Marketing Minute – A Call To Action

This Marketing Minute is provided by Associate Member Mary Gillen

We all know that a call-to-action encourages people to “do something” after reading your marketing message. 

As with everything else in marketing, there are some great words of wisdom to guide you when promoting your home inventory business. These from Mary Gillen speak directly to your initiatives when wanting to use a call-to-action.

Use Only One Call-to-Action Button Per Web Page

Want your visitors to really notice a call-to-action button on your Web page? Here are some tips:

1) Only use one call-to-action button per Web page. Too many messages overwhelm, confuse and distract the user.
2) Place the call-to-action button “above the fold” so the visitor does not need to scroll to see it.

Thank You Page Marketing

A visitor fills out a contact form on your Web site and clicks the submit button. He/she is then re-directed to a new screen that contains a “thank you” message.

Make the most of this precious Web site real estate by placing additional call-to-action messages on this page.

Don’t waste this opportunity to direct your prospect to other pages or offers on your site.

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days

There is an old song that was released in 1963 that honors the warm months of the year, singing about the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. It’s a time when many people slow down and enjoy the sunshine, take leisurely walks, enjoy a trip to the dairy bar, and so much more.

This is also a great time to promote your inventory service. Marketing now can catch those who are either ready for a cleaning-out of the garage and/or attic while they have more time – or preparing for fall when the hot weather is over for another year. Either way, here are some suggestions for social media posts to garner interest:

• When it comes to financial planning, don’t forget about the contents of your home and any offsite storage you’re using. A home inventory will help you know the value of your assets.
• Let me know if you need any help getting your home inventory done this summer. Even if you want to DIY, I’m happy to share tips and resources with you.
• Knowing what items you have in storage and making sure those items are adequately insured are perfect reasons for a home inventory.
• Out of sight, out of mind isn’t a good idea when it comes to items in your off-site storage unit. Theft, fire, and other damage happen at storage facilities, too. #HomeInventory
• Having a garage sale? After that is completed, it is a great time to get your #HomeInventory done or updated, removing items you no longer own.
• Are you properly insured? Do you have enough coverage? Are you paying for too much coverage? Your #HomeInventory will help your insurer know if you have the right amount of coverage.

Marketing Minute – Do They Know You’re Here and What You Do?

This Marketing Minute is provided by Associate Member Mary Gillen

Often people will say “I didn’t know a service like this existed!  So let’s make sure people know you do exist, and exactly what you do!

Let Them Know You’re Here: Include Hyperlinks, Video, and Images in Your Press Releases for Better SEO

For each electronic press release you create, add an optimized image, video, and keyword-rich hyperlinks back to your website or blog. Google News reports this information to the Google Search Engine for indexing.

NOTE: Google News only indexes news releases three days old or less, and only indexes it once.

Let Them Know What You Do: Explain Your Business in 60-Second Spots on YouTube

Help prospects and customers understand your business in a series of 60-second video “bites” on YouTube.

EXAMPLES
Explain what happens after a loss, and how inventory documents help ease the claims process.
Share how an inventory is of great help when settling an estate.
Give examples of how small businesses benefit from knowing what they own.
Show the steps of inventorying one item so they have a visual reference.

Is THIS the New Normal?

We certainly hope not, but until then, we will be dealing with shut-downs, restrictions, new rules, etc. Many members have expressed that their home inventory business has experienced a decrease in clients. Unfortunately, people often make the assumption that “everyone” (especially in-house services) chose to stop doing business, or put it on hold.

What to do? Following are some key tips:

Let people know you’re still here! If you have a website, blog and/or social media accounts, post notices that you’re taking new clients. Include that you will wear a mask (and gloves if they prefer). If you’re vaccinated, be sure to include that information as well.

Email or call your current clients. See if they have purchased new items since you created their inventory – remote updates are perfect for those who are very cautious right now. Ask for referrals – people are more inclined to invite a “stranger” in when suggested by a friend.

Stay in touch with prospects and referral sources. Inform them that you are still providing your services, and always ask for referrals!

Call estate attorneys. If they are already referral sources, let them know you’re still providing your inventory services. If they haven’t yet met you, give a quick intro and ask if you can send an email introducing your business. Sadly, estate attorneys continue to get new clients, so this is a sector of the industry that cannot put things on hold.

Call insurance agents. Let them know you’re still providing your inventory services, and ask for referrals. Also, mention appraisal services if you’ve achieved your CAE.

Contact small business owners. If they are shut down, or their employees are temporarily working from home, this would be a good time to do an inventory of their assets and not interrupt the workflow or be in contact with their employees. As an added service, you could offer to create a “location” document noting who has what business equipment in their homes.

Talk to networking group leaders. With restaurants/coffee shops closing, opportunities for a one-on-one meeting have diminished. Even when open, many people are not comfortable meeting with others. Many networking organizations have scaled down or stopped meeting. Encourage these groups to create on-line meetings.