The digital landscape isn’t just for entertainment providers or your friend Donna who’s selling homemade jewelry on Facebook Live. It’s for the entire world! It didn’t take a pandemic for businesses to utilize the digital tools around them. Industries have been going more digital slowly but surely.

If you don’t believe me then listen to this:

According to Google Ads, there are more than 4.2 million online searches for home builders and design-build firms each month.

However this blog post is about more than just marketing your business online. NorthEast Insurance Services want to provide you with a handy list of digital tools you can use to better your business. Whether that means HR management, payroll, communication, or scheduling get prepared to be excited about new tools that you can implement.

SCHEDULING EMPLOYEES, PROJECTS, AND CLIENTS

When it comes to scheduling employees and projects being able to have everything at the palm of your hand or…lap is helpful beyond belief. Instead of having to carry around a stack of papers or notes, your phone, laptop or tablet can be your digital tool with the following applications and softwares:

• LinkedIn Sales Navigator
• Zoho Projects

Scheduling with potential clients can be easy as well, giving them the power to schedule themselves with sites like Calendly or Doodle. A person can pick a time and date that works for them on your connected calendar. The appointment slots are predetermined by you and you can even limit the amount of time beforehand that a person can schedule.

NorthEast Insurance Services uses Calendly for potential or current clients to discuss commercial or personal insurance. CLICK HERE to see a commercial example and HERE to view a personal insurance example!

PAYROLL

No one enjoys accounting, which is why companies have created tools to help make it easier.

Here at NorthEast we encourage our clients to use Primepoint (plus we use it ourselves) which you can learn more about on our website by clicking here. Not only can you download it’s mobile app but they create a personalized service for you and your business. It’s flexibility, security and convenience all wrapped up into one.

There’s also:

• Harvest
• Intuit Quickbooks

We also want to mention that all NorthEast Insurance Clients gain access to ThinkHR which is a human resource manager’s dream. ThinkHR is a combination of live advisor expertise with technology and instructional content to help organizations address all potential people risks.

MARKETING
NorthEast Insurance is known for connecting with our clients and getting on a first name basis with them. We understand that a lot of your business as a contractor will come from face-to-face recommendations. That may change in the near future, especially right now with everyone in lockdown. So digital marketing should be something you are thinking about.

Tools like these can help you manage your endeavors:

• Hootsuite
• Buffer
• Google Analytics
• Google Drive
• Canva

If you can only focus on one thing, then choose your website. A quality website that’s focused on what your business does and engages its users should be at the forefront of your mind.

HERE ARE SOME HANDY TIPS FOR CREATING AN AMAZING WEBSITE:

1. Homepage: It should load quickly and give a good first impression. When in doubt make it simple and not flashy with multiple colors or fonts.
2. Easy User Interface: Make sure that your navigation works and makes sense. A potential client most likely won’t want to dig around to find out how to contact you or what specialty your business is
3. Contact Information: Make sure to list out all the ways to get in touch with you. Include an address (if you have an accessible location), email, and a contact form.
4. Call-To-Action: If you do any research about marketing online then you’ll hear about having a CTA. The key takeaway to what everyone says is this: HAVE ONE. It can be as simple as “Call us now to start building” or “Get a free quote by filling out this form below”. Tell people what you want them to do.
5. Team Page: While you may have a lot of freelance or seasonal workers, there most likely is at least one consistent worker. Surprise it’s you! Talk about yourself, your business, and your values. Anything that makes you feel accessible and trustworthy to your potential clients.
6. Social Media: It can seem scary and overwhelming to set up various social accounts but know that you only need to start with one. Not only does it increase your reach online but it provides a way for a happy client to share with their friends and family a recommendation. This doesn’t limit you to the well-known Facebook or Twitter, it also can mean the Better Business Bureau or Angie’s List!
7. Photos and Videos: Instead of using all stock images on your website, don’t be afraid to use your own photos. If you don’t have any, don’t be afraid to ask your past clients if they can send you a photo of your work to share. People love visuals and they can spot a stock image a mile away.

COMMUNICATION

This category can be optional for you. However, it’s good to think about how your team communicates internally. If you have enough workers or want someplace accessible and more consistent than texting, check out the following resources:

• Basecamp, Slack or Microsoft Teams
• Trello
• Asana

All of these make it easy to segregate projects with specific information and users.

SPECIALTY APPS AND RESOURCES

Each contractor and their business is unique. Which is why we are including a list of available resources for a wide range of work.

• UDA ConstructionSuite (Various softwares included)
• Autodesk Homestyler (3D Home Design Software and Floor Planner)
• Balusterpro (Home improvement contractor app)
• IFixit (Mobile reference app)
• I.D. Wood (Carpentry app)
• Safety Meeting (Provider of OSHA compliance meetings and checklists)
• RedTeam (Construction management)
• BIMx (Home design app)

Interested in FREE resources and mobile apps? Watch the video above!

There are so many more tools and resources we could list but we don’t want to hog up anymore of your time. So run or safely walk your way through the world of all things digital.

Here at NorthEast Insurance Services, we’re more than insurance. We protect what means the most to you and we’ve built our business on connecting with our clients. Choosing an agent to whom you will entrust the future of your home, valuables, business and even your family should be more than just an internet search away. If this is what you are looking for in an insurance agent, then you’ve come to the right place. Don’t wait another minute and contact us today at (732) 972-1771 or Toll Free at (800) 290-8120. Visit our Contact Us page for more information!