Category: Lead Management

digital marketing, How much is online marketing, Lead Management, online marketing, online marketing costs, Pay Per Click Advertising, PPC, SEM, SEO, service contractor leads

Lead Generation Services for a Damage Restoration Business

Devon Osborne

Performance Spotlight – All Dry Services of Richmond

In order to reach potential customers, standing out from the competition is paramount in today’s competitive world for water damage restoration specialists. All Dry Services of Richmond, a reputable water damage restoration company in Virginia, understands the importance of investing in effective lead generation for a successful business. In May 2023, they turned to 99 Calls to boost their online presence and connect with more clients. In this blog, we’ll delve into 99 Calls’ successful lead generation efforts for All Dry Services of Richmond, highlighting their achievements across organic search, pay-per-click Google Ads, and Local Service Ads (LSA).

Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the cornerstone of any successful online presence, and All Dry Services of Richmond recognized this. 99 Calls was able to generate 8 exclusive organic restoration leads in just 5 months. All Dry Services of Richmond aided in this process by sending content used to customize their site. This included a questionnaire about their business that was used to complete their “About Us” section, providing a customized logo for their website, and sending photos of their great work, showcasing their commitment to presenting a professional image online. They also boast an impressive 23 Google reviews with an average rating of 4.8 stars, a testament to their exceptional service quality.

Pay-Per-Click Google Ads

Pay-per-click, or PPC, advertising has been another proven avenue for lead generation for All Dry Services of Richmond. Over a period of 5 months, 99 Calls generated a remarkable 54 restoration leads through ads with a commendable $198 lead cost. The skillful Google Ads management team has been able to achieve a 19% conversion rate. This means that nearly one in every five clicks generated through paid advertising is converted into a lead.

Google Guaranteed or Local Service Ads (LSA)

Local Service Ads are a game-changer for service-based businesses, and All Dry Services of Richmond tapped into this potential with 99 Calls. Since August 23, 2023, they secured 12 leads through LSA. With a minimal $164 lead cost, this approach proves to be an effective and cost-efficient way of reaching local customers in need of water damage restoration services.

Conclusion

The collaboration between All Dry Services of Richmond and 99 Calls has proven to be a winning formula for successful lead generation. Whether through organic search, paid advertising, or Local Service Ads, All Dry Services of Richmond has reaped the rewards of the 99 Calls team’s expertise and dedication. With impressive conversion rates and low lead costs, this partnership showcases how businesses can thrive in the digital age by leveraging the power of utilizing the different avenues of online marketing.

Business Website, Carpet Cleaning Leads, cleaning business leads, Commercial Cleaning Leads, digital marketing, Google Ads, Google Business Profile, How much is online marketing, Lead Generation, Lead Generation for Contractors, Lead Management, Nurturing, online marketing, online marketing costs, painting leads, Pay Per Click Advertising, PPC, Roofing Leads, SEM, SEO, service contractor leads

“Which Lead Generation Platform is Best for My Business?”

Jordan Evans

Take this Quiz!

Are you a business owner looking to solve your need for more (and more consistent) inbound leads? You’ve probably heard about different options, from Home Advisor/Angie’s to Google Ads to SEO. Which of these, is the best for your business? Do some deliver a better ROI than others?

The team at 99 Calls is often asked to help small businesses devise a strategy to deliver a lasting lead flow. Over the years, they have been trusted to create and run smart, digital marketing campaigns.

Which option or combination of approaches is right for you? Take this 5-10 minute quiz to find the right lead generation option for your business.

Pssstt…don’t forget to hit submit!

Depending on your business goals, one or a combination of the following options will be recommended to best generate leads for your business:

Google Ads PPC allows you to pay your way onto the first page of Google! PPC ads are our fastest but priciest lead generation option. We recommend this option for all customers who want fast, quality leads, and to those who wish to supplement their long-term SEO strategy.

