos are mainly used to humanize and empathize with your target audience. They are videos that show your values ​​and how you do things.

  • Interview Videos

Interview Videos
One way to not only grow your real estate network but also generate new leads is by filming short testimonial interviews.

Chances are you’ve worked with many buyers or sellers in the past or even colleagues in the real estate industry (i.e. mortgage lenders, home inspectors, attorneys, etc.) who can provide a first-person view of how good it is to you as a real estate agent.

  • Informational Videos

    One of the goals of real estate marketing is to provide value to buyers and sellers. And one way to add more value and impress your clients is by creating short, educational videos on common real estate topics and questions.

  • Videos Of Services Available In The City

Videos Of Services Available In The City
When you buy a house, you are not only buying the property, but you are buying the neighborhood. Homebuyers want to know what the community is like, and one of the things to consider before making a purchase is the following:
  • What are the best places for lunch?
  • Where are the best places to have a cup of coffee?
  • What makes this community special?
Give potential home buyers an insight into your future neighborhood with a short video series of local business reviews and other community features.
The goal here is not to directly promote your real estate brand, but to provide a valuable resource to your clients. Plus, local business owners will love the free advertising.

  • Live Streaming

Live Streaming

One of the hottest trends in video marketing right now is live streaming.

Live streaming allows you to video communicate with home buyers and sellers in real-time. It is the perfect place to interact with a wide audience on the web.

Popular live streaming apps like Instagram, Youtube, or Facebook Live, allow you to start streaming with ease.

  • “About Me” / Agent Profile Videos

    The amazing thing about the video is that it allows home buyers and sellers to meet the person behind the screen. People want to work with real people.

    Tell us a little about yourself: your real estate experience, your hobbies, your family, your successes, even a funny story.

    Your future customers will feel like they already know you, just by watching your “About Me” video.

  • Neighborhood Videos

    Location is everything. Homebuyers are just as interested in the neighborhood as they are in the property.

    Sell ​​home buyers in your future neighborhood with a quick video tour of local hot spots and beautiful scenery. If you can, add some testimonials on why this neighborhood is the best neighborhood for new owners.

  • How-To Videos

How-To Videos
Another way to share educational resources and lend some of your real estate knowledge is with a quick “how-to” video.

These videos are perfect for sharing your tips and tricks on some of the tricky topics in real estate, for example: think “how to select a real estate agent”, “how to read an inspection report” and “what to do when your appraisal returns low”.

Quick Tip: To improve your ranking on search engine results pages, be sure to include the phrase “how to” in your video title.

  • Real Estate Market Update Videos

    Chances are, your real estate clients and prospects have only a vague notion of what the current real estate market looks like.

    So, help them by providing up-to-date videos on the current state of the real estate market. They will appreciate the extra effort.

  • Review Videos: Periods / Years

    A good way to end the year is with an agent “in review” or an office video highlighting your top achievements for the year. Show a slideshow of all the houses you’ve sold, all the people you’ve made happy, the events you’ve sponsored.

    Get creative, have fun, and take some time to thank your clients who have made your year so successful.

What Are The Best Tools To Start Creating Video Content?

Not all the videos that you need, or rather, those that you choose for your marketing strategy will need slime editing. For viral videos, among others, I recommend the use of these applications:

YouTube Video Editor

YouTube is one of the most important online video consumption platforms in the world. So it was to be expected that it would also strive to offer a video editor to match. And they did! with one that is complete enough so that YouTubers do not have to resort to third-party tools.

Perhaps the only downside is that it only serves to upload videos on YouTube, although you can always do it privately and download them.

VideoToolBox

VideoToolBox is a free online editor capable of processing videos up to 600 MB, and with an advanced file manager that helps us upload or download videos from other web pages. You can publish your works directly to YouTube, Vimeo, and other platforms.

It also offers options to record from a webcam or videocast, add watermarks, trim the videos, merge them, and add subtitles. It also can change the format of our video, supporting some of the most popular formats.

WeVideo

Apart from allowing you to record videos directly while using the web, upload them and add music tracks and narration if there is something that makes WeVideo stand out from the competition, it allows you to make edits collaboratively.

