It’s looming. It’s inevitable. It’s always just around the corner.
We’re referring to the off-season, of course. When the phone stops ringing and your web form stops getting submissions. The off season for moving companies can be a stressful time- but it doesn’t have to be.
In fact, the off-season can be one of the best times to improve your business processes, work on your messaging, and develop your team. Here are the top four things to focus on in the off-season.
1 | Business Analysis And Improvement
As the saying goes, “what gets measured, gets managed.” But it’s hard to measure (and manage) when you’re in the thick of it and servicing customers during busy season. But the off-season? It’s a perfect time to reflect, measure, and realign your business operations.
Here are some ways to do just that.
Reflect On And Prioritize Tasks
Start by reviewing your business processes and identifying tasks that can be re-prioritized, delegated, or eliminated. Taking a moment to make this list will help you make better use of your time and resources.
You can also create a task list ranking items based on importance. This way, you can focus on what truly matters for your moving company's success during the off-season.
And what if you don’t have someone to delegate tasks to? Let the computer do the heavy lifting.
Moving company platforms like SmartMoving streamline every process in your company, including customer relationships, outreach, estimates, quotes, billing, payroll and more.
Assess Expenses And Cut Costs
Break out that budget and go line-by-line. Take a close look at your moving company's expenses and identify areas where you can reduce costs.
Look at vendor contracts, utility bills, and other ongoing expenses to determine where savings can be made.
Cutting costs during the off-season can significantly improve your company's financial health and help you balance out the increased expenses that come with the busy moving season.
Identify And Strengthen Business Areas
The off-season is an excellent time to identify and strengthen weak areas within your moving company. Look at customer feedback, employee performance, and business processes to pinpoint areas requiring improvement.
By addressing these issues during the off-season, you can ensure a smoother and more efficient operation when the calendar gets full again.
Strategies To Generate More Business
Finally, explore new customer acquisition strategies and marketing techniques. Need inspiration? Check out our post on moving company lead generation.
You might also consider forming strategic partnerships with local real estate agents or property managers to expand your client base. Marketing can be a bit overwhelming, but take it one step at a time. Things don’t all have to happen at once, but doing something is always better than doing nothing.
This investment in the off-season will pay off when the moving season begins again. Speaking of marketing tactics…
2 | Dialing in Your Marketing Strategies
Social Media Campaign
During the off-season, it's important to maintain that top-of-mind awareness and to keep people aware of your services.
You don’t need to have a graphic designer or hire a social media marketer to have a great social media campaign. Folks prefer authenticity over polish anyway.
Just share helpful moving tips, showcase testimonials, and use social media as a way to announce off-season promos and discounts.
Postcard Campaigns
In a world of cluttered inboxes and endless DMs, don’t underestimate the power of a good ol’ fashioned postcard.
You can use free tools like Canva to design eye-catching postcards that showcase your services, and offer promotions or discounts to encourage people to choose your moving company when they need to move.
This targeted approach can help generate new leads and increase brand visibility in your area.
For your recipient list, consider targeting:
- Neighborhoods with densely populated rental units
- Recently sold houses in your area on Zillow
- Apartment/townhouse communities
List Of Professionals And Email Marketing
Connect with other professionals in the real estate and moving industry to create a list of potential clients. Share your services and additional benefits you offer, such as packing tips or other resources.
Use a tool like email marketing to send these professionals regular updates, promotions, or informative content to showcase the value of partnering with your moving company.
Invest In Paid Advertising
Investing in paid advertising can be a powerful way to attract new customers during the off-season. Platforms like Google Ads or Facebook ads allow you to target specific demographics and locations to reach potential customers who are likely to need your services.
When using pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, make sure to use tools like Google Ads Keyword Planner to target keywords you can actually rank for.
3 | Expand And Diversify Services
The off-season is a great time to diversify and add new service offerings. This can help stand apart from competition and generate new income streams.
Here are some suggestions for expanding and diversifying your services during the off-season:
Offer Delivery Services
Another way to diversify your moving company is to start offering delivery services for customers who have purchased large items, such as furniture or appliances.
This service can be a great addition to your existing offerings, as well as a way to generate additional revenue during the off-season.
Advertise your delivery services on your website and in local stores, and consider partnering with local retailers to provide discounted or exclusive delivery services for their customers.
Introduce Side Services
Introducing side services can also help expand your moving company's offerings. For example, consider providing packing or unpacking services to customers who prefer not to do it themselves.
This can help differentiate your company from competitors and add value to your services.
Another option is to offer storage solutions for customers who need temporary storage between moves.
By partnering with a local storage facility, you can offer a one-stop solution for moving and storage, making it easier for customers to plan their moves.
By expanding and diversifying your services in these ways, you can attract new customers, keep your current ones satisfied, and maintain your profitability during the off-season.
4| Networking And Relationship Building
Establish Connections With Professionals
You should always be networking, but it’s especially important during the off-season.
Consider joining industry associations and connecting with other movers, real estate agents, property managers, and field service professionals.
Join online communities on sites like Reddit and LinkedIn. Answer questions about moving companies on Quora. Do anything you can to position yourself as an expert in the industry, while also helping others achieve their goals.
Attend Networking Events
Make the most of your time during the off-season by attending networking events in your community or within your niche.
Engage with other business leaders and attend professional conferences, trade shows, and meetups. You can use Meetup to find relevant events in your area, or just connect with your local Chamber of Commerce.
These events provide an excellent opportunity to create awareness about your moving company and forge relationships with potential partners, collaborators, or clients.
Engage In Proactive Outreach
To build a strong network, engage in proactive outreach by actively seeking out networking opportunities and potential connections.
This can include reaching out to existing clients for referrals, engaging with potential partners, or collaborating with complementary businesses in your community.
By staying visible and proactive during the off-season, you'll be well-positioned for growth when peak moving season arrives.
Final Thoughts
Moving season will never not be stressful, but hopefully these tips can make it just a little bit less so. By taking the time in the off-season to get organized and prepared, you are setting yourself up for success.
Who knows? Maybe you’ll diversify your revenue and make new connections that grow your profitability even more than the busy seasons!
Speaking of growing your profitability, be sure to check out our guide on how to increase moving company sales and profitability next.
Or, if you want to go deeper, check out how SmartMoving can help you streamline your operations, grow revenue, and impress your customers.