Local Service Ads (Google Guaranteed) is a pay-per-lead advertising platform that connects local businesses with people who search on Google for the services they offer. These ads appear at the very top of relevant search results above other text ads and display a green check mark. We recommend these to businesses that have lots of great reviews on their Google Business Profile.

Organic SEO is the long-term and most cost-effective approach to lead generation. 99 Calls’ SEO services utilize a lead generation website. Included in the low monthly fee are assistance with online reputation management and an integrated dashboard with a mobile app.

Database Reactivation is best for contractors who provide routine service to their clients or contractors who have been in business for many years. If you have a list of old contacts or clients that could be happy customers again, this is your option!

Email Marketing and Lead Nurturing is an excellent strategy to deploy with your lead sources. Although this doesn’t create leads, it will help you convert the leads you receive and help you build valued relationships.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Business Website, digital marketing, Lead Generation, Lead Generation for Contractors, Lead Management, Uncategorized

The Benefits of Conducting Customer Satisfaction Surveys for Your Business

Diane Lovine

A Case Study

by Devon Osborne

Understanding and meeting the needs of your customers is crucial for success in the highly competitive landscape of businesses today. One of the most effective ways to gauge customer satisfaction is via surveys. Customer satisfaction surveys provide valuable insights into your customer’s experiences with your business.
The major benefit of surveying customers on their satisfaction with your business is that you are able to gauge where different aspects of your business are lacking or excelling. Identifying these areas will help to develop a game plan to make improvements where necessary. Making adjustments based on the feedback you’ve received lets customers know that you are truly listening to them and respecting their time and opinions. When customers feel heard and respected, they’re more likely to remain loyal customers.

Since early 2022, 99 Calls has been surveying customers to learn more about their satisfaction with our lead generation services. Throughout the year last year, 271 customers participated in the survey. Here are our results.

Effective Customer Service

According to the data we collected, the majority of our customers were satisfied with the level of customer service we provided. When asked how well 99 Calls representatives answered their questions, respondents gave an impressive rating of 4.57 out of 5. Over 70% of participants gave 99 Calls a perfect 5/5 score.

Responsiveness

How quickly a business responds to customer inquiries has an impact on customer satisfaction. Over 68% of survey takers rated 99 Calls customer service reps a perfect 5/5 score when it came to responsiveness. By continually monitoring response times, businesses are able to improve,  demonstrating their commitment to efficient customer support, and fostering positive customer experiences and loyalty.

Tailoring Lead Generation Efforts

In our survey, we also wanted to shed light on our customers’ satisfaction in regard to the lead volume they receive each month. Over 28% of respondents expressed being very satisfied with the lead volume they received, while over 24% indicated satisfaction and another 22% were neutral. Fewer than 25% of respondents desired a higher lead volume. However, it is important to note that a significant portion of them had not provided the necessary content for successful search engine optimization (SEO).  By addressing these concerns and aligning lead volume with customer expectations, we are better able to enhance overall marketing effectiveness and drive better results.

Identifying Additional Service Opportunities

Suppose you are looking for ways to expand your business but aren’t sure which path to choose. In that case, customer satisfaction surveys can serve as a valuable source of information for identifying additional services that customers desire. By leveraging customer feedback, businesses are able to better understand their customers’ evolving needs and develop new services or features to meet those demands, driving growth and staying ahead of the competition.

Conclusion

Customer satisfaction surveys provide businesses with crucial insights into customer experiences, preferences, and areas for improvement. The data that 99 Calls have received via their own surveys demonstrates the positive impact they have on enhancing customer service, improving responsiveness, tailoring lead generation efforts, and identifying additional service opportunities. Businesses can create lasting, meaningful relationships and drive long-term success with their clients by actively listening and acting upon customer feedback.

