Domestic helpers have existed since time immemorial. Maid services will always be in demand so we can conclude that you will reap a lot of benefits when you enter the industry. There are many domestic help agencies in Singapore so growing can be quite tough. You can only differentiate yourself through your promotion strategies. In this post, we will discuss some ways to market maid & domestic help agencies in Singapore.
Before we start looking at some key marketing strategies, here are a few things you need to put in mind when you decide to get into this business.
Understanding the industry
It is difficult to succeed as an entrepreneur if you have little knowledge about your industry. Before you start promoting your company, you must first understand the industry. Start by studying your competitors. Find out how they run their activities and look for ways to do it better than them.
When you know everything about your competitors, you will be able to make informed decisions. Other than your competitors, there is so much you can learn about running a domestic help agency, for instance rules and regulations you need to follow.
Coming up with a marketing plan
Any entrepreneur can start a maid and domestic help agency but only a few can keep it going by consistently attracting new clients. Develop a marketing plan for your agency. We’re all aware that the marketing environment has undergone many changes in the past decade.
The accessibility of the internet means you will have to come up with ways to reach out to potential customers online. You also need to learn about the most effective offline marketing techniques. When you have a marketing plan, it will be much easier to promote your agency.
Let’s now discuss some marketing tips for your maid and domestic help agency.
Start by focusing on your neighbourhood
If you are starting a domestic help agency, you will obviously want to go national. Begin by focusing on your neighbourhood first. Chances are there are many people around you who could do with a domestic helper. Start by placing ads in the local newspaper. Many locals will contact you once they read about availability of domestic helpers in the paper.
Secondly, connect with homeowners associations and ask them to help you get your message to the target audience. It could be as simple as placing advertisements on their email newsletters. Sending postcards to homes is also another good promotion strategy.
Use your brand to promote yourself
Your brand determines if you will be a success or a failure in this industry. In most cases, agencies with weak brands end up getting overwhelmed by competition and collapse. The first step is to create a simple and memorable logo. Your agency vehicles and maids’ uniforms should have this logo.
Branding doesn’t stop at creating a logo. Your brand also needs to portray your values. Ensure that domestic helps are well trained and are professional when meeting potential clients or working with them. Remember to always have a bunch of brochures and flyers with you in case you come across someone who might need your services. This way, your agency will reach out to more potential clients and maintain a steady stream of clients.
Create a simple website for your agency
As we said earlier, we’re living in the digital era and you had better develop an online marketing strategy for your agency. There is a large number of Singaporeans who prefer looking for products and services online, domestic helpers and maids included. What if your name doesn’t appear when they perform a search? You lose out on potential clients.
Armed with this information, create a website for your agency. Put your contact details in the site to make it easier for internet users to contact you. You could also include a list of services domestic helps can offer and prices. Make the site simple and with a beautiful design.
If you want to improve the visibility of your site on search engines, use these two techniques.
Search engine optimization (SEO) – there are various SEO techniques you can use. First, ensure that your site loads faster. Many internet users will stay longer at a site that is responsive and fast. Secondly, make the site mobile friendly as many Singaporeans access the internet using their smartphones/tablets. Another strategy is to include industry keywords in titles, body of posts and in meta-descriptions.
Search engine marketing (SEM) – this method is also known as pay per click advertising. The site owner bids on specific keywords that users are likely to type into search engines as they look for domestic helpers. This way, your ads appear with the normal search results. It is a great way to get more visitors to check out your services.
Leverage trade shows
You can uses trade shows to promote your domestic help and maid services to the target audience. Some specific groups to target include busy mothers/parents, the elderly and the sick/injured who need to avoid physical strain.
Trade shows usually attract a large number of potential clients. You could offer free cleaning services to a few potential clients. Hold such events regularly to attract clients and also build brand awareness.
Build a solid network
Networking is one of the best business strategies. If you haven’t yet joined the chamber of commerce in your local area, do so immediately. The first benefit of networking is that it provides the opportunity to share knowledge and ideas on how to run a business.
The more you network, the more you increase the chances of landing more clients. Look for businesses in your local area you can collaborate with. Networking is also important if you are looking to build brand awareness.
Conclusion
The techniques outlined in this post makes it easier to market maid & domestic help agencies in Singapore. Remember that the marketing environment is always changing so you need to do your research to find out strategies that are effective. Nowadays, there is an emphasis on internet marketing. If you want to use SEO and SEM to promote your business online, get in touch with MediaOne, the number one digital marketing agency in Singapore.
