Contractor Marketing – Just Do It Now and We’ll Add It to the Next Invoice
by admin on May 27, 2009
in Builder Marketing, Construction Marketing
Hey contractors, subcontractors, vendors and business owners…any of these situations ring a bell?
My favorite one is “We’ll go ahead and pay for this this time, but just show us how