As a skilled tradesperson, you already know that delivering quality work and communicating clearly with your customers are essential for building a strong reputation. These are the fundamentals, but if you’re here, you’ve likely got those nailed. While those basics go a long way, they aren’t always enough to guarantee that customers will call you back the next time they need help. If you’re looking to turn first-time clients into loyal customers, here are five additional steps you can take to encourage repeat business.
1. Stay in Touch After the Job
Once the job is done, it’s easy to move on to the next project, but staying connected with your customers is key to getting repeat business. A simple follow-up message, call or email to check in can leave a lasting impression. Reach out a few weeks after the job to ask if everything is running smoothly and whether they’re happy with the work.
You don’t have to overdo it—just a short message shows you care about the long-term outcome of the job and keeps you top of mind when they need more work done in the future. A seasonal check-in or holiday greeting can also help keep the connection alive without feeling too pushy.
2. Offer Ongoing Maintenance with Flexible Payment Options
An easy way to secure repeat business is by offering ongoing services or maintenance after the initial job is complete. For example, if you’re a plumber or heating engineer, you could offer an annual boiler service or central heating inspection. Electricians might offer a safety check after a year or two to ensure everything is still in good working order.
To make it even more attractive, consider offering flexible monthly payment plans through standing orders or direct debits. This option allows customers to spread the cost, making it easier for them to budget and more likely for them to commit to regular maintenance. Direct debit used to be something only large businesses could set up due to banking limitations, but now it’s accessible to everyone through providers like GoCardless and Stripe. These platforms make it easy to set up and manage direct debits online, allowing small businesses like yours to offer flexible payment options without the rigorous bank processes.
By offering this kind of service, you not only keep yourself on their radar but also help extend the life of the work you’ve already completed, giving customers peace of mind and saving them potential headaches down the road.
3. Reward Loyal Customers
Everyone loves a good deal, and offering a loyalty program or special incentives can go a long way in encouraging repeat business. Consider giving returning customers a discount on their next job or providing a loyalty card where they can earn rewards for every service you complete.
Even something as simple as offering 10% off their next booking or a free service after a set number of jobs can motivate customers to choose you again over someone else. It’s a small gesture that can make a big difference in building long-term relationships.
4. Encourage Them to Follow Your Social Media Pages
Social media is a great way to stay in front of your customers even after a job is complete. Encourage them to follow your business pages on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Not only does this give you the opportunity to keep customers updated about specific seasonal services, offer discounts, and details about recent work you’ve carried out, but it also provides a platform where you can share helpful tips, new services, promotions, or seasonal advice, and this keeps you in the forefront of the customers mind.
Being active on social media gives customers more chances to engage with you and builds brand loyalty. The next time they need a tradesperson, your name will pop up in their feed, making it more likely they’ll reach out to you again.
5. Keep Them Informed About New Services or Skills
As your business grows, you may start offering new services or gaining qualifications that expand what you can do. Make sure your past customers know about this! Many people will return to the same tradesperson if they feel they can get all their work done by someone they already trust.
For instance, if you’ve recently trained in a new area like renewable energy installations or gained certification for a specialised service, drop a message to your past clients. Even if they don’t need the service right now, they’ll appreciate that you’re growing and may reach out in the future when the need arises. Keeping customers in the loop about your new offerings shows that you’re proactive and evolving, giving them more reasons to stick with you.
Final Thoughts
Building a loyal customer base takes more than just delivering good work—it’s about staying connected, offering added value, and making customers feel appreciated. By following up, offering ongoing services, rewarding loyalty, encouraging social media engagement, and keeping them informed of new services, you can keep your customers coming back time and time again.
If you’re looking to grow your business even more, consider joining League of Trades, where verified reviews and rankings can boost your visibility, helping you stand out and attract repeat business effortlessly.
