This post is alittle old, but my favorite subject, so I thought I would share. I am on online marketer who has a husband who is in the restoration industry. My husbands business was growing and so was mine, with both of us working all the time we had to decide to join forces, and at the New Year I quit my marketing consulting business and even fired all my web sites and social media that I maintained for clients.
I only share this so you know my background and that I have actually tested this stuff and do know what we have seen results with.
This is just a few basics that I never miss on a site. A video, that actually shows the people in the business and features those in the office and owners. I like the girls you have in the videos and that they actually work with you. The point of a video is not to show how professional you can make a video, but to show you are real. Show your future clients who will be picking up the phone when they call, they love to put face to a name. If I was going to redo your video, I would have the girls introduce themselves and show them working. Have someone answering the phone, "Hi I am stacey, when you call I will be here to help you out". Have others while working, "I am Tom and I take pride in making sure your home sparkles" and so on... Facts tell and stories sell. "We started our business in 2003, we are a local family, our 3 children attend school here, and we want to help the neighborhood" Show your credentials in stories, not just facts. Keep videos short. The main one on the site, just introducing who you are and the people in the company. Then also get testimonial videos from clients. Just use your cell phones for this. When you are in the sales process, and it is a regular client, or someone outgoing, let them know, I will throw in some of this, in exchange for you saying some positive things on video for me at the end of the day, just 20 seconds with my cell phone, that is it!" Put these testimonials all over. (On a side note, get some business cards printed with your yelp and angies list, facebook links. These are what I call social media cards. Give these out to your clients. Ask them to post something nice for you on any of those places and you will give them something on the next visit)
The only reason I even decided to post a response to your question is because you are making the one mistake that in the only thing that matters. You can get rid of everything else on your site if you were just to keep the one box that you have that says "Join my newsletter" . And I want you to know that I have actually tested this, I have had clients who we took everything off of the website and only had a subscribe box and business increased dramatically. But the most important words on the site are the words before they put the name and email in the box. Never ever say "Subscribe to my newsletter" Instead give something valuable, " Free Report, how to make sure the stains never re-appear" "7 secrets carpet cleaners do not want you to know" "Get 25 tips for dealing with your insurance claim" "Get 25% off your next visit when you sign up" . Come up with something clever, think of the questions that people always ask and put this as a reason to sign up to your newsletter. Then when people sign up give the report, coupon or deal, then every week or every few weeks, send a short newsletter. It does not even need to be a newsletter. It can be 3 sentences, just saying Hi from our company and wanted to share a tip in case you ever get red wine in your carpet. Quickly grab the......" Or share a story or testimonial, end the email with a deal, quote or something fun. I can guarantee when you switch to this type of marketing, you will get many more clients in the long run. Add all clients to your newsletter list. Keep the emails short and valuable.
SO... my number one advice, move that box up to the top, and give something away. Then focus on building and keeping in touch with your list!!
Almost everything that is on websites does not matter to your client. Think about what a person wants to know. They want to know who to trust, and how much you charge. Initially that is all they care about. They do not care about you, they only care if they are going to get what they want done at a fair price with good quality. So show them. You can be trusted, you have happy clients, you are real (video with real people), you are featured places and have given back to the community, people like you. Then show them that you give good quality. Most of the time people are shopping around. This is why when they shop around, they get on your list, and you pop up again in their email box when they are ready to purchase. You help them and give them great tips. You are top of mind when they are ready to purchase.
Sorry, long advice. But I think the site looks good, just a few tweaks and don't focus on what you like, focus on what converts clients and makes money!!
If you ever need help, or anyone else on here, let me know. I really love marketing and I am looking forward to bringing what I know to the restoration industry.
Liz
