Category: Business Tips

2021’s Best Email Marketing Tips

August 31, 2021

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist The first email blast may have been sent in 1978, but it’s still as important as ever to your 2021 marketing plan. This still-groovy medium just keeps evolving! Here are the top four trends for email marketing in 2021 that will carry us well into 2022. 1. Know When to Make it PersonalFor years, statistics have proven that emails with personalized subject lines and greetings tend to perform well. In fact, they’re roughly 26 percent more likely to be opened than non-personalized emails. But this year, marketers are upping the ante—hyper-personalized emails are becoming the new norm. And the good news is that you may already be sending them! Hyper-personalization relies on list segmentation to create smaller groups of contacts that have certain specific criteria in common. This could be location, behavior (such as having opened another email), office name, or purchase history. When you hyper-personalize, you’re not just inserting their first name, you’re looking to fulfill a specific need with a message that speaks directly to their situation. 2. Text-Only Emails Are Having a MomentThis trend is surprising! Text-only emails that contain hardly any imagery at all are gaining traction recently.

Staying Covered: Choosing an Insurance Provider

August 17, 2021

By Bill Erickson, NPI, Inc.’s Executive Vice President With so many insurance plans and providers, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds when shopping for coverage for your business. On the surface they can seem almost identical, with “almost” being the operative word. But as you look closer at what each provider offers, you’ll notice differences in their claims process, payouts, and the extent of their coverage. Don’t Make a Million-Dollar Mistake Shocking statistic time: it’s estimated that nearly 40 percent of small business owners don’t have insurance! Having any coverage at all can help you avoid being a statistic. That said, it’s crucial to vet an insurance company before you commit. The smallest difference in coverage can result in paying out a mountain of cash in claims and legal fees. And in turn, inspecting before you get insurance or letting it lapse is also a major risk, as you’ll be subjecting yourself to hefty fines and possible lawsuits. While it can be overwhelming, try to think of insurance as your friend and not your enemy. Understand the Types of Insurance Along with the array of providers, there’s a variety of insurance policies as well. These are just a

That’s a Wrap! Getting Your Vehicle Ready for Marketing Success

August 10, 2021

By Sydney Arp, NPI, Inc.’s Designer and Marketing Specialist Vehicle advertising can generate between 30,000 and 80,000 impressions a day, and up to 95 percent of consumers tend to absorb vehicle messaging above other types of ads. That’s a lot of potential eyes on you! Now that you’re a traveling billboard for your business, you’ll want to make sure you get an eye-catching design that’ll resonate with potential clients long after the light turns green. So, what makes a highly effective vehicle wrap? A Clean, Uncluttered Design A clean design with cohesive elements is key to a successful truck wrap. We encourage you to get as creative as you like, but always remember that when it comes to vehicle signage, less is more. You should only include essential information, such as the NPI or GPI logo, your phone number, and your website. While not a hard and fast rule, it’s also never a bad idea to include imagery of a home so viewers understand you’re in the real estate industry with one quick glance. Since our logo clearly communicates that you’re a property inspector, it’s not necessary to include your full list of services. In fact, most inspectors keep it

FAQ’s About Starting an NPI Franchise

August 3, 2021

By Celeste Black-Harr, NPI, Inc.’s Recruitment Coordinator If you want to become your own boss and take control of your schedule, starting a home inspection franchise could be for you! As a franchisee with National Property Inspections, Inc., you get to run your business how you want and join the entrepreneur sector. But you might have some questions before you begin. “Do I need a construction or technical background?” A common misconception about becoming a home inspector is that you already need years of training and experience in the industry before you can start. However, you don’t have to already be a professional to join! When you become part of the NPI team, we give you the training and knowledge you need to be a successful inspector. Our extensive, hands-on training covers the essentials to give you confidence as an inspector and business owner. And your education doesn’t end when you leave training! “How can I pay for a franchise?” There are several options you have when it comes to financing your NPI franchise. Traditional bank loans are a great place to start, and are relatively easy to apply for. The Small Business Loan Program or SBA in the U.S.

Best Foot Forward: Marketing Your Strengths to Customers

July 27, 2021

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist Marketing is all about showcasing your best abilities to your clients. What do you do that others don’t, and why should someone ultimately choose to hire you? As a small business owner, especially when you’re just starting out, it’s crucial that you put your top skills front and center as often as you can. This helps draw in your clients and allows them to understand the quality of service they’ll receive before they even contact you. So what are some things to highlight and where can you display them? Consider these options. Figure Out What You’re Best AtStarting off at square one, sit down and determine what you’re strongest at. A way to quickly discover your advantages is to create a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis breaks down your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats so you know what you do well and what needs improvement. If you have a team that works with you, bring them in on the process as well to get input from people with different expertise. Creating a SWOTA SWOT analysis is easy to set up and complete. You can create a presentation, a shared document or simply

