Ready to roll into the latter half of 2021 with a powerful marketing punch? One way to gear up for such an effort is to look at what the competition is doing and figure out how you can do it better. Check out these three marketing statistics that let you know what’s working—or not working—for others and how that information can help you drive more conversions this year.

1. Blogs drive 67 percent more leads.

Businesses that have blogs get more leads than businesses that don’t. Blogs serve a number of home improvement marketing purposes, including:

• Demonstrating your expertise and authority in the niche.
• Providing answers and helpful advice to consumers, which helps them remember you when they’re ready to make a purchase.
• Creating important website optimization so you perform better in SERPs.

If you don’t have a blog at all, now is the time to start one. If you do have a blog, take time over the summer to audit your content, revamp what’s not performing, and make a plan to post consistently the rest of the year.

2. Too many businesses don’t have a consistent strategy.

Around 70 percent of marketers admit they don’t have a consistent strategy or integrated plan. As someone who handles home improvement goods and services, you know tackling any project with a plan or manual can spell disaster.

If you’re handling marketing by the seat of your pants, stop. Spend some time creating a plan that integrates all your home improvement marketing channels—from social to SEO. Or consider hiring someone who can do this for you; either way, a strong strategy can improve your conversions and revenue by the end of the year.

 3. Almost 90 percent of small businesses use visuals in marketing.

Images, videos, and photos are no longer optional—and haven’t been in a while. Social media posts with visual elements get more clicks, likes, and shares than any other type. But variable media is also important on your website; it breaks up the page, increases scannability and user experience, and helps you connect with people of different learning types.