As a home service business owner, you pour your heart and soul into exceptional service. But let’s be honest, generating a steady stream of leads can feel like juggling flaming chainsaws while riding a unicycle (and we wouldn’t recommend trying any of those things!). Here’s the good news: there are proven tactics that can help you attract new customers quickly and efficiently. So, ditch the stress, and let’s dive into 9 powerful ways to generate leads and watch your business thrive.
1. Join forces with complementary businesses:
Imagine this: a local realtor mentions your cleaning services to their clients moving into freshly purchased homes, and a hardware store recommends your HVAC expertise to customers looking for new air conditioning units. This, my friend, is the magic of joint ventures. Partnering with businesses that cater to your ideal customer base is a fantastic way to tap into a warm audience already interested in services like yours.
Example: Partner with a local interior design firm and offer a combined package: design consultation and post-construction cleaning at a discounted rate.
With the right relationships, you can run these with multiple partners simultaneously all year.
2. Knock, knock! (But with a twist):
Door hangers and door knocking might sound old-school, but they can still be effective when done strategically. Instead of simply leaving generic flyers, craft personalized messages highlighting your services and offer a compelling incentive, like a free consultation or discount on the first service.
Target specific neighborhoods where you already have clients. Earning more clients on existing routes will increase your efficiency.
Remember: A friendly and professional approach goes a long way. Train your team to have short, informative conversations with potential customers, leaving them with clear calls to action.
Nobody home? Be sure to give your team members door hangers or flyers to leave behind!
3. New Move-In Special
Focus your efforts on neighborhoods with high homeowner turnover. These areas are teeming with new residents, many of whom haven’t yet established relationships with local service providers. Target these areas with direct mail, flyers, online ads, or even door-to-door campaigns, highlighting your expertise and offering special promotions to entice these new homeowners.
Did you know that home sales information is public information? For a small fee, you can find what homes have recently sold from your county clerk. Other ways to collect this information include using apps like Zillow and collecting that information from your team.
4. Rekindle the flame with lost customers:
We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s cheaper to retain a customer than acquire a new one.” This rings especially true in the home service industry. Don’t let lost customers become a missed opportunity. Reach out with a win-back offer that addresses the reason they left and entices them to give you another chance. This could be a personalized discount, a free add-on service, or a simple gesture of appreciation.
We’ve seen this work well with email, direct mail, and phone call campaigns.
5. Spark excitement with flash sales:
Who doesn’t love a good deal? Limited-time flash sales create a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging immediate action from potential customers. Promote your flash sale across various platforms – social media, email marketing, and digital ads. Offer a significant discount on a popular service or package, and clearly communicate the limited timeframe to incentivize quick decisions.
When to use this tactic:
- Filling the capacity of new hires
- High vacation rescheduling has created a week of high availability
- High attrition has left you with a high count of open slots
Flash sales should be used sparingly. Used too often you’ll devalue your service and train your audience to wait for them.
6. Create Buzz with Contests:
People love a little friendly competition! Hosting a contest is a fun and engaging way to generate leads and brand awareness. Offer an attractive prize relevant to your services, like a free cleaning service or a discounted home improvement package. Encourage participation by promoting the contest on social media and your website. To maximize lead generation, include a consolation offer for everyone who enters, such as a free consultation or discount code.
7. Engage Residents at Community Events
Get involved in your community! Sponsoring local events like neighborhood clean-ups or home improvement fairs connects you directly with your target audience. Set up a booth, hand out flyers, and offer free consultations or demonstrations to showcase your expertise. This is a fantastic opportunity to build brand recognition, engage with potential customers on a personal level, and generate valuable leads.
Combine this with a contest giveaway during the event to maximize your impact and list growth!
8. Leverage the power of real estate agents:
Partnering with real estate agents can be a win-win situation. There are 2 ways in particular our clients find success when partnering with real estate agents.
- Offer discounted cleaning services for agents to include in their closing packages for new homeowners. This provides immediate value to the new homeowner and establishes your business as their go-to service provider.
- Create home listing cleaning packages. All agents know a clean home helps sell a home faster. Creating strong relationships with a few real estate agents in your area can earn you a handful or more home cleanings each week.
9. Create a New Client Coupon Book
This tactic is a type of Joint Venture, where you and a handful of trusted companies provide all of their new clients with a book of “new customer vouchers” to help make home ownership easier. These vouchers would only be available to current clients and would provide a discount to try the services of a recommended company.
This tactic transfers the trust of a recommendation to your company & service making it easier to earn a client. Not to mention these programs usually have multiple partners, each sharing the coupon book to every new customer. That’s a lot of potential!
Bonus: Cultivate loyalty with upsells:
Don’t underestimate the power of your existing customer base. While not lead generation, upselling additional services to current clients is a cost-effective way to generate additional revenue and strengthen customer relationships. Identify opportunities to suggest complementary services based on their previous work with you. For example, after a plumbing repair, recommend a drain cleaning service to prevent future issues.
Remember: Upselling should be done ethically and thoughtfully. Focus on offering genuine value.
Now that you’re armed with this arsenal of lead generation tactics, it’s time to take action! Implementing these strategies can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to go it alone. At myPocketMarketing, we’re passionate about helping home service businesses thrive. Contact us today for a free consultation and let our experienced team help you tailor these tactics to your specific needs and target audience. We’ll guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you develop a comprehensive lead-generation strategy that fuels your business growth.