3 Must-Try Methods To Get More Leads For Local Service Business

Are you struggling to attract more local customers to your service business?

Are you constantly going through feast and famine cycles not knowing what to do to stop it?

You’re not alone.

In fact, 65% of businesses say generating traffic and leads is their biggest challenge.

But don’t worry — there are proven strategies to help you stand out in your local market and drive more leads than ever before.

In this post, we will uncover three must-try methods to supercharge your lead-generation efforts.

We will go through each one of them one by one breaking down how you can better utilize them to your advantage.

Stick with me as the 3rd method is completely free and can generate super warm leads for your business that are ready to make the purchase straight away.

No 1: Optimize for Local SEO

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches on search engines like Google.

It focuses on improving your visibility in search results for location-specific queries, ensuring that your business appears when potential customers in your area are searching for the services you offer.

Local SEO involves a set of practices designed to improve your search engine rankings for local searches.

This includes optimizing your website, managing online reviews, and ensuring your business information is consistent across various online platforms.

For local service businesses, such as plumbing, landscaping, or medical practices, appearing in local search results is crucial.

Most customers search online to find nearby services, and being visible in these searches can significantly increase your chances of attracting local clients.

Local SEO helps you stand out in your community, making it easier for potential customers to find and choose your business over competitors.

Step-by-Step Guide to Local SEO:

One of the most powerful tools for local SEO is Google My Business (GMB). Here’s how to claim and optimize your GMB listing to ensure maximum visibility and engagement.

Claim Your Listing: If you haven’t already, go to the Google My Business website and click on “Manage now.” Follow the prompts to find your business and claim it. If your business isn’t listed, you can create a new listing.

Verify Your Business: Google will require verification to confirm you are the business owner. This usually involves receiving a postcard at your business address with a verification code, although other methods like phone or email might also be available.

Complete Your Profile: Fill out all the necessary information, including your business name, address, phone number, website, and business hours. Make sure this information is accurate and matches the details on your website and other online listings.

Add Photos and Videos: Upload high-quality photos and videos of your business, including your logo, storefront, interior, products, and team. Visual content makes your listing more appealing and can improve engagement.

Categories and Attributes: Choose the most relevant categories for your business. You can also add attributes that describe your business in more detail, such as “Wheelchair accessible” or “Free Wi-Fi.”

Post Regular Updates: Keep your GMB listing up-to-date with the latest information. Post updates about special offers, events, new products, or changes in business hours.

Accurate Business Information: Consistency is key. Ensure that your business name, address, phone number, and other details are consistent across all online platforms. Inconsistent information can confuse customers and negatively impact your search rankings.

Engaging Content: Regularly update your GMB profile with engaging content such as posts, photos, and videos. This not only keeps your profile active but also helps in attracting and retaining customers. Engaging content can highlight what’s unique about your business and encourage potential customers to choose your services over competitors.

Customer Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your GMB profile. Respond to reviews promptly and professionally, addressing any concerns and thanking customers for their feedback. Positive reviews and active engagement can significantly enhance your reputation and local search rankings.

No 2: Leverage Social Media & Paid Ads

A strong social media presence helps local businesses increase their visibility and brand awareness within the community.

By regularly posting engaging content, businesses can stay top-of-mind for potential customers.

Social media platforms provide an excellent opportunity to interact with customers directly.

Businesses can respond to comments, answer questions, and engage in conversations, building stronger relationships with their audience.

Strategies for Effective Social Media Marketing

You can attract high-quality leads from social media in 2 ways. Using organic content and running paid ads.

Here are some strategies to get the most out of social media.

Create Engaging Content

• Share stories and reviews from satisfied customers. This builds trust and provides social proof of your business’s quality and reliability.
• Use quotes, photos, or short videos of customers explaining how your service helped them.
• Give your audience a glimpse into the daily operations of your business. Show your team at work, preparing for a job, or engaging in team-building activities.
• Share stories about your staff to humanize your brand and create a personal connection with your audience.
• Highlight your participation in local events, sponsorships, and community initiatives. This demonstrates your commitment to the local community and can increase local support.
• Share photos and updates from community events, charity work, or local partnerships to show your active involvement and engagement.

Run Targeted Social Media Ads

• Location Targeting: Use location filters to target users in specific geographic areas. This is crucial for local businesses looking to attract nearby customers. You can target by city, zip code, or a radius around your business.
• Demographic Filters: Refine your audience based on age, gender, interests, and behaviors. This helps you reach the most relevant potential customers who are likely to be interested in your services.
• Custom Audiences: Create custom audiences by uploading your customer list or using website visitor data. This allows you to retarget existing customers or people who have shown interest in your business.
• Lookalike Audiences: Use lookalike audiences to find new potential customers who resemble your existing customer base. This expands your reach to users who are likely to be interested in your services.

No 3: Implement a Referral Marketing Program

Referral marketing is a strategy that encourages and incentivizes existing customers to refer new customers to a business.

This method leverages the trust and satisfaction of current customers to attract new leads through word-of-mouth recommendations, which are often perceived as more trustworthy and credible than traditional advertising.

Creating an Effective Referral Marketing Program

To motivate customers to refer your business to others, offer attractive incentives such as discounts, free services or gift cards.

Customize rewards based on customer preferences to make them more appealing. Consider offering tiered rewards for multiple referrals to encourage ongoing participation.

Provide customers with unique, easy-to-share referral links that they can send via email, text, or social media. These links should be trackable to ensure proper attribution.

Ensure that your referral process is simple and straightforward. Implement a referral section on your website where customers can easily enter their referrals’ information and track their rewards.

Use your social media platforms to spread the word about your referral program.

Create engaging posts, stories, and ads that explain the program and its rewards. Encourage customers to share these posts with their networks.

Clearly communicate the advantages of the referral program, both for the referrer and the new customer. Emphasize the simplicity of the process and the value of the rewards.

Benefits of Referral Marketing

Referral marketing is highly cost-effective compared to traditional advertising methods.

Instead of spending large sums on marketing campaigns, businesses can leverage their existing customer base to acquire new leads.

Since referrals come from satisfied customers who are more likely to convert, the cost per acquisition is often lower than other acquisition channels.

Sum Up

I can guarantee you that these 3 methods will get you the most amount of ROI for your business. If you can implement all 3 strategies correctly, you will start getting more leads in no time.

Now go ahead and start implementing, and feel free to get in touch with me if you need any help implementing them.

If you are interested in getting a free SEO audit of your website, apply here.