Category: Marketing

Everything You Need To Know To Make Your Next Email Campaign A Success

November 22, 2022

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Senior Communications Specialist All business owners know the power of email marketing to capitalize on leads and convert sales, but the numbers are striking. According to Litmus’s “The CMO’s Guide to Email Marketing,” email marketing has the highest return on investment across industries, averaging $42 for every dollar spent! Though these numbers fluctuate depending on the industry, it is no secret that email marketing can be incredibly powerful. However, sometimes it can be tough to figure out how to get started. Whether this is your first email marketing campaign, or your fiftieth, here are some ways to make your next campaign a hit! 1. Identify Your GoalWith any monetary investment, small business owners should always consider how each dollar spent will lead to growth. Goals for a single email marketing campaign can be more than just securing more business. Campaigns can be geared towards increasing your brand recognition within a specific demographic, community, or area that might be underrepresented. Alternatively, a campaign could focus solely on gathering feedback on your business with previous clients, or introduce you client base on a new or underutilized service. Whatever your goal, identify it as a starting point, and

How to Make the Most Out of Your Indeed Job Ad

November 15, 2022

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist Making new hires is always an exciting venture. Either your business is growing, or you’re ready to fill an important vacancy to satisfy a need. In this position, it is important to know how to hire right and make the best use of the tools at your disposal. In the inspection industry, it can be difficult to find qualified individuals to add to your team. We have found that personal referrals from industry professionals (such as real estate agents or other inspectors) tend to result in the most successful hires. But when these contacts aren’t providing many leads, it may be worth trying Indeed. Indeed is a popular job-finding platform, recording over 250 million unique visitors each month, and hosting over 150 million resumes. With such impressive traffic, Indeed provides a great opportunity to get your job ad in front of a large audience. However, there are a few things to consider to ensure you get the most out of your investment with Indeed. Screener QuestionsA frequent experience that employers can have when working with Indeed is a barrage of applicants. Too many options are better than too few options, but many

5 Podcasts to Grow Your Small Business

October 25, 2022

As a National Property Inspections franchise owner, you are one part inspector, one part marketer, one part entrepreneur. Needless to say, there can be a lot on your plate. To stay on top of the competition and to become the best leader in your industry, it might be valuable to find a podcast to help you on your way. Today, experts are freely offering their years of experience and personal stories to listeners through an easily consumable medium. Here are a few podcasts that could help you grow your inspection business! 1. Home Inspector Podcast by InterNACHIAverage length: 1-5 minutes, with an occasional “webinar” podcast that can be between 1 and 3 hours.Releases: Twice a day every weekday. As inspectors, a great starting point podcast is the Home Inspector Podcast by InterNACHI. The majority of releases are extremely short, sometimes with no introduction at all. These topics briefly explain how to perform a specific task relating to property inspections. The Home Inspector Podcast is a great option for inspectors looking to brush up on their knowledge or looking for quick, easy review material. The webinar releases are obviously much longer and seem to be direct uploads of online classes and

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,

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

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

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

The Top Qualities REALTORS Look for in Inspectors

January 25, 2022

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach As an inspector, you might already have an idea of the perfect client you want to work with. And when you get the chance to work with someone that fits it, it makes your job that much easier. The same holds true for your clients. Real estate agents have an idea of the inspector that they want to work with, and they always want to try and find the closest match. Good Communication You most likely prefer a client who is responsive, so it’s only natural that agents want the same thing from you. Agents handle multiple transactions each month and need to move quickly between each one. If the inspector they’re working with is hard to reach, it can delay the buying or selling process and result in a lost sale. While you can’t be available 24/7 running your business, do your best to promptly reply to agents. Set up your voicemail or consider a call center so that agents can leave you a message when you can’t answer the phone. If you plan on leaving town for a vacation, let them know ahead of time and set up your out of

