In the roofing industry, referrals are an essential endorsement. They have the validity and trust of a personal recommendation. Referrals are critical to establishing credibility and securing new customers. Roofing, in particular, is a trust-based industry that thrives on positive feedback and customer satisfaction. This article will cover ways to master roofing referrals and land more customers.
The Best Service on Every Job
The foundation of any successful referral program is to ensure the highest quality roofing service on every job and to exceed the customer’s expectations. Every new job is an opportunity to create a great experience and to build relationships. By putting yourself in the shoes of the customer and understanding what they value most, you will be able to better understand what they are looking for in a completed roofing job.
Some roofing companies are very good at selling roofs but aren’t as effective in delivering a satisfying experience for customers during the roofing job itself. It is critical that every stage of the roofing job be handled professionally and with the customer’s satisfaction in mind, from the sale to the roofing process to customer follow ups. A tool that many companies use to ensure a positive experience during the roofing process is the Equipter 4000 which allows roofers to handle roofing debris without leaving shingles and nails on a customers property while also bringing more efficiency to the tear off process resulting in less time on the roof.
If your company provides excellent service, you should not be afraid of directly asking for referrals. After completing a job and ensuring that the customer is pleased, ask if they know of anyone else who might benefit from your services. Encourage satisfied customers to leave online reviews or testimonials. Positive comments on Google Reviews or on social media channels can bring credibility to your business and influence customers looking for roofing services. Over 80% of consumers turn to online reviews before committing to a product or service. Finally, consider offering an incentive for existing customers referring new customers to you. Incentives can include free services, discounts, or cash rewards.
Who Gives the Best Referrals?
Not all referrals are equal, some referrals can hold more weight than others depending on your business and your potential customer base. For residential roofers, referrals from homeowners is the gold standard. Homeowners want to read about the positive experiences of other homeowners. Real estate agents can also be an excellent source of referrals. Real estate agents frequently work with homeowners to repair or replace roofs before a home goes to market. Real estate agents are likely to work with trusted vendors with excellent service and high attention to detail.
For commercial properties, there are more groups that can provide excellent referrals. Property managers who oversee multiple properties may need roofing service for their own property or on behalf of a property owner. Engineers and architects who work alongside construction firms share leads on roofing businesses who are dependable and have demonstrated their expertise. Commercial property owners may own multiple office buildings or retail spaces and a positive experience on one job can lead to more work in the future.
Maximizing Online Leads and Referrals
In most regions across the country, the roofing business can be highly competitive and savvy businesses aim to maximize referrals by increasing their social media presence and streamlining online referral channels. Social media has become a town square, replacing legacy forms of advertising. Integrating Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms into your business strategy can bring in new leads. By sharing high quality photos of your work, engaging with the local community through social media, and showing positive customer feedback, you can increase your company’s online visibility and pull in more potential customers.
Once a user finds you online, it is important to have a website that quickly and easily converts them from a page viewer to a lead. A roofing website should be clean and easy to navigate with multiple ways for a user to make contact with your company, either through a click-to-call phone number or an online form. Making it easy for somebody viewing your website to quickly engage with your company is crucial for capturing their contact information and for making an early good impression.
The Importance of Quality
The most important part of getting good referrals is providing quality work. Customers who are satisfied with the results and with the process are more likely to recommend your services to their friends, family, and colleagues. Positive word-of-mouth is one of the most powerful components to getting organic referrals. Positivity can also extend beyond the quality of a company’s work. Companies that are active in supporting their community can build a highly favorable reputation locally.
Roofing companies should always consider what their competitive advantages are and make that part of their advertising. For example, roofing companies that use the Equipter 4000 are able to deliver a tangible benefit to homeowners or business owners. Companies who already own an Equipter should use it in their marketing to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
When a company has a proven track record and a wealth of positive reviews, they are much more likely to receive and convert referrals. Long-term success of a company is built on delivering quality work in every aspect of the job to every customer. Consistently delivering great service allows companies to build a loyal customer base that leads to growth and prosperity.
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