Another interesting addition is that it has an application for Google Drive so that we can save our creations directly in the Google cloud. Unfortunately, the free version inserts a fairly large watermark on the videos, so we will have to pay for the full version to fully enjoy what it has to offer.

PowToon

PowToon is a curious tool that allows you to make videos composed of clippings or slides. All you have to do is drag the elements you want. To make our task easier, it has many templates.

You can also start from scratch and add your images in the background.

Conclusion

We cannot ignore the power of social media and the many ways video can help us grow an audience. And particularly, the real estate business is experiencing a transformation into a new audience and new ways to sell properties.

How are you going to start your first video? Did you find these tips useful? Let us know in the comments!

For more information on Real Estate, I highly advise you to read this article as well. Real Estate Digital Marketing.  

 

Best Restaurant Marketing Ideas – 16 Proven Strategies

Best Restaurant Marketing Ideas – 16 Proven Strategies

by | Feb 1, 2021 | Sales

Getting the best Best Restaurant Marketing Ideas is a must for every business owner.

There are many ways to market your restaurant. Whether it’s an auto shop, clothing store, or restaurant. If you are willing to invest some time and resources, the right business strategy for your business is waiting for you out there.

Food is one of the most common ways to connect with people… Everyone has to eat sometime, right?

Now all you need is a few tips on how to market your restaurant. Let us show you the most effective ideas for your business to get the customers it needs and be on its way to a successful future.

Online Strategies

No matter what your business is, you need to have an online presence. That’s why we have these tips on how to get your business open for e-business.

1. Use The Power Of Social Media

Nowadays, social media is one of the biggest platforms out there to advertise anything. Some of the most effective sites for restaurant marketing would be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, and similar sites, Posting mouth-watering pictures of some of the foods on your menu, can bring in lots of new customers.

Here, you’ll find a post on Facebook from Yard House, showing off some of their yummy food.

Use The Power Of Social Media

Don’t forget to also include pictures of your customers enjoying their meals with friends, family, or whoever they might be dining with. It’s nice to see what type of ambiance your restaurant has and helps potential customers feel that they need to dine at your place.

According to the book, “MKTG- Principles of Marketing” by Lamb, Hair, and McDaniel, your restaurant’s social media objectives should be to  

  • Listen & Learn
  • Build relationships
  • Promote
  • Manage reputation
  • Improve service

The advantage of having a social account is that you can communicate with your customers/potential customers. It is important to give feedback as much as possible to show your customers that you care for them.

Being able to see what your customers are saying about your business (good or bad) is a great way to work on certain things or keep some things just as they are. It’s a win/win for you and your customers.

Here is a screenshot of a local restaurant replying to a customer’s bad experience at their place.

Use The Power Of Social Media

2. Seek Out To Social Influencers And Promoters

Seek Out To Social Influencers And Promoters
Social media influencers can reach a large group of people, so why not let them shout out your business for you? They have tons of followers who want to be part of what the person has experienced, especially if it was a great meal!

An article I read on Indoor Media talks about how followers of social media influencers can have a fear of missing out (FOMO). Therefore, they try the new product or restaurant because their favorite influencer said it was to die for.

3. Professional Photos

Adding photos to your marketing strategies is great, but how is the quality of the pictures you are posting? Sometimes it is best to splurge a bit and hire a professional to do what they do best.

If you’re posting low-quality pictures to your ads, the food may not be as appealing as it is in person. So, don’t be afraid to spend a little extra on this as it will most certainly pay off in the future.

In the times we live in today, people tend to be more visual than anything else. So, if you have a professional photographer take shots of your best dishes, you will make mouths water and want to dine at your place!

4. Create A Quality Website

Having a website and/or landing page is important if you are going to market your restaurant on the World Wide Web. Make sure that when creating this website, it is mobile friendly. Most people who are looking for a place to eat are on their phones, so the website must be compatible with phone use and easy to navigate.

This is also where your professional photos can come in to play. The pictures are what is going to make a person want to eat at your restaurant. Don’t forget to include the contact information for your restaurant and have a link ready for driving directions to get there.

One of the upsides of having a website is that your web page will be open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Most likely your restaurant will be closed during certain hours, so since your web page never sleeps, people still have the option of stopping by to see what you have to offer.

