[Resource of the Week] Show off your strengths.

FRichardson

Once you’ve gotten set up on Thumbtack, one of your first steps should be to strengthen your profile. Customers rely on what they see in your profile not only to showcase the quality work you can deliver, but also to highlight your expertise and credentials, and to get insight into what it might be like to work with you.

Check out this great series of videos about strengthening your profile:

• Complete your profile — Learn how to stand out in search results and show the best of your business 
• Get Reviews — Sow potential customers how great it is to work with you 
• Check your insights — See how you measure up to your competition

See the whole series here and find more resources like this here in our video library.

If you’re already a seasoned pro on Thumbtack, what is your best advice for making your profile standout to potential customers?

Matt

Best advice - don’t rely on the Thumbtack messaging, the messages rarely get read, and if you wait to long for a response from a text many times the customer has already spoken with someone else. I stopped texting clients ahead of time since we don’t know if the number is a cell or a landline it’s better to just call straight away.

DerHilfer_LLC

Can confirm.

I call it "Guerilla Tactics". First, Screenshot the request for later review. Some information is only displayed on the first read. Next, send a previously saved generic "Thanks so much! I'm going to call you to discuss your project." message immediately so you get Thumbtack points. Do not wait for the User to read the message - you don't care if they read the message. Call the User after you click "send". In the good old days before Thumbtack encouraged Users to reach out to SIX different pros, I could catch them before they made a second request.

But I think something is delaying how quickly I receive a message since it has been many weeks since I have not had a "Only picked you" inquiry.

If the User lets you go to voicemail, leave a message, but accept the fact that this "lead" is lost. It's not you the contractor. Based on the data I've collected, roughly four out of ten User Inquiries had no intention to buy. Not from you, not from anyone.

You still gotta try. Thumbtack fees are expensive!

Last and most important: record everything. As soon as you make the phone call, record that interaction in your CRM. If you don't have a CRM, I found an inexpensive option that's focused on tasks for professionals like us. Shoot me a PM or email me. Karl@DerHilfer.com and I'll tell you more about it.

If you respond aggressively - your first call is to schedule the job, track your data and react to trends, you can be successful too.