Written by Zach Hansen
Now, more than ever, utilizing social media is crucial in building your client base and reputation. There’s plenty of social media sites you can use to promote your services, but Facebook, which continues to be the world’s largest social network, remains the most valuable resource for professional contractors. Thankfully, businesses have been promoting themselves on Facebook for more than a decade, so the groundwork for managing your Facebook reputation has already been established. Let’s take a look at the steps you should take to utilize this essential social media platform.
Step 1: Create or Claim your Local Business Page
If you’re just starting out, creating or claiming your Facebook page is the mandatory first step. Thankfully, Facebook makes this process easy and painless. If you already have a Facebook page, just claim it on the Facebook site and begin to manage it. Update the page with relevant photos and information about your business and add your logo, and you’re off to a good start.
If you don’t already have a Facebook page, create one. It takes five minutes to create, and it’s pretty intuitive. Updating your information and photos is relatively the same process as if you were claiming your page, and if you already have a solid mission statement and high-quality photos, just plug those materials into the appropriate spots.
Also, make sure to get your account verified. This will reassure your potential customers that your business is legit, and not some cleverly disguised online scam. Aside from that, verified accounts show up higher in Facebook search results.
Step 2: Enable Recommendations
Arguably the most important aspect of your Facebook presence is Facebook recommendations. Similar to Yelp or Google Reviews, Facebook recommendations is a simple five-star review system that allows customers to share their experience with the world. Positive Facebook reviews and recommendations will effectively prove your worth to potential clients.
If you’re wondering how to ask for recommendations on Facebook, it’s actually really simple. After you complete a project, ask the happy customer to give you a Facebook recommendation. Most people already have Facebook profiles, so there are no extra steps for your clients to take. They simply log in, search for your business, and leave their review. Most satisfied customers will be more than willing to do this since it’s not much work.
Step 3: Manage and Respond to your Recommendations
Enabling facebook recommendations can be intimidating because it allows people to publicly judge the work you provide. Occasionally, a customer might leave a negative review. Your customers’ Facebook reviews and recommendations won’t always be positive, and it’s important to handle negative reviews in a proactive and professional manner.
Always make sure to respond to negative Facebook reviews and recommendations in a timely manner. Sometimes, the problem may be an easy fix that might change the customer’s opinion of your business. Responding to customer feedback, especially when it’s negative, is a great way to show your clients that you care about their needs and are constantly seeking ways to improve your business. Nobody is perfect, and you will surely make mistakes on your path to success. How you respond to these mistakes is what sets you apart.
Step 4: Post Relevant Photos and Videos
One great thing about social media is that it allows you to share photos and videos with your clients. For professional contractors, a great way to utilize these features is to post high-quality before and after photos of your completed projects.
Additionally, it’s important to actively update your Facebook page with relevant and up-to-date content. As your business grows, so should your social media content. You want your online presence to engage potential customers and tell your story. Customers often feel more comfortable when they can relate to you. So, use pictures and videos to demonstrate your hard work and how your business is growing.
When you post a photo or video, be prepared to engage with your followers. If someone comments on a photo you recently posted, like and respond to them. Interacting with your followers is a great way to show people you care about their opinions and build long-lasting, trustworthy relationships that will surely help build and maintain a positive reputation. Remember, if your customer is satisfied with your work, after taking some pictures of your project, make sure to ask for recommendations on Facebook.