The latest #TradesTalk Twitter chat was about the best ways the trades can promote themselves online, covering everything from blogging and content marketing to reviews and digital word-of-mouth.
Here is our round-up of the best bits…
Question one
https://twitter.com/Shes_ElectricUK/status/1158817261957865474?s=20
Literally only use Facebook, I hate it personally for private stuff but for business superb, it’s free, (provided you don’t post boost) and I get a LOT of work from it, good platform to showcase work too #tradestalk
— Keith Harrison (@HarrisonHeating) August 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/GasSafePete/status/1158818433305382912?s=20
A1 – Twitter, Facebook Page, Website, Expert Trades, Viessmann Installer Search, Aphc Search, Watersafe Website. They all had there plus points, I get a lot through the Viessmann Search #TradesTalk
— Damon Blakemore (@Damon_BPH) August 6, 2019
Question two
Genuinely though, I recommend everyone spends at least a couple of hours a week just updating recent jobs, testimonials, new services etc. Google loves fresh content plus you can push it to social media. And on that, aim to post a few days a week minimum #TradesTalk
— Shake and Speare (@ShakeandSpeare) August 6, 2019
I let the online directories, and the website, do it all for me. The minutes I spend on "promotion" are more or less me just Tweeting/Instagramming out some meme I came up with, and using hashtags for local areas, just to stay visible.#TradesTalk
— Plumbingwerx (@PlumbingwerxUK) August 6, 2019
A2. Not much, have started asking potential customers where did they get my details from. #TradesTalk
— Paul Williams (@AWilliamsltd) August 6, 2019
A2- I don’t spend anytime at all looking at how many people have looked my page etc, I struggle to get my head around what I should do and when etc to maximise visits #TradesTalk
— rowlingelectrical (@rowlingelectric) August 6, 2019
Probably about 3 hours a week. Found having pre formatted images and content helps. #TradeTalk
— McGinleys C & C (@mcginleyscc) August 6, 2019
Question three
A3 The thought doesn't really appeal to me. I'm busy enough with word of mouth.
— HB Chippy (@hb_chippy) August 6, 2019
We are looking to put together some How-to guides and also a little case study from one of clients about how they used our temporary kitchen during an insurance claim, but everything takes time and there's only 24 hours in a day! #TradesTalk
— The Instant Kitchen Co. (@TIKC_UK) August 6, 2019
Actually I have thought about it more recently, it’s basically just what I do on twitter anyway so wouldn’t take up much more time, I just wouldn’t know where to start. #tradestalk
— Keith Harrison (@HarrisonHeating) August 6, 2019
A3 – I blogged for a little while on my other site mainly to keep google happy. I found Vlogging, YouTube, Podcasts and Live Streaming to be more fun. Blogs felt like obligations.#TradesTalk
— SparkyNinja (@Sparky_Ninja) August 6, 2019
Question four
Q4 We don't now but might pay for Facebook ads. Adwords prices for words in our niche are ridiculously high – we'll never use them. We get loads of visitors to our site searching for it directly by name or for #WomenPlumbers – we're in a pretty unique position
— Women Plumbers (@Stopcocks) August 7, 2019
For me google ad words are like a virtual leaflet drop in your local area, we get most new enquiries find us from google and we are on the first page under plumbers on our local area, and a few other key words. #TradesTalk
— Pete Brown 🚿🛠🔥 (@GasSafePete) August 6, 2019
There's a page that can tell you how much your competitors and what words they are using, a real eye opener.
— Adam (@HTGCollins) August 6, 2019
A4 I have tried Google and Facebook ads with very limited success, however I am certain Google Ads drive traffic to your website via increases your Google Page Ranking however I have no evidence on this. #TradesTalk
— Oilcanfinish Landscaping and Property Maintenance (@oilcanfinish) August 6, 2019
Question five
https://twitter.com/Sparky_Ninja/status/1158826828125155328?s=20
A5 Yes, it is a shop front window. Younger customers will check your Online Presence prior to purchasing (Social Media, Reviews, Website). #TradesTalk
— Oilcanfinish Landscaping and Property Maintenance (@oilcanfinish) August 6, 2019
I think they both correlate with one another. you need social media to drive traffic to your website. so, you need both tbh.
— Artisan Electrics (@ArtElectrics) August 6, 2019
Question six
Anywhere between one week, and two weeks of my having attended, I msg customers asking if they'd like to leave a review, with a link to my checkatrade, and trustatrader profiles. Don't get as many as I would like, but I still have high customer retention.#TradesTalk
— Plumbingwerx (@PlumbingwerxUK) August 6, 2019
A6- when I started out I used to ask everyone to put a review, I often forget or sometimes they put reviews up anyway which is always nice to see and read #TradesTalk
— rowlingelectrical (@rowlingelectric) August 6, 2019
#tradestalk
— Bk Boiler Services (@Bkboilerservice) August 6, 2019
Yes, but it's so hard to remember to ask.
Great way of keeping you current with google searches and what not.
I've it all linked together on the yell add.
It pulls all my reviews together it's really great!
Don't wait until Friday afternoon, people are already thinking of getting to the pub. Ask each customer after you've finished the job and then send a reminder if needed!
— Options Skills (@OptionsSkills) August 7, 2019
Hope this is allowed, but we've made a video about how to get reviews! #TradesTalkhttps://t.co/ZXzw5ztT6F
The #TradesTalk Twitter chat runs every Tuesday from 8-9pm. Simply search the hashtag and join in!