Business Website, digital marketing, Google Ads, How much is online marketing, Lead Generation, Lead Generation for Contractors, Lead Management, online marketing, SEM, SEO

The Evolution of Social Media Marketing for Lead Generation and 99 Calls’ Journey

Diane Lovine

by Diane Lovine

Social media marketing has witnessed significant growth and transformation over the past two decades, revolutionizing the way businesses promote their products and services. Among the pioneers in leveraging social media to generate leads for contractors is 99 Calls. By following industry changes and adopting current trends, 99 Calls has continuously improved its strategies to deliver exceptional results for its customers. This article explores the history of social media marketing and highlights how 99 Calls utilizes this powerful tool to generate high-quality leads.

Social media marketing (SMM) is a form of online marketing that utilizes social media platforms to promote products, services, and brands. It involves creating and sharing content, engaging with users, and running targeted advertising campaigns on various platforms. The definition of social media marketing has changed over time alongside advancements in technology and the shift toward information gathering and consumption via online platforms. The team at 99 Calls has had to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the industry and has adopted these six core ideas that define what it means to deliver social media marketing services.

The main ideas that define SMM include:

  1. Content creation: Social media marketers strive to create engaging and valuable content, such as text, images, videos, and infographics, for the purpose of promoting their clients.
  2. Audience targeting: SMM requires that marketers identify and target specific demographics, interests, behaviors, and locations to reach the right audience with their campaigns.
  3. Brand building: SMM helps in building and enhancing brand awareness, brand identity, and customer loyalty by consistently sharing content that reflects the brand’s values and resonates with its target audience.
  4. Engagement and community management: SMM involves actively engaging with users by responding to comments, messages, and reviews, as well as fostering a sense of community through discussions and presenting helpful information.
  5. Advertising and promotion: Social media platforms offer robust advertising features that enable marketers to create targeted ad campaigns to reach a wider audience and drive specific actions, such as website visits, conversions, or app installations.
  6. Data analysis and optimization: SMM relies on analyzing social media metrics and user data to measure the effectiveness of campaigns, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions for optimizing future marketing strategies. 

The Emergence of Social Platforms

The use of social media marketing dates back to the early 2000s when social networking sites like Friendster and MySpace gained popularity. However, it truly gained momentum with the emergence of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube in the mid-2000s. These platforms offered businesses the opportunity to engage with a vast user base and leverage their growing influence.

Initially, social media marketing primarily revolved around building brand awareness and increasing followers. However, as social media platforms evolved and introduced advertising options, marketers started incorporating targeted advertising into their strategies. Platforms like Facebook introduced advanced targeting capabilities, enabling marketers to reach specific demographics and interests.

Over the years, the role of social media marketing has expanded. It has become an integral part of many businesses’ marketing strategies, with increased emphasis on content creation, influencer marketing, and customer engagement. Social media has also become a customer service channel, allowing businesses to provide support and address customer queries directly.

Is Social Media Marketing An Effective Tool for Service Area Businesses?

As a champion of small business promotion, 99 Calls has followed the trends and assisted contractors by building an online presence through various social media platforms. However, we differ in that the core driver of business growth is the generation of quality leads. Small businesses often have limited budgets. Understanding how to best utilize budgets to gain customers and revenue has been a priority as we’ve served this unique sector. 

When budget matters, paying attention to the efforts that most result in revenue growth is critical. See this article to learn more. Analysis of data gathered from lead campaigns from over 1000 clients has yielded valuable insights on the role social media plays in best positioning a business for growth. 

Service Contractors Benefit Specifically from:

  1. Establishing a presence using reliable SEO practices and unique content
  2. Building a helpful place for users to land (Simple, attractive, compelling landing pages)
  3. Engaging users with useful information and strong calls to action
  4. Building buyer confidence by securing lots of positive customer reviews

With these pillars in place, the next most important step is to find customers where they are and convince them that this business is the one they want. Social media marketing is often about the long game. We all have brands that we follow, whether for a favorite coffee or a favorite beer. Small businesses can build a local following in the same way over the years if they consistently follow the six main ideas listed above. However, real growth requires maximizing views, aka impressions. 

