The locksmith industry has been in constant flux over the last decade. With the rise of keyless entry systems and smart home technology, more customers than ever before needing a locksmith for their security needs.
When it comes to marketing your business as a locksmith, you have many different avenues available to you – from social media posts and ads on Google and Facebook to joining various trade organizations and attending industry conferences (to name just a few).
However, it can be hard to know where exactly to start when looking at all these options! That’s why we compiled this list of 15 ideas for maximizing your business through effective marketing techniques:
#1: Start a blog
Having a regularly updated blog can be beneficial to you as a locksmith for several reasons:
– it demonstrates your expertise and knowledge about the industry and your trade and builds trust with potential customers
– it helps you rank better in search engines like Google, which brings more traffic to your website
– it establishes you as an industry expert by potentially being quoted or appearing in other blogs/websites that are targeting locksmiths. In that way, one article leads to multiple benefits!
Marketing is one of the most common worries for locksmiths. It’s not easy to know how to get your name out there, especially with so many different options available. But content marketing can be an easy way to start!
But why is content marketing important? Content marketing is important because it allows you to reach more people without spending any extra time or money on advertising, building trust and credibility by showing your knowledge and expertise of the locksmith industry, increasing traffic to your website, and generating leads.
How do you go about creating engaging content? Well, it will depend on who your target audience is (and of course what niches/services you offer). But in general, here are some tips for writing content that will appeal to your clients:
– Write content readers want to share, not what you think they want to read. This can be anything from blog posts to social media updates
– Create a better user experience by keeping things simple and easy to follow
– Don’t sell too hard! Focus on educating your audience about topics that are related to your services or products, instead of only talking about yourself. As the saying goes, ‘give them candy, not a lollipop’. For example, you could write an article for locksmiths about how important it is for their business’ security systems to be up-to-date with technology – but don’t make it all about your alarm systems! Instead focus on giving your audience a better understanding of what you can offer them, and how it will benefit their business.
When starting a blog, you’ll want to make sure your website is in place first. That way, when people come to your website for the first time they’ll immediately see that you have an active blog going on!
In addition, having a blog that people can subscribe to through email or RSS feed is beneficial because then they will start receiving updates from you whenever you post new content – adding more value for them and increasing the chances of getting them to convert into customers.
#2: Offer Free Services & Discounts
One of the most effective marketing techniques locksmiths can use is offering services or discounts – but not every day (that would defeat the purpose of building any sort of relationship with your customers).
What you can do instead is offer free services or discounts once in a while, which will help attract new customers – and keep them coming back!
For example, when promoting your business, you could announce it to your current customer base (including anyone who has good reviews on Yelp good. Replying to their reviews or tagging them in Facebook posts are two easy ways to make sure they see these announcements). You could also share this information through other social media channels. Or you could host a giveaway drawing for one lucky winner to get a discount or service from you. The possibilities are endless!
One thing to keep in mind though is that too many free offers may make it harder for you to manage, especially if you are trying to build relationships with these customers. It’s up to you whether or not that is important in your business’s success, but just remember that one of the biggest benefits of offering free services or discounts is increasing buzz about your business!
#3: Buy Advertising Online & Offline
If there are certain areas of town where you have a lot of customers, then buying some advertising space in those places could be beneficial. Having your advertisements visible in more places around town where locksmiths are likely to see them regularly – increases the chances of new customers seeing them enough times so they can remember who you are when need your services!
#4: Increase Your Search Engine Rankings
One of the best ways to make sure your business is visible on search engines is by making sure you have a high search engine ranking. The only problem with this method is that it can be very time-consuming! Fortunately, there are many SEO tools you can use to help boost your rankings in no time – while also ensuring that everything is done properly. You could try installing Google Analytics if you don’t already have it on your site, or some other software that will help track visits/leads coming from specific keywords. That way, you’ll know which keywords are working for you so you can adjust accordingly.
Optymizer provides several different types of services related to improving your website rankings. Their blog has great advice about online marketing, SEO, PPC management, and more. Check them out!
#5: Give Your Customers Exclusive Offers (ie. Coupons)
One of the most popular types of marketing today is the use of coupons – especially if you are trying to attract new customers to your locksmith business. If offering discounts or free services worked for you before, then coupons should work twice as well because it gives people two opportunities to receive a reward from doing something they probably already do anyway!
However, several things go into making coupons effective that shouldn’t be overlooked. First off, it should have an expiration date so that people know they need to take advantage of them quickly if they want to receive the benefits. Second, you want to make sure that these coupons are only available to specific customers (ie. only advertise them on your website and not through other channels). And lastly, try to include a sense of urgency in your marketing campaign so people know that they need to take advantage of coupons while they still have the chance!
Alignment strives to provide its clients with an exceptional online presence through cutting-edge search engine optimization techniques. Check out their blog for more tips on how you can increase your rankings quickly and effectively.
o get new business from existing customers, or cross-sell/up-sell products & services.
#7: Offer One-Time Deals or Othericements
Another great way for you to bring in new business is by offering something that has a 1-time use. The idea here is that if your customers like what you’re offering, then they’ll keep coming back for more – which means the chances of them using other products or services increases! It’s important to note though that if this may not work so well with your business model because it might cause other problems (ie. your time might be limited, making it harder for people who need service fast). That’s why it’s helpful to understand your business inside and out before taking these kinds of marketing risks.
