The Results Are In!
The results of our survey revealed.
1. What method of advertising do you currently implement to let consumers know that you are selling Lifestyle Screens?
79% of the respondents utilize a website for their Lifestyle Screens business. Second was a tie between social media sites and print advertising.
Websites and social media never stop working for you. Make your website appealing and attractive. Know how many hits occur to your website. Learn how to drive customers to your website. Another must for each website is a contact form for customers to use. Much web surfing happens after hours and prospects will want to leave an inquiry for your response.
2. What group of numbers below best describe what a consumer would pay your company for a Lifestyle Screen installed? (Using a 16x 7 Lifestyle Screen with standard screen and a center retractable door.)
Of the responses, 27% said that they are selling at the MSRP of $1,095.00 for that model of Lifestyle. 20% are selling for $100.00 above MSRP and, 32% of the respondents are selling the Lifestyle Screens for more than $200.00 over the MSRP.
On the flip side of this, the 27% sell more than 20 times the volume sold by the 32%.
So here's what the results of Survey Question #2 tell us. If you want Lifestyle Screens to be a real business then do what the 27% are doing. If you want Lifestyle Screens to be a mere sideline then join the 32%.
3. Does your company use any social media sites to market your company and the products you sell?
Of the responses, 68% are currently using social media in their marketing plan.
4. If you answered "YES" to the above question, please let us know what social media sites you use on a regular basis.
Well, as you could probably guess, Facebook is the go to social media site for 97% of the respondents. Second place goes to Twitter at 19% and Pinterest at 13%.
Social media is interactive and may require a bit of effort. Pick one or two, otherwise it can become overwhelming. Learn how to engage customers. Facebook offers a "Boost" option for your posts, using targeted local demographics. We boost posts often and in particular on the days leading up to a local show or event. It works! Boost posts about special products, sales and other promotions that your business offers. If you aren't sure of how boosting works, give me a call. Or, you can
click here to find out more.
I strongly encourage you as a dealer to utilize social media as it is the way things are going and it is here to stay!
5. Have you ever sold a Lifestyle Screen to a customer for a consumer self-install?
As you know, in the past, we have discouraged dealers from selling the Lifestyle screen to consumers for self install i.e. cash and carry sales. Of our dealers that responded, 21% said that they have sold Lifestyle screens cash and carry.
Let me be perfectly clear on this, we (Advanced Screenworks) will not sell directly to consumers nor do we quote prices to consumers. That is what our dealer network is for. With that being said, if you choose to make cash and carry sales we expect you to handle the technical support calls associated with that consumer. If hands-on assistance is needed we fully expect that you attend to those needs of your customer. We do expect that you may charge the customer if such a service call is required.
The feedback that we have received from consumers that have done their own installs have been extremely positive. That is how we became aware of dealers selling direct to consumers. As a result, we are investing in a series of new installation video clips that many of you have seen cropping up on our
YouTube Channel.
Our present view on cash & carry sales by our dealers is: as long as you are going to ensure that the Lifestyle screen works properly after a consumer self install and the consumer is pleased with the product, go for it!
6. Does your company actively promote itself at local home shows, car shows, festivals or any other large gathering of consumers?
From the responses on the survey, 73% said Yes. Shows and local gatherings are the best way to brand your business no matter what it is that you do. It is not uncommon to hear from a dealer that they sold a Lifestyle Screen to a consumer who saw the screen at a home show one year or two years earlier! That is incredible. My point is this, shows are great and the most effective way to get to local consumers. We all love immediate gratification but sometimes it is the planting of the seed that comes back to you.
Be sure to read our article on the
Keys to a Successful Home Show.
7. In terms of marketing the Lifestyle Screens, how dependent is your company on leads generated through the Lifestyle Screens dealer locator?
The responses tell us that 21% of you are very dependent on leads generated from the dealer locator, 23% say somewhat dependent, and 43% say they are not dependent on leads from the dealer locator. Since we launched the dealer locator, it has served its intended purpose: that is to have consumers reach out to the local dealer in their area. It has worked extremely well from our perspective and we look forward to bringing broader awareness to Lifestyle Screens and leading more consumers to the dealer locator. Please be sure to check your information on the dealer locator from time to time to ensure that it is correct. Also, if you are not on the dealer locator and you meet the criteria for being on the dealer locator then please contact us immediately.
8. Would your company be interested in a co-operative marketing program (50/50 split) that would utilize the Every Door Direct Mail program from the U.S. Postal Service?
73% of you responded "Yes". With that being said, we will have more information on this program in an upcoming newsletter.
9. Does your company website currently have a link to the Lifestyle Screens website or does your site have a Lifestyle Screens section for consumers to see the product?
Well, this was an eye opener. 64% of our dealers said yes they do have either a link to LifestyleScreens.com or a section describing Lifestyle Screens. 34% said that they have nothing on their website that mentions Lifestyle Screens at all. Thank you to all that mention Lifestyle Screens on their website in one fashion or another. To the 34% of you that don't, we will keep you in mind when it comes to Christmas bonuses.
But seriously folks, LifestyleScreens.com is the best location for your customers to find accurate and up-to-date information on the Lifestyle garage door screen. We do not solicit your customers, we do not quote prices on our website, we simply highlight the fact that the Lifestyle garage door screen is hands down the most versatile garage door screen on the planet! You will attract and close more sales by exposing your customers to the information found on our website than you would by not doing so. Go ahead, try it!
