One of the most popular social networking sites is LinkedIn. While it doesn’t have all the features of its “more fun” counterparts like Facebook, it’s recognized for its purpose, which is completely professional.

LinkedIn is the way to gain exposure for your business, whether that means finding the best talent, joining a professional organization, or just getting recognition. Joining is the first step to achieving any or all of these goals for your home inspection business.

Getting Started

Click here to get started.  You’ll be asked to supply a name, contact email, and password. Click the “JOIN NOW” button and you’ll be taken to a series of windows asking for various details until you reach a screen giving options on where to go next.

At that point you may as well quit and go to the email account you gave, since you’ll have to click in a confirmation email before you can log in and get full access. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to continue.

Before you add anything, be sure to change your Privacy Settings so your information isn’t visible until you’re ready.

Remember, you’re marketing yourself online here, so think about keywords. These are the relevant skills and attributes you consider your chief selling points as a home inspector. These are the things potential clients will search by.

Use a free keyword search tool to find most-used phrases like “home inspection NY” or “certified home inspector”, and use them several times in your LinkedIn profile.

Next, update and add your resume. You may not be a job seeker, but this will let interested parties know you have an extensive background of experience and qualifications are. Just make sure it’s accurate, organized, professional, and clearly lists your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments, without mistruths or needless hyperbole that could come back to haunt you.

Now that you’ve got your profile filled out, it’s time to update it. A photo is the first thing people see, so make sure you post one that’s both welcoming and professional.

Add information about your company, your market, and your mission. Be positive and informative, but don’t dwell on detail. You can also post other files and images as you grow your profile, or links to sites that you think would be helpful in promoting your business.

Professional Presence

When your profile is ready, make it public and start sharing it. Let friends, family, business contacts, and real estate publications know where to find it. Add a link to your profile on printed business material and other social media sites. You can even send out an email blast to your colleagues letting them know you’d like to connect.

If you want to grow your reputation, it’s a great idea to write a few blog articles related to home inspection. If you already have a blog, you can cross-post your existing blog posts on LinkedIn. Add a link to your blog in your profile and at the end of each post you create on LinkedIn, as well.

One great tool is LinkedIn plugins, which are buttons you can add to webpages directing users to your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn Groups

Finally, it’s time to connect with others using LinkedIn Groups.

There are hundreds of groups you can find and join to increase your presence among fellow home inspectors and potential clients. A few that we participate in are Home Inspectors Forum, Home Inspectors for a 21^st Century, and Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and Startups.

You can search for others here.

Home inspection turns up 113 million results on Google, so don’t expect droves of people to be filling up your inbox from day one on LinkedIn. Just develop the good habits of logging in periodically to update your information, add links to great content you’ve discovered and promote it to the online community. The idea is to build your professional presence into a network of positive recognition.

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Technology has comp­­letely changed the way businesses approach marketing. One of the biggest changes has been the technology innovations regarding video, audio, and streaming.

Today it’s about more than providing potential customers with printed ad copy. Video is where it’s at, and you can jump onboard the video train to make your marketing messages more memorable.

For home inspectors, the use of video as a marketing tool can be particularly effective because your target audience is used to checking out real estate videos on the Internet and TV.

To get results from video marketing, you’ve got to commit to doing it right. If done incorrectly, a video can do more harm than good (think negative comments and reviews).

Here are our best tips for creating a marketing video that will keep potential customers glued to the screen:

1. Make The Video Look Professional­

As a home inspector, you want your customers to have utmost faith in you. So you want to present the proper image onscreen, looking put together and professional.

You don’t have to spend a fortune, but you’ll want to invest in proper lighting and a quality microphone. The audio and video makeup a large portion of a professional video, so these components must act the part. You can find great microphones and basic lighting kits inexpensively on Amazon.

2. Use A Good Video Background

One of the biggest mistakes home inspectors make with video recordings is using a poor or inappropriate background. We recently saw one video a home inspector shot himself, holding his iPhone sideways at about waist level. Not good.

Being a home inspector affords you all kids of opportunities to shoot videos in great locations—in basements, on roofs, etc. While the viewers will be watching and listening to you, they’ll also be keeping an eye on what’s going on around you.

Don’t pick a spot with heavy traffic, passerby or distractions. On the other hand, don’t just shoot up against a blank white wall, so it looks like you’re floating in space.

Choose a background that will set the tone for your video, and maybe even give you something interesting to reference while you’re talking.

3. Make The Message Short And Easy To Remember

Online videos are more popular than ever before, but no one wants to sit and listen to you talk for 30 minutes, either! People have a short attention span, and your message should reflect that.

We suggest keeping your videos to three minutes or less. If you can keep them under one minute, even better.

Additionally, don’t just hit record without thinking about what you’re going to say. Your message should be carefully put together and delivered in a professional manner. Every word should have a purpose.

Keep your opening tight, direct, and on point and stick to the message the whole way through. You only have a few seconds to get and keep the attention of your viewers.

Feeling jittery before you get started? Watch this short YouTube video for conquering your camera fear.

When done right, video can be a great marketing tool for home inspectors. You don’t have to hire a professional; with some basic, quality equipment, a steady shot and a solid message, you’ve got everything you need to start your video marketing campaign off right.

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Does your marketing strategy need a pick-me-up? Try making one small change each month to ramp up your home inspection schedule.

We’ve compiled 12 easy tactics to try this year to reach new customers and expand your reach, both online and in your community.

January: Blog

If you don’t have a blog, start one, preferably on your own website. Provide useful content like tips for homeowners, then share your posts with friends, family members and colleagues.

Another idea you can accomplish with a blog is to take questions from actual customers (or make them up based on questions you’re frequently asked), then answer them on your blog. It’s not only an open forum to interact with your readers, but a great way to keep your site updated with fresh content, which the search engines love.

February: LinkedIn

Set up a LinkedIn account to connect with other home inspectors, realtors and other professionals in your field.

Join a few relevant LinkedIn groups, which are great place to stay up-to-date with industry trends and learn new tricks of the trade. We’re part of the Home Inspectors Forum and ASHI Home Inspectors, to name a few.

March: Email marketing

Get into the habit of sending out regular emails to your mailing list. Don’t have an email list? Focus on building one. You can start with your list of recent clients and grow from there.

Read our post on starting a home inspector newsletter here.

April: Twitter

Use Twitter to make short statements your client base will find helpful. Then, help people find them by using relevant hashtags like #homeinspection and #realestate.

Inspector Pages regularly receives new website visits and email subscriptions via the posts we share on Twitter.

May: Facebook

Set up a Facebook page for your home inspection business and invite your personal contacts to ‘like’ it. Then, update it each time you write a new blog post. You can also share photos from your work in the field, ponting out common home repair issues others should watch out for.

You can join Facebook groups to network with other home inspectors and share knowledge. Gary Smith’s group, Professional Home Inspector, is regularly updated with useful discussions from members.

June: Network Outside Your Niche

Attend a non-home inspection related event, like a business owner’s seminar or a chamber of commerce meeting. You don’t know who you don’t know—in other words, there are thousands of new leads out there just waiting to meet you!

Helpful hint: Exchange business cards with new acquaintances and ask if you may add them to your email newsletter.

July: Direct Mail

Believe it or not, direct mail is still a highly effective medium for bringing in new business. You can invest in a custom mailing list, like new homeowners in your area, or you can do mail marketing on the cheap by printing a few thousand fliers and spending a Saturday dropping them in local mailboxes.

You direct mail piece should be simple and eye-catching, and include a specific deal recipients can redeem, like $50 off any service.

August: Vehicle Marketing

Cover your vehicle in a custom wrap that shows off your business and contact details. Your customers will get a great first impression from your professional-looking truck, and you’ll pick up new leads from people who see you out and about.

The best thing about vehicle wraps is they’re a “one and done” marketing tool: pay for the wrap one time and reap the benefits for months or years to come. Learn more about the benefits of vehicle wraps in this blog post.

September: Open Houses

Visit open houses to get to know new realtors you’re not acquainted with. It can be easy to fall back on your trusty old list of contacts, but you never know when one new introduction could spark a whole new stream of business.

Read our tips for open house marketing here.

October: Publish An Article

Write an op-ed on a timely and interesting topic and submit it to your local paper or realtor’s magazine. If it gets cold where you live, for example, you might write a set if tips to help homeowners to prepare for winter. You can do this year-round and pick up some great free publicity.

November: Update Your Website

If the last time you refreshed your website was when you had an AOL email address, it might be time for a revamp. Inspector Pages offers a number of professional, diverse templates that are easy to install and come pre-filled with the essentials, like About Us and Contact pages.

December: Refresh Your CTAs

If you’re not collecting a steady stream of leads from your website, you might want to try updating your site’s CTAs, or calls to action. These are the elements that encourage people to go from visitors to leads.

Try changing the size and position of your contact form. Play with a new color or tagline on your Contact button. Add a contact form to the sidebar on every page of your site.

Little changes go a long way to making big differences for your business. Need help implementing any of the above? Get in touch with us at [email protected].

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Have experience in construction or real estate? Want to work on your terms and set your own hours? A career as a home inspector may be perfect for you, but you’re probably wondering: how much will I make?

Salary Basics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home inspectors bring in an average salary of $56,040 per year. This translates into $26.94 per hour. Pay in the field is largely contingent upon factors including experience, geographical location, and employer size.

Home inspectors who gain employment through a construction company can typically expect to attain paid vacations, health insurance, and retirement savings plan. The 11% of home inspectors who work as independent contractors pay for benefits on their own.

Salary Variations Based On State

It’s important to remember that geographical location can significantly alter a home inspector’s salary. Inspectors in the District of Columbia earn the highest annual income: $81,930. Individuals employed in California also generate a relatively substantive annual income of $71,300. House inspectors in Florida generate about $53,410 each year, while Pennsylvania workers earn about $48,100 annually.

Salary Variations Based On Industry

The salary earned by a home inspector will vary based on the industry.

The BLS reports that inspectors who work for power and electric companies bring home the highest salaries–$71,900. Those who work for natural gas distributors earn $67,420. Additionally, home inspectors who worked for the federal government earn an annual income of $65,440.

Roughly half of home inspectors are employed by municipal governments. The annual salaries of these individuals is about $55,250. Inspectors employed through construction, engineering, and architectural firms bring home annual salaries of $53,460.

Educational Requirements

To become a home inspector, individuals must first typically attain a high school degree. However, some employers require job candidates to attain an associate’s degrees before being offered a position. The associate’s degree is effective in preparing people with knowledge in relevant fields such as drafting, construction technology, and home inspection.

In some cases, employers will accept a certificate in place of a degree. Additionally, some employers will hire candidates who hold bachelor’s degrees as opposed to industry experience.

Job Outlook

The BLS reports that the number of positions for home inspectors will grow by 18% between 2010 and 2020. This rate of growth is slightly higher than the national average, which is 14%. The growth rate is attributed to increasing demand for safety in the residential property sector.

Areas undergoing significant population increases will have particularly plentiful vocational opportunities for aspiring home inspectors.

The Bottom Line

If you’re thinking about becoming a home inspector, it’s important to consider what type of salary you can expect to earn. By reviewing the short outline provided above and considering the factors that come into play where you live, you’ll get a better idea of whether it’s the career path for you.

Just getting started as a home inspector? We’ve got plenty of free marketing resources for you in our blog. Or, sign up to receive regular email updates below.

‘Tis the season… for generic gift baskets. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with a cheese platter or popcorn tin, there’s definitely nothing memorable about them, either.

One year, a client of ours remembered that the whole office had loved her homemade salsa at an event earlier in the year. She sent jars of the stuff—on ice—to every person in our office. Now that’s a holiday gift to remember.

Need some inspiration to close out the calendar year? Here are 9 gifts perfect for home inspectors that will wow realtors and clients alike.

1. Flashlight

You never have one when you need one (well, you probably do, but the rest of us…). Show clients the light with a high-quality flashlight and a clever message, like ‘Wishing you a merry and bright holiday season.’ Throw in extra batteries for bonus points.

2. Local Coffee

Your realtor contacts will love you for this one. Visit your local gourmet coffee shop and pick up a bag of their best beans. Instead of a gift bag, put the java inside an inexpensive French press and presto—a gift that will really get them going.

3. Garlic Grater and Oil Dish

I received one of these as a gift and can’t count how many times it’s come in handy in the kitchen. It’s one of those things you’d never think to buy for yourself, but you use again and again once you have it. Perfect to help recent clients break in a brand new kitchen.

4. Local Outing

Instead of a physical gift, give tickets to a baseball game, a round of golf or an hour massage. It’s an extra special way to say thank you to your very best sources of business.

5. Custom Cookies

Everyone knows the best part of Chinese takeout is the fortune cookie at the end. Send clients an inspiring, funny or heartfelt message of well wishes for the year ahead with a custom fortune cookie. They’re inexpensive to order online, and clients will love the midday snack—complete with your business name inside.

6. Light Reading

Often excerpted in magazines like Reader’s Digest, 100 Things Every Homeowner Must Know offers useful, basic tips on everything from warding off ant invasions to growing the best lawn on the block. Have a favorite handyman read of your own that you’d rather give? Have at it.

7. Holiday Cheer(s)

If your colleagues are the cocktail-loving kind, gift them the ingredients for your favorite happy hour indulgence. For example, a fifth of bourbon, a bottle of bitters, a sack of sugar cubes and a jar of maraschino cherries to whip up the perfect Old Fashioned.

8. Gingerbread House

This holiday classic becomes uber-relevant for the real estate crowd. Add a clever customization with a fondant sign that reads ‘Inspected by [Your Name Here]’ (most bakeries can tackle the custom request).

9. Personalized Present

If you really want to impress, go the route of our salsa-gifting friend and come up with something your colleague or client will love on a personal level.

Work with a realtor who teaches yoga? Gift a new mat or water bottle. Have a client who mentioned a passion for cooking? Spring for a cookbook or local cooking class. While you don’t need to use this level of personalization for every client, it’s a wonderful way to leave a lasting impression on those you want a lasting relationship with.

Do you give holiday gifts to your work contacts? Follow us on Twitter and tell us what you give!