SEO has become so competitive that it takes 10-12 months for websites to rank consistently on the first page of Google for valued keywords. See this article on how the first page of Google has shrunk in recent years.

The most effective use of digital marketing for service contractors is through paid advertising. Paid advertising is the best chance we’ve got to get contractors in front of buyers, and yes, posting on Facebook is helpful, and buying paid ads on FB has been shown to generate some qualified leads. However, we have found that the two most profitable paid lead products are Google Ads PPC and Google Guaranteed LSA. Google Ads pay-per-click leads tend to be more expensive, but they generate the highest lead volume in the least amount of time. Google Guaranteed requires a more extensive vetting process and time to ramp up, but patient contractors are rewarded with high-quality, less expensive leads. Many of our customers choose to target new businesses using the “Trifecta” approach, which combines traditional SEO practices with Google Ads and Google LSA.

What Lies Ahead for Social Media Marketing?

Looking ahead, social media marketing is likely to see rapid changes and further advancement. Here are some trends and changes that can be expected in the coming months and years:

  1. Rise of video content: Video content has become increasingly popular on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Brands are likely to leverage short-form video content to engage with their audiences and showcase their products or services.
  2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and chatbots: AI-powered chatbots will play a much more significant role in social media. We’ll see more responsive AI-generated customer service and engagement practices to provide personalized experiences. 
  3. Lead Nurturing and Database Reactivation: Generating inbound leads is vital to a business’s success. Equally important is collecting data from contacts who visited a landing page but chose not to buy on the spot. The use of targeted text and email campaigns is proven to convert stale leads into new customers at a fraction of the cost. 

To stay ahead of the curve and deliver optimal results, 99 Calls has consistently adapted to industry changes and embraced current trends. As the social media landscape continues to evolve, 99 Calls remains at the forefront of the latest trends. They understand the power of great content, the growing influence of AI, and the importance of maintaining a strong social media presence. By embracing emerging technologies like AI and chatbots, our team has been able to create higher volumes of relevant content to keep our service contractors at the forefront of searches.

Business Website, Lead Generation, Lead Generation for Contractors, Lead Management, SEM

How to Respond to Online Reviews: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

kristen99calls

by Eric Lovine

When deciding which company to contact, potential customers will almost certainly check your ratings and reviews on Google. When they see that your business consistently replies to reviews, you are one step closer to that next lead. When you are attentive to reviews, both good and bad, it shows potential customers that they can trust you.

The Good

Responding to positive reviews is easy. When a satisfied customer leaves a nice message about what you did well or even just a 5-star rating, your response should have the two As: acknowledgment and appreciation. Acknowledge them by using their name and show appreciation by thanking them for their review. The simple inclusion of their name gives the response a personal touch.

“Thanks for leaving a review” vs. “Hey John, thanks for leaving a review”

When a customer takes the time to leave a longer message by detailing what service you provided, commenting on your friendliness, or noting the speed and quality of the job, your response should also have a little more. Let them know that you’re happy to hear they’re happy and that you look forward to working with them again in the future. 

“Hey John, thanks for leaving a review. We’re glad to hear that you’re happy with our exterior painting services. We look forward to helping out with your future projects.”

You can also like a review by clicking the thumbs-up icon underneath. When reviews have lots of “likes”, they tend to rank higher.

The Bad

While negative reviews may seem daunting, they present an opportunity to show potential clients your commitment to customer satisfaction, as well as fixing the relationship with the disgruntled reviewer. By engaging with dissatisfied customers, you have a chance to turn their negative experience into a positive one. Studies have shown that customers who have their issues resolved are more likely to continue doing business with the company.

It’s crucial to maintain a professional tone when responding to negative reviews, regardless of how unfair or exaggerated they may be. Avoid getting defensive or engaging in arguments. Instead, acknowledge the customer’s concerns and assure them that their feedback is taken seriously.

