Marketing for craftsmen

Marketing for craftsmen

23.01.2024 — 

Targeted measures for presence and reach

A good reputation and high-quality work alone are no longer enough to stand out from the competition. In a world that is becoming increasingly digital and networked, tradespeople need to find new ways to reach and inspire their target groups. Marketing for tradespeople therefore goes far beyond traditional word-of-mouth or referral marketing.

Craftsmanship is too valuable to be invisible on the Internet! With effective marketing for tradespeople, you can expand your reach, strengthen your brand identity and establish a distinctive position in the market. Here you can find out what marketing measures you can take to give your trade the attention it deserves.

Marketing for craftsmen Tools Table of contents

Marketing for tradespeople - the benefits

Customer confidence

A well-designed website, professional business cards, positive customer reviews and high-quality advertising materials convey competence and reliability. This helps tradespeople gain the trust of their clients.

Customer acquisition

Marketing for tradespeople helps to increase their visibility and reach new customers. Through online and offline marketing strategies, you can address different target groups and stand out from the competition. From SEO and social media to traditional methods such as flyers and posters, each tool reaches different target groups.

Branding

Establishing a strong brand is crucial for long-term success. Strategic marketing for craftsmen helps to build and maintain a "good reputation". Consistent branding and a clear communication strategy help to strengthen brand perception and establish a positive image.

Increase in sales

Effective marketing usually leads to an increase in turnover. By increasing visibility, attracting customers and building a loyal customer base, craft businesses can increase their turnover and profit.

Feedback and improvement

Marketing for craftsmen enables direct dialog with customers, allowing valuable feedback to be obtained. This feedback is crucial for continuous improvements and adjustments to services and customer interactions.

Recruitment of specialists

A strong and positive corporate image attracts qualified specialists. Particularly in times of skills shortages, this can be a decisive competitive advantage, as qualified personnel make a significant contribution to the quality and growth of the company.

Matthias Kampmann in marketing for craftsmen

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Marketing for craftsmen basics

The basics of successful advertising

Every successful marketing strategy starts with a few basic considerations and analyses. The following aspects should be clear before any further measures are taken:

What is your current status in marketing for tradespeople?

Assess the current market position, customer base, competitive situation, strengths and weaknesses of the business and the effectiveness of existing advertising measures. This analysis includes reviewing the online presence, including the website and social media, assessing customer feedback and looking at operational performance metrics:

  • How does your current market position compare to your competitors?
  • How effective are your current advertising measures in marketing for tradespeople?
  • Which online and offline channels do your customers use to find and communicate about your services?
  • How high is your advertising budget?
  • What are your company's strengths and weaknesses and how do these affect your business?
  • etc.

How do you represent your company to the outside world?

A well thought-out corporate identity is the central basis for a strong advertising impact in marketing for tradespeople, as it shapes the identity and image of the company and makes a decisive contribution to branding. This includes:

  • Corporate behavior: How does your craft business behave towards customers and suppliers? How do you present yourself to the public? Consistent, professional and customer-oriented behavior strengthens the trust and credibility of your company.
  • Corporate design (visual appearance): Do you have a logo, do you use certain colors and typography? A uniform and appealing design helps to reflect the values and professionalism of the company and ensures recognition value.
  • Corporate communication (communication): How do you design external communication? This includes advertising material, social media presence, customer communication and any type of content that represents the company. Clear, consistent and target group-oriented communication reinforces the brand message and promotes customer engagement.
  • Culture (corporate culture): What values, beliefs and norms does your company embody? A strong and positive corporate culture not only influences employee motivation and satisfaction, but also radiates outwards and impresses customers and business partners.

Marketing for craftsmen Target group analysis

Who are your customers?

A target group analysis is used to understand the specific needs and preferences of your customers and to convey the advertising messages in marketing for tradespeople accordingly:

  • Target group definition: who needs or wants the services or products on offer? Is it private households, businesses or both? What are their demographic characteristics (such as age, gender, income, education level)?
  • Needs and preferences: What specific needs and wants does your target audience have? For example, do your customers place particular value on sustainability, speed, quality or cost efficiency?
  • Behavioral patterns: Where and how do your customers find out about trade services? Do they mainly use digital channels such as social media and search engines or do they rely on traditional methods such as recommendations and local advertising?

What makes your business special?

Identifying the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is essential to stand out in a competitive market. The USP defines what makes a craft business special and what sets it apart from other providers.

For example, do you offer exceptional customer service, such as 24-hour emergency repairs? Do you work exclusively with biodegradable or recycled materials? Do you emphasize traditional craftsmanship instead of mass production?

What goals are you pursuing with your marketing for tradespeople?

