Asphalt maintenance season has just begun. Many sealcoating companies' appointment books and calendars apps have already been filled up. But if you find yourself still looking to fill your season with jobs, then that's a problem you need to fix.
Here are the four best ways to sell asphalt maintenance services to your prospects.
1. Cold Calling for Prospects
You've likely heard about cold calling. It's a tactic used to reach people who may have never heard about you or heard about your service. This helps you get in touch with prospects. It also gives you an opportunity to plant the idea of asphalt maintenance into their heads.
What are some cold-calling methods?
The most popular way to cold call is by phone. With this method, all you need is a landline or your smartphone, and you're ready to talk to a bunch of customers to offer sealcoating and crack repair services.
Cold email is another great way to reach prospective customers. You can use your regular email account for cold emailing, but keep in mind that email providers have "sending limits" in place to keep spammers in check. For example, you can only send a message to up to 2,000 recipients if you're using Google Workspace and up to 500 recipients per message for Outlook.
Those sending limits are probably enough if you're servicing a single city. But if you're operating in multiple cities and cold emailing thousands of prospects, then we recommend that you sign up for an email marketing tool that specializes in cold emails.
Then there's door-to-door sales.
This is the oldest type of cold calling and probably one of the most effective.
Door-to-door sales is a great way to build rapport with potential customers, customize your pitch, and get to know them better. But it can be tricky in the case of asphalt maintenance because you don't have products to show your prospect.
So what you can do is service a neighbor's property first before going door to door. You can also show before-and-after pictures to your prospects.
The door-to-door sales method also has its cons. Some people find face-to-face solicitation annoying or bothersome. Many states and municipalities have also created "no solicitation" laws, so we recommend you check the rules in your area before heading out.
FREE DOWNLOAD!
Get your FREE printable door-to-door sales script!
Learn how door-to-door sales will grow your sealcoat business in this Asphalt Kingdom video.
Want more tips about cold calling? Then head over to the Asphalt Kingdom YouTube channel for more tips on selling asphalt maintenance services door-to-door or via phone.
Related: Keys to Success 2022: Online Marketing Strategy
2. Master Social Media Marketing
Social media is extremely important for most businesses today.
When it comes to platforms, Facebook still has the most users and you can use this to your advantage. YouTube is also a great way to showcase your sealcoating and crack repair work.
Other social media platforms that are perfect for getting the word out about your asphalt business include Instagram, LinkedIn (great for finding customers who own commercial properties), TikTok, and Pinterest. Twitter is a good social networking platform, but not a lot of small businesses have found success there.
Watch this webinar to get more insights on mastering social media marketing.
3. Bid on Public and Private Asphalt Maintenance Projects
Another great way to sell your asphalt maintenance services is to bid on projects. Whether private or public sector, it doesn't matter. Bidding is a great way to acquire new customers and reach this season's goals.
But what are the differences between public and private bidding?
Public sector bidding is more competitive. Governments usually award these lucrative sealcoating and crack repair contracts to the lowest bidder. Private companies, meanwhile, typically want to strike a balance between cost and quality when it comes to hiring contractors.
Where do you find asphalt maintenance projects to bid on?
Public bid opportunities are usually advertised on the government website or in the newspapers thirty days or more before the contract is to be awarded. Private projects, meanwhile, are posted on various bidding websites or the company's website itself.
Related: Asphalt Business Tips: How to Get More Reviews From Customers
4. Boost Your Online Presence
Boosting your online presence is another thing you can do to get the word out about your asphalt maintenance business.
Building a website for your sealcoating and crack repair business should be your number one priority. A website allows customers to find you on the internet. They can also contact you in case they're interested in hiring you for an asphalt maintenance project.
But if you're still on the fence about having a website because of the cost of creating and maintaining one, then we recommend a Google Business Profile first. This platform allows customers to find you on local search results and Maps, giving you a definite advantage over your competitors.
Signing up and claiming your Business Profile is easy. Best of all, it's free.
Our blog on Google Business Profile is an oldie but a goodie, so check it out for some helpful tips.
Conclusion
There you have it! The four best ways to sell asphalt maintenance services. Be sure to check our blog regularly or follow us on social media to learn how you can master asphalt maintenance business marketing and sales.
If you want more tips like these or to discuss marketing strategies with asphalt maintenance contractors like yourself, join the weekly Asphalt Kingdom Roundtable.
