How to Use Social Networks for Your Renovation Company

Social networks are one of the best marketing tools out there. Nowadays, using these platforms has become a must for any company looking to gain visibility.

Canada is one of the countries with the highest rate of social media users in the world compared to the total population. Therefore, your company has everything to gain from being active on these networks.

Use social media for marketing

In Canada, nearly 85% of the population uses social networks on a regular basis. Users spend an average of 8 hours per week on these networks. If you're looking to stand out from the competition in order to attract more clients, you'll need to develop an online presence. 

The first important step is to create a website that includes your services and the information people will need to contact you. Afterwards, you can use Facebook to create links to your website. This strategy will help increase your online visibility, making it easier for people to find your company on search engines.

Social media is a great way to create a relationship with your clients that is based on trust. These pages create a new sense of proximity between users and the companies they follow. They can be a great tool for different forms of communication. Use social networks to showcase examples of your work and to share reviews from satisfied customers.

Which social media network is best for your renovation company?

As of today, the biggest social networks are Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest and Twitter. However, a renovation company won’t have the same needs as an insurance company for example. That’s why it is important to understand which social media will best suit your company. First, let’s take a look at the statistics shown below.

Top social media networks used by Canada (2015)

Facebook: 59 %

LinkedIn: 30 %

Twitter: 25 %

Instagram: 16%

Source: Canadian's Internet

We can see that Twitter, one of the most important social networks, is used by only 25% of the population. Moreover, its limitations (you can only write 140 characters per tweet) do not make it an interesting media for a renovation company. Instead, you should focus your energy on Facebook, Google +, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Here's why:

Creating a business page on Facebook is easy and it will allow you to communicate directly with your community. Your fan page will also have other effects: it will provide a good place for your clients to post reviews, it will give you the opportunity to reach potential clients and it will also help you detect new trends with the use of inquiries and polls.

Google +, though not as active as Facebook, is also an interesting option for your company because Google + influences rankings on Google.  Every time someone shares or publishes a comment on your company page, Google + will consider it as a recommendation.  

In turn, your name will tend to rank higher in search engine results when people type keywords that are related to the services you offer.

Instagram is also a popular social network, especially for younger people. Using your smartphone, you take pictures and use some of the filters provided by the app. Add the proper tags so people will find your photos and share these photos on other social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. 

The key to having a successful Instagram account is to get a large following. At first, you'll need to put in a bit of time, following the accounts of other people and promoting your photos so you can rack up a good portion of fans.

One of the main drawbacks is that you aren't as likely to receive any serious leads from Instagram. However, home decoration is very popular on this specific social network and if used properly, you could garner a lot of visibility.

What kind of content should you publish?

Social networking requires time but in the end, your efforts could truly pay off. In terms of content, try to share a nice mix of interactive posts and promotional posts.

The ratio should be 80% interactive posts and 20% promotional posts. Here are a few examples of posts that work, especially on Facebook:

• Post practical advice and photos or videos of before and after results for renovation jobs;

• Tell your fans to visit your website;

• Share links towards articles or websites you consider useful and interesting;

• Add a “share” button on your website which will allow the visitors to share your page with all their friends;

• Answer any  questions  that pop up on your pages and ask your clients to write positive reviews of your company;

• Improve your customer service by remaining in touch with your clients before, during, and after the project.

• Post demonstration videos on YouTube.

• Establish networking relationships with companies linked to your field.

Find an expert to manage the social networks of your renovation company

Do you want to create a more developed presence on social networks but you do not have the time or the capabilities to carry out the long-term management? Why not hire someone to do it?

The HelloDarwin site can put you in touch with agencies and self-employed workers who offer this kind of service. The platform works like that of RenoQuotes.com, meaning that you only have to submit your project to be put in contact with 3 suppliers.