Marketing idea for local service businesses — A smart

Service businesses ought to use hyper-targeted referral marketing.

Whenever I interact with a local service firm such as a carpet cleaner or pest control, I take a look at how they are marketing. I think most are missing a big opportunity for referral marketing.

So I was happy to see a window washing firm do something smart, although the execution could be better.

The firm cleaned a neighbor’s windows and sent this postcard to us:

The flip side has information regarding the cleaning firm and a special offer.

Good idea, but this is what I think firms ought to do.

1. Call or email the client to make sure they were happy with the service. Perhaps through an automated email survey.
2. Ask the client if you can send a letter to their neighbors telling them that they provided the service for you–using your name. The letter includes a discount offer for clients if they mention the letter.
3. Offer the client a $10 (or whatever is reasonable) credit toward future service for every neighbor that books the service from the letter.

It’s a bit more hands on but could be automated easily.

The problem with the postcard example is that I have no idea how good of a job they did and who they did it for. Sure, a neighbor decided to hire them, but many times I hear neighbors gripe regarding their contractors.