Creating a digital foundation is essential for hardwood flooring professionals looking to thrive in today’s market and digital landscape.
The following is a comprehensive guide on how all wood flooring retailers can leverage digital tools and strategies to enhance their operations, customer engagement, and profitability.
Develop a User-Friendly Website
The first step in building a digital foundation is having a professional website. Think of the website as your online showroom. It’s crucial that this website is not only visually appealing, but also user-friendly and mobile-responsive. It should showcase the range of hardwood flooring options, with high-quality images and detailed product information. Implementing an easy-to-use navigation structure and search functionality will help customers find exactly what they want.
Utilize Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms are powerful tools for engaging customers and building brand awareness. Establish a presence on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook to showcase products and services, share customer testimonials, and post engaging content related to home decor and flooring trends. Regular posts and interaction with followers can help build a loyal community around one’s brand and the amazing installations.
Invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
SEO is critical for increasing the visibility of a hardwood flooring company’s website. By optimizing website content with relevant keywords, businesses can rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential customers to find them. Regularly updating the website with fresh, relevant content like blog posts, reviews, how-to guides, and product information also can improve SEO rankings.
Implement a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System
A CRM system can help manage customer interactions and leads. Businesses can provide more personalized service and targeted marketing efforts by tracking customer preferences, purchase histories, and interactions. This approach improves customer satisfaction and increases the chances of repeat business and the customer leaving a 5-star review.
Explore Digital Advertising
Investing in digital advertising, such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads, can increase reach significantly. These platforms offer targeted advertising options based on demographics, interests, and search behavior, allowing the potential to reach ideal customers more effectively. Digital advertising also will enable wood flooring professionals to explain the difference between LVP and real hardwood to consumers who are not knowledgeable, which is important in this market. Most retailers split their budgets 90/10 Google Ads to Facebook Ads.
At the end of the day, treat your online and digital presence no different than your physical presence. Most of the time, the digital presence is the first interaction the customer will have with you or your store, and you must put your best foot forward. With that said, you do not need to become a technology expert overnight, and you can start digitizing your workflows and website gradually until you are fully comfortable with the efficiency gains.
Todd Saunders is the CEO of Broadlume, a provider of digital technology to the flooring industry. He can be reached at todd.saunders@broadlume.com.
