How to boost sales and get new customers through social media

Learn helpful tips and tricks for showcasing your work and advertising your services in social media.

During the high season things are busy, but towards fall and winter business starts to slow down. Showcasing your work and advertising your services on social media may give you the boost you need. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to get you started.

Choose your platforms

Start out by assessing where your potential clients are: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn or somewhere else? Most likely clients looking to hire a professional painter or contractor are seeking recommendations and design inspiration from Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

YouTube is a great way to showcase your expertise with instructional videos and LinkedIn is a good platform for seeking collaborations and offering professional insight to others. You can choose to be everywhere, but this is a very time-consuming strategy – better to build your presence where it benefits you most. We will use Facebook as our example here, as it is probably the most useful social media platform for most small businesses.

Start a business page

If you already have a personal Facebook account, setting up a business page is easy: just go to facebook.com/pages/create and fill out the required information. There are various step-by-step guides online, if you need help, and it is always a good idea to check what kind of pages your colleagues and competitors have.

In addition to having your business details (area, services, contact information etc.) a business page tells potential customers your story – it's important to let people know who you are and what you offer. This creates a personal touch and gives them a reason to interact with your page.

Start posting and showcase your work

Once you have your business page ready, go ahead and start posting content: pictures of projects you have finished (be sure to check with the customer if this is ok), stories about your profession and trade, perhaps even occasional tips and tricks for DIY painters. Pictures of work well done and small personal stories are important in building your social media presence, as they give your audience insight on how you might help them with a specific project.

Follow groups and join discussions

Facebook is full of local and special interest groups that may benefit your business. Join groups with relevant topics, such as renovation, construction, painting, decorating and DIY. By joining discussions and replying to requests for contractors in a certain area, you'll be able to promote your expertise and services. Offering good advice for free might lead to a business transaction later: you'll be remembered as that nice, helpful professional. Who wouldn't want to hire such a nice person for their renovation job?

Advertise in your local area

If you want more visibility for your page and posts, set up a Facebook advertising account and start promoting your business. Facebook allows you to target your ads in various ways, including to audiences that have recently moved, are interested in home renovations and decor, live in your area etc.

You can start out with a small budget and increase your spend if your ads seem to work. Advertising on social media is often much more cost effective than putting out print ads, for example.

Ask for recommendations

As mentioned above, peer reviews and ratings on social sites are important when choosing products and service providers. Satisfied customers are often glad to leave a positive rating or comment on your business page. If you haven't received feedback, just ask – your customers might have forgotten or simply didn't even know you have a business page!

We hope these tips will help you gain visibility with prospective clients and grow your business.