As a roofer, you need a steady source of quality leads that turn into jobs so your business can grow. Leads can be homeowners who need roof repairs or replacements soon, those who want roofing system upgrades, or those who need emergency services.
You probably think you’ve tried everything to generate roofing leads, but this list can spark some ideas about areas you may have not concentrated on when trying to generate leads for your roofing business. Before reading, Hearth also offers financing options for roofers to help them close more deals, you can visit the link to learn more.
1. Direct mail
Direct mail is a tried and true tactic for generating roofing leads for businesses. Make sure when you are creating your direct marketing assets, they are vibrant and eye-catching.
Make sure to show your best work, explain what sets you apart from other roofers, and have the appropriate contact information on them.
Discounts, coupon codes, or simply asking when the lead calls how they found out about you can give you an idea of the success of your direct mail campaign.
In the last few years, QR codes have also become more popular. Create a specific landing page on your website with a contact form, and use the QR on the flyer to get traffic to that page. This is a great way to collect information on warm leads.
2. Email marketing
Email has been a popular channel for generating leads for over 20 years. There are two different types of email marketing you can use. The first type is a consistent email marketing program that delivers a regular company update on promotions, new products or services, and company milestones. This type of email marketing nurtures potential and existing customers to keep you top of mind when it comes to roofing repairs or replacements.
The other type is an email campaign with a specific intended goal in mind that asks your readers to take an action. Suppose you’re introducing a discount, promotion, new material, or product, or need to generate warmer leads for your sales team. Since you have the solution, ask your readers to take action to help solve some pain they have regarding their roofs. Usually, these types of campaigns have several emails in them spread out over a time period you deem best.
3. Canvassing
Going door to door gets you in front of the homeowners that will one day need your services or those who may need your services but don’t know it yet. Once you’re done with a job, walk the neighborhood and knock on doors.
Explain that you’ve just finished a project in the neighborhood and would love an opportunity to inspect their roof. If they’re hesitant, leave your card and a flyer behind, and then let them know which house you worked on so they can see the quality of your work for themselves.
4. Networking
Using your network to drive more qualified leads to your business can be a game-changer. Find a partner in every industry you can from people who can hang drywall to plumbers. Often enough when working on a roof, you will hear homeowners complain about things in their home or you might discover an issue when inspecting the roofing system.
Listening to your customers’ needs and providing them with a direct contact to someone who can help them with their issues is a big part of building your reputation. Hopefully, the other contractors in your network can return the favor.
We wrote some tips on how to network here.
5. Storm chasing apps
Storm chasing apps are used in the roofing industry to learn about areas affected by bad weather like hail or high winds. These conditions can tear apart or significantly affect the health of a roof. Taking your canvassing skills into areas that are affected by inclement weather can generate leads for your roofing business.
6. Social media advertising
There are 270 million active social media users in the United States. Odds there are people on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram who need your services. These platforms also offer advertising services to businesses. Social media platforms have a lot of information on their users. This means that on some platforms your advertising targeting can get very specific. This bodes well for your advertising campaigns. Just make sure that you are tracking and measuring the success of your campaigns. Try to find ways to attribute traffic from advertising on social media to those campaigns. You can do so with specific landing pages or the analytics provided by the platform.
7. Local SEO
It was reported that after searching on a smartphone for a nearby business, 76% of people end up visiting the business within one day (BacklinkO). From the number of people who do visit, 78% of the time will result in a purchase (Google). That is the power of Local SEO, which is the process of modifying your website’s page to make it easier for Google to show people who you are.
The easiest way to do this is to add the location of your business and the services you offer to your website’s pages and descriptions or “title tags” and “meta descriptions.”
For instance:
If your name is “Smith Roofing in Austin, Texas,” and you want to get more business from Google, your title and meta description might read:
In your title tag and meta description make sure to put the services you offer and the location you are servicing. Adding these “keywords” can help you rank higher on Google and thus get more business.
8. Content marketing
Content marketing is a form of marketing that focuses on the creation and distribution of content that is relevant to your target audience. This content can be anything such as videos, online articles, or social media posts.
The goal of content marketing is to build relationships with potential customers by providing them with valuable information.
In order to be successful with content marketing, it is important to have a plan. There are many different ways to go about this, so it is important to find what works best for you. There are a few things you can do to get started:
- Survey your current and potential customers
- Look at your competition
- Use Google Trends to find the most popular topics
Once you have a general idea of what is popular, you can begin to create content that is tailored to your audience.
9. Pay Per Click (PPC) aka Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
Paid search is a powerful way to reach your target market. When you use pay per click (PPC), you are charged based on the number of clicks your ad receives. This can be a great way to generate new leads and increase your website’s traffic.
To get started, set up a free Google Ads account and create a list of words or “keywords” that you believe your target market would use to find a business like yours on Google.
Now to set up your ads, we recommend watching a few videos to help you better understand how to be successful with PPC.
Unfortunately, it is very easy to spend all your money quickly if you are not careful with your PPC campaigns.
10. Review sites
Review websites are another great way to reach your target customer, and with social proof now being so important, you want to make sure you have great reviews across the internet.
For a local roofer, the quickest way to get reviews is to set up a free Google My Business account and then have your customers post reviews for you on there.
Here are some additional review sites to check out:
- Yelp
- Trustpilot
- Better Business Bureau
It is definitely worth the time to try and get some reviews. This helps customers better understand your business and makes it easier for them to choose you over the competition.
11. Trade shows
Homeowner trade shows are a fantastic way to get in front of customers that are looking for the right roofing contractor for their jobs. Home improvement expos particularly sell booths to local businesses so they can connect with attendees. When at a trade show make sure you bring takeaways that explain what makes your company special. Little gifts are always a hit, but make sure they’re something someone could actually use. And, bringing examples of materials or finished work can go a long way.
12. Local Chamber of Commerce or business organization events
Meet local business owners at local Chamber of Commerce or business organization events. Even if there are not a lot of fellow contractors there, this is your opportunity to connect with people in other industries related to your business like real estate, insurance, or lending. You can also gain key insights about how to run a business from others with different perspectives.
13. Telemarketing
There are telemarketing companies who can work with you to call prospective leads in your area. Make sure you are clear about the types of customers you want, the area you want to work in, and how you want them to hand over the customer once they’ve agreed to an appointment.
Conclusion
There is a lot of advice out there on how to generate leads for your business, but the list above are some of the most tried and true tactics you can use to grow your roofing business.
