Blow your competition away

[dmcauley]

Ben,
I think this may be a good "out of the box" sort of marketing thing. I'm not finding fault mind you, but I have grown tired of the hype on issues that are the new and greatest thing since sliced bread from INACHI.

The only trouble I see is that most of the verbiage you state is your opinion with no data to back up your statements. There is text everywhere on the Websites you list. How else can they get the word across about their product and services. People learn and are motivated by using more than once sense. I like the idea of incorporating the video with written testimonials as suggested by Dominic. The written word is not dead even with technology i.e. the Kindle from Amazon.

This "new" idea may be a great marketing idea but as of yet it is not one to end text only but as an addition to marketing.

Thanks for always coming up with new things concerning inspections, marketing, tools, etc. I appreciate it and have incorporated ideas and methodology into my biz. with good results.

[Ben J. Gromicko]

OH!!! This website is fantastic. VIDEO! VIDEO!

http://www.4squarehi.com/

One of the best website's using video that I've ever seen... well, 2nd to NACHI.TV of course.

http://4squarehi.com/home-inspection-testimonials.html

Greg Liebig, CIAQT
Certified Home Inspector
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
WI License #1955-106

[Gregory A. Liebig]

Originally Posted by bgromicko

OH!!! This website is fantastic. VIDEO! VIDEO!

http://www.4squarehi.com/

One of the best website's using video that I've ever seen... well, 2nd to NACHI.TV of course.

http://4squarehi.com/home-inspection-testimonials.html

Greg Liebig, CIAQT
Certified Home Inspector
B.S. Mechanical Engineering
WI License #1955-106

Thanks Ben, I started doing this a while ago because I did get some feedback from our clients that they don't necessarily believe the written testimonials because they're "always good". One skeptical client hired us as I was blown away by their testimonial. It was from Barb & John moving from Appleton, WI. I'm waiting to get together with them to do a video.

I send an electronic survey along with the inspection report for our clients to fill out. I only get about 40% back. I started doing an incentive to encourage participation by doing a quarterly drawing from all survey participants to win a "prize valued up to $50". That has helped the response rate.

Video is the way to go and I post mine on youtube because it's really easy to upload and embed into a website. They also have tracking tools to see how many times the video has been played and options to vote. Our intro video is a little long but that also has proved to be beneficial. Being our first one produced, your should see the out-takes!

Thanks again for your comments!

[Gregory A. Liebig]

I forgot to ask, How did you find the website and videos? Did you do a search or did you know the site?

[Dominic J. Maricic]

I agree, nice job Greg!

[Gregory A. Liebig]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

I agree, nice job Greg!

Thank you!

I did a presentation at our local NACHI chapter meeting this past winter. The topic was about increasing the effectiveness of using the web to promote our industry. It really does work and as more and more companies provide REAL ESTATE services on a piecemeal basis, being on the the top of your marketing game will become even more important.

I'm an old 46 year old inspector and have decided to be "young again" by marketing to those clients that may not realize the value of working with an experienced REALTOR.

We've been tagged as a thorough inspection company. For those cynics, that means that we are hired by word of mouth, web presence, or by those REALTORS that want a good inspector for their friends and family when they have a buyer's agency.

If there is anyway I can help others in our industry, please let me know. I would be happy to help!

[Ben J. Gromicko]

Greg,
I encourage you to consider writing your presentation down in words - and sharing it with the membership. If you'd like, InterNACHI can help you (as well as any one else) who desires to share their knowledge and expertise on subjects related to the inspection industry - particularly about being successful in these challenging times, like marketing, operations, or technical knowledge.

InterNACHI BLOG http://www.nachi.org/blog/

[Gregory A. Liebig]

I have the entire powerpoint that I wrote that could be available

[Ben J. Gromicko]

Originally Posted by dmcauley

Ben,
The only trouble I see is that most of the verbiage you state is your opinion with no data to back up your statements. There is text everywhere on the Websites you list. How else can they get the word across about their product and services. People learn and are motivated by using more than once sense. I like the idea of incorporating the video with written testimonials as suggested by Dominic. The written word is not dead even with technology i.e. the Kindle from Amazon.

I've read stats in books like Email Marketing by Mullen and Daniels - 1 out of 3 words in an email is actually read; 1 out of 4 words are read on a webpage. It is website and email copy ADD (attention def. disorder) essentially. There are a lot of studies about heatmapping where people look and what they read on a website. It's scary. Copy (written words) are really important, but only a few concise and necessary ones - not all of them.

Now, from my own personal experience - this post is getting too long for most InterNACHI message board readers. 3 lines is really a maximum here. My own experience with emails - I don't even read long ones - my trigger finger is on the delete button. My own experience with websites - video rules.

Remember - we're talking marketing here - not reading a romance novel on a Kindle.

Marketing involves: Telling your message - Effectively - and Make It Quick. It's an exercise like a sales pitch to a client while going down an elevator - The Elevator Pitch. You've got only so much time to sell your services - before the doors slide open and they walk out.

Ever hear about the "Good Movie Test?" You know it's a good movie when you can yell to your friend, whose on the other side of the busy city street, what the movie was all about. It's a bad movie when you got to cross the street and blah blah blah for 10 minutes convincing your buddy to go see the movie.

Be the GOOD MOVIE. Be an inspection company that takes someone only a few words to speak great things about you.

My advice: Don't rely on someone reading a bunch of words on your website, in your emails, on your printed marketing.
Get some pictures in there. One picture is worth a thousand words.
Get some video in there too. One video is worth .... 20 times that of a picture.

IMHO

[Brian E. Kelly]

Ben, for what it is worth I think you are on to something here. Less is more, and the video references are brilliant.

[Ben J. Gromicko]

Billy's website rocks. http://www.stlhomeinspector.com/
I would guess that everyone hits play first, watches a few seconds of the video, doesn't read anything else on the site, but contacts him immediately just based upon the video testimonial.

Billy, I suggest putting your phone number directly below the video testimonial. Why? People will decide to hire you right after watching the video. So make it easy for them to call you.

[Dominic J. Maricic]

Billy, turn this image into a jpg or png file: http://www.stlhomeinspector.com/style/green_logo.bmp

It's 400k which is HUGE for a webpage. Dial-up people won't be able to load your site.

[Billy Boerner]

Originally Posted by dmaricic

Billy, turn this image into a jpg or png file: http://www.stlhomeinspector.com/style/green_logo.bmp

It's 400k which is HUGE for a webpage. Dial-up people won't be able to load your site.

Will do thanks Dom.

[mreusch]

Ben Can you contact me after the Holiday? I have a lot of questions. Thanks.

[Ben J. Gromicko]

Originally Posted by mreusch

Ben Can you contact me after the Holiday? I have a lot of questions. Thanks.

Sure, bud.
Anyone can call me anytime (although I'm better and quicker with email).
And I'm not always on the message board.

ben@nachi.tv ben@mountainwarranty.com 303-862-2611