I also read an article on DreamHost that creating a website is a great opportunity for you to advertise for available positions.

Create A Quality Website

5. Create A Yelp Page

Yelp is a great way to market your business and be able to see what your customers are saying about your business. It also allows you to communicate with your happy customers and not-so-happy customers, so you see where you can improve some aspects of your business.

According to socialmediaexaminer.com, you should also see what the competition’s page looks like and get some ideas for your page. Add your professional photos here and make sure you add a link to your restaurant’s website.

If you check out this article on Yelp, you can see why it would be beneficial for your business to have a page created for consumers to see

Create A Yelp Page

Offline Strategies

Not everything is about your online presence! For sure it is very important to be present on different media platforms. But also to be present in the neighborhood. After all, there is no business without customers.

Here are some ideas that can help your business to become an active member of your community.

6. Get Involved In The Community

Get Involved In The Community
Sure, it’s simple to start up a social media account and post some pictures, but involving your restaurant with the community helps you bring in, not only shoppers but potentially loyal customers.

Getting to know the people in your community can introduce you to some lifelong customers and friends. The people of your community are going to be a big part of your success as they will bring in more customers through word of mouth.

Handing out flyers for your restaurant which include discounts and/or coupons would be smart to do at these types of events. After all, you are there to market your restaurant and interact with your community.

Some places you can market your food would be

  • Festivals
  • Fairs
  • Special Events
  • School Events
  • Carnivals
  • Fundraisers
  • Launch Parties
  • Company Holiday Parties

7. Business Cards And Incentives

Business Cards And Incentives

You want to create some nice cards to go along with your restaurant business. You could even include an incentive on the card to bring customers in and keep them coming in.

Some ideas could be to give a percentage off, BOGO, points per visit, happy hour, lunch specials, and other incentives that will bring new and frequent customers.

According to this video I watched about marketing tips from Union Square Advertising, meal deals can boost your customer base. Especially during the pandemic and people staying home for dinner, not being able to eat out for one reason or another.

Large families love these deals because they feed the whole family, without having to pay an arm and a leg for it. They will be sure to think of your restaurant when looking for a family meal deal.

8. Provide Great Customer Service

Provide Great Customer Service

Customer service is by far one of the most important elements of a successful business. Showing your customers that they are valuable to you can make a great impact on them.

When a restaurant provides me with outstanding food and service, I am highly likely to refer my friends and family. Delicious food and amazing hospitality make people feel welcomed and will come back for more in the future.

For example, my husband and I dined at a local sit-down restaurant and he ordered a steak done medium-well. Halfway through his steak, the center of it was cold, like really cold. We told the waitress and she couldn’t be more sympathetic toward the situation. She then had the cook make him a whole new plate and included a free dessert for us both. On top of that, she didn’t even charge us for his meal because she felt so bad.

It’s the way she handled the situation with her amazing customer service skills that will keep us coming back to this restaurant. Even though the food should have never been cold for him, she still went above and beyond to keep us comfortable.

Some helpful ways of giving great customer service would be to.

  • Greet all customers as they enter the building
  • Use the customer’s name, if at all possible
  • Be attentive
  • At the end of their visit, be sure to thank them and invite them back soon

There’s a great read on The Balance MB that shows you awesome ways to provide your customers with exceptional service.

* If you don’t show your clients that they matter to you, then another restaurant business will.

9. Provide Great Customer Service

Provide Great Customer Service
Seems like putting some signs up around town might not help you boost your customers, but it does! And the best part of it is that it is cost-effective!

Include a couple of scrumptious photos in your advertisement. Sign twirlers on the corner of your business street to let people know that you are there, waiting to serve them the best meal they’ve ever had.

A lot of times high school students who are looking to make money to go to the movies or hang out at the mall would enjoy standing at the end of a street sign twirling. Some of them even have some pretty good moves doing it.

Other forms of public advertising would be

  • Ads painted on company cars
  • Buses
  • Billboards
  • Mini signs at the mall
  • Signs in sports arenas
  • Giant inflatables

This gives your potential customer insight into your deals and what type of food you are cooking up!

