The holiday season is an exciting time. Amidst the celebration, people love to show off their new homes or renovated entertainment areas. Well, that means that as a contractor, you have the perfect opportunity, just as fall is ending, to start advertising your services to a bunch of warm leads; clients who are ready to spend a little extra money on making the holidays extra special.

And we are about to give you the marketing tips you need to do that.

Give customers the opportunity to plan.

The earlier you advertise your holiday deals, the more likely you’ll attract customers who have just started planning their renovations or contracting work. People need time to manage their budgets and, instead of having to make last-minute cancellations, they can fit your quote and availability into their schedules and finances. It really is a win-win.

The idea of getting a holiday discount is a great pull. Try running an early bird special that you can afford. Another great tactic is reaching out to existing customers early, to give them ‘first dibs’ on your calendar.

At the same time, you are able to book up your season in advance too.

Online tactics like local SEO

Everyone who is looking for a contractor is doing it online. And of course, when people look for any service, they are most likely to try to find someone in their area. That is because it is logistically easier to coordinate, and it is cheaper (in terms of travel costs for materials, etc.). Additionally, hiring a local contractor ensures that the professional is more likely to be familiar with the specific permits and regulations applicable to the area.

Considering this, how can we stay ahead of the competition online?

Make your online campaigns local. That means target local keywords in your campaigns. Use the name of your city, and all the services that you have available in that particular service area. The best approach is to hire a marketing company that specializes in local SEO. With a combination of organic and paid holiday campaigns, your schedule will fill up quickly.

And what about when people take the bait and now want to have a look at your site and reviews?

That’s where having a Google Business Profile that is up to date is key! Ensure it is updated with your holiday hours and contact information. A nice touch is adding some pictures of the previous jobs you have done, too.

Word of mouth remains a valid marketing strategy online.

Before, we used to recommend service providers by telling friends and family about our experiences with them. Online reviews are the same. And they carry even more weight, as they can have a significant influence on potential customers on a larger scale.

Ask your regular customers to pop a review on your GMB, or on your social media (it is a great idea to have this, as it is easier for customers to find you and interact with your business).

You can filter out the negative ones, but having a realistic mix of feedback really builds trust with your community.

Another great tactic is creating your own content about the jobs you have taken on. What stood out for you? What did you enjoy? Any big projects to highlight? Try creating blogs, posts, and videos about the work you have done, and add information about how you can do the same for new customers in the upcoming season.

And remember to respond to all the comments and questions. A responsive service provider is likely to catch the deal.

Automation can help

As you get busy, it can become more challenging to answer these queries and comments in real time. Luckily, there are ways around this that keep you seeming on call and responsive, while you deal with the on-the-job stuff.

Social media inboxes allow for automated responses. You can set these up with your business information and further instructions for customers to contact you within certain hours. Alternatively, have a message that reassures them that you will be in touch with them. They can leave their contact details, and in return, you have a database of potential warm leads waiting for you when you log back in.

Try automations and answering services that also record customer details.

Reward repeat customers for their loyalty.

Offer your regular customers a special deal for booking with you during the holidays. This can feel like a gift, more than a paid service. They were going to need a contractor anyway, so having one who is familiar with the area can really build rapport.

You can also encourage referrals by adding limited-time offers. “Refer a friend and get a finder’s fee” or something that suits your brand.

If you start your holiday marketing early, you will stay ahead of the competition. Combine strategies like smart scheduling, local SEO, and automation tools, and you can turn the holiday rush into your biggest opportunity yet!