The Millennial Effect: How a Generation is Shaping Commercial Real Estate

July 20, 2021

Throughout the history of commercial real estate, each new workforce cycle has left their mark. Office designs have evolved to meet the needs of workers and help them be successful. Now, Millennials are showcasing their influence and developers are overhauling spaces to follow along. The Millennial Workforce is Big Almost 50 percent of the world’s workers are part of the Millennial generation. Because of this, they’ve been the vocal majority on building designs from offices to multifamily properties. Their uniqueness is often reflected in commercial construction and grows as they do. That means the developers that don’t keep up, are likely left in the dust. So what are some of the features that Millennials have to have in their office buildings? Leaving Behind a Small Impact Environmental change is one of, if not the most important, causes among Millennials. They’re always looking for ways that they can cut energy consumption and try to improve the earth as much as they can. Around half of Millennials are more likely to go with a company that actively works to reduce its carbon footprint. Both inside and outside, there are ways to make your younger tenants–and the environment–happy. Changing out older lights and

Is It Worth It To Offer Warranties?

July 6, 2021

By Bill Erickson, NPI, Inc.’s Executive Vice President Warranties can provide great benefits for both your clients and you. The different coverages you offer can make you stand out from your competition, leading to more business. Especially when the market is hot and things are moving fast, every bit of leverage matters. Set Yourself Apart As much of an obvious choice as warranties seem, not every inspector in the industry offers them. Some don’t want to deal with the hassle of filing and settling a claim, while others think simply sticking by their work is a good enough service. However, clients see the warranties you offer as further verification that you’ll follow through on your word. If you offer a warranty that other inspectors in your territory might not, you’re well on your way to setting yourself apart and building rapport with customers. This one part of your business can solidify your market share! Customer Satisfaction Every customer likes to know that what they’re getting is dependable. And if a problem comes up, they want to be sure they won’t be left figuring it out for themselves. A warranty says to the customer that you want them to be happy

Stop Yourself from Getting Distracted in Business

June 29, 2021

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant One main benefit of becoming a small business owner is breaking free of the typical corporate structure. You set your own hours, make the important decisions, and continuously choose which direction you’ll head in next. However, these benefits can also quickly become challenges. When you’re overwhelmed, it’s easy to get sidetracked and feel as though you’re stagnating. Focus on what really matters with these tips: Begin by recognizing the distractions. First, you have to recognize what’s taking up your time. While you’re going about your day, try to be more aware of what you’re doing and where your thoughts tend to take you. You might be surprised about the things that tend to steal your energy and attention. From scrolling through your phone to speculating about the reason for an unreturned email, there’s always something readily available to distract us from a goal. If you need to, write these down, along with how long or how often you tend to do them. Then be sure to note which of these is something you personally have control over. For example, you can limit mindless scrolling, but you can’t control whether someone gets back

Best Ways to Ask for Reviews

June 15, 2021

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s SEO and Marketing Specialist It can’t be stressed enough how essential review gathering is to forming a strong presence for your business online. Living in the digital age, you have to take advantage of it or risk being left behind. Especially as younger generations, namely Millennials, are hitting the age where they’re ready to buy a home, reviews are a necessity. If it’s been a while since you’ve marketed for reviews or if you haven’t ever started, here are a few ways to get the ball rolling. Why do you need to stay connected? So how important are reviews in someone’s final decision? Great question! While Millennials do tend to be more plugged in, the general statistic for people that make a choice on who to do business with based on reviews alone is over 90%. Over 80% trust them like a personal recommendation, and nearly 70% decide whether you’re a quality business in as little as 3 reviews. That means you don’t have much time to make a great first impression. Not only are positive reviews important, but stockpiling them is as well. If you only have low-star reviews, a handful of reviews, or

Protect Your Private Information from Scammers

June 8, 2021

You’ve most likely gotten a robo-call or spam email at some point. In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission received a staggering 2.2 million reports of fraudulent activity, tallying up to $1.2 billion lost. Disguised phone calls and texts, especially those claiming to be about stimulus relief, were the most common scam. While the government tries to crack down on illegal activity, you need to take precautions to protect your and your clients’ personal information from criminals. Legal Requirements Depending on your state or the federal government, you could be legally responsible for offering some layer of protection to your customer’s private data. If a breach were to happen and it’s found you weren’t in compliance, you could face repercussions. Always check that you have the necessary security measures in place, and that any third-party services you use do as well. Before using one of these services, research their policies and what they do (if anything) with your information. Even if they only pass it to other mailing services, your customers may not be happy having their personal data out there when they didn’t consent to it. Password Protection Your email and any other applications you use should have a password

