Consumers would rather hire someone to do service-related tasks for them than try to research and understand how to do it on their own. At the end of the day, most people agree that trying to fix something yourself usually ends up costing more money, and definitely more time, than hiring an expert in the specific service industry. Owning a service-based business means you’re the one consumers come to when they have a necessity needed at their home or office, and they cannot accomplish the task without you.

What Makes the Future Bright?

The future is bright for service-based businesses. Why? Because people are becoming increasingly more reliant on these businesses specializing in the specific industry of service to understand the ins and outs of HVAC, plumbing, landscaping, house cleaning and other service-related issues. When your business is available to them, they don’t have to spend hours watching YouTube videos on how to fix a leaky pipe, only to end up buying the wrong parts and making matters worse.

There’s only one thing holding service-based businesses back…. Technology. This isn’t to say that your business isn’t using the proper technology, but are you utilizing it to its full potential? To quote Forbes.com, “Not only do consumers want services to be on-demand — they want a simplified way to book related services at the same time.”  Your business needs to be where your customers are online. You should be regularly engaging with your customers and giving them a quick and easy way to contact your or book a service without having to search for your information.

The more automated and accessible your business is, the more success you will see. Are you automating your marketing? Are you tracking your data? Are you engaging your customers regularly and effectively? Are you online and easily-accessible to consumers? Local businesses who are actively seeking out the new, innovative technology to make their service in the industry better have the upper hand every time.

Service-based businesses are what keeps the economy alive in our country and they aren’t going anywhere. The trick is becoming the top choice in your industry by focusing on your online reputation, customer retention and ensuring your business is listed as many places as possible online, and that your information is accurate.

Times are changing rapidly when it comes to businesses and how they use the technology available to them. The one thing that will always remain the same in the home service industry is that customer service is king. When people invite technicians into their homes, they want to know it’s someone they can trust, because they’re allowing you to be in their private space and around their families. On top of that, they’re trusting that you will quickly and effectively fix the issue they are experiencing that caused them to call you in the first place.

Truthfully, the home services industry will always be a highly fragmented market, with plenty of poor service providers in the field that will help your business shine even brighter for the positive experiences customers have with you. On the other hand, there will also be businesses who also focus on customer service and your business should exceed the expectations they’ve set with previous customers.

Consumer demands are increasing and it’s up to service providers to adapt accordingly. This means that your business will continue to strive for customer service excellence, positive online reputation and creating customer loyalty through engagement. The future is indeed bright for service-based businesses, and adapting to new technologies and ways of making your customers’ lives easier will only make it even brighter.

For more insights on marketing strategy that actually works for small business, connect with Jay Bean, Founder of FreshLime and Small Business Marketing Expert on LinkedIn and Twitter. If any of these tips have helped you or if you have anything to add, please comment below. We’d love to hear from you!