Is Social Media Important for Contractors?

How can contractors use social media? Why is it important for you to use social media in the construction industry anyway? You may say to yourself...I’m not a retail shop, or a restaurant, how does my business use social tools?

When diving into the world of social media it’s easy to get overwhelmed… what should I do, what should I post, how much time to I give, how often to I post?

Why is social media important for contractors? As a contractor, you are in a perfect position to use these tools. Social media is like word of mouth… on steroids! I was just at a conference this past week and one of our keynote speaker’s messages talked about the attention span of today’s average consumer… 9 seconds. You have 9 seconds to make an impression. You couldn’t have even read this sentence in 9 seconds so how are you supposed to sell your services in that time? Use social media to fascinate them. Set yourself apart from competitors. SHOW why these potential new clients should get to know your business.

One of the best tools of the trade to show consumers the best of your best is through Pinterest. 80% of the top Pinterest categories are connected to some form of commerce… why not be a part of that 80% Over WOW them with photos of what products and services you can provide. A picture is worth a thousand words right? Then give your audience plenty to talk about. Pinterest allows you to share photos, give consumers a glimpse into your business, and direct pinners to your website or contact information. Not sold yet… check out an active "Pinner" who has been able to fascinate their clients:

People go online to get referrals for everything these days. Every day, every hour and every minute, people are going online and asking for referrals from social networks. You can be part of the conversation. They are part of online communities where they have ongoing conversations with others who they know, like and trust. Social Media starts CONVERSATIONS & builds TRUST with potential buyers. Another great way for you to start those conversations is with LinkedIn. LinkedIn is basically an active resume for you and your business. Recommendations are posted. Testimonials are shared. Connections are made. With LinkedIn you can post your business page, as well as start a group for discussions where you can offer tips, trade info, advice, etc…

14% of people trust advertisements but 78% of people will buy from you if they follow you online. Generation X and Generation Y are more likely to trust what their friends are saying online than what you tell them in an ad.

These are just a couple social tools to help you grow, build, propel your business. There are literally hundreds of options to use. Test them out, see what works for you - try posting videos on your very own YouTube channel – did you know YouTube is the 2^nd largest search engine next too GOOGLE! Link your social pages on your website – and vice versa – and don’t forget about the power of a Facebook fan page! The more active you are online the higher your SEO ranking will list you and social media can boost that SEO like no other!

Just remember when you are researching all the different options… these tools are all here to help you to “be found, be social and be useful" online! For more info on how to use social media in the construction and contractors industry contact us at 877-380-6698.

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