There are so many ways to advertise your business to catch thousands of eyes. You just have to figure out what you believe is best for you and your business.

Advertise In Public Places

10. Flyers In The Mail

Flyers In The Mail
Direct mail advertising works wonders, especially if you include special discounts and freebies. One of the best parts of this is that they are easy to roll out.

This can also be a chance for you to include your family meal deals or daily deals for your customers to take advantage of.

There is a pizza spot by my house and they always send me coupons for meal deals and they continue to get my business because of their great deals and amazing food.

Coupons and deals entice people to eat at that restaurant because they won’t only get a good meal. But they will save money by doing it.

11. Radio Commercials

Radio Commercials

If you can, getting your business on a local radio commercial is a great option!

  • You can reach thousands of local customers
  • It is a low-cost solution
  • can be scheduled on short notice
  • It reaches a large out-of-home audience

Radio commercials might sound a little outdated, but it helps with a restaurant marketing. There are thousands of commuters who spend hours on the road, on their way to work or school.

Give them something that will want them to come in for a quick bite before work, during lunch, or dinner for the family after work.

This would also be a great time to introduce a deal for listeners. For example, “If you mention this commercial, you will get a free taco”, or something along those lines to reel them in.

You would have to contemplate who your target audience would be. There are many different groups of people who listen to different stations. Younger people would most likely listen to pop/hip-hop. Older would be classic rock and oldies.

You can even consider a Spanish station if you have a Latin/Hispanic type food restaurant. In the end, that is completely up to you where you want your commercials heard.

12. Partnering With A Delivery Company

Partnering With A Delivery Company

Most consumers in this day and age, have their food delivered to them. So many people are now working from home or just don’t have time to pick up lunch or dinner, so they pay someone else to do it for them.

That’s where your restaurant could receive more business. Some of the delivery services out there to help market your restaurant are DoorDash, Postmates, Uber Eats, and Grub Hub.

The way they help your business get more exposure is when customers log in to their site and look for a certain food to eat. Your restaurant then pops up on their search along with a picture of the food you offer at your place of business.

13. Build Relationships With Local Businesses

Build Relationships With Local Businesses
Having so many other businesses around you can be used to your advantage!

You can bring in some coupons and a menu for them and their employees. This way they can come in for lunch or break and when one of their customers asks about a good local restaurant, they can recommend yours and vice versa.

A great business is always willing to help out the businesses around them because it’s good for both of them.

So, next time you see the owner of the business down the street or in the plaza, make sure to chat it up with them to build that relationship and bring in more customers for the both of you.

Mixed Strategies

Build Relationships With Local Businesses
Sometimes the real world merges with the digital one. Using this type of campaign can help you get local exposure, and even give you some media attention.

14. Digital CRM

Create an instagrammable corner in your business and encourage your customers to share their photos and tag your place.

Finally, give those customers special offers, off-menu dishes or any other benefit. You don’t even have to spend money on it!

15. Mailing List-Only Offers

Send Limited offer-coupons to your mailing list and tell them this is an exclusive offer for them. This type of promos let you know if your mailing (or any other) channel is bringing enough ROI.

16. Random Acts Of Gratitude

Check periodically your social platforms and spot your fans with the most followers. Next time you see one of them at your place, give them a VIP card, or a special dish inspired by them. Chances are they will share that with their followers, giving you more exposure.

Conclusion

Conclusion
So now that you have these awesome tips for restaurant marketing, it’s up to you to choose where to start. It will be quite the journey, but these helpful ideas, it will make your marketing ride a smoother one.

Is there a simple way that you know of to market restaurants? Let us know in the comments! And all the luck to you and your restaurant business!