Setting your own marketing goals is a crucial step for companies to steer the direction and success of their marketing efforts. Clear marketing goals make it possible to plan strategies in a targeted manner and make the success of the measures measurable. Typical marketing goals for tradespeople could be:

  • Increasing the level of awareness
  • Customer acquisition & customer loyalty
  • Increase in sales and profitability
  • Image improvement
  • Recruitment of specialists
  • etc.

Marketing for craftsmen online marketing

5 online marketing measures for tradespeople

In the age of digitalization, it is essential for companies to engage in effective online marketing. A well-thought-out online marketing strategy helps to attract new customers, increase brand awareness and stand out from the competition. The following marketing measures are recommended for tradespeople:

1. your own website

Your own website serves as a digital business card, advertising space and information center for your website visitors. A clearly structured, informative and user-friendly website that presents the services offered in detail is very important in marketing for tradespeople. This includes a clear description of the services, a gallery with examples of work, contact information and ideally customer reviews in the sense of recommendation marketing. A mobile-optimized website ensures that it also works smoothly on smartphones.

2 SEO for tradespeople

Even the most beautiful website is ineffective if it cannot be found. Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial to be visible in search engines such as Google. Craftsmen should make sure to integrate relevant keywords that potential customers might use in search queries into their website content. A search engine optimized blog with helpful tips or news from the industry, for example, offers your customers added value and thus attracts potential new customers to your website. Local SEO, such as optimizing your Google My Business profile, is particularly important in order to be listed in local search engine results.

3 SEA for tradespeople

Do you want your company to be at the top of the search engine results? You can achieve this with search engine advertising (SEA)! This paid form of advertising offers a quick and effective way to gain targeted visibility with your target group. SEA puts your company exactly where potential customers are looking - at the top of the search results.

4. social media marketing for tradespeople

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn offer great opportunities to get in touch with potential new customers and showcase your work on your company profile. Craftspeople can showcase projects, share customer experiences and interact with interested users on their company profiles. Regular posts and active engagement are important to build a loyal community and increase reach.

5. email marketing

Email marketing for tradespeople is an effective method of directly addressing regular customers and potential new customers. Tradespeople can use newsletters to inform customers about new services, offers, tips or company news and to disseminate targeted advertising messages. It is important that the content is relevant and interesting and that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is complied with.

Marketing for craftsmen Print designs

5 offline marketing measures for tradespeople

From business cards and stationery in the corporate design to printed company cars and trade fair stands - print advertising is an effective means of increasing visibility and attracting new clients, even in the digital age. There are a number of tried and tested advertising materials for craft businesses:

1. advertising flyers & banners

Advertising flyers and posters are effective advertising spaces to generate attention in the local community and increase your own brand awareness. Flyers and posters can be distributed, displayed or put up in stores, in public places or at local events. An attractive design and clear information about the services offered, contact options and special offers are important here.

2. business cards & promotional gifts

Business cards and small promotional gifts such as stickers, pens or magnets with the company logo are an excellent way of anchoring the name of the craft business in the customer's memory. These items can be handed out at customer appointments or distributed at local events. They serve as a constant reminder of the company.

3. bonus cards

Bonus cards can also be useful for craft businesses. For example, customers receive a discount or a free service after a certain number of services. This promotes customer loyalty and encourages customers to make repeated use of the service.

4. vouchers, coupons, discount campaigns

Vouchers and discount promotions are an excellent strategy for attracting customers and rewarding regular customers in marketing for tradespeople. They can be offered in local newspapers, flyers or directly at the company's location.

5. local networking events and trade fairs

Participating in local events, trade shows and craft fairs is an excellent way for artisans to gain exposure in the local community and build direct relationships with potential customers.

Why is it worth working with a marketing agency?

Marketing agencies are expensive, the collaboration complicated, time-consuming and unprofitable? That doesn't have to be the case!

Working with a marketing agency can bring numerous advantages for craftsmen. An agency brings expertise and experience in various areas of marketing, such as digital advertising, branding, SEO, SEA, social media strategies and outdoor advertising. This expertise is particularly valuable as it allows artisans to focus on their core competencies and day-to-day operations while the agency takes care of the complex aspects of marketing.

Marketing agencies also have tools and techniques for data collection and analysis that enable them to identify untapped potential, evaluate the success of campaigns and continuously improve them. In this way, companies can ensure that their marketing budget is used efficiently.

The bottom line: working with a marketing agency enables start-ups to run professional marketing for tradespeople without having to build up internal resources or deal with the complexities and constant changes in marketing themselves. This partnership can lead to tangible business growth and provide a solid foundation for long-term success.

Matthias Kampmann in marketing for craftsmen

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