Marketing is the hardest part of building a brand or a business…to me.

As a default, I am not comfortable of “convincing people to shop or buy from me”.

As you can imagine, this is seemingly difficult for growing in a world and economy where selling is everywhere.

The world of commerce resembles WWF Wrestlemania on a energized Thursday night.

Most everything is about dopamine and clicks. Distraction sells more than quality generally. Where is your product at that exact moment when they need it?

Is it best before or after the kitten snuggling with the sloth?

In disaster restoration the “trend” or SOP is to load up your funnel with leads purchasing. Thanks to the internet and smart devices, the entire buyers behavior has changed. I will be the first to tell you that not having a solid and quality digital online presence will leave you working harder than the average restorer.

LEAD WHOLESALING

I bet you haven't heard that terms much yet. Maybe you have, but I feel like I made that up, especially with the context I intend to use here.

Leads once came from relationships (more on that in a few minutes), but the global commerce saturation and the continued commodity centric nature of service has opened a gazillion adjacent companies to help get leads. These companies call themselves “Marketing Agencies”.

These are specialists that invest the time and education to use the tools and platforms (just as you could) to create attention for your service or your widget. Nothing really wrong with this at all, but over time, with this becoming a space occupier, they have created a universe where you cannot compete with their algorithms.

I have close friends that manage PPC and digital marketing. Even they will tell you that they are selling you at retail, what you might be able to partially get at wholesale.

Google changes weekly or even daily. This creates a unique garden for specialists.

Your organic position is important. When we support lead gen companies to dominate the top spots on online searches, we create a high value price race where they get the top spots, where you could be, but they sell to you for 5x+ the rate.

OTHER LEAD SOURCES

Our industry is in the midst of a race for leads.

Plumbers are hot.

They are charging HOT fees as well, This creates unique profit dissolving results. Plus I can’t think of a more over-marketed segement. Of course, plumbers are now doing water damage and water damage companies are opening plumbing firms. Wow, what a mess.

Lead Gen Companies

We mentioned those. They can provide value and make the phone ring but you had better be ON TOP of your phone to clear out erroneous calls. The owner or leaders should not be living by the phone. I can think of 325 other more important areas that brain power should be.

Property Managers, Realtors, Agents

Each can be a good source locally and regionally. People of all types have different results from all. I call these “fillers”. This means they are good to create good volume if you have enough of them. But like all segments, I warn everyone to not put too many eggs in one basket.

WHO AM I AND WHAT DO I RECOMMEND?

I opened this by admitting that marketing is my weakness. My Kryptonite. As of writing this blog, I have started 11 business. Yes. This includes a lemonade stand. Very attractive in 104 degree East Texas heat. Cars lined up. What was my marketing? A good quality product that solved a problem and where people knew how to find me.

Did I have competition? Yes. I had 2 ice cream shops, a small dinky water park and gas stations selling water for more money and Icee’s.

But I marketed. I asked others to tell people about me. I gave a free sample. I had our family dog Crissy laying beside the stand (in the shade). I was a business that attracted.

I’ve gone on to open a stump grinding business, a guide service in Wyoming, a car detail shop, multiplpe dry cleaners, a disaster recovery company (commercial only) and of course an incredible coaching/ training/ mentorship company.

Few paid ads. No Lead Gen buying. A decent website and online presence.

How did I survive and grow?

Trust and People. Giving and Connecting.

I learned early on that your reputation is 110% your best asset and resource. I met people, listened, asked what they needed, stayed humble and connected to people that helped them. That’s it. Period.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Here is how the way I have done business all these decades is how you can also.

Toby Clem with Restoration Advisers also grew his company in much the same way. He will tell you he didn’t really have any competition.

Toby has just released a program and e-course on Dartboard Marketing. He has a wonderful and simple to apply marketing strategy that just works. This allows you to attract the clients you want, that send you leads for people that they think you align with.

This means fewer or almost no “RED FLAG” customers or clients. Then your clients recommend others to you. People like to share good leads with those they love. It’s a reflection of what they stand for.

We have been coaching this in our client sessions for a few years and after alot of time and energy, we finally created this course to help anyone that is tired of the exhausting marketing that seldom builds lasting meaningful relationships.

Guess what? Toby closed his company 3 years ago and STILL gets calls for work a few times a month. Know who he gives those to? A former competitor that he knows does great work.

Look at your level of energy and what you have been doing, then ask yourself what trying something new might do for you.

Grab our Dartboard Marketing Course today in one of two ways:

1. Get the FREE version delivered to your inbox

2. Join the GROWN level in our Academy and get the immersive course with templates included plus a lot more:

Couple this with our Client Onboarding Program and you will be a stand-out provider that everyone will talk about.

”You already know everyone you need to, to be successful” Bob Beaudine

Good luck out there. Market to be seen as an expert, not to be seen once and as a ad on a screen.