The holidays are a great reason for your business to reach out to your customers. Whether you’re in the plumbing business, landscaping or perhaps electrical repair, no matter the service, here are four ideas to keep your business top of mind going into the New Year.
- Send a holiday e-card – Email is a cost effective and simple way to stay in touch with your customers. The holiday season is the perfect time to thank your customers for their business and also offer them something special—maybe a 20% discount on a maintenance plan heading into the New Year or a free service on your next visit. Offering a small service for free or at a significant discount gets your foot in the door with that customer. Play around with creating your email’s subject line, as it is the first thing your customer will read.
- Sponsor a charity – Create a campaign or event challenging your customers to help your business in a worthy cause. Not only are you doing a good thing for your community, but the “Halo Effect” casts a positive view of your business among customers. Nobody likes a Scrooge during the holidays, but for those running an HVAC or landscape business, those service calls may be down in the winter months. If you’re on a tight budget, a business can still contribute significantly by volunteering time to its favorite charity.
- Participate in an event as a company – The holidays are prime time for community events. Connect with your team and your community by participating in a parade, fun run, or Christmas tree lighting ceremony donning shirts with your company’s name. For simply the cost of the shirts, you can make hundreds to thousands of impressions just by being present at a local event.
- Add a little holiday cheer – In service it’s all about the details. If you’re looking to give a small gift to your customers, consider investing in promotional product with your logo and company contact info. A calendar with quick tips and reminders about your services throughout the year is practical for the customer and also gets your message across.
And remember: “The best way to kill a bad product is with great marketing.” Once you’ve implemented your plan, be sure to follow through on your promises and provide a great service. It’s important that your technicians understand the importance of going above and beyond this time of year. December can be a stressful time in the home without a backed-up toilet or malfunctioning microwave. Innovative marketing combined with expert, professional service is what makes a “Cheerleader Customer” who will sing your praises.
As part of The Dwyer Group® network of franchises, business owners receive professional marketing services. They also gain insight from connections with more than 1,600 franchisees world-wide. Learn more about The Dwyer Group’s seven service brands—Aire Serv®, Glass Doctor®, Mr. Appliance®, Mr. Electric®, Mr. Rooter®, The Grounds Guys® and Rainbow International®—by calling 1 (866) 696-1504 or at www.LeadingTheServiceIndustry.com.