The sales funnel is a consumer-focused marketing model that illustrates the theoretical customer journey toward the purchase of a good or service. The goal of the sales funnel is to create returning customers so that the process can repeat itself for years to come. However the model for the customers journey has slightly changed over the years. Instead of targeting customers through the yellow pages or word of mouth, customers are now being prospected through more modern practices such as organic searches, ads, and social media posts.

For the funnel to be successful, once new customers come into your business they have to be retargeted to come out of the other side. The old-fashioned strategy for this used to be by sending postcards and mailers, however now it can be more efficiently achieved through social media ads and monthly newsletters. But how can companies implement these modernized marketing plans without draining their pockets? The answer is by taking advantage of the various free resources under their nose. 

Old Customer Journey

Current Customer Journey

3 Free Marketing Resources Every Business Should Have

• Google My Business 
• Client Relationship Managers
• Platforms To Retarget Customers

Whether your business is just starting out or is an older business looking for new solutions, these resources can be useful to you. There are two types of solutions: paid and unpaid. It is up to your company to choose which solution is financially best for your business. 

When should my company get a CRM (Client Relationship Manager)?

If your customer data is all over the place or your customers are complaining about service, it might be time for your company to adopt a CRM. Using a client relationship manager helps businesses keep track of their clients in an organized manner. If your company is using one calendar system to keeping track of all your jobs, it is crucial to have a CRM. When the time comes to grow your business, a CRM will ensure that your information is easily transferred as you move to the next level. A good free CRM is Hubspot because it allows you to add contacts free of charge and has the ability to attach notes to different clients. However if you are looking for a CRM with more capabilities, the next level would be a paid CRM like service Monster,  Housecall Pro, or Service Titan. These platforms all vary in price but are all similarly used for dispatching and managing your clients.

How can I increase my ranking on google locally?

Having a Google Business Profile is one of the most effective ways to increase your local SEO. When a customer goggles for a service in your local area the results of companies are prioritized by those with the highest google rankings. 17% of this ranking is based solely on reviews. Therefore, creating a plan to have customers submit reviews after you service them is pivotal to your success. Although Google My Business is free, hiring someone to manage your company’s account and generate reviews is the next step to optimize your Google profile. 

How can I retarget my customers?

Retargeting is the strategy of directly advertising to prospects who have shown interest in your product. Having a strategy for retargeting your returning customers is imperative to the final part of the customer’s journey. One free platform used to retarget customers is Mailchimp. With Mailchimp, your company can send out monthly newsletters tho advertise your services and keep your customers up to date with your latest developments. A huge benefit of using Mailchimp is that contacts can easily be transferred to your account from your HubSpot. This platform is a great way to retarget customers back into your sales funnel and even allows you to send 2,000 free texts and emails each month. Once again, this is a free resource but paying a digital marketing company to help you gain new customers and target returning customers is the fastest way to grow your business. 

With absolutely no cost, your company can have their Google My Business account flooding with reviews and a platform to manage and retarget clients. However, if you are still looking for your company to have that extra edge or do not have time to manage these resources, it may be time to hire a digital marketing company.

Our team at Phlash Consulting works with local service businesses and is committed to helping our clients gain new customers and increase their online awareness. If you’re interested in having a company like Phlash Consulting come in and work with you on implementing these strategies, schedule a meeting today!