Where to Find Your Next Client
Cover all bases to connect with homeowners who could be potential customers
The easiest way to get new business is through client referrals and recommendations, but there are plenty of other opportunities to explore. Make sure you’re aware of all the available avenues with this guide, so you can generate the right kind of leads for your firm.
2. Connect with your neighbourhood
Tap into the market on your doorstep. Advertise in local magazines and newspapers and send out regular press releases, or sponsor a local event, such as a school fête. Marketing like this involves time and money, so think about your budget and devise a plan.
If you have a Houzz profile, become part of our Pro+ community. When a homeowner in your proximity searches for a professional, your business will be highlighted as local.
Lyn Hughes of Desigining Inside Out praises Pro+: “Despite initial hesitation, the Houzz marketing program has proven to be a very successful venture for me… I would certainly recommend this program to other design professionals looking to expand and grow their business – well worth it.”
Tap into the market on your doorstep. Advertise in local magazines and newspapers and send out regular press releases, or sponsor a local event, such as a school fête. Marketing like this involves time and money, so think about your budget and devise a plan.
If you have a Houzz profile, become part of our Pro+ community. When a homeowner in your proximity searches for a professional, your business will be highlighted as local.
Lyn Hughes of Desigining Inside Out praises Pro+: “Despite initial hesitation, the Houzz marketing program has proven to be a very successful venture for me… I would certainly recommend this program to other design professionals looking to expand and grow their business – well worth it.”
3. Create an online presence
It’s essential that your business has a website. It needs to contain clear information about what your business offers, quality images of your work and easy-to-find contact details.
Most firms want their website to come high up on the search pages. There’s no magic formula, but offering users valuable and informative content helps. Set up a blog on your website full of interesting and useful posts, and potential clients will appreciate this advice and expertise.
4. Showcase your work editorially
Getting your work featured online and in magazines will provide a lot of exposure. Houzz’s editorial team, for example, is always on the lookout for high-quality projects they can feature. If you’ve finished a home renovation you’re proud of, invest in some professional photography and upload the images to your profile.
It’s essential that your business has a website. It needs to contain clear information about what your business offers, quality images of your work and easy-to-find contact details.
Most firms want their website to come high up on the search pages. There’s no magic formula, but offering users valuable and informative content helps. Set up a blog on your website full of interesting and useful posts, and potential clients will appreciate this advice and expertise.
4. Showcase your work editorially
Getting your work featured online and in magazines will provide a lot of exposure. Houzz’s editorial team, for example, is always on the lookout for high-quality projects they can feature. If you’ve finished a home renovation you’re proud of, invest in some professional photography and upload the images to your profile.
5. Know the social scene
Social channels provide a fantastic way to market your business, but focus your energies wisely. Identify the social media platforms your target customers are most likely to look at, and monitor what times of the day they are most active.
Social media works best when you have a large network, so it’s a good idea to get a bigger publication or website to share your work for you. Imperfect Interiors’ Beth Dadswell says, “Social media helps to show people what your work is like, but you need a huge following to generate leads. It helps when magazines and websites feature you on their social media pages as they get many more hits.”
Social channels provide a fantastic way to market your business, but focus your energies wisely. Identify the social media platforms your target customers are most likely to look at, and monitor what times of the day they are most active.
Social media works best when you have a large network, so it’s a good idea to get a bigger publication or website to share your work for you. Imperfect Interiors’ Beth Dadswell says, “Social media helps to show people what your work is like, but you need a huge following to generate leads. It helps when magazines and websites feature you on their social media pages as they get many more hits.”
6. Get out and about at shows
Nothing beats meeting people, so visit homeowner events – focus on the shows your target clients are likely to visit. Trade shows can be a great opportunity to showcase your work to clients, running them through presentations or your portfolio.
Nothing beats meeting people, so visit homeowner events – focus on the shows your target clients are likely to visit. Trade shows can be a great opportunity to showcase your work to clients, running them through presentations or your portfolio.
7. Link with other professionals
Build up your professional network by sharing a client base with complementary contractors. Architects, for example will often recommend builders they’ve worked with, and interior designers tend to use joiners they know and trust.
Make the most of connections on Houzz by leaving reviews on the profiles of good professionals you’ve worked with, and comment on Houzz Tours you find interesting.
Build up your professional network by sharing a client base with complementary contractors. Architects, for example will often recommend builders they’ve worked with, and interior designers tend to use joiners they know and trust.
Make the most of connections on Houzz by leaving reviews on the profiles of good professionals you’ve worked with, and comment on Houzz Tours you find interesting.
8. Join a professional body
Show off your credentials by joining a professional body, such as the Australian Institute of Architects, the Design Institute of Australia, Building Designers Association of Australia or the Landscaping Victoria. These organisations make it easy for homeowners to find a professional in a particular field, and they all have a profile on Houzz with links back to the profiles of their members.
Dominic Bagnato from Bagnato Architects says: “It’s like flying a plane with an experience pilot rather than flying solo. Being a part of an association provides you credibility and shows potential clients you conduct your business under strict codes of conduct. They host frequent events, keeping you updated on industry-specific knowledge, legal items and developments, while keeping you in contact with your peers.”
Show off your credentials by joining a professional body, such as the Australian Institute of Architects, the Design Institute of Australia, Building Designers Association of Australia or the Landscaping Victoria. These organisations make it easy for homeowners to find a professional in a particular field, and they all have a profile on Houzz with links back to the profiles of their members.
Dominic Bagnato from Bagnato Architects says: “It’s like flying a plane with an experience pilot rather than flying solo. Being a part of an association provides you credibility and shows potential clients you conduct your business under strict codes of conduct. They host frequent events, keeping you updated on industry-specific knowledge, legal items and developments, while keeping you in contact with your peers.”
Right here, at the click of your mouse, you have a ready-made and highly-engaged audience. Did you know that out of Houzz’s 40 million monthly users around the world, roughly 70 per cent are actively renovating or planning to renovate?
This makes our busy Advice section a place where you can easily connect directly with potential clients. Think about it this way: every time your profile pops up on the platform, it’s as if you’re introducing yourself at a party to a roomful of homeowners who are very likely to be looking for the right professional to hire. So by being a friendly, helpful member of the community and showing off your expertise there, you could easily be lining up your next project.