The 3 top lead generation methods for home improvement business are:
Home improvement business owners need to know how to position themselves in order to get noticed by their target market. You want to use the best lead generation practices so you can gain attention from customers who may need your services.
We show you the top lead generation methods and how each one can benefit your brand. More importantly, we explain why local lead generation is your most reliable course of action. If you’re aiming to boost your earnings without spending expensively on paid lead gen methods, organic ranking through local SEO is definitely the way to go.
3 home improvement lead generation methods for your business
1. Organic ranking through search engine optimization (SEO)
According to statistics, 93% of online experiences begin with search engines (such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo!). Also, 75% of users do not even click beyond the first page of the search engine results.
As such, ranking a website organically can be a practical lead generation strategy for any home improvement business. With local SEO, you can push your brand to the top results and become more visible to a greater number of potential customers. Since their searches are specific to your keyword and area, you gain relevant traffic from Google and its other services (such as Google Maps).
To rank your website, you’ll need to put in the effort to learn and implement proper SEO practices. This option could take time but will be worth it in the long run because it brings you unlimited free traffic. As a result, you can look forward to a bigger return on investment (ROI).
2. Using pay-per-click (PPC) advertising
Pay-per-click advertising can be another alternative for generating a quality lead base. With PPC, you easily get on the radar of your prospects through strategically placed ads on search engines or social media feeds.
Ads can improve your brand awareness by up to 80%. Meanwhile, around 65% of customers click PPC ads. Some of the popular PPC platforms today are Google Ads, Facebook Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Microsoft Ads, and YouTube Ads.
The catch here, of course, is that you will have to pay for every click. So prepare to spend a portion of your marketing budget if you’re taking this route.
3. Hiring lead generation services
Lead generation companies can bring you closer to people looking for your expertise within their databases. With their services, you can end up closing new deals in no time.
Some popular providers include Bark, CraftJack, HomeAdvisor Pro, Houzz, Porch, and Thumbtack
There are, however, several factors to consider before signing up for a membership with these services. For once, you’ll need to check their payment plans (membership fees, subscription-based, etc). Plus you want to know what people have to say about their services. Doing so will allow you to avoid the problems mentioned below.
What are the biggest problems with using lead generation services to grow your home improvement business?
The biggest problem with using lead generation services is that they can be expensive. Moreover, providers may sometimes deliver poor leads.
Paid lead gen services can be expensive
Lead gen companies usually charge pros on a per lead basis. This means costs can accumulate in the long run, especially if you’re heavily relying on their services for business leads.
Also, take note that while most companies claim they only charge you for qualified leads, many business owners have experienced otherwise. Some contractors complain about getting charged way higher than expected - plus requesting for a refund can be a headache, too.
For example, one SiteJabber reviewer wrote about their HomeAdvisor experience, saying:
“I'm paying $20-$30 per lead, most of which I never get a response. I've spent nearly $300 and got 2 jobs totaling 4hrs. Not only are these leads overpriced, but they're also low quality.”
Quality can be an issue because leads are sent to several businesses
Another common problem among home improvement business owners is that they often receive bad leads from lead generation companies. Not all paid leads will convert into customers, and sometimes a huge percentage falls through the cracks.
One reason behind this is because lead gen providers usually share a single lead among 5 or more clients. So you can’t expect to get exclusive leads for your business all the time.
As one Reddit user shared in a thread:
“Purchasing leads will almost always mean that lead is being sold numerous times. You will have instant competition. The consumer is hit with dozens of calls and they either tuck and hide or they only seek out the rock bottom price.”
That said, you might want to think twice about paid leads. Because they can ultimately translate into low return on investment (ROI) or zero profits in the long run.
What is the best way for a local home improvement business to generate leads?
Local organic ranking through search engine optimization is the best way for home improvement businesses to generate leads. Besides, 53% of all website traffic comes from organic search. Compare that with paid traffic that only delivers around 15% since some people dislike clicking ads.
So as you target the right keywords and focus on a specific geographic location, you will boost your presence in Google search results. You will then gain organic traffic, allowing you to increase your leads - and profits - in no time.
