In my last blog about marketing makeovers, I mentioned that many business owners rely on ‘social networking’ for referrals and new business. The pandemic and quashing of face-to-face interactions have meant that many tradespeople have had little or no other means of promoting their services.

I am married to a tradesman and right from the off put in place a cohesive plan of promotion that has seen us through feast and famine when it comes to workload. A holistic approach to marketing that includes social media and email marketing and offline advertising has kept his name out there for more than eight years. So I know having a consistent approach works.

The very least that a tradesperson should be having right now is a Facebook Page and one that is kept busy, and that means content on it each week. With more and more people flocking to Facebook groups for recommendations, this is perfect to share your page with loyal customers and encourage them to talk about you.  As let’s face it, you are out working during the day and you can join in on the conversation when you get home and see that you have been tagged. 

I also know for a fact that tradespeople are working hard hours on the tools. They come home, and the day is not over. There are enquiries to deal with, research and devis to prepare, and general administration that comes with running a business here in France. You have families, and you also need downtime, to get up the next day and go to work. Preparing content for your social media platforms is very likely to be the last thing on your list of priorities. But marketing has to be a priority. To get a consistent flow of enquiries people need to know that you are out there through a variety of marketing channels, whether through social media or having a dedicated website.

My husband is very fortunate in that he has me to do all of this for him. Is this something that a partner or trusted person can do for you? If this is not an option, think to outsource this, particularly if you cannot maintain your page consistently for the long term, not just when work is quiet but also when you are busy.

I have helped several small business owners, including trades set up their pages and continually work with them to guide what they should be promoting on their pages. There is plenty that can be shared to your page other than just the latest installation. Social media is as much about being social as well as using the space to promote what you do. So next time there is a shout for a recommendation on a Facebook group – some of your customers can do their bit and recommend you. Plus potential customers who do their research on search engines such as Google, have a better chance of seeing you as a Facebook page is one of the first things that shows up.

I know for a fact that social media and email marketing has a positive effect on business. Both serve to educate and remind people that your business is out there.

If you are a tradesperson who needs help and guidance in attracting more enquiries please get in touch.

Why me?
I have been working within the social media  and marketing arena for nearly 10 years. I have set up pages, created campaigns, and have consulted and contributed to my clients plans for growth and those same principles have been applied to my husbands trade business.

Yours socially
Micala