Need new marketing Ideas for my job

9 replies
Hey guys!
I need some advice. I work for an Electrical Contractor who also installs Home Standby Generators. I am the Social Media and Marketing Coordinator. The electrical service work part we have been doing fine with, but the Standby Generators hit a slump. For those who don't know what that is, it powers your house when you lose electricity. We were selling them like crazy and getting so many leads, Well last month we only received 4 leads last month, and I have NO idea what else I could possibly be doing to receive more leads. Here is what we've done

1. Billboard on high traffic road.
2. Facebook advertisement
3. Google Advertisement
4. Send out mailers
5. We have had some news paper ads, and we also advertise in some local 55+ Communities.
6. We plan on having a wine and cheese party at one of the 55+ Communities
7. Monthly Newsletter
8. We have a blog
9. Use Yelp and Generacs Website for Reviews

As of next we we are starting a new promotion just for the billboard (You would receive 5 year free maintenance with an install of a generator.)
I'm at a loss, does anyone else have any other suggestions. The only thing we really don't have is a commercial. But Generac (Our generator distributor) has commercials on TV.

Any advice or ideas would be sooo grateful appreciated.
#ideas #job #marketing
  • Profile picture of the author Tyler Pratt
    I would start off by going to your existing customers. Ask them for a referral.

    Next I would be building a list and offering advice on your services.

    And keep up-selling your customers you have now, that is the big money.
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    • Profile picture of the author cjane27
      That's a good idea about a referral list, we do have a referral program.

      Yes we do keep up selling our customers. Maintenance Agreements, Extended Warranties for our Generator Customers. Half the time our Generator customers make us their electrician as well, which is nice.

      Thanks for the advice!
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisNosal
    Banned
    Tell them what can happen if they don't use your service, since it's a precautionary measure.

    Imagine you're working toward a deadline, your job is on the line, and suddenly the power goes out, you have no options but to sit and wait - you know you're fired - all the thoughts are running through your head - you can't pay your mortgage, you'll be deep in debt, lose your car - you're powerless, and it all could've been prevented if you just bought our service.

    That's just off the top of my head.
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    • Profile picture of the author cjane27
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  • Profile picture of the author dustychimes
    You have a good looking list and that is definitely something you can build off of. I would add Microsoft pay per click ads as well ie. Bing & Yahoo. Yes, Bing and Yahoo only get around 10-15% of the total online search volume, but every last bit helps, right?
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    • Profile picture of the author cjane27
      Thanks! - Yes we may start bing and yahoo pcp ads, over the summer, have not discussed it to much with the owner.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    The first three years of my grown-up work experience were in the power generation field. Man, if we had had the tools we have now...

    I do not recommend a TV commercial. Radio, maybe...but not TV at this time. I produce a local TV show. Matching the message up to airtime viewership can be challenging, and the station will sell you whatever they can (ie. they don't care whether your ad pulls or not; they'll just give you the line "It takes time" over and over).

    Other people than 55+ need a standby genset--like families. You can target neighborhoods by demographic as I'm sure you know. 55+ does not necessarily mean "able to afford a genset".

    If you can get a Generac customer list that would be cool. I'd target those neighborhoods around it. "When the power goes out...your neighbor with the Generac genset can turn their heat and lights back on immediately. Don't you wish you had that power?" Radio, Facebook, postcards...

    Get some critical mass going with testimonial stories from happy customers. Share these regularly. Get followers used to the idea that having one is a great idea.
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    • Profile picture of the author cjane27
      Thanks for the advice Jason Kanigan.We just started to buckle down on areas that have outages and send out postcards right away. Hopefully that will work!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dave Kash
    If I were you I would start looking at your marketing techniques and find out what the issue is. You are using so many traffic generating methods but you are only getting 4 leads?

    Something is wrong somewhere.

    I would focus my marketing efforts on just 1 or 2 traffic generating techniques.
    You are putting your eggs in a too many baskets.

    It is a good idea to pick one traffic generation method and master that one alone.

    So find out which of your traffic methods are giving you the best results.

    Which ever one it is, FOCUS on that one alone and master it.
    Once you have mastered just one method you will see an improvement
    in your leads and sales.
    Hope that helps
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  • Profile picture of the author RonBartling
    Do you know which media is generating your leads? If not. STOP. Get yourself some tracking numbers. You can get them cheap various places online. Each media and each advert should have its own number. Without that you are flying blind.

    Personally I'd be very leery of the billboard. People buzz by so fast they barely see your message, if at all, let alone the associated number. And most likely the traffic is the same people every day so you're not truly getting as many sets of eyes on your advert as the billboard agency suggests. Plus it just isn't targeted. My guess says you'd discover real quick with a tracking number you are way upside down on billboard advertising.

    Can you identify the demographics and psychographics of your current customers? If so, you can most likely buy a targeted list for direct mail. This is a proven method of business building. Find a good list broker in your area to help. Remember to use separate tracking numbers and unique urls so you can track results accurately.

    Always try to capture contact info on incoming calls and website visitors so you can follow up. List building through either email or physical mailing addresses will be your best long term strategy. Your company does have multiple things to sell them over time, correct? If not, you need to put a bug in their ear because they are missing out on profitable opportunities.

    It may take awhile to fine tune things but if you have good Intel on your buyers and what adverts and channels are actually working you should begin to see consistent positive results.
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