As we celebrate Independence Day and the spirit of hard work and craftsmanship that built our country, it’s the perfect time to think about strengthening your construction business, so you have the freedom to grow and succeed.

When most contractors consider why they lose clients, they often blame price competition, slow projects, or a client’s unrealistic expectations. But in my experience as a construction bookkeeper, one of the most common—and preventable—reasons contractors lose business is poor invoicing practices.

I know what you might be thinking: “My craftsmanship speaks for itself; invoicing is just paperwork.” But the truth is that invoices are often the last impression you leave on a client. That impression determines whether you get paid promptly, earn a good review, or ever hear from them again.

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Topics: Invoicing, Construction Marketing, Free Invoice Template, Systems And Processes, Systems, finance, invoices

Visibility is essential for your handyman or contracting business for several key reasons. Effective marketing helps your company stand out in a competitive market, and promoting your services can help you reach a wider audience and become known in your community.

 

Potential customers are more likely to hire someone they have heard about or seen advertised. This credibility is crucial for a service-based business like yours, where customers rely on reputation. Sharing content like the project "before and after," tips, and how-to guides can demonstrate your expertise and help you connect with your target audience.

 

Many construction businesses are vying for the same residents and homeowners, but active marketing helps you stay relevant, ensuring your company remains top-of-mind for potential clients. 

 

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Topics: Marketing Ideas For Contractors That Work, Marketing Tracking, Construction Marketing, Marketing, Systems And Processes, handyman marketing, Construction Systems And Processes

In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, it's easy for construction business owners to overlook the power of offline marketing. However, effective offline strategies remain crucial in building relationships, enhancing brand visibility, and generating leads. In this digital age, offline marketing often creates more meaningful connections than digital efforts. Whether you're a small contractor or a more prominent construction firm, understanding and implementing these strategies can help you establish a strong community presence and a loyal customer base.

 

As a construction professional, you hold the key to unlocking the potential of offline marketing. From networking events and local advertising to engaging community initiatives, these strategies empower you to create meaningful connections that digital efforts often cannot.

 

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Topics: Marketing Ideas For Contractors That Work, Construction Marketing, Systems And Processes, Contractor Marketing, handyman marketing, offline marketing for contractors, Construction Systems And Processes

Social media can feel overwhelming. With so much noise and so many platforms, where do you start? The truth is that a great social media strategy can transform how you connect with customers and help you grow your contracting business.

 

Social media platforms' reach and accessibility are unprecedented. They connect businesses with a vast audience in real-time. Besides their broad reach, social media platforms also serve as valuable tools for businesses to listen to what their customers say about their brand, competitors, or the industry.

 

Social media allows for active engagement. Construction companies like yours can post questions, respond to comments, and forge stronger customer bonds. Unlike traditional marketing channels, it's a great leveler. All businesses – whether big or small, have equal access. This means smaller companies can compete effectively against their larger counterparts.

 

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Topics: Marketing Tracking, Construction Marketing, Systems And Processes, Contractor Marketing, Winning Teams, Construction Systems And Processes, social media for contractors

Stepping up your marketing game as a construction business owner is always a welcome topic in my client conversations. Often, contractors chat with me about the best way to promote their company, primarily because no one else is running it. 

 

You may focus more on accounting and taxes at times, and at other times, your business may slow down, and sales become more challenging. Given this trend, establishing and maintaining connections with existing and potential customers has become more critical. 

 

So, if you're looking to do some construction business promotions to attract more quality clients, what do you do, especially on your own? Here are some practical tips that I highly suggest to consider:

 

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Topics: Marketing Ideas For Contractors That Work, Construction Marketing, Contractors Emergency Marketing Plan, Secrets Of Highly Successful Contractors, Contractor Guidance

Marketing your construction business is crucial for its growth and success. You can use various strategies to promote your business, such as creating a website, networking, social media marketing, and advertising. Additionally, sponsoring events and collaborating with other companies can help you reach a wider audience. 

 

I understand how daunting it can feel for construction business owners like you; we've been there. Whether you're new to the game or have been in business for a while and haven't quite cracked the code, navigating the marketing world can be overwhelming. But it doesn't have to be. Your business deserves to be seen, heard, and thriving—with the proper guidance, you can make marketing work for you. Let's unravel the puzzle, starting from square one.

 

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Topics: Marketing Ideas For Contractors That Work, Construction Marketing, Contractor Marketing, offline marketing for contractors

For a business to thrive and grow, it needs a strategic plan and the ability to find new customers and continually tap into promising markets. However, this can be easier said than done in a highly competitive trade industry.

 

With time, the quality of your work will speak for itself, which is the most valuable testimonial of all. While your good reputation preceding you is undoubtedly essential, there are a few other ways that you'll want to market your services to ensure that you have a steady stream of work.

 

The untapped potential in existing markets

 

Start by re-evaluating your existing customer base. Profiling them will help you more accurately define your target consumers. 

 

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Topics: Profit and Growth Strategies For Contractors, Construction Marketing, Contractor Marketing, handyman marketing, Inbound Marketing For Contractors

Taking steps to create a good foundation in the early days of your business is essential for a sustainable and profitable future. 

It's rare these days that your prospective leads happen to find your construction business and become a client with no work. Your company has to grab people's attention, turn curious visitors into leads and then convert those leads into sales.

Keep in mind: Marketing-Accounting-Production

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Topics: Construction Marketing, Construction Bookkeeping And Accounting, MAP vs. PAM, Contractor Tips, Construction Productivity, Construction Organizational Change

Raising prices can be a sore subject. Many construction business owners like you assume doing so will spell the end of your competitiveness. But by not raising prices, you're simply letting inflation and your suppliers' maintenance of your margins quietly eat away at profitability. The bottom line is that costs will always rise long-term - at least with inflation.

That means you have to pass on the costs to your customers or consume those costs yourself to the point where one day, you'll have to either suddenly raise prices or accept the eventual failure of your business.

The worst thing you can do is avoid measuring your costs by sticking your head in the sand. Cost rises will catch up with you eventually, so take action to maintain your margins.

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Topics: Marketing Tracking, Construction Marketing, Construction Accountant Who Listens, Contractor Marketing, Contractor Tips, Pricing Jobs, How To Raise Prices

When you go into business as a tradesperson, you often focus on performing your trade to the best of your ability – as it should be. With time, the quality of your work will speak for itself, which is the most valuable testimonial of all.

Before the internet was commercially available, just as many experts advised contractors about the layout and design of yellow page ads and which books to spend money on, I say you spend money because that is what it was - Marketing.

Many of us who owned and operated construction companies spent thousands of dollars on these experts. Based on their recommendations, we spent tens of thousands of dollars annually in full-page yellow page ads as close to the first position.

 

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Topics: Marketing Ideas For Contractors That Work, Marketing Tracking, Construction Marketing, Construction Accountant Who Listens, Contractor Marketing, Contractor Tips, Inbound Marketing For Contractors