Make Your Money Work for You: Tax Deductions & Incentives

July 6, 2022

To be successful in business it has always been said that you need to spend money to make money. In truth, to be profitable in the business world, it’s about making the money you acquire work for you. To make your money work for you, it’s important to understand the nature of tax deductions and incentives, as this is key to getting from where you are to where you want to be financially. At this point, it’s essential to note that these suggestions may be different from state to state. To get a complete scope of the tax deduction process, please consult your local financial adviser or tax preparer. Business Expenses When you’re just starting out in this business, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed. You may be questioning how you are going to pay for all the newly associated costs of running a business, but if you’re savvy, you know how to structure your money to be both effective and efficient. As a business owner, you can write off most expenses if you’re careful in doing so (i.e., keeping records of business expenses through immaculate management of receipts and proper tax forms). The first tax

Win at Business by Investing in Yourself

June 7, 2022

The month of June is Professional Wellness Month. In honor of this occasion, your family here at the NPI headquarters want to make sure that you have everything you need to succeed, professionally and personally. With the spotlight on professional wellness, it’s important to check in with yourself and your employees to identify any areas of improvement for your business. Likewise, it’s also valuable to take an honest personal inventory of yourself to see what areas of development you may be lacking in. Although a self-assessment can feel daunting, it’s critical to avoid being stagnant in any area of your life. Life is to be lived in a manner of constant evolution, as dormancy breeds bad personal habits and business practices. Implementing changes that need to be made as a result of your self-reflection and business assessments can at first seem overwhelming. While it’s hard to make a lot of improvements at once, it’s good to have a strategy for implementation in place for future enhancements to your business and for yourself. These changes don’t have to be drastic in nature to make a huge difference to your lifestyle and brand. Lifestyle changes that you can implement can be as

How to Stand Out in a Competitive Market

May 31, 2022

It’s easy to feel intimidated by the competition—maybe they’ve been around for 20 years and you just started last month. You know everyone has to start somewhere, but while you’re building your business, how can you make sure that you stand out from the rest? This question has several answers—there may not be one simple solution, but it turns out there’s a lot you can do! A Job Well Done There’s much to be said about job performance. A job well done can create a good relationship between you and your consumers and keep people coming back to your business. It can also help you build a referral system based on good word-of-mouth. That being said, bad news travels fast, as is the same with negative reviews. In these cases, being an amazing inspector is not enough to offset a disparaging review or to generate the business you want. This requires the usage and management of social media accounts. Social Media One of the easiest ways to see an uptick in business and to encourage customer engagement is to create social media channels for your business. To market your franchise, the three most important social media outlets are Facebook, LinkedIn,

It’s National Heat Awareness Day: Keeping Cool in Sweltering Conditions

May 27, 2022

Today is National Heat Awareness Day. This national holiday was created to remind service members and outdoor laborers to keep cool while working outside in the upcoming summer months. Here are our best tips to beat heatstroke and other temperature-related illnesses such heat exhaustion and dehydration. As an NPI inspector you may find yourself on top of roofs, underneath decks, examining foundations, or in crawl spaces over the course of the summer. During the hot summer months, it’s important to know the signs of heat-related illnesses and what you can to do to prevent them. Warning Signs While there are milder forms of heat-related illnesses, heatstroke is the worst. According to the Mayo Clinic, the main indicator of heatstroke is having a temperature of at least 104 degrees or higher. Other signs of heatstroke include confusion, dizziness, profuse sweating, slurred speech, the cramping of extremities, vomiting, coma, and in the most serious of cases–death. These symptoms are only made worse when performing strenuous activities while outside on exceptionally hot days. Other warning signs of heatstroke are looking flushed in appearance, having a headache, and an irregular heartbeat. While some people experience a rapid heart rate due to the stress of

Thinking About Joining Your Local Realtor Association? Here’s Why You Should!

May 17, 2022

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach Whether you’re looking to expand the reach of your well-established franchise or you’re just starting out as a new franchisee, joining your local REALTOR® association certainly has its benefits. But did you know that becoming a member equals access to an assortment of useful information including: a multitude of networking opportunities, discounts to affiliated business groups and tradeshows, access to various multiple listing services, scholarships, community engagement opportunities, and additional secrets of the trade? According to the National Association of REALTORS® website, you can start off by joining your local REALTORS® association with an Affiliate Membership. The Affiliate Membership is the most cost-effective option available that still grants you the ability to utilize the maximum benefits of the membership. While membership fees vary from state-to-state and often include varied tiered-levels, Affiliate Memberships are typically half the price real estate agents pay for their memberships. Once you have joined, you will be provided with information from your area’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This benefit may be the most important as it is vital to building a solid referral base from which you can book inspections in your area. This data includes important

