Fall Marketing Playbook: How to Keep Your Phone Ringing After Summer

Published 2024-09-10 · 5 min read

For many contractors, summer is the gravy train. The phone rings by itself. But around September, something shifts. The calls slow down. The schedule starts showing gaps. And by October, you are wondering when the next job is coming.

Fall does not have to be a slow season. You just need to market differently. Here is your playbook.

Promote Seasonal Services

Every trade has fall specific services that homeowners need but forget about until it is too late. Start promoting these in September:

HVAC: Furnace tune-ups, filter replacements, duct cleaning before heating season
Plumbing: Pipe insulation, water heater maintenance, outdoor faucet winterization
Electricians: Generator installation and maintenance, holiday lighting setup, panel inspections
Roofers: Gutter cleaning, pre-winter roof inspections, storm damage repair from summer
Landscapers: Fall clean-up, leaf removal, irrigation system winterization
Painters: Interior painting (homeowners shift inside projects for fall and winter)

Run a Fall Special

Create a time limited offer that creates urgency. Not a permanent discount, a seasonal package. Examples:

“Winter-Ready Package: Furnace tune-up + filter replacement + CO detector check — $149 (normally $220). Book by October 31.”
“Pre-Winter Roof Inspection — $0 with any repair over $500. Available through November.”
“Book your interior painting project before Thanksgiving and save 10%.”

Promote these on your Google Business Profile, your website, Facebook, and in email to your past customer list.

Email Your Past Customers

If you have been collecting customer contact information (and you should be), September is the perfect time to send a simple email: “Fall is here. Time to [tune up your furnace / inspect your roof / winterize your pipes]. We are booking now and spots fill up fast. Reply to this email or call us to schedule.”

Past customers are your warmest leads. They already trust you. A simple reminder email can fill a week of your schedule.

Update Your Google Ads

If you run Google Ads, update your keywords and ad copy for fall services. Swap “AC repair” for “furnace repair.” Add “winterization” keywords. Update your ad text to mention seasonal offers. Your competitors who forget to update their ads will be running summer copy while you are meeting the homeowner where their needs are right now.

Post Fall Content on Social Media

Share fall maintenance tips your followers can actually use. “3 signs your furnace needs attention before winter.” “Why you should insulate exposed pipes this month.” “Fall clean-up checklist for homeowners.” Educational content builds trust and keeps you top of mind when they need to hire someone.

Pro Tip: Create a content calendar for October through December now. Plan one post per week that ties your services to the season. This prevents the “I have nothing to post” paralysis that kills most contractor social media accounts.

Do Not Stop Marketing in the Slow Season

The contractors who market consistently through fall and winter come out of the slow season with a full pipeline. The ones who stop marketing and “wait for spring” start the new year scrambling for work. The choice is yours.

Need Help With Your Fall Marketing Strategy?

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