“Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
Give a little bit
I’ll give a little bit of my love to you
There’s so much that we need to share
Send a smile and show you care…”
When Supertramp released this song in 1977, do you think they ever thought that their lyrics would be used as an opening of one my blog posts? Probably not … but the “Give A Little Bit” concept is quite appropriate for social media today.
One of the biggest draws to social media for remodeling contractors is the ability to expand your “reach” in a market. What once took thousands of dollars to develop a campaign using traditional marketing methods now can be accomplished virtually, for (practically) free – with a little bit of know-how and time.
Social media has made it possible for the smallest of companies to go global. It allows us to connect with others – from friends we haven’t seen since high school to forming bonds with business associates that we’ve never met in person. Social media has united us in communities that didn’t even exist five years ago, and yes, the power of social media has also enabled us to reach hundreds or thousands of people (potential customers).
But when drawn into the allure of social media, some remodelers are tempted to look at numbers alone. They set goals such as adding 1,000 “fans” to their Facebook page or 10,000 “followers” to Twitter. If you are only looking at numbers (and bragging rights) this could be a tangible goal for you.
But let’s be honest for a moment: How many Facebook pages are you a fan of? My guess is A LOT! It is easy to do – simply click the thumbs-up button and move along. But how many of those fan pages do you actually visit and interact with? My guess is that percentage is rather low.
The goal shouldn’t be the number of fans or followers you have. Sure, the more who can “see” you, the more potential your business has to grow (and make a sale). But let’s not forget what is at the basis of getting the sale – connecting with people. People generally do business with big brands or those they know, like and trust. Promoting the big brand materials you use – such as Pella Windows & Doors or James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding – will certainly help you stand out from a crowd (especially if the consumer cares about a particular brand), but what will really help you most is connecting with people.
And it is much more difficult to connect with people virtually than it is face-to-face – or is it?
Whether it is blogging, posting to Facebook or tweeting to your peeps on Twitter, the most effective way to build a relationship with your social media community is just like Supertramp sings about: GIVING.
Be generous with sharing information.
Think about it: You’ve been a remodeler (or landscaper or masonry contractor) for years. You probably were introduced to the craft at a young age by a parent, grandparent or other influential adult. You have years of knowledge that you can share with homeowners who didn’t have that same experience.
For instance, this time of year there are cold air drafts coming into the house from everywhere – under doors, through windows and electrical outlets – and MOST homeowners don’t know how to fix those drafts. So it goes untouched – and their family is chilled and their utility bill is through the roof (pun intended) all winter long.
Why not be generous (and start building a strong relationship) with Mr. Homeowner by writing a step-by-step guide for replacing weather-stripping around a door? Better yet, shoot a video and post it to your blog. Post little tips to your Facebook page or Twitter. Share the information. Give a little bit.
Which method of delivery isn’t as important as the information itself. Your willingness to share your knowledge will prove to your readers that you are a reliable and generous resource for them. And when the time comes that they just can’t figure out where that air is leaking in from, guess who they are going to call to fix it?
What information are you going to share with your social media community this week?
Well said Tess! I am so tired of auto tweets and mindless sharing! Good content + real engagement, like apple pie a la mode!
You just made me very hungry, Chris! Thanks for chiming in; always appreciated!
I’m guilty of singing along in my truck to that tune…lol a great article as usual Tess.
Ya, that song is contagious, isn’t it? Thanks for stopping by, Nick!