While it may not be possible to please every customer, make an effort to address their concerns and find a solution. Apologize for any inconvenience caused and offer a resolution, such as a refund, replacement, or the opportunity to discuss the matter further offline. The sooner you are able to respond to the review, the more likely you are to reach a resolution.

Once the issue has been successfully resolved, it is often appropriate to ask the customer if they might consider editing or removing their negative review. 

The Ugly

Despite your best efforts, there may be instances where it’s impossible to satisfy certain customers. No matter what you say or do, the customer won’t be coming back. It is still important to respond professionally — negative reviews (and therefore your response) will be seen by others. 

Occasionally, a customer may grossly exaggerate or fabricate information that could turn others away from your business. In these instances, you may need to clarify misunderstandings or explain your side of the story. Clearly and politely present the facts, without getting into a back-and-forth argument with the reviewer.

“John, we are sorry we could not come to an agreement regarding the incomplete painting job. Our company strives to finish projects in a timely manner, and we were unable to deliver on this occasion. However, your review is not accurate. You claim we made no effort to make amends. We made multiple attempts to contact you and even offered a discounted rate for the entire project, which you refused.”

Takeaways

By responding to Google reviews, you are leaving potential new customers with a positive first impression. Engaging with positive reviews increases the likelihood that a satisfied customer comes back. With negative reviews, you can learn from your mistakes and potentially salvage the relationship with an unhappy customer. And for those customers who are gone for good, you can protect your image by offering perspective on damaging and misleading reviews. 

99 Calls helps businesses gain positive reviews and improve their online reputations.

Carpet Cleaning Lead Generation
Appliance Repair Leads, Business Website, digital marketing, Google Ads, How much is online marketing, Lead Generation, Lead Generation for Contractors, Lead Management, Nurturing, Online Appointment Booking, online marketing, online marketing costs, Pay Per Click Advertising, PPC, SEM, SEO, service contractor leads

2023 Digital Marketing Trends

Diane Lovine

Newest Practices that Accelerate Business Growth

by Devon Osborne

Adopting digital marketing trends has become increasingly critical as consumers utilize the internet more and more. Digital marketing encompasses many different strategies for lead generation from SEO and PPC to content marketing and email marketing campaigns. Utilizing different aspects of digital marketing together allows you to connect and communicate with your potential clients throughout all stages of the sales funnel. In 2023, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Social Media Marketing (SMM), video content, lead nurturing, pay-per-click (PPC) and pay-per-lead (PPL) are all fundamental pieces of digital marketing.

SEO Is Still At the Core

The aspects of digital marketing intertwine and work with each other. Take SEO as an example. Gone are the days when you could create a website and listings with minimal content and start seeing results in a matter of weeks. Now, in order to see your website ranking organically, creating quality content is crucial. 

Social Media Marketing Builds Brands

Social media marketing is often used to build brands and does generate leads for businesses with a strong visual aspect or a longer sales cycle. Over 80% of adults use social media in one capacity or another which makes social selling another excellent way to connect with prospective customers. Social media is prime real estate for building brand awareness. You can connect with more potential leads just by keeping your business’s social media updated.

If Pictures Say 1000 Words, Videos Speak Volumes!

One of the most effective and popular methods of digital marketing is videos. Why say everything you want to in text form when there are so many more effective options? Videos are an excellent way to connect with your potential customers and inform them about your business and the services you provide. Some of the most popular video types include explainer videos, video testimonials, and “behind-the-scenes” videos. Each of these videos has its way of engaging potential customers and showing off more of your company for a more personalized feel.

Start Nurturing From The Moment of Contact

Missed calls will hurt you. If you’re not answering your phone when it rings, your potential customers will move on to the next business on the page. With advances in digital marketing, you can engage those customers instantly. Some businesses are sending instant texts when they miss a call. Some send an audio message to their callers. From here, businesses can craft a nurturing campaign to keep potentials engaged and stay on their minds. You’ll want to be careful to find a “just right” frequency of contact. If you’re annoying, customers will opt out.

