Whether you build custom homes or remodel historic buildings, it can be tough to build your business in an age where homeowners have access to so much information. With the click of a mouse, a homeowner can look up countless contractors or remodelers like yourself to tackle their project. They can also see dozens of photos of what they want to be done and find information on exactly how the project should be carried out.
So, how do you make yourself stand out from the crowd? What can you do to make a homeowner want to invest in your services rather than someone else’s? You know that your work stands for itself and that a meeting is all that’s necessary for you to put the project into motion but getting that initial meeting can be harder than it once was.
That’s why it’s so important for contractors and builders to take advantage of this same technology and turn it to your benefit. With video marketing, you can help personalize your approach to new clients and projects and help grow your business in a more effective manner.
Why Videos?
The internet is filled with web pages that feature text and engaging images. A quick view of your website can give a client a peek at your FAQ page, your portfolio, and your business model. But a quick view of any other webpage can do the same.
Video helps set you apart. Video marketing allows you to answer homeowner questions directly, rather than simply making an FAQ. Video also gives dynamic views of your work – even in progress projects that may be interesting to the viewer.
With video, you become more personal to the client. They begin to think they know you because they can see your mannerisms and hear your voice. This gives you an edge over the competition where all that can be seen by the homeowner is a photo on a page.
With video, you can address homeowners directly, show them how-to videos that make you come across and helpful and trustworthy and allow you to show off why you like certain products or materials. For example, you could do a walk through of wrapping a building, showing potential clients the process and explaining why you use a more superior wrap. This builds confidence and helps encourage the viewer to reach out, becoming a new client.
Creating Your Videos
The first step to video marketing is to start making videos. You can hire a videographer or simply invest in a digital camera. Think about what it is you want to say; the easiest thing to do is to create a series of videos. Think about the things that homeowners ask you about the most and set up a video series addressing these.
Keep your videos short and informative; people may lose interest if they go on too long. This is where a series can be helpful; each short video can address a specific point, so homeowners can quickly find what they are looking for, and potentially move on to other topics after.
Keep your topics varied as well. You may want to do a short set of informative how-to’s, followed by some drone footage of a job site, then onto a question and answer series. The key is to reach the widest possible audience. So, because different people will have different needs, the more varied your videos, the more likely you are to meet a wider demand.
Marketing Your Videos
Once you make your videos, putting them on your website is a great start, but you also need to make sure that they’re reaching more people than will simply come across your page. Social media is one way to help ensure that your videos are getting the views you need.
Start by creating a YouTube channel, and upload your videos there. This allows people to subscribe so they know when you have a new video posted. You can then market your videos by linking to them on Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, and Twitter to help reach a wider audience base.
You can even include your videos in email blasts to past and potential clients. The more people that see your videos, the better the results will be.
You can even use your social media platforms to help gain new ideas for future videos. After each video series you complete, set up a poll to ask clients what it is they want to see next. This process of engaging your customers will make them feel more invested and will make them more likely to reach out to you the next time they have a project to tackle.
Build Your Business with Video Marketing
Video marketing is a great way to gain interest in your work with both existing and new clients. Videos help break the barrier between you and potential clients by helping them feel more connected to you and what you do.
Start making videos of your work now to start growing your business more effectively with this innovative marketing technique.