Who has gotten actual business/customers through social media sites?
Allison Hester said
Mar 22, 2014
OK, I've done a TON of research for this next issue of eClean Magazine on how social networking is SUPPOSED to work for businesses. However, I'm wondering how many contractors have actually gotten real work from sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.? If you have, please let me know. (And I may want to interview you for this next issue.)
Thank you!
SprayWash said
Mar 22, 2014
I have...dozens of jobs. Friends, friends of friends, ads on Facebook. Give me a call and we can talk.
Ed Thompson said
Mar 22, 2014
Hi Allison. All of these outlets can help get your brand out there. In this business we need to generate a lot of leads. We need to be available when the season gets going. A big problem, at least for me, is managing all of it.
I'm experimenting with Facebook ads. I know people are seeing it because I got a lot of good feedback from past customers. Plus I get a lot of cooky replies. One guy kept asking who I was and why I keep popping up on his feed.
I wish I could copy my Facebook message logs and post them here for you to see. My favorite part of social media jobs has been how easy the transaction has gone. Typically I haven't even met (or verbally spoken) with the customer. Its usually a FB inquiry, me looking at property, emailing a quote and getting a check in the mail.
Heres One ( this came in via FB messenger) : January 15th, 9:34am
Rob: Hey buddy, got a friend who is looking for careful, quality pressure washing at her house. Interested? Send me your number and I'll pass it on to her.
Ray: thank you!!!!!office is 320-6364, if i'm out in field, my wife will get it!
And Another:
Nancy: ramon, i have been a swamped dorkophite and aplogize for not getting this address to you sooner. please go by & let me know how much it will be for the owner. 3292 Woodbriar Lane. cute place but needs a bath and the tenants are super nice folks.
And Another:
10-4. Hey, look at the paint on the church and tell me if you think you can wash it with out the paint peeling off it. We're going to have to do a roof job on it but I'm not sure we have the money to paint it too.
i'll check it
Ok thanks.
I can meet you there this afternoon late if you need me too.
229-224-7641
August 21, 2013 12:20 pm
I ran out and checked it this morning. I think paint will hold up fine. 490 for both bldgs. Will be couple of weeks before we can handle it.
August 21, 2013 10:00 pm
OK,, I 've got to run it before the board so I'll let you know. And that's for both bldgs. all together, not 490 per bldg., right?
Correct... 490 total
10-4, thanks I'll be in touch.
September 12, 2013 10:13 am
Got the go ahead from the board.
September 12, 2013 11:16 am
I'll get her on the schedule and let you know when. Thank you!
gutterdog said
Mar 23, 2014
I've gotten some jobs of FB. Nothing to brag about.
gutterdog said
Mar 23, 2014
Let me do some bragging about FB. We did a job for a FB friend that happened to be a retired police officer. He and his officer friends blew us up! Gutterdogs has been endorsed by the FOP-89 in Upper Marlboro Maryland.
We have done alot of work for police officers. This year will be our third year being a sponsor for the Maryland COPS bike ride.
BlueRidge said
Mar 23, 2014
We have two FB pages... nothing at all from either one. LinkedIn... one lead there that turned into a good job, then a referral. Basically, a lot of time posting to both with little in return. I thought about FB ads but I'll keep doing Ad Words since I know that works.
Brian C Jackson said
Mar 24, 2014
I do all the facebook, twitter, linkedin because it is now part of every day business but I have not gotten one job from it.
Art O said
Mar 24, 2014
I have been working linkedin with Real Estate agents, But haven't gotten any hits yet. Its still early in the season.
Dave O said
Mar 24, 2014
I have a FB page and frankly have not received one job from it. I admit I'm not up on the social media thing so perhaps I haven't added all the right elements to pull in inquiries. For those of you who have success with FB, what tips can you share?
SprayWash said
Mar 24, 2014
I found the secret to using social media, especially Facebook is to be extremely active on it. Put up a lot of cute charming witty posts, but also continually remind everybody who you are and what you do. Electronic inquiries are different than phone inquiries ; for whatever reason the customers expect almost immediate gratification. If you responded them the next day, you are too late.
Learned this lesson the hard way when I first started face booking, I checked it rarely and had several requests for estimates in my message box. The people were actually extremely upset that I have not personally responded to their request in a timely manner.
Allison Hester said
Mar 24, 2014
Thanks guys! Great stuff! Keep the responses coming. I am on a little vacation with my family but will follow up with some of you this week. I may have to email primarily. We are in the middle of nowhere (relaxing timeshare on the lake). My rural internet from home is working better here than it did there (which isn't saying a whole lot), but my phone is having issues!
SprayWash said
Mar 25, 2014
Allison check out New bright pressure washing on Facebook. They really do it right. They do daily trivia contest on their Facebook page. I wish I had that kind of time to invest in it, but I'm sure it's paying off and great dividends for them.
https://www.facebook.com/newbriteservices
-- Edited by SprayWash on Tuesday 25th of March 2014 01:24:21 AM
Ed Thompson said
Mar 25, 2014
Im sure there are good services for managing online media. But who can you trust?
Allison Hester said
Mar 25, 2014
BlueRidge wrote:
We have two FB pages... nothing at all from either one. LinkedIn... one lead there that turned into a good job, then a referral. Basically, a lot of time posting to both with little in return. I thought about FB ads but I'll keep doing Ad Words since I know that works.
