Getting more leads as a surveyor

It's crucial to find new clients if you want your practice to grow. Many surveyors start with industry and local directories as a starting point which are great, however in this article we share key tips on how to generate new prospects to keep your client base growing.

How do you define a lead?

An enquiry from a new potential customer is a lead. A business enquiry may come in the form of an email, a form submission from your website, a message on social media, a phone call, or even a business card passed to you at a networking event. 

Lead generation for your company: how to get them

1. Create a pitch

It is important to have a good 'pitch' for your target clients before you can generate leads. You have only the time to sell your services in an elevator, so if you don't know where to begin, think of yourself as a potential customer in an elevator. 

Your pitch should be a few paragraphs long. It can be used both for 'in person' networking events and for marketing materials and social media.

It is imperative to explain what makes your practice different from your competitors to clients looking for a surveyor. In this article from Surventrix, we go into further detail on the subject of mission statements.

2. Make your social media presence stronger

Small businesses with limited budgets for paid advertising can use social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Facebook for lead generation. Selling to small businesses can be easier with LinkedIn, especially if you're looking for additional referral partners. 

Share your blog articles, post regular updates, and comment on others' posts to increase your visibility. 

Your contacts should review and recommend you when you build your profile. In addition, you can answer questions related to your expertise as an surveyor. In time, other users may refer you to their contacts when they have questions, and you'll begin to generate new leads.

3. Take advantage of your existing customer base

Any business can generate leads from its existing customers. Personal recommendations from customers carry more weight than marketing messages since they know you well. 

Ask your customers to recommend you so you can maximize this gold mine. Drop them a nicely worded email. Before you make your request, you might check in with them to see if they're happy with your services and invite them to talk to you if they're not. 

4. Make your online presence more visible

One of the easiest ways to generate leads is to appear online for anyone searching for an surveyor in your area. After you have a basic website, you can use search engine optimisation (SEO) techniques and take advantage of Google's ability to showcase local businesses. Check out our guide to local SEO for surveyors for more information. 

5. Try networking

If you're new to networking, search for local events and meetups through Google, social media, or Eventbrite. Without any commitment or upfront fees, these events are less formal and offer a chance to dip your toe in the water. 

Alternatively, you can join networking organisations like Network Central and BNI, which facilitate business deals among members. In exchange for their membership fee, they can help ensure that you are the only person at an event pitching your product or service. 

In order to network effectively, you can follow a few principles no matter what style of event you attend. Ensure you have your elevator pitch and business card handy, and, most importantly, listen more than you speak. You can address a 'pain point' with your service or another contact's service by listening until you hear it. In return, you're more likely to be recommended by your contact the more you recommend them.

6. Follow up with your leads

After generating a lead, nurture it. If possible, respond to emails and messages within the same business day. Having a standard email or social media response that you can tweak or personalize makes things easier. 

Consider meeting your prospective client in person if you haven't already. Establish a rapport with them first and find out if anything specific is keeping them from working with you. You might consider offering trial periods, payment terms, or testimonials from existing clients to seal the deal. 

As well, remember that you'll be working directly with your client for a period of time, so make sure you enjoy working with them as much as they enjoy working with you.