Facebook is a great resource for home contractors looking to market their services online. If you’re just getting started, you may be wondering how you go from posting on a social network to collecting checks. Whether you’re in the home construction or remodelling business, or offer peripheral services such as electrical, landscaping or plumbing, these methods will help you to use Facebook to get more business.

Have a Great Page

The first thing anyone needs to do to get more out of Facebook is to have a great page. A great page means having a square version of your logo to serve as a profile picture, as well as a professional looking banner image. It means filling out all of your profile information in detail, and it means including contact information and hours. Then, make sure that you are adding useful, interesting content once or twice a day. Think of your homebuilder Facebook page as an extension of your website, and treat it that way.

Participate In Communities

As the owner of a Facebook page, you can like pages and join groups as though you were an individual. Take advantage of that by joining and participating in organizations in your city or area. Most cities have pages, and then there are also community league pages, charities you support or would like to support, or news sites in your area. Liking, commenting or posting on those pages will include a link to your page instead of your personal profile, and that can drive more people to your page. Take note, however, that Facebook frowns on spam, so do not be overly salesy and do not try to post on competitor pages.

Use Facebook Ads

Facebook has some of the best advertising targeting out there. You can choose the age, gender, interests, demographics, geographical and other features of the users you reach with your ads, and you can choose to have them like your page, visit your site or even complete a specific action. Dollar for dollar, Facebook offers some of the most targeted advertising out there, so it is well worth considering as part of your construction social media strategy. Be sure to advertise an offer though – give people a great reason to take the action you want them to!

Ask for Referrals

If you are doing great work, why not ask your homebuilding clients to like and share your page on their Facebook profile? Just include a note on their invoice asking them to like and share if they are happy with the service they have received. It is like asking for an old-fashioned referral, for the digital age, except you’ll be reaching dozens or hundreds of people instead of a handful.

Run a Contest

Facebook has some specific rules for promotions and sweepstakes. However, while there are rules (and there should be!) contests are still one of the best ways to generate interest online. Why not offer a discount on a remodel as a prize, or if it is summer, a new barbecue? The cost of the prize will be far outstripped by the business that a successful contest brings in.

Keep Customers Engaged

Aside from all the marketing and gimmicks, all of which can be great for business, Facebook’s biggest benefit to construction social media marketing is the personal touch it automatically includes in the process. Your Facebook presence can keep you engaged with customers, act as part of your customer service process, and help you reach new clients. Spend some time learning how it all works, and you will certainly reap the benefit.