The internet is full of potential for small business owners. There are so many ways to advertise your business, and the vast majority of them are completely free.

If you run a contracting business, it’s imperative that you establish an online presence — don’t let your competitors leave you in the dust! Putting real effort into your website and social media profiles can attract an untold amount of leads.

Here are 5 ways to start advertising your contracting business online:

• Establish a presence on Houzz. Houzz is like the Facebook of the home improvement and design industry. The site’s user base mostly consists of homeowners who are looking for ideas for upcoming renovations. Professionals who want to advertise their services are allowed to sign up for free accounts. Houzz allows you to post pictures of your work, updates, and information about your business, which can in turn be seen by hundreds or thousands of potential customers. If you’re going to pick one social media network to focus on, it should be Houzz.

• Take professional pictures of your work, and show them off. You’re in the business of creating beautiful floors, so your potential clients will want to see some of your work before choosing to go with you.  It’s often worth it to spend some money on having professional pictures taken. There is a world of difference between a picture snapped with an iPhone and one taken with a professional camera in good lighting — and it can mean the difference between making a sale and failing to woo a potential customer. You can then post the pictures of your work on your website and your social media profiles to attract leads.

• Ask your customers to post reviews online. In the age of the internet, most everyone goes online to vet someone before choosing to do business with them. If you search for your company name, what comes up? If your answer is “not much”, there are several ways you can boost your business online. One of the best ways to accomplish this is through reviews. Positive reviews on your Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook, and Houzz profiles will often show up on the first page of search results about your company, and they can compel people — even skeptics — to do business with you. Ask customers who were satisfied with your work to post honest reviews on your social media profiles. A positive testimony is one of the best indicators of credibility, and it will help attract new leads through the internet.

• Create useful content with your target audience in mind. If you position yourself as an expert, potential customers will perceive you as one. One of the best ways to position yourself as an expert is by creating original content like blogs and videos. Before you dive in, remember that the key to successful content is making sure that it is relevant to your potential customers. If your target audience is homeowners, create content that addresses some of their common questions, like how to select the right species and how to properly clean their floors. If you’re aiming to do more business in commercial venues like restaurants, you could talk about hardwood floor finishes that stand up to lots of traffic, and how to limit damage to their floors. Take time to plan your content around what your clients would like to know. You can then post your content to your website for potential customers to see.

• Put yourself out there. Give other people a reason to mention your company. Do your best to attend relevant local events and national expos, and to really contribute to your community. The more that your company is mentioned on other websites, the more credibility your website will have in search results. 100% of the people who don’t know you’re in business will not do business with you. Name recognition is a great way to land  more sales, especially if you are a small, local business.

With these 5 tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to establishing a stronger online presence. Sign up to receive a free ebook with more advertising tips and tricks!