Every contractor wants to strengthen their team and make more money, and most contractors are willing to invest in the right tools to do that. But what if I told you that you already owned a tool that you weren’t using to full capacity—a tool that could dramatically strengthen your team and improve your marketing?
Reach into your pocket and grab your phone. There’s the tool. Sure, you probably use it to make calls to your customers and send texts to your team, maybe you use it for scheduling (and checking Facebook from time to time). Well, your phone is also a tool that has the capacity to generate you tens of thousands of dollars (or more) by making you and your team more effective.
Specifically, I’m talking about using your phone to shoot a video. There was a time when you needed expensive camera equipment to record, and then you had to get that recording into the hands of the viewer. But with today’s technology, we are seamlessly connected to just about everyone and we can shoot videos for no cost at all. So the only thing that’s holding you back is your knowledge of what to do (which I’m sharing with you here) and your potential fear of getting in front of the camera.
Here are 3 ways that you can use video to create a stronger, more profitable business right away.
#1. Team Building
If you’re a small, local contracting company, perhaps your team meets at the shop in the morning before heading off to work for the day. Larger contractors, though, might have multiple teams that go right to the job site or are dispersed over a large area. How do you keep everyone connected?
Video is a powerful way to do that. You can record a video for your team every day to communicate the inspiration and information that you would normally share if you were at the office.
Video is a powerful way to do that. You can record a video for your team every day to communicate the inspiration and information that you would normally share if you were at the office.
A fast way to start is simply to set up a closed Facebook Group and have your team join it. Then you can shoot a video each morning from your mobile device as you talk to your team and get them pumped up for the day. Invite your team to comment on the video for interaction.
#2. Training
Some larger contractors have extensive (and expensive!) training materials that they create for their team, and they require new-hires to review that material. But what if you don’t have the money or time to create that training material, and what if you don’t want to keep your new hires sitting in a room for a week while they read?
You can create training on-the-fly from your mobile device, even if you are a solo contractor who is still looking to hire your first team member.
Video solves the problem. You can create training on-the-fly from your mobile device, even if you are a solo contractor who is still looking to hire your first team member.
Simply outline the topics you want your new hires to know, then bring your phone to the job site and record while you work. Show them real-world scenarios and how you solve them. Keep the videos short and specific. Then upload them to a site like DropBox and make sure they have clear names or are numbered according to the order they should be viewed. If you shoot a couple of 2-minute videos each day, you’ll have a comprehensive library of training videos for anyone on your team to watch.
#3. Marketing
Marketing is an absolute necessity to bring in new customers, but it can sometimes seem like a costly and confusing waste of time, especially if you’re a contractor who prefers to work with your hands and lead a team of tradespeople.
Fortunately, videos provide a few compelling solutions for this while also being a fast, simple, and free solution for your marketing.
Create videos about your company and upload them to YouTube. Spend time talking about what you do and introduce every team member on video to your customers.
Create videos about your company and upload them to YouTube. Spend time talking about what you do and introduce every team member on video to your customers. At the end of each job, interview your customers briefly and get a video testimonial from them. Send out regular videos on Facebook and Twitter to talk about what you do and how you can help customers. It takes just two minutes out of your day to record a video but they work together to provide a powerful library of visual proof that you can help customers.
Summary
Team building, training, and marketing can be a huge and costly effort that have the potential to take a lot of your time every day. But through the power of video, thanks to the phone you carry around in your pocket right now, you can take a couple of minutes out of every day to do create videos that help you build your business.
Mike Agugliaro is the “Business Warrior” and founder of CEO Warrior, a business consulting and mentoring firm, providing tested and proven methods to defeat the roadblocks that prevent small to mid-sized businesses from achieving their ultimate success. He has played a key role in building Gold Medal Services’ success, as co-owner of the company. For more information about CEO Warrior, visit www.CEOWARRIOR.com.