In order to attract customers to your new home watch business, you need to use a number of different methods to let people know your business is available. You can’t just assume that once you purchase a business license at city hall or open a business account at your local bank that you will be flooded with customers seeking your service. Sure, there may be a little bit of spin-off this way, but for the most part, you will have to reach out in order to build your client base and earn the amount of money you have projected your home watch business will bring you.
But how exactly do you get the word out? Well, there is something called target marketing. What this is, is promoting your services in areas where the people who most likely would take advantage of your business can see your messages. This can be in many different formats and in many different venues. Thanks to new technology in the form of the internet, you have a massive marketing tool that you can access with your smartphone, tablet or computer.
But before you start to flood the internet or any other place where marketing is used, you have to know one very important thing. It can be the difference between success and failure in any and all your marketing programs.
Understand Your Market
When you launch your home watch business, you will have done so knowing that there is a demand for this type of service where you live. Vacationers and snowbirds, in particular, will be your main clients and that can be people who just take an annual two week holiday to those who go away for a month right on up to Snowbirds who may be away from their home for up to six months. If you already know neighbors, friends, co-workers and others who fall under any of these holiday descriptions, then you know that there is a need for your service in your market. If you live in a small town, expand your services to include residents in nearby communities and that will form the basis of your target market.
Reach Out To Vacationers & Snowbirds
Now that you have defined your market, you have to start looking at direct marketing plans. An example of how to reach vacationers living in your market could be through posters promoting your home watch business posted at such locations as the local RV sales and rental dealer, the local travel agent’s office and other related businesses or services. A free business listing at Google Places will help snowbirds find your business. Naturally, you will want to establish a working relationship with these marketing sources to ensure you can post your marketing material at their business locations.
Promote Your Services
Now that you have a much better idea of what and who your target demographic is, now is the time to start working on your promotional efforts. This means getting your name and contact information in front of those people you have identified as being potential customers for your home watch business. Some forms of target marketing are free, depending on what sources you use. For example, you can pay to have magnetic signs for your vehicle and turn it into a “moving billboard.” The exposure will cost you nothing and will generate a few leads. Another free way to promote your business is through the use of free online classified advertising. Your local newspaper may provide this or you can just search for “free classifieds” to find some sources. Inexpensive ways to market your home watch business can come from business cards that you post in specific locations as well as flyers. Social media pages are also free forms of advertising.
Depending on your budget, you can explore other ways to market and promote your services. One important thing to do with your marketing is to track where customers have heard or seen your business name. This will help you to determine what form of marketing is working best for you and will assist you in shaving your budget in other areas that may not be providing as good a return.
Be Seen
An extension in your marketing efforts is the importance of being visible in the community or communities your home watch business services. Not only does this mean that you should play an active role in and around the market you have identified as in demand for your services, but you have to be seen as being easy to reach and contact. Signage on the side of your vehicle will help in this instance just as you wearing a t-shirt or uniform that clearly identifies you as being from your home watch business. Notepads and pens are great giveaways that will aid in cementing your presence in a particular community or neighborhood.
Don’t Forget To Be Flexible
Eventually, your work calendar is going to fill up. There will be a time when you will have so many appointments that you may not know what to do. Possibly you have set your hours to be – as an example – 10 to 6 five days a week, but the workload can’t possibly fit into that schedule. Being flexible to either work outside of your normally scheduled business hours or being able to move appointments around your calendar to accommodate certain customers will go a long way to attracting new clients. It also shows existing customers that you are not so rigid that you can’t flex things. By being open to changes you may also find new opportunities to fill those slots that become open.
In Conclusion
It really isn’t that hard to attract your first paying customer if you know what to do. Hopefully, the list above gives you the inspiration to explore the possibilities that can result in your home watch business if you put a little extra effort into the way in which you market yourself and your business. There are many other great ways to get the word out about your business, but the ones noted above will be important options to start out with.
Our new guidebook, How to Start a Profitable Home Watch Business, covers everything you’ll need to get started and start making money in no time.