The tree services market can feel crowded and overly saturated at times, but don’t let that fool you. It is still possible to grow your business by getting more tree work. Much of how you grow your business is in the details. By making a few tweaks to the way you find jobs, and the way you market your business, you can work it out.
Make Sure Your Branding is Consistent
Uniform branding is an aspect of marketing that screams professionalism. Your company’s uniforms, website, invoices, and everything in between need to send the same message and use the same name and logo. This approach may sound basic, but it’s a commonly missed detail that separates the amateurs from the professionals.
Your brand should stand out without being too busy. Keep things simple, yet professional and remember to incorporate your name, colors (ideally two or three), and logo into all possible elements of your business. Don’t forget to brand your company vehicle, too. It’s the most widely seen marketing tool that you have as you drive from one work site to the next.
Have a Great Website
Your website is a crucial part of your tree service company’s brand as well as its marketing. Not only does it give visitors an idea of what you’re all about, but the way you present that information must be both quick and informative. A user-friendly website, which displays all the necessary information about your company (what areas you serve, the services you provide, etc.), is the first step towards success.
Beyond that, it’s important to utilize SEO (search engine optimization) for your website’s content. This trick will increase the amount of traffic that your website receives. It incorporates certain commonly searched keywords for the tree service industry, such as “stump removal” or “tree services near me.”
The more optimized your website it is, the more likely users are to see it before your competitors’ sites.
Invest in Google Advertising
Google advertising can be a game-changer when it comes to driving more traffic to your website. It can be used in several ways, such as using keywords to enhance your search visibility, targeting ads to people based on their search history, and even popping up alongside relevant YouTube videos a person is watching. This versatility offers a lot of opportunities for growth.
For example, let’s say you have a do-it-yourselfer who searches a video for “how to remove tree stumps” on YouTube. You can target such videos for your ads so that your tree service pops up next to the video. This way, they may opt to call in your professional help rather than taking the job on alone without any hands-on experience.
Like SEO, Google Ads can also be used to enhance your tree service business via search engine results. You can pay to target certain keywords (such as “tree removal” or “stump grinding”), so that when someone searches for these words, your website ranks higher, and receives more visitors. Once you start receiving more website visitors, the odds of converting more people to customers become significantly higher.
Utilize Social Media
Many businesses in the tree service industry make the mistake of assuming that social media is a waste of time for marketing your business. However, it allows you to showcase the quality of your work to potential customers. Having a Facebook business page is a great way to get your business’ name out there, so why not make the most of it?
One great thing you can do is use social media to post before and after pictures of the work you do. Not only is this a free advertising opportunity, but it gives potential clients a first-hand look at the quality of your work. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so use that to send a message about the quality of the tree services that your business provides.
Social media may not account for a huge percentage of your new customers, but you should invest some time and effort into it. Some people rely on it to seek out local businesses.
List Your Business in Local and Online Directories
These directories are one of the fastest ways to ensure that your business gets the exposure that it needs. Because the target audience for tree services is so broad (considering age, income, and other demographics), it’s important to advertise in a few different formats. While some individuals prefer to use Google or Yahoo, others have specific online and offline directories that they like to reference when looking for local services.
By diversifying your marketing to account for both the “blind search” and “directory-loyal” target groups, you drastically increase your chances of reaching a variety of people. As always, more visibility means a higher chance to convert new customers. Some such directories to consider for marketing your tree services business might be the Better Business Bureau, HomeAdvisor, and even the website of your local chamber of commerce.
Offer Customer Rewards for Referrals
Referral programs are fantastic because they allow you to get new business through word-of-mouth recommendations from previous clients. It’s a huge win for your tree services business, but also a win for both the previous client and the person to whom they give the referral.
For existing clients, either offer credit on future services for each referral or a more direct incentive like a gift card or pre-loaded debit card of a certain amount. As for the new customer, offer them a fixed amount off their first service. This demonstration of trust is the equivalent of saying, “Welcome to our inner circle; we’re happy to have you here, and we appreciate your business.”
A good referral program should leave everyone involved feeling like they’ve won. Keep that in mind when designing yours, and you’ll be on the way to satisfying both new and old customers with your tree services.
If you’re looking to make the most of your tree service marketing, contact Tree Service Digital today. We’re ready to help you take your tree business to the next level!