Business Resolutions for 2022

January 11, 2022

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI Inc.’s Marketing Coach As we enter a new year, we look forward to new opportunities. About a quarter of people make a resolution to improve themselves in the new year. However, less than ten percent of those individuals will actually follow through on their goals. Here are some simple resolutions you can make as an entrepreneur to grow yourself and your business! Keep Learning One trait that every successful business owner has in common is that they never stop being a student. You can always find new ways to better yourself and make your business operate more effectively. This year, make it a habit to continue your education. This can be in the form of attending conferences, talking to fellow inspectors, and following news updates. Listening to audiobooks or podcasts is another easy way to get useful information. You can play them all day in your car through your phone! Clean Your Email List Email marketing is a highly effective way to stay in contact with your customers and reach out to new ones. But if you haven’t updated your mailing list in a while, you might not be seeing the results you want. Kickoff 2022

How Energy Audits Can Help You and Your Clients

January 4, 2022

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator Add-on services are a great way to upgrade your business. Your customers will feel better protected in their home, and you can add an extra revenue stream. One additional service that can be beneficial to add is energy audits. These audits help the homeowner understand where energy is being “wasted” in their home and how to decrease it. More Homeowners Going Green Preserving the environment and decreasing individual impact are important topics to a majority of homeowners. Close to 70 percent of homebuyers would prefer a greener home, with almost half willing to pay more for one. It’s estimated the average homeowner spends at least $2,000 a year on electricity costs. By lowering each monthly bill by a few dollars, the savings will really start to add up. Within the next few years, the green material market will reach over $360 billion. As more and more younger buyers enter the market, the demand for eco-friendly housing will only increase. Equipment Needed Performing an effective energy audit requires some specific tools. An infrared camera (which you may already have) will help identify any equipment that is inefficient or spot heat loss

Beating Burnout: Tips to Keep Your Head Above Water for Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs, and Workaholics

September 5, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach Finding success in the workforce can often take a lot of dedication, commitment, and time. Especially in competitive fields, some can get the notion that any time off is an opportunity for someone else to catch up, or a risk that could lead to losing momentum. With this in mind, it comes as little surprise when those with an entrepreneurial mindset struggle with burnout. Too often, entrepreneurs and small business owners enter into “the grind” without knowing when to take their foot off the gas, leading to a major crash that can be tough to recover from. The good news is that burnout doesn’t have to be an inevitability. With the right mindset and by following the best strategies, burnout doesn’t have to be another hurdle for success and contentment. 1. Reevaluate Your Daily ScheduleA common cause of burnout is taking on too much. Entrepreneurs tend to spread themselves too thin, and they have trouble letting go of responsibilities. The classic mindset of, “If I want to do something right, I’ll do it myself,” also means that delegating more important tasks rarely happens. Having a strong sense of ownership in the

NPI Welcomes 12 New Franchise Owners in the First Half of 2023

August 22, 2023

National Property Inspections (NPI), home and commercial property inspection franchisor, is proud to announce the addition of 12 new franchises to their roster since the beginning of the year. Delivering comprehensive property inspections, NPI has a reputation for helping clients make informed investment decisions for over 35 years. With the addition of these new franchises, more customers in the United States will have access to reliable and thorough property inspection services. We’re pleased to welcome the following franchises who will be representing our brands in their local area: “We are thrilled to welcome these new franchises to the NPI family,” said David Stamper, President of National Property Inspections, Inc. “It’s exciting that they will bring our company’s brand, values, and quality inspections to new areas. Having worked closely with all our new franchise owners, I know they’re a great group of people who are driven to succeed. I look forward to watching them grow and reach their personal goals.” Stamper added, “We are excited to see our franchise network continue to grow. Our franchises offer a comprehensive suite of inspection services, including home inspections, commercial property inspections, and specialty services such as radon and mold testing. We look forward to

11 States Taking Action Against Radon

August 15, 2023

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator Each year, more and more people are becoming aware of the threat that radon poses to families and homeowners. The World Health Organization, along with the most prominent national and international health agencies, have been appropriately banging the drum to increase broad awareness of the odorless, colorless gas (which is now the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, per the CDC). Even in states where radon’s presence is not as prevalent, experts are advising that the gas’ concentration can vary even from house to house. For home inspectors that have not yet invested in radon testing as an outlet for diversification, signs are pointing towards a higher emphasis on the importance of knowing your home’s radon levels. While radon testing can be a valuable service offering anywhere, here are a few regions of particular interest. High Presence in the Midwest and PlainsRadon levels are recorded in the units of “picocuries” per liter (written as pCi/L), perhaps better understood as one-trillionth “curies,” a unit created to measure radioactivity content named after Marie Curie. With radon entering homes through the breakdown of uranium gases in ground soil, the World