Brett, I'm doing a separate article on LinkedIn so I will get in touch with you on that. Thanks!
Allison Hester said
Mar 25, 2014
SprayWash wrote:
Allison check out New bright pressure washing on Facebook. They really do it right. They do daily trivia contest on their Facebook page. I wish I had that kind of time to invest in it, but I'm sure it's paying off and great dividends for them.
https://www.facebook.com/newbriteservices
-- Edited by SprayWash on Tuesday 25th of March 2014 01:24:21 AM
Great stuff Ray! I will get in touch with you this week as well, but thanks for the lead!
Allison Hester said
Mar 25, 2014
Ed Thompson wrote:
Im sure there are good services for managing online media. But who can you trust?
Hootsuite is the one I always hear about, and I'm going to sign up for them next month to try them out. I need something to help me better organize my random social networking. Social networking has been good to me, but I really need to get smarter in how I spend my time doing it.
Dave O said
Mar 25, 2014
SprayWash wrote:
I found the secret to using social media, especially Facebook is to be extremely active on it. Put up a lot of cute charming witty posts, but also continually remind everybody who you are and what you do. Electronic inquiries are different than phone inquiries ; for whatever reason the customers expect almost immediate gratification. If you responded them the next day, you are too late.
Learned this lesson the hard way when I first started face booking, I checked it rarely and had several requests for estimates in my message box. The people were actually extremely upset that I have not personally responded to their request in a timely manner.
But Ray the problem is I'm not a cute charming witty person...LOL
SprayWash said
Mar 25, 2014
Dave O wrote:
But Ray the problem is I'm not a cute charming witty person...LOL
You think I come up with that stuff on my own???? Power of google my friend!!!!
OK, I've done a TON of research for this next issue of eClean Magazine on how social networking is SUPPOSED to work for businesses. However, I'm wondering how many contractors have actually gotten real work from sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.? If you have, please let me know. (And I may want to interview you for this next issue.)
Thank you!
Hi Allison. All of these outlets can help get your brand out there. In this business we need to generate a lot of leads. We need to be available when the season gets going. A big problem, at least for me, is managing all of it.
I'm experimenting with Facebook ads. I know people are seeing it because I got a lot of good feedback from past customers. Plus I get a lot of cooky replies. One guy kept asking who I was and why I keep popping up on his feed.
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=618357621541492&id=164760483567877&comment_id=6526252&offset=0&total_comments=29¬if_t=share_comment
Heres One ( this came in via FB messenger) : January 15th, 9:34am
Rob: Hey buddy, got a friend who is looking for careful, quality pressure washing at her house. Interested? Send me your number and I'll pass it on to her.
Ray: thank you!!!!!office is 320-6364, if i'm out in field, my wife will get it!
And Another:
Nancy: ramon, i have been a swamped dorkophite and aplogize for not getting this address to you sooner. please go by & let me know how much it will be for the owner. 3292 Woodbriar Lane. cute place but needs a bath and the tenants are super nice folks.
And Another:
10-4. Hey, look at the paint on the church and tell me if you think you can wash it with out the paint peeling off it. We're going to have to do a roof job on it but I'm not sure we have the money to paint it too.
i'll check it
Ok thanks.
I can meet you there this afternoon late if you need me too.
229-224-7641
August 21, 2013 12:20 pm
I ran out and checked it this morning. I think paint will hold up fine. 490 for both bldgs. Will be couple of weeks before we can handle it.
August 21, 2013 10:00 pm
OK,, I 've got to run it before the board so I'll let you know. And that's for both bldgs. all together, not 490 per bldg., right?
Correct... 490 total
10-4, thanks I'll be in touch.
September 12, 2013 10:13 am
Got the go ahead from the board.
September 12, 2013 11:16 am
I'll get her on the schedule and let you know when. Thank you!
We have done alot of work for police officers. This year will be our third year being a sponsor for the Maryland COPS bike ride.
We have two FB pages... nothing at all from either one. LinkedIn... one lead there that turned into a good job, then a referral. Basically, a lot of time posting to both with little in return. I thought about FB ads but I'll keep doing Ad Words since I know that works.
I do all the facebook, twitter, linkedin because it is now part of every day business but I have not gotten one job from it.
Learned this lesson the hard way when I first started face booking, I checked it rarely and had several requests for estimates in my message box. The people were actually extremely upset that I have not personally responded to their request in a timely manner.
Allison check out New bright pressure washing on Facebook. They really do it right. They do daily trivia contest on their Facebook page. I wish I had that kind of time to invest in it, but I'm sure it's paying off and great dividends for them.
https://www.facebook.com/newbriteservices
-- Edited by SprayWash on Tuesday 25th of March 2014 01:24:21 AM
Brett, I'm doing a separate article on LinkedIn so I will get in touch with you on that. Thanks!
Great stuff Ray! I will get in touch with you this week as well, but thanks for the lead!
Hootsuite is the one I always hear about, and I'm going to sign up for them next month to try them out. I need something to help me better organize my random social networking. Social networking has been good to me, but I really need to get smarter in how I spend my time doing it.
But Ray the problem is I'm not a cute charming witty person...LOL
You think I come up with that stuff on my own???? Power of google my friend!!!!