Nurturing Builds Relationships

Email nurturing is one of the biggest trends in marketing. Meeting potential customers where they are in the buying stage and keeping up with them along their journey is an economical and productive way to grow a business. You want to keep your business at the forefront of potential buyers’ minds. This is accomplished through short-term nurturing. The prospect may already know what they need or they may still be weighing their options. Either way, sending them informative, targeted emails will help guide them further in the process. Sometimes it takes longer than a few weeks for they’re ready to take action and commit which is why having a long-term nurture sequence is also essential. Long-term nurturing allows you to keep in contact with potential customers and to continue building relationships with them. 

PPC/PPL Has Become Essential

With SEO competition higher than ever, securing a spot on the first page of search results is difficult for even the most experienced marketers. You know the saying “Don’t keep all of your eggs in one basket”? This applies to online marketing as well. SEO alone is no longer the most substantial option for generating a steady flow of leads each month. The organic real estate on the first page of Google has shrunk over the last several years making pay-per-click and/or pay-per-lead marketing a much-needed, additional method for lead generation. 

How Will You Utilize Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing has become an essential part of any business’s marketing strategy in 2023. By utilizing SEO, SMM, video content, lead nurturing, PPC, and PPL, businesses can effectively reach their target audience and build relationships with potential customers. The future of digital marketing is bright and businesses should strive to stay ahead of the curve by utilizing the latest trends. Not sure where to begin? Call the lead gen pros at 99Calls!

Lead Management, Nurturing, Uncategorized

How to Capitalize on Email Leads

Diane Lovine

Tips and Tricks for Closing More Email Leads

By Devon Osborne

Email leads are just as valuable as phone leads. In today’s day and age, technology is king. More and more people are turning to the internet to get things done, including fielding quotes from contractors.

Time is of the essence with email leads. It is important to keep a close eye on your inbox so that you can respond to those email leads as soon as possible. One of the biggest complaints we see about email leads is that by the time contractors get back to a prospect, they have already chosen another company. Studies show that 75% of prospective leads will do business with the first company that contacts them back! If you’re not keeping up with your email leads, you are missing out on a large chunk of potential customers.

If you are a one-man show, you likely don’t have the time to sit and watch your inbox throughout the whole day. 55% of companies take at least five days to respond to sales inquiries. However, responding to an email within 5 minutes increases a contractor’s chance of closing the sale by 400%! We have identified a few action items that you can put in place to try and capture these leads as quickly as possible!

Almost everyone carries a smartphone these days. If you have your email on your phone, you can set up notifications to alert you each time you receive a new inquiry. If you always keep up with your text messages, another option is to have email leads forwarded via text. Setting this up is a fairly simple process, you just need to know your mobile phone number and provider.

If you’re getting overwhelmed and feel like you’re already wearing too many hats at your company, there is no shame in hiring some additional help. Having a designated person to handle incoming calls and emails can increase your response time and your bottom line more than you may realize. 

The journey doesn’t end after the first interaction. In addition to being one of the first companies to respond, you’ll also want to touch back in with them regularly. The sales cycle for many industries is not instantaneous. Staying at the top of the mind for your potential customers can help you close even more jobs. Not only is there the possibility of closing new leads that didn’t convert the first time, but you may also re-convert returning customers. Lead nurturing allows you to build trust with your potential clients over time and be at the top of their minds when they are ready to buy.

We understand that the majority of business owners don’t have the time to personally send emails to each and every previous inquiry they’ve received. Instead, wouldn’t it be nice if there were some kind of technology in place to do it for you so you can focus on other aspects of your business? Lucky for you, there is! 

99 Calls is now offering lead nurturing and lead reactivation services. These services allow you to effortlessly and automatically check in with your contacts on a regular basis. Once we gather a bit of information from you, our team will come up with a strategy for your database reactivation.