Optymizer provides Google AdWords management services at cost-effective rates while always striving to meet aggressive deadlines. Check out their blog for even more details regarding how you can increase traffic to your site.
#8: Submit Your Site for Review to Review Sites
Another great method of getting word about your locksmith business is by submitting it for review on different types of websites and review sites (ie. Yelp, GMB, etc.). There are a couple of advantages with this type of marketing campaign – first off, the more reviews your site accumulates, the more likely search engines will associate your site with positive keywords (and boost your rankings). Secondly, if you’re able to get enough reviews on popular sites like these, then you’ll start appearing at the top of local searches – which means that more people might end up clicking through to visit/use your services! Optimize Online Marketing helps their clients gain traffic to their site through SEO, paid search marketing, social media marketing, and more.
#9: Encourage Your Customers to Talk About Your Company
Another effective way of bringing in new business is by simply encouraging your current customers to talk about how great you are – which means that you’ll get free advertising! For example, if you have a list of satisfied customers who can vouch for the services you provide, then why not give them something easy (ie. email) so they cannot spread the word about their good experiences? This is not only extremely helpful when trying to attract new business but it also helps boost your existing business because it gives people another reason to come back for more (ie. because they know that you’re a company that keeps its word).
To get new business from existing customers, or cross-sell/up-sell products & services.
#4: Have an Informative Blog on Your Site
One of the most crucial aspects of your website is going to be your blog – because it’s typically where you will go about broadcasting new content and informing interested readers about what’s happening in the field (ie. new promotional offers, tips for doing things yourself, etc.). That being said, an effective way of marketing your website is by encouraging people who are coming to check out the blog to share it on their own social media channels – which means more people might end up seeing it! Alignment Online Marketing specializes in providing SEO management services to help businesses increase their visibility online.
#5: Optimize Your Site for Mobile Viewing
More and more people are now browsing the web on their smartphones – which is why you need to make sure that your site is mobile friendly (or at least responsive). That way, not only are you reaching more customers, but they’ll also have a better experience with your business! When designing the layout of your site, consider how easy it will be to read/navigate on mobile devices. Of course, certain things just show up better on larger screens – so if possible then try to direct them back here where they can use a PC or laptop instead! Marketing Optimizer helped thousands of local businesses connect with more customers online through search engine optimization.
#10: Make a Facebook Account to Show Off Your Company
While it might seem like there are parts of your business that you don’t want the general public to see, having a Facebook account is an incredibly effective way of marketing yourself because it allows people who have already shown interest in your services to check out all the newest developments! For example, if you just added a new service or update your pricing, then you can easily share this information with everyone on that platform by posting about it. Plus, having an active presence will help provide another reason for current and potential clients to come back (ie. they know they always get great deals). Also as part of social media marketing, this platform can help create back-links to your website.
#11: Take Advantage of Discounts/Promotions for Current Customers
Another successful marketing strategy is by offering discounts and special offers to returning customers. If you have a list of people who have bought from you in the past, then why not give them something they can use so they come back again? Even if it’s just a small thing – any little deal will be an effective way of bringing new business because most people are looking for good quality products & services at great prices! Alignment Online Marketing specializes in providing digital marketing strategies that generate targeted traffic to client websites.
#12: Offer Reputation Management with Each Job You Do
While most locksmiths are primarily concerned about their physical security, reputation management is an integral part of marketing your business. Customer reviews and testimonials are a fantastic way of sharing the quality of your services (and can potentially bring new customers to your website), and as such, it should be one of the cornerstones of any good marketing strategy. This is why you should always try to offer some kind of reputation management service with every job you do! Whether this means offering post-visit follow-ups or giving out cards that allow clients to write reviews online about their experience – anything goes as long as it helps boost your reputation and visibility online! Marketing Optimizer has provided search engine optimization, pay-per-click advertising & social media marketing for established businesses in Canada since 2002.
#13: Offer Referral Rewards to Promote Your Services
Another great way to promote your business is by offering referral rewards for clients who recommend you to their friends! This can be in the form of a discount, a free product or service, or even just an invitation to a special event. While this might have been popularized by tech giants like Apple & Dropbox, it’s actually not uncommon among many businesses big and small – so why not try it out yourself? No matter what type of business you’re in, providing incentives that give people extra reasons beyond satisfaction will help drive people into your doors! Alignment Online Marketing has provided marketing services in Newmarket Ontario since 2011.
#14: Create Content That Answers Questions/Solves Problems
As someone who teaches people about locksmithing and the industry as a whole, you probably know that one of your biggest assets is your knowledge. And this isn’t just limited to what you read and study – but also the experience and lessons you’ve learned over the years. When it comes to marketing, however, it’s important to remember that not everything has to be about promoting your business! Instead, creating content focused on topics like personal & professional development or industry news allows you to share something valuable with people who might not even care about hiring a local locksmith.
#15: Renew Your Listings on Google & Yelp
Another great way to market yourself online is by making sure that all of your information (address, phone number, hours) is accurate and up-to-date on online directories like Google My Business, Yelp & SuperPages. Depending on your type of business these can be extremely valuable for people looking to find information about your services – so you must take care of this early on!
With all of this in mind, there are many different ways that you can market yourself online and attract customers to your website. If you’re serious about growing your locksmith business then you must have an effective marketing strategy in place – even if it means hiring a professional expert who specializes in local search engine optimization or digital marketing strategies to help out! For more ideas and suggestions visit: Alignment Online Marketing.