5 Ways to Know It’s Time to Hire

May 10, 2022

Short of starting your inspection company, hiring your first employee is the biggest step you’ll take as a small business owner. It can be tough to know who to hire, but surprisingly, it can be even tougher to know when to hire. Here are a few telltale signs it’s time to make a plan and make the move to grow your team. 1. You’re turning down work.You’ve poured your energy into building relationships and expanding your network, and now all that hard work is paying off in spades: you’re booked out for a couple of weeks! If this scenario sounds familiar, remember that this is only the start of the busiest season for us inspectors. You’re going to want a team member who can help you book more inspections and share the workload. 2. You have an exciting opportunity to expand your services.The perfect opportunity for a new add-on service has presented itself, and anytime you mention it to others working in your local real estate market, they get just as excited as you. That rare untapped need has been identified, and it’s time to spring into action. But as bookkeeper/marketer/inspector/report-writer, (I could go on!), you’re already feeling pulled in

National Property Inspections Franchisee Spotlight: Cory Anderson

April 19, 2022

National Property Inspections’ Franchisee Spotlight recognizes our most innovative and successful NPI and GPI franchises. By sharing their stories, helpful tips and lessons learned, every franchisee can learn what it takes to grow their business. We’re proud to feature our reigning 2021 Franchise of the Year, Cory Anderson of NPI East Tennessee. After purchasing an existing franchise in 2017 in Knoxville, TN, Cory and his team have been on an upward trajectory that’s landed him in the top four percent of our organization. He’s also recently expanded to cover both Chattanooga and the Tri-Cities area. Tell us about yourself! What was your previous career, and how did you come to NPI?Cory Anderson: I have an agricultural technology degree from the University of Tennessee and worked in the agricultural field for about 7 years prior to coming to NPI. During my agricultural career, my wife and I purchased multiple rental homes and loved learning about and investing in real estate. Our home inspector was Steve Hancock, who started the original NPI Knoxville franchise in 1995. During our last inspection with Steve, he announced that he would be retiring and told us that we would need to find another inspector. After many

7 Ways to Boost Traffic to Your Business Website

April 12, 2022

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist It’s time to get a little creative with the way you drive web traffic! Below are seven ways you may not have thought of that can make a remarkable difference in your site visitor counts month over month: 1. Mix up your content.Diversifying your content (that is, posting something new every day) will help ensure that your audience never gets bored, and that you don’t either. Post links back to your website, but also post photos, articles, giveaways, videos, and share others’ posts as well. If your followers know they can always expect something new and fresh from you that’s super relevant to them, they’ll be that much more likely to navigate to your website to learn more about your business and services. 2. Don’t neglect your LinkedIn profile.Most of us think of LinkedIn as a great resource for active job seekers or those looking to expand their B2B network. Those things are still true, but these days, LinkedIn is so much more. If you’re not posting content to your profile, you’re missing out on a great opportunity to interact with potential clients and real estate professionals. Did you know that the

Carson Dunlop Acquires National Property Inspections, Inc.

April 4, 2022

National Property Inspections, Inc. is pleased to announce that Carson Dunlop has recently acquired our organization. In this exciting development, Carson Dunlop and NPI are slated to become the preeminent provider of inspection and inspection-related services in North America. “I have long admired the strength of the Carson Dunlop brand and am thrilled to join forces to further accelerate growth at NPI,” said Roland Bates, founder of NPI. “I am extremely proud of the business we’ve built over the last 35 years and am enthusiastic about the future. Becoming part of Carson Dunlop will be an exciting new chapter for us and I look forward to continuing to support the NPI franchise system in my new role.” I have long admired the strength of the Carson Dunlop brand and am thrilled to join forces to further accelerate growth at NPI. I am extremely proud of the business we’ve built over the last 35 years and am enthusiastic about the future. Becoming part of Carson Dunlop will be an exciting new chapter for us and I look forward to continuing to support the NPI franchise system in my new role. Roland BatesFounder of National Property Inspections, Inc. Carson Dunlop has been

Top Tips for Marketing Effectively on Instagram

March 29, 2022

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist The Instagram app has been downloaded more than 3.8 billion times since its 2010 release. Needless to say, it’s one of the world’s most popular apps. With all that attention, it’s easy to see why companies love using it in their digital media marketing portfolio. Instagram in an Instant Instagram started out as a place for people and their friends to share and like their best snapshots. The app then began adding updates to make it easier to find and connect with other users. Three years after launch, users had the ability to add hashtags and share short videos. As more businesses joined, Instagram incrementally made the platform more advertiser-friendly, and 12 years later, it looks very different from when it first started. Not only can users upload Stories, host live chat rooms, and post long-form videos, businesses have a robust suite of paid ad tools and e-commerce options. Businesses and Instagram As a business owner, you have the option of setting up a business account that allows you some different features than a standard one. For instance, you’ll be able to see your interaction and demographic insights. This is especially helpful