An Average Day In The Life Of A Home Inspector

August 1, 2023

By Jon McCreath, NPI, Inc.’s Technical Supervisor & Training Administrator There are many aspects of the home inspection industry that draw people into the profession. Entrepreneurs love the opportunity to become their own boss, others will be drawn to the flexibility inherent in the job, and still others are drawn to the unique technologies that are constantly innovating the industry. Professionals transition into the industry every year, but many do so without having a full picture of what life will be like as a home inspector. For those who are interested in making a career change, the best way to start off is by shadowing an active home inspector for a day or two to get a better feel of the lifestyle and nature of work. However, it can be understandably difficult to find someone willing and ready to train potential future competition for themselves. So, to bridge the experience gap, here is a breakdown of what an average day as a home inspector can look like. Disclaimer: Home Inspectors have an inherently flexible job that can be shaped to fit many different lifestyles and preferences. The described daily schedule in this article describes only one home inspector’s experience after

5 Common Interview Answers That Are Red Flags For Hiring Managers

July 25, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach One skill that can be difficult to develop for small business owners is how to recognize red flags when they show up. Red flag interview answers aren’t just bad answers, they are the types of responses that should alert hiring managers that it might be time to move on to the next candidate altogether. All hires are important for small businesses, but nailing those early hires is pivotal when it comes to long-term success. This is why good business owners place so much focus on their early interviews. Entrepreneurs likely don’t have extensive experience with interviewing prior to starting their own businesses, so they often can’t reflect on the early warning signs of lousy employee behavior. While candidates who have a talent for answering interview questions aren’t necessarily always the best people for the job, there are some seemingly innocuous interview answers that should actually be major red flags for hiring managers. But First, A Few Thoughts On Delivery (A Message to Job Seekers)Interviews can, admittedly, feel intense, nerve-wracking, and anxiety-inducing. Although this might add even more pressure onto job seekers, there are a few behaviors related to anxiety that can

Standing Out From the Crowd with Content Marketing

July 18, 2023

By Michael Trimble, NPI, Inc.’s Content Marketing Coordinator Converting leads into actual customers can feel like an uphill battle at times. Business owners are tasked with finding an audience who might use their services, explaining why their service is relevant to that audience’s needs, and then providing enough evidence to prove that their services are more worth their audience’s time and money than the competition’s. Navigating all of these hurdles as one person is daunting, but owners should know that there is a workable solution. Content marketing is the life-blood for every business’ online activity, and more often than not, entrepreneurs that don’t have a good handle on their content marketing tend to have trouble engaging their clients. This is no reason to be intimidated, however. Small business owners have the opportunity to learn the gist of developing a content marketing plan in no time. But first, let’s discuss a few essentials. What is Content Marketing?Every social media post, blog article, infographic, and video tutorial released by a business is a form of content marketing. While content marketing can come in many, many different forms, they all have a shared intention to ultimately promote the use of a business’ products

Conducting Great Interviews as a Small Business Owner

June 27, 2023

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing & Business Coach Starting a business is a remarkable accomplishment in itself, but making that first hire might be the most important part of a small business’s track for growth. The amount of time and effort that goes into a brand new hire is considerable, and costs incurred when it goes wrong can feel like a gut punch. But these mistakes can be avoided! Business owners who invest into their interviewing skills can discover potential issues far in advance, and determine which candidates have the perfect complementary skill set they’re looking for. The right candidate will feel like the missing puzzle piece for your business. To identify these partnerships with expertise, there are three important questions to answer during an interview. Does the Candidate Fit the Position?The first determination that a good interviewer needs to uncover is, of course, whether the candidate would have the ability to do the job for which they are applying. Candidates usually come to the table with varied experiences, and often their work history won’t include the exact position that they are applying for. This is where strong preparation from the interviewer comes in. Drilling the position down to