{"id":38095,"date":"2021-05-27T10:21:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T09:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/?p=38095"},"modified":"2021-06-30T12:05:20","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T11:05:20","slug":"social-media-marketing-a-quickstart-guide-for-tradespeople","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ratedpeople.com\/blog\/social-media-marketing-a-quickstart-guide-for-tradespeople","title":{"rendered":"Social media marketing: A quickstart guide for tradespeople"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For some of your potential customers, your social media presence is the deciding factor when choosing between hiring you or one of your competitors. Get started with social media marketing for your business by reading 10 expert tips from our Social Media Manager, Sarah, below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Start with a social media marketing plan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tradesperson<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Consistency is key to growth. So, it\u2019s important to create a realistic social media plan that you\u2019ll be able to stick to. The first thing to think about is your resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How often will you post on social media? <\/strong>Think about how much time you have to spend posting on social media. Remember to factor in time to respond to comments and messages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What money can you invest into your social media marketing? <\/strong>Sharing updates, links to your website, photos and videos is free, but you may want to consider paid advertising too. That way, you can target the people who are most relevant to your business with your ads to familiarise them with your company and potentially win work from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Choose your social media platforms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The platform that\u2019s best for you depends on your trade and business goals. If your work is very visual \u2013 maybe you build impressive extensions or transform gardens with beautiful landscaping \u2013 then an image-based platform like Instagram is a good choice. On the other hand, if your work is less visual but you\u2019ve got lots of technical expertise, such as in electrics or plumbing, try a video-based platform like YouTube or TikTok where you can explain some of the crux of the job and position yourself as an expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out the pros and cons of each social media platform in our blog post: Which social media is right for your business?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. Know your audience<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Family<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To get the most out of your social media marketing, it\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re using the platforms that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Are used by your target audience.<\/li>
  2. Fit with the type of content you\u2019d like to create.<\/li>
  3. Allow you to achieve your goals for social media.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    Social media platform<\/strong><\/td>Average age of users<\/strong><\/td>Suggested content<\/strong><\/td>Your goal<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
    Facebook<\/td>25-34<\/td>Updates on your business<\/td>Building loyalty<\/td><\/tr>
    Instagram<\/td>25-34<\/td>Visual content such as before and afters<\/td>Inspire potential customers<\/td><\/tr>
    YouTube<\/td>15-25<\/td>How-to videos, day in the life videos, advice<\/td>Inform and entertain your audience<\/td><\/tr>
    Twitter<\/td>30-49<\/td>Sharing positive reviews, company updates and trending news<\/td>Connecting with similar businesses in your industry<\/td><\/tr>
    TikTok<\/td>18-24<\/td>Fun and creative videos of your work<\/td>Show off your creativity and the fun side to your business<\/td><\/tr>
    Pinterest<\/td>30-49<\/td>Pictures of your work<\/td>Give your audience interior inspiration<\/td><\/tr>
    LinkedIn<\/td>46-55<\/td>Sharing trade news and company updates<\/td>Networking<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
    Source of average age of users statistics \u2013 Sprout Social<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    However, don\u2019t dismiss certain channels straight away based on factors like age. For example, TikTok may be known for being a platform for a younger crowd, but our research has found that it\u2019s very popular for home transformations, #BrickTok and general trades work<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Take a look at some more social media video ideas and tips for tradespeople.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    4. Research your competitors’ social media marketing activity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Take a look at what similar businesses to yours are doing on your chosen social media platform(s) to get an idea of the types of content that your potential customers are interested in. If you\u2019re not sure who your competitors are, start with a Google search along the lines of \u2018*your trade* in *your area*\u2019 (e.g. Carpenter in Birmingham).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Keep an eye out for how often they post, the type of content they\u2019re posting and which posts get the most interactions. Once your research is done, think about what you could do better on your own social media profiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    5. Share your ratings and positive reviews<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    With so many people taking their search for tradespeople online, your customer ratings and reviews have never been more important. When you\u2019re a member of Rated People, we help you build your reputation to increase the likelihood of homeowners picking you for the job. That\u2019s why we make it as simple as possible for you to share your positive reviews to your social media profiles, using our social sharing tool<\/a><\/strong>. Whenever you receive a new rating that you\u2019re proud of, simply click \u2018Share\u2019 to the social media channel of your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Read more about how your positive reviews help you to win more work.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    6. Nail your profile<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"Profile<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Your social media profile looks and performs at its best when it’s fully completed and optimised. When you\u2019re creating a social media profile, you\u2019ll need to have the following things to hand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. A clear photo of yourself (if you\u2019re a sole trader), your team (if you\u2019re a small business) or your logo. You\u2019ll need one of these for your profile picture.<\/li>
    2. A photo that\u2019s relevant to your industry. It\u2019s good practice to upload an eye-catching cover photo \u2013 this could be a picture of your tools\/equipment, you or your team in action or of some work you\u2019ve done.<\/li>
    3. Photos of your work. Potential customers love to see your handiwork.<\/li>
    4. Keywords. Optimise your bio with keywords that you think people would search on Google to find you. An example is \u2018London plumber\u2019.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Find out how to take great photos of your work for social media.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      7. Grow your audience and build a rapport with your followers<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      A great way to entice new followers and get your business in front of new eyes is to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n