Facebook Launches Home Services for Facebook Marketplace
The Marketplace tab on Facebook has transformed the way users buy and sell used and new products locally. Now, Facebook plans to make waves in the home services industry too. As of May 2018, Facebook users can search for home service professionals in the Marketplace.
Home service professionals can sign up with one of Facebook’s partner companies in order to list their services in the social networking app. Facebook users will fill out a questionnaire about the details of their particular need or project, and the app will use their answers to recommend the right type of service professionals in their area. They can choose to contact different companies for a quote or go ahead and schedule an appointment.
Benefits of Marketplace for Home Service Companies
There are numerous advantages to listing your company on Facebook Marketplace. First and foremost, you will be discovered organically by more brand-new clients than ever before. This is beneficial to your overall social media strategy, and it generates real leads right away. It also allows you to open up a dialogue with potential customers about their unique needs and respond quickly to their questions.
Perhaps most importantly, Marketplace showcases your reviews and credentials to customers and provides a direct comparison to your competitors. If you have lots of positive feedback on Facebook, customers will see these reviews right away and will be more likely to choose your services. If you have credentials and awards that stand out from your competitors, it will be easier for them to see the things that make your company unique.
How to List Your Professional Home Services on Marketplace
In order to benefit from listing your company on Marketplace, you need to first sign up with one of Facebook’s three partners: Home Advisor, Handy, and Porch. Sometimes registering with these partners will require paying a fee. Before you list your business, it is a good idea to make sure your Facebook page has updated information, including any awards and credentials you might have obtained recently, and recent positive reviews. You can find a complete list of the services Facebook currently supports on Marketplace here.
Get Discovered by New Customers on Marketplace
By adding home services to the Marketplace repertoire, Facebook is further competing with websites like Yelp and Craigslist to become a source of fast and easy information for consumers. It is important to remember that service professionals are suggested to users based on their location and their fit for the written request. That means it is even more important to make sure you have lots of current and specific information on your Facebook business page.
By highlighting information that sets your company apart from local competition and gathering a surplus of positive reviews, you can increase the likelihood that inquiring consumers turn into real (and hopefully repeat) customers.
At VitalStorm, our Social Local team is well acquainted with best practices for Facebook. If you are interested in boosting your social media performance and overall reach, give us a call at 877-311-5695.