How to get recommended as an electrician
Your reputation can make or break your business, and this is particularly important for small businesses or those who are self employed and rely on recommendations to expand their client base. Regular recommendations support financial stability, helping you to ensure a consistent stream of work without needing to focus your time and budget on marketing.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at how to get recommended as an electrician, and the traits that encourage positive feedback and help to build relationships. Whether you’re a seasoned electrician looking to boost your client base or are just starting out in the field, these tips will help you to leave a lasting positive impression that will encourage more people to recommend your services.
Why recommendations are important
From creating a reputation for being punctual and reliable to building lasting relationships and repeat custom, recommendations are an important part of business success.
This is particularly true in trade roles such as electrician or plumber where employees are not only dealing directly with customers but also entering their homes and places of work. In these instances, customers feel much more comfortable and confident hiring a contractor that comes highly recommended.
What are the best types of recommendations?
There are a few different types of recommendations that you can get, each of which has its benefits and applications. To ensure the most effective return on your efforts, try to focus on encouraging all these kinds of recommendations for a well-rounded approach.
Word of mouth
People trust word-of-mouth recommendations more than online reviews because they come directly from someone they know personally. While online reviews can be faked, a recommendation from someone they have an existing relationship with feels more genuine.
Word-of-mouth recommendations are the top reason that Brits hire a tradesperson, so encouraging customers to recommend your services to others should be an essential part of any sales strategy for electrician companies.
Trade-specific review sites
There are a variety of different trade-specific review sites such as Checkatrade and TrustATrader, where customers can share their experiences with electricians, plumbers, roofers, handymen and more.
Some of these sites carry out independent reviews of traders or offer guarantees to cover the work should you arrange it through their site. This helps to reassure customers that the tradesperson they are choosing is a safe one. For traders, there are also options for paid memberships that offer additional promotion, or a badge for their website to verify their status as a recommended trader.
Google reviews
The same as any industry, Google reviews are important to promote your electrician business and build trust to encourage new customers to get in touch. Many people are already familiar with and trust Google, so it’s easy for them to leave reviews without needing to create a new account.
How to get recommendations as an electrician
To encourage more recommendations from clients, it’s essential for electricians to excel not only in their technical skills but also in a wide variety of aspects that define their professionalism.
Appearance
As an electrician, your appearance plays a significant role in securing recommendations from your clients. Maintaining a neat and tidy appearance on each job site allows you to present yourself in a professional manner, and also demonstrates respect for your clients and their home or business. Wearing clean and appropriate work attire, such as a uniform with your company logo, not only establishes credibility but also instils confidence.
Tidiness
Make it a habit to keep your work area clean and organised, disposing of waste materials and keeping your tools tidy. When clients see that you leave their premises as clean as you found them, it shows that you care about their space and value their satisfaction. This attention to detail not only improves the safety of your work but also enhances your professional reputation, making clients more likely to recommend your services.
Speed
Striking a balance between efficiency and quality is crucial to earning recommendations in the electrical industry. While clients appreciate a timely service, they also want the assurance that the job has been done well. Focusing on effective time management and project planning will help you to complete projects in a reasonable timeframe without rushing. If you’re consistent in delivering your work on schedule, you can build trust with clients and increase the likelihood that they will recommend your services to others.
Punctuality
Punctuality is a hallmark of professionalism for electricians. Arriving on time for appointments or scheduled work is a clear indication of your commitment to the job and respect for your clients’ time. Delays can be frustrating, so make every effort to stick to the agreed-upon schedule. If unforeseen circumstances arise, communicate promptly and honestly with your clients to manage their expectations. Being punctual is a surefire way to leave a positive impression that customers will remember and share with others.
Politeness
Building positive relationships is fundamental to getting recommendations as an electrician. Politeness and good communication go a long way in this regard. Be respectful, courteous and approachable when interacting with clients. Take the time to explain the work you’ll be doing and answer their questions patiently, remembering that they won’t necessarily have a high level of technical understanding. Demonstrating respect for your clients and their concerns fosters trust and encourages recommendations.
Other key traits of successful tradespeople
There are many other traits that help tradespeople to build on their success, all of which will naturally help to encourage recommendations.
Skill and knowledge
Possibly the most important thing you can do to encourage recommendations is being great at what you do. No matter how tidy and punctual you are, if your work isn’t up to scratch then you can’t expect customers to recommend you. Understanding when to say no to a project that’s out of your scope, working within a specific niche, and undertaking additional training are just a few of the ways to ensure that your skills and the work you undertake are well aligned.
Great communication
Whether dealing with a customer, your employees or contractors from other companies and industries, communication is essential to the smooth running of any project. From planning timelines and delegating tasks to keeping everyone involved in the project up to date, your communication skills can make or break your reputation.
Relationships
Remember as well that other tradespeople both within and outside your industry may also recommend you for work, so it’s important to build strong relationships with those you work with throughout your career. Both domestic and commercial projects often involve working alongside other contractors, so creating a positive working relationship will increase the chances of your electrician business being recommended by other traders in your area.
Customer service
Customer service and communication skills are essential to the smooth running of electrical projects of any size, so the better you are at these, the more likely you are to encourage recommendations. For commercial clients, this means focusing on communication with external contractors and planning projects to minimise disruption, while for domestic customers, it’s important to offer a personal approach that is honest and straightforward.
Friendliness
Being personable and easy to get along with can be really beneficial in trades roles where you’re spending time in a customer’s home. That’s not to say that you should be overly friendly, but being cheerful and approachable can make interactions with customers much more enjoyable, making them more likely to ask you back, or recommend you to someone else.