Top 12 Mistakes Contractors Make When Selling Their Services

Top 12 Mistakes Contractors Make When Selling Their Services

by | Aug 18, 2020 | Offline Marketing, Sales

Top 12 Mistakes Contractors Make When Selling Their Services

What does your top competitor have that you don’t? They likely have a better sales funnel than you. You are likely missing out on many new better paying clients because you are not aware of some of the mistakes you are making in your sales funnel. If you get 100 leads, but out of those 100 leads you only convert 35 of those leads into clients. This means you likely have some leakage in your funnel. Here are some ideas that will help you plug those leaks from your sales funnel. These are mistakes contractors can make when selling their services:

1) Not Having Quality Leads Can Be a Mistake When Selling Services

I often see contractors sign up with companies that promise them leads. The problem is that many of the leads they are buying are also being shared with other contractors. Also, sometimes these leads are looking for jobs under $300. Therefore, it’s important that you first focus on creating marketing strategies that can get you quality leads. Showing up on Google for high intention to buy keywords will help you generate more quality leads. You can accomplish this by having a high-quality website and great search engine optimization. You can also sign up to create a Google ads campaign. This will allow you to only bid on keywords that are likely to convert into higher-paying clients. The key is to focus on getting the right traffic and not lots of traffic. You can use Google Ads’ Keyword planner to find the best keywords for your business.

Mistakes Contractors Make When Selling Their Services Without Leads

2) Not Answering Your Phone Is Something to Avoid When Selling Services

Congratulations! Your phone is ringing and it’s a new lead! Do you answer your phone 100% of the time? I am often shocked at how many of our clients have missed calls when we look at their Google ads report. We normally share this report with the owner of the business and the receptionist and like magic the percentage of missed phone calls dramatically decrease. It’s not uncommon to see our clients have 20% of their phone calls be missed phone calls. We understand that you are driving, with a client, or on the job site and can’t answer the phone. However, that phone call you missed could have been one of your most profitable projects. You’ll likely call them back and start playing phone tag, but by the time they answer your phone call, they are already signing a contract with your competitor.
leakage 2

 

 

 

3) Not Having Good Phone Skills As a Contractor Can Be a Mistake

How many of the leads that call you to turn into appointments? If you answer your phone and have a system in place that generates quality leads, then the answer should be 80% to 90% or higher. Your goal should be to set up the appointment and pre-qualify your client to see if they would be a good customer. You are more likely to set up the appointment if you focus on asking the lead more questions. This way they feel better understood. You’ll want to close the conversation with “For me to get you an accurate estimate, then I’ll need to set up a meeting with you. Are you available this week or next week? Tuesday or Friday? Morning or afternoon? Baam! You closed your appointment and didn’t lose the lead by having the prospect say, “Let me check my calendar and I’ll call you back”.

The Most Successful Contractors Use Quality Phone Skills To Sell Their Services

4) Not Confirm Your Appointments

Before heading out to your appointment you should set up your e-mail to send them a reminder the day before. You can do this by adding them to your Google calendar under “invite”. Moreover, you should always confirm the appointment over the phone. It’s not uncommon for people to say, “Oh, I forgot! Was that today?” Unfortunately, by now you’ve wasted time and gas by showing up to an appointment that could have gone to a paying client. This is an avoidable mistake contractors can make when selling services that can be solved by confirming your appointments.

Appointment Reminder

5) Not Having Compelling Proposals Is a Mistake Contractors Can Make

One of the worst things you can do is to compete based on price because there is always someone that can do it cheaper. Explain to them why you are better than your competitors, show them your portfolio, certifications, reviews, and ask plenty of questions. If you can better understand why they want something, then they are more likely to buy from you because you understand their needs and wants. One thing to also keep in mind in this step is to make sure you only take on clients that aren’t going to suck the life out of you. One bad client can sometimes drain your time, energy, and sanity. If you see many red flags, then sometimes it’s best to say no to a customer that you know will be a headache.

Not Having a Good Proposal Is a Mistake Contractors Make When Selling Their Services

6) Not Having a CRM

Do you have a system in place that documents all of your leads? We like to use bitrix24 because it offers a lot of bells and whistles for free. Sometimes you’ll have the perfect proposal for your prospect but they still won’t buy from you. It’s not you, it’s me. As a result, you must document all of your leads into a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software and create a follow-up system. You are more likely to get that lead as a client because your competition won’t have the stamina to follow up on that lead that you did an estimate for 6 months ago. If you need help setting this up, then feel free to reach out and we’ll get it done for you.

Leakage 6

 

7) Providing Mediocre Service

Sometimes it can be tempting to cut corners when you are feeling overwhelmed and busy with many projects. However, it is critical that your customers are not just satisfied with your service. It is extremely important that they are completely satisfied, because without it, then you won’t be able to plug the leakages mentioned below.

