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

Construction contractors like you are primarily in the "Hurry Up" and "Wait" zone.

• • Hurry up and answer the call from the customer. 
  • Wait to make the appointment. 
  • Hurry up and get to the job. 
  • Wait for the customer to come home to be available. 
  • Hurry up and create the proposal. 
  • Wait for a decision. 
  • When the client says "Yes," it is - wait for the Job Deposit.
  • Wait to Start The Job

This Hurry Up and Wait for activity makes it hard for the contractor to schedule other jobs. Many contractors only hold a place open for the client once a job deposit has been received. 

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Topics: Construction Company, Marketing Ideas For Contractors That Work, Marketing Tracking, Construction Marketing, Contractors Emergency Marketing Plan

One of your greatest fears is wasting money on a less than good lead.

 

They may or may not have any genuine desire for services. Sometimes a person is committed to collecting three bids when they already have someone picked out to do the work. They may be looking for a "temporary friend" to do them a favor, or by the time you have completed the form, they have changed their mind and no longer want service. This is often the case when one spouse or partner wants the work done, and the other doesn't.

 

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Topics: Profit and Growth Strategies For Contractors, Construction Marketing, offline marketing for contractors, Contractor Guidance

If you want your business to continue growing and thriving, you'll need to find ways to bring in new clients.

 

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

 

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

 

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Topics: Profit and Growth Strategies For Contractors, Construction Marketing, offline marketing for contractors, Contractor Guidance

Businesses are increasingly moving online to expand their reach and provide the best possible experience to their customers. Being online, however, means more competition, so business owners must come up with ways to amp up their game to gain a more significant market share. 

 

You won't build a loyal client base if you can't earn your visitors' trust, so companies value social proof so highly. But proving your construction business's value online takes a unique skill set, one you can nurture by learning from the marketing industry professionals.

 

Great news for construction business owners like you since you're hyper-local and offer your services based on your location, which means you can target your online audience and optimize for better search engine results.

 

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Topics: Marketing Ideas For Contractors That Work, Construction Marketing, Inbound Marketing For Contractors, Contractor Guidance

There is no better time to reflect and think seriously about your construction business. Excellent organization systems add considerable value to any business because they allow you to spend more time working on your business rather than on it.

Year over year and regardless of the economy, one thing never changes; 20% of the contractors earn and keep 80% of the profits because they have a Business Process Management Strategy like our Contractors Success M.A.P. that tells them how, what, when, where and why to focus their limited resources on the M.A.P. = Marketing / Accounting / Production.

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Topics: The Contractors Account, Construction Marketing, Construction Accounting, MAP vs. PAM, contractors bookkeeping and accounting, Accounting Software for Contractors, Contractor, Construction Productivity

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

This means that the more solid leads you have, the greater your chances of making a sale. Solid leads are those contacts engaged in your business, fit your buyer persona, and are at least somewhat motivated to make a purchase or hire your services.

 

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Topics: Contractor Lead Services, Construction Marketing, Marketing, Profitable Leads For Contractors, handyman marketing, Contractor

The pains caused by an economic downturn can be excruciating, which is why most of us dread it.

A recession can mean massive layoffs, jobs becoming harder to find, and wages frozen, which means consumers hunker down and spend less-- often worsening the slowdown unknowingly. 

For most businesses, especially small businesses, recessions can be brutal. Just take, for example, the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) that struck the world in 2008. Between December 2008 and December 2010, approximately 1.8 million small businesses shut down. When Investopedia looked into the financial crisis's impact on small businesses after a decade, they found out that business creation has not yet returned to pre-crisis levels. 

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Topics: Be Do Have, Cash Flow, Construction Marketing, Business Plan For Your Construction Company, Contractor, Contractor Tips, finance, Construction Business After COVID-19

Operating at a loss means you’re spending more money than you’re making. And while it’s not uncommon, especially for new businesses, it’s still not an ideal situation and shouldn’t continue in the long term. Otherwise, you will eventually run out of cash reserves and be out of business.

So the first thing you need to identify is why you’re operating at a loss. If it’s because you’re still in the start-up phase, then you might not need to worry too much as long as you’ve got enough cash to meet your costs. But if the losses are due to a decline in sales, then it’s time to review your construction business and, if necessary, get professional help.

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Topics: Profit And Loss Reports, Construction Marketing, Contractor, Contractor Tips, finance, Contractor Operating Tips

If you're serious about getting the best value you can for your marketing budget, you'll need to develop a marketing plan. Many contractors are having challenges adapting to this ever-changing economy. Trade contractors who rely on the same general contractors they did a few years ago to supply jobs to bid on are finding it more difficult to recover and find work.

 

It appears that history is repeating itself. Instead of yellow pages, I see many well-intentioned people with their minds and hearts in the right place with a lot of really great ideas on what works and fails in social media. I certainly don't know what works for every contractor; however, what I do know is that every construction company is unique, and what works for your competitor may not work for you.

 

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Topics: Marketing Tracking, Construction Marketing, Construction Accounting, Marketing, Contractor Marketing, Contractor, Contractor Tips, Contractor Operating Tips