Also, you will only be competing with 10 to 20 businesses in your area, not globally. Of course, ranking higher would be much easier as long as you implement the right SEO strategies. Local users looking for home services will find your company as they search for your keywords online. Generating leads will come in great numbers as more and more users will click your link.
We speak from experience when we say this. We rank and rent websites to local business owners, helping them achieve success in their respective niches. In return, they pay us for all the organic leads they get each month.
We can do the same for you. Or if you prefer to take full control of your lead generation campaign, we can also provide tutoring through our comprehensive training program. We’ll equip you with all the necessary skills to get your site to the top in a matter of weeks.
How do you get more leads for home improvement?
In addition, you can get more leads for your home improvement business by using online and offline strategies. For instance, you can use social media and build an email list. Likewise, you can also try cold calling and flyer distribution.
Using social media
Social media can be an effective way to generate leads. In a survey among small business owners, we learned that 61% of them use social media to gain new clients while 75% have their own company pages. We also learn that the most effective platforms for sales leads are Facebook (41%), LinkedIn (36%), and Twitter (16%).
Establishing your presence on social media allows you to build a following, engage with your audience, spread brand awareness, and enhance your credibility at the same time. Also, it is worth considering that next to search engines, people usually turn to social media when searching for local businesses.
Building an email list
Email marketing can also help increase your potential home improvement leads. When you start an emailing list, you get your brand straight to the inbox of people curious about your services. You can build and nurture relationships so you can turn more leads into actual paying customers.
Send your emails on a regular basis. Share how-to blogs, tutorial videos, and other relevant content. Update everyone about new services and promotions you may be introducing soon. Offer discounts.
In no time, you’ll be receiving more inquiries from interested parties.
Cold calling
Traditional cold calling may seem like an old school marketing method for most businesses today - but it still works.
When done right, cold calls can produce warm leads for your home improvement business. So when calling people, be clear about your purpose. Master the skill of presenting your brand as a solution to their concerns. Use a script, if necessary. Be persistent and don’t let rejections stop you.
Pro tip: Experts suggest that calling between 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM is 71% more effective than calling between 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Also, avoid calling people on Mondays or Fridays for best results. In short, you don’t want to contact people when they’re most unlikely to respond to your sales pitch.
Flyer distribution
Distributing flyers can be a good tool to introduce your brand to potential clients in your area. Sometimes a simple physical marketing material can go a long way in helping people remember your company. In fact, a DMA article tells us that the home improvement sector is among the top performing sectors when it comes to leaflet distribution.
Compared with other marketing methods, flyers are inexpensive to produce and easy to distribute. To make the most of your efforts, include relevant information on your flyers (such as your address, contact number, business hours, etc). Also, add a strong call to action to let people know what you want them to do next.
What is the state of the US home improvement industry today?
The home improvement industry is a growing industry in the United States. The country’s home remodeling industry earned a massive revenue of $1.1 billion in 2021. In the same year, Americans “spent $538 billion at home improvement stores,” reported Zippia, which is 67% of the entire market share across the world.
Currently, there are 588,806 US-based home remodeling businesses - an increase of 2.6%, compared with 2022. Meanwhile, experts estimate that the industry will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of up to 4.1% from 2021 to 2027.
What are the most in demand home improvement services?
Generally, home improvement businesses are in high demand throughout the year. Homeowners often need to hire professionals for home cleaning, interior decoration, kitchen or bathroom remodeling, landscaping, handyman, and HVAC services. Additionally, more and more homes are switching to smart technology and renewable energy, making it necessary for them to tap expert installers.
According to the Oregon State University, the most profitable home improvement businesses are:
Final thoughts: Local lead generation can be the key to your growth and success
To grow your home improvement business, local lead generation comes highly recommended. Although ranking your website through SEO means you’ll need to work hard and that the results won’t be as immediate as the paid providers, the effort will surely be worth it.
Besides, local SEO can drive your search engine presence and deliver unlimited free traffic for your brand - which means more profits in the long run.
As mentioned earlier, we can help your home service business achieve its full potential through high-level local lead generation. We’ve taught over 7,000 students in our coaching program, many of whom are entrepreneurs themselves. Feel free to browse around and check out their legit testimonials here on our site.
If you want to level up your led gen knowledge and reap all the benefits, don’t delay and contact us asap.
