Home service businesses like contractors, roofers, and landscapers often struggle to find consistent leads. Word-of-mouth referrals can only get you so far. Paid ads burn budgets fast. 

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The good news is that there are many simple, effective ways to generate more leads without spending a fortune or learning marketing jargon.

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Today’s homeowners are searching online first. So, if your business isn’t showing up where they’re looking, you’re leaving money on the table.

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You need a mix of old-school trust-building strategies and new-school digital marketing to fill calendars with job orders. 

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Let’s get started. 

Lead Generation Strategies For Contractors

Lead generation can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have any experience with it. But you can still get a more consistent flow of leads by following these simple strategies:

Leverage Online and Offline Word-of-Mouth 

Word-of-mouth has been a staple for contractors and local businesses. It’s just been made easier through online reviews, testimonials, and social proof. The best way to get positive word-of-mouth is by leaving a good impression on every job. Happy customers are more likely to recommend your services to family and friends. 

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After every completed job, remember to politely ask for a review. You can ask them on the spot by providing a link to your review page or send a follow-up text the next day. The sooner you ask for a review, the better. Just make the request convenient for your customers. 

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Another tip is to ask the neighbors if they need anything done while you’re working on-site. Remember, you’re not here to hard sell. If they decline, you can still leave your calling card. 

Build a Simple Website

A website makes your contractor's business look professional and helps customers find your business while searching. It doesn’t have to be complex. Just ensure that it has the essentials:

• A clean layout (easy to read and navigate)
• Mobile friendly (doesn’t break when viewed on different-sized devices) 
• A Services, Portfolio, Contact Us, Testimonials, and About Us pages.

Take this example from Trenton Roofing. Their homepage includes a quick rundown of who they are and how long they’ve been in the business. 

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They have an eye-catching CTA right in front of you as soon as you enter their website. More importantly, they have certificates and awards that promote trustworthiness and authority.

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Professionals can make your website, or you can try budget-friendly DIY options like Wix or Squarespace. But you can use a Google Business Profile if you don’t have a budget yet.  

Claim Your Google Business Profile

If you don’t have a website just yet, you can use Google Business. Think of Google Business Profile as your “mini-website.” It’s free, easy to set up, and shows up for local searches. 

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This is prime real estate because homeowners often turn to Google first when they need a contractor. You’ll appear in the Local Pack if you have your profile optimized. Here’s how:

• Claim and verify: Head to Google Business Profile to get started. Google will mail you a verification code for your business—don’t skip this step.
• Fill out EVERYTHING: Add your services, business hours, phone number, and a short description of what you do. Make it super clear.
• Upload photos: Post-before-and-after pictures of your jobs, team, or tools and equipment. People love seeing the human side of a business.
• Encourage reviews: Ask every happy customer to leave a review on Google. The more 5-star reviews you get, the higher Google will rank your profile.
• Post updates: Treat your profile like a mini social media feed. Share photos, promotions, or updates about your services.

Partner With Adjacent Businesses

Partnering with non-competing businesses in your industry is a smart, budget-friendly way to tap into a ready-made pool of potential clients.

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That’s because people who already trust the business you’re partnering with. It’s a win-win for both parties and can set you up for steady referrals without spending money on advertising. 

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Think about services that naturally complement yours. Your ideal customers might already be working with these businesses. Together, you can create a pipeline of referrals. For example:

• Roofers & Gutter Installers/Cleaners: A roofer who notices damaged gutters can recommend a gutter specialist (and vice versa).
• General Contractors, Electricians, and plumbers: If you handle remodeling but don’t do specialized work like wiring or pipe installation, referring these tasks to a trusted pro can make your client feel like you’ve covered all bases.
• Painters and Drywall Repair: A painter prepping a home might discover cracks, holes, or damaged drywall that need fixing before they can start painting. 

Automate Follow-ups and Appointments with SMS Marketing

In a perfect world, every lead who schedules an appointment or asks for a free quote finalizes a job order. That’s not always the case.

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However, you can improve the chances that leads follow through with SMS marketing. 

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Let’s say a lead already talked to one of your reps and said he’ll “think about” hiring your services and “follow up.” In cases like these, it’s best to be proactive and follow up yourself. 

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But you can’t do this manually for every lead. Schedules can get mixed up, and keeping track of all conversations becomes a nightmare. Tools like Chekkit can automate this entire process. 

Chekkit gives your team an AI assistant to help with project updates, lead follow-ups, appointment scheduling, nurturing, and payments. 

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More importantly, Chekkit consolidates all conversations with every lead and customer into one dashboard. This ensures you have all the information to turn quotes into job orders. 

Key Takeaways

Lead generation for contractors doesn’t have to be complicated. The tried-and-true methods still work. But, it can always be improved with modern lead generation strategies. To recap, here are some of the strategies you can implement today:

• Leveraging word-of-mouth: Online reviews, social proof, traditional word-of-mouth
• Build a simple website: Ensure the website is mobile-friendly and optimized for SEO
• Claim your Google Business Profile: Helps with local searches and map packs
• Adjacent businesses: Find businesses that complement yours and cross-promote
• SMS Marketing: Automate follow-ups, scheduling, and nurturing with SMS tools

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If you need a tool for customer and lead engagement, review management, and sales pipeline optimizations, Chekkit is a no-brainer! Try it out today! 

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