Word-of-Mouth Marketing That Scales
Referrals are the lifeblood of a roofing business. When a homeowner has a great experience, they’re likely to tell neighbors, friends, and family—especially when those people need roof repairs after a storm. But relying on organic word-of-mouth isn’t enough. You need a consistent, scalable way to spark referrals—and direct mail postcards are one of the easiest and most effective tools to do it.
Why Postcards Work for Referrals
Postcards are personal, tangible, and seen by nearly everyone in the household. Unlike a social post that disappears in seconds, a postcard lives on the counter or fridge, serving as a visual reminder to share your business.
A well-timed postcard keeps your brand top-of-mind and helps homeowners spread the word after a successful project. It’s the perfect “nudge” to turn satisfied customers into advocates.
Benefits of using postcards for referrals:
✅ Reaches entire neighborhoods at once
✅ Provides physical proof of your great work
✅ Drives traffic to online reviews and referral forms
✅ Builds local credibility with visuals of real projects
Step 1: Mail to Completed Job Neighborhoods
Every time you finish a roofing job, target the surrounding area with a follow-up postcard campaign. Neighbors often have similar homes, roof ages, and maintenance needs—making them high-potential leads.
Use Taradel’s Mapfire targeting tool to select carrier routes around your completed projects. Then, send a postcard like:
“We just finished a roof on [Street Name]! Ask your neighbor about their experience and schedule your free inspection today.”
This approach builds trust instantly and encourages neighbor-to-neighbor conversations.
Step 2: Encourage Customers to Refer Friends
Your happy customers are your best promoters—but sometimes they just need a little motivation. Include a clear referral offer on your postcards, such as:
💰 “Refer a friend and get $250 off your next service!”
🎁 “Earn a $100 gift card for every new customer you send our way!”
🔨 “Help your neighbors protect their homes—and save on your next roof!”
Make it easy to redeem with a QR code that links to your referral form or Google Review page.
Step 3: Combine With EDDM® for Maximum Reach
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) lets you blanket entire neighborhoods—no mailing list required. For roofing companies, this is ideal for post-storm or seasonal marketing when demand spikes.
You can:
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Target ZIP codes hit by severe weather
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Reach homes built 15–20 years ago (prime replacement age)
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Highlight referral rewards and local testimonials
With Taradel, you can design, print, and mail postcards all in one place. No experience needed—and every postcard is USPS-compliant and ready to mail.
Click here to begin customizing your roofing postcard!
Step 4: Keep the Momentum Going
A referral engine only works when it runs year-round. Create a simple mailing cadence:
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Month 1: Send “We just completed a roof in your area” postcards
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Month 2: Follow up with a “Refer a friend” or “Thank you” card
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Month 3: Send a maintenance reminder or seasonal service offer
By mailing consistently, you’ll build recognition, trust, and steady inbound leads—all from your existing happy customers.
Step 5: Show Off Your Work
Nothing builds credibility like real results. Use before-and-after photos of completed roofs (with permission) to show homeowners what they can expect. Include your logo, a brief testimonial, and a short message like:
“Another happy customer in your neighborhood. Let’s make your roof next!”
Visual proof sells—and helps turn one good project into ten more.
Final Thoughts
A strong referral engine doesn’t have to be complicated. With direct mail postcards and EDDM, you can keep your roofing brand visible, trusted, and shared among neighbors—all without needing a mailing list or expensive digital ads.
Start your referral campaign today with Taradel’s free postcard templates and easy design tools.
Design your roofing postcard now at Taradel.com
