Electrician Business and Covid-19 Pandemic: How can you make both work for you?

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented situation for everyone. All the industries from trades to hospitality have suffered during this time.

According to the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) in the year 2020, almost 80% of electrician companies are seeing a drop in sales, with one in every five seeing a drop of more than 50%. According to NECA, tradies are asking for immediate stimulus for families, capital spending, and major institutional changes to save the industry. The report paints a bleak picture for electrician business, and the crisis is expected to escalate in the coming months if governments do not intervene.

Work from home can be possible for some industries, it is not possible for electricians. But 2021 is looking up for most businesses. As a small business owner, it might seem difficult to navigate through these times. So read this guide on Electrician Business and Covid-19 Pandemic: How can you make both work for you.

Get online

During the COVID – 19 pandemic, there has been an obvious shift towards everything online. More people started online shopping instead of going to stores, more people started to look for tradies online than going through a directory and more people started visiting online gardens for guidance. So if you aren’t where your customers are looking, you’ll lose on a majority of them. If you are still advertising in newspapers, magazines, then you are not reaching the 100s of people who just open their phone to look for something.

So if you don’t have a website or social media, it’s high time you get one. As you are establishing yourself online, to create trust you might consider providing free, no-obligation electrician quotes. Using project management software, particularly cloud-based solutions, may also help electricians access and manage client information, projects, and pretty much anything else more efficiently.

Good software is easily accessible on phones or laptops, ensuring that everyone is on the same page, whether in the field or at work. Most businesses like landscaping or interior designing have numerous tradies working on several jobs at the same time. This will also assist you in staying in touch with clients, sending emails and messages with updates, keeping track of work, monitoring progress, and communicating with vendors and suppliers. Make sure to do your research and select the management software that is best for you and your company.

Promote your company

As a small company owner, you may not have the means of your larger competitors, but that doesn’t imply you can’t win more jobs by promoting your company. Get a website that looks professional. Explain to customers the measures you have taken during the pandemic to provide a professional and safe service for them. Going a step beyond and reassuring them will create trust and differentiate you from the competition. Invest in local SEO so that when potential consumers search for an electrician in their area, your social media or website will appear.

If you do not have a website, now is the time to get one. Any business should have a website that allows them to create leads, get constructive reviews, and showcase past work. A high-quality website not only makes a good first impression, but it also instantly boosts your reputation as a legitimate business. With more people online and accessing social media than ever before, there is no easier or more efficient approach to spark the curiosity of potential clients. Use social media to increase traffic and links to your website, which will assist you in bringing more customers.

Be safe

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious, respiratory disease. For more information, please visit Australian Government Department of Health website. If you reside in a high-risk area, it is advised to maintain social distancing. But that is always not possible when you’re on a job. It is also important to take measures so that you, your tradies and also your customers are safe. Make sure to clean your tools and to sanitise before you enter or exit the premises.

In the present situation, you are delivering a crucial service to the community as an electrician. To safeguard yourself and others when performing electrical work, it is critical that you have social distancing precautions in place. This is especially vital while working in domestic and residential settings. Hand cleaning and sanitising work areas and equipment remain critical, as does urging employees to stay away from work if they are ill.

Allow additional time if you need to cross municipal lines, and make sure you have identification with you because checks may be in place. Make sure to keep checking the government website with any updates, tips and suggestions on how you and your business can maneuver this situation.

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