Mediocre Service is a Mistake Contractors Can Make When Selling Their Services

8) Not Asking For Referrals Can Be a Mistake Contractors Can Make

Congratulations! You have completed a job and you did amazing. Now what? You may often assume that your customers will often refer you because you did a great job. The fact is that people are more likely to refer you to their friends or family if you ask them the direct question. “Do you know anybody that can benefit from our services? We can get you a $50 gift card for any successful referrals.” Try it! I promise you won’t regret it. You will only have to pay them $50 if their lead turns into a client.

Referral Example

 

9) Not Asking For Reviews

If people are spending a considerable amount of money with you, then they are likely to be reading your reviews online. Therefore, you must send a text message and e-mail to all of your completely satisfied customers with a direct link that will allow them to write a glowing review about your business. You should make it a habit to have your customers write a review as soon as you finish a project. You are more likely to get more leads if you have 33 glowing reviews versus your competition that has 5 average reviews. If you need help with this, then call us at 559-553-5000 and we’ll help you get a direct review link setup.

Asking For a 5 Star Review Isn't Mistake Contractors May Make When Selling Their Services

10) Not Cross-Selling or Up-Selling Is a Mistake Contractors Can Make

The people that are more likely to buy from you are your existing clients. Do you keep a database of your existing clients? When was the last time someone from your staff called them and said, “Hello Mr. Smith, this is ____ from ABC company, We helped you with ________ back in __________. Everything working out well? I am glad to hear that! What other home improvement projects did you have in mind? Or when was the last time you did maintenance on _____? This alone will help you generate more sales from the people that already know and trust you.

Repeat Customer Example

11) Not Documenting Your Sales Funnel Systems Is a Misstep That Contractors Can Make

Great job! You’ve been able to plug all your leaks mentioned above. However, the key to any business is to have your business run smoothly without your presence or with little involvement. We recommend that you create a Google drive folder and document all of your step by step guides. All of your checklists, scripts, resources, onboarding process, offboarding process, etc. This way your managers can easily train new employees or help your existing staff follow your systems. If you don’t document these things, then your staff will begin to default back to whatever feels easier for them. For example, they’ll probably get a phone call from a lead but do a mediocre job, because you didn’t document the script with the questions, they should be asking to qualify your leads. Moreover, you might get someone that quits and now the new person doesn’t know how to use the CRM system you had in place and you don’t have anybody that can train them. If you have video tutorials and guide on how to better work your sales funnel, then you are more likely to have your business run smoothly when you are not present. The goal is to have you make more money with less time from you. You are more likely to accomplish this if you document your systems and get your staff to buy into them.
leakage 11

 

12) Not Tracking and Adjusting

If you don’t win a project, then do you know why? Are you documenting the reasons why people have decided not to do business with you? Maybe your proposals weren’t itemized or maybe your competition has a nicer portfolio. Perhaps your reviews are lower than your competition. It’s important that you document this data. This way you can adjust your approach and get better results. Remember when you assume you make an ASS of U and ME. Don’t be afraid to ask the difficult question: “Mr. customer I understand you decided to not hire us for your project. I was hoping you could give us some feedback as to why you chose to not hire us.”. This data is so critical because without it you’ll never really know the best way to adjust your approach. Are you currently tracking where your leads are coming from? It’s important to track every dollar and every phone call. For example, if you spent $500 on your marketing, then how many phone calls did that generate for you. How many of those phone calls were quality leads? As digital marketers, we love to look at reports and numbers. We are obsessed with knowing what’s going to get you the best results possible. We believe in helping you get the maximum results for as little as possible. Call us today at 559-553-5000 and let us help you set up a marketing system and a stronger sales funnel that can potentially double or triple your sales.

Tracking Expenses

We hope you learned something new, but more importantly, we hope you found something that you can take action on. Remember that if the only thing we needed was more information, then we would all walk around with a nice six-pack. So, what action can you take today that can help you improve your sales funnel and stop the leakage in your business?

 

If you enjoyed reading this blog article, the make sure to Top 10 Productivity Tips For 2020

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons
Skip to content