How many of you get the print issue of R&R every month and that’s the extent of your involvement with the publication? Do you turn the local news on in the morning, but don’t have the station’s news app downloaded for breaking news or weather notifications? Do you promote your company by snail-mailing brochures and newsletters? Please make 2017 the year you break that cycle. You risk your competition getting a leg up on marketing to new customers if you don’t up your digital game.

Let’s talk about the importance of your online presence with a simple checklist. Do you have:

• An easy-to-navigate website with your contact info front and center?
• A mobile-responsive website?
• Social media pages? (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)
• A blog geared toward your target customer base?

That’s a pretty simple checklist. Your website does not need to be complicated, but you need to have a plan. That plan should include some SEO strategy – AKA how you’re going to get your company’s website noticed and ranked on Google. SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization” and is essentially the process of drawing in traffic from free, organic search results. A quick search on www.randrmagonline.com will provide you a lot of great SEO tips directly related to restoration companies.

Now … about the social media thing. You don’t need to have an account on every single social media platform known to mankind. However, how much time does your teenager spend on social media every day? A LOT! And adults are honestly no different. A company Facebook page, for example, can be a way for you to gain some traction in your local community by providing educational articles and blogs on restoration-related topics, while mixing in some fun! Social media pages should never be all business and no play.

Okay, so that is all very much a birds-eye view of your digital presence. I promise you can find more on our website, social media pages, LinkedIn group, and more.

And hey! Do you need a company to handle this (or a new moisture meter, hiring help, a consultant, a dehu distributor, some new disinfectant products, etc, etc, etc), check out our new and improved Buyer’s Guide! It’s easily searchable, and you can find it right on the top navigation of our homepage.

Phew. Okay, and before I wrap this up, our 2017 Recognizing Women in Restoration campaign is underway! If you haven’t heard yet, the winner will be announced at Contractor Connection in St. Louis this June! Check out www.randrmagonline.com/womeninrestoration for more information and profile and nomination submission forms! The only requirement is women must have 10 years of experience in the industry.

See you at industry shows over the next few months!