7 Tips to Help You Grow as a Professional Electrician

An electrical contractor who wants to grow in their professional business needs a growth strategy. Moreover, professional or business growth is a lifelong journey. Don’t rely on organic growth without planning. Below are some practical tips that can help.

1. Invest in Customer Service and Satisfaction

Many electricians get considerable business from referrals. However, you can only get referrals from satisfied customers. Invest in helpful customer service and participation. Here are some useful tips:

• Listen to your customers
• Put customers first as much a possible
• Communicate with your customers clearly and effectively
• Follow up with your customers on their satisfaction with your service

Make great customer service a core attribute and not an afterthought.

2. Enroll in Ongoing Training

The electrical industry is wide and continuously changing. Get ongoing education to help you maintain or improve your standard. Below are some specific benefits of ongoing electrical training:

• Continuing education can help you improve your skills and expand your electrical knowledge.
• Many jurisdictions require electricians to get ongoing training to maintain their licenses.
• Ongoing training exposes you to new trends in the electrical industry.
• Ongoing training gets you acquainted with electrical code updates.

Ongoing training is available for different skillsets. Look for a comprehensive training package that offers you as many of these skills as possible.

3. Cultivate Relationships With Different Industry Players

A practicing electrician meets and interacts with different people. You will meet:

• Material suppliers
• Tools and equipment vendors
• Potential customers

Cultivate relationships with all these people. For example, ongoing relationships with material suppliers and vendors might help you get discounts in the future. You should also treat anyone as a potential client — you never know when they might require your services.

4. Invest in Equipment and Tools

A typical electrician requires dozens of tools in their work. The right tools and equipment:

• Help with work safety
• Shorten project completion times
• Prove your readiness and preparation for clients

For example, a wireless camera will help you inspect hard-to-reach areas if you are struggling to pull a wire through hidden channels. Choose your tools and equipment carefully, maintain them appropriately, and replace them when necessary.

5. Practice Safety First

Electrical mishaps can lead to fire outbreaks, equipment damage, and electrocution. Practice a safety-first mantra in all your projects. Don’t forget that your job determines your customers’ safeties even long after you are gone.

For example, clients with limited budgets might suggest shortcuts to cut costs. Communicate the dangers of such shortcuts to such clients and insists on the right installations. For example, using an indoor cable for outdoor wiring might be disastrous if it rains.

6. Widen Your Service Offerings

Another tip is to expand your service offerings and widen your client base. For example, consider expansion to commercial electrical work if you currently service only residential installations. You can enroll in further or ongoing training to deepen your electrical expertise.

7. Market Yourself

Lastly, you need to market your electrical business. Referrals are great, but they aren’t the only means of getting new business. Further marketing tips include:

• Maintain an active online presence
• Highlight your strengths and expertise while networking or talking with potential clients
• Utilize local business listings
• Invest in email marketing
• Network with facility managers and homeowners associations
• Study what your competitors are doing

A solid marketing plan and budget will help you accomplish these marketing ideas.

Independent Electrical Contractors of Greater Cincinnati is a leader in electrical apprenticeship and training. We have invested considerably in training tools and strategies both for new and established electricians. Contact us for a consultation on how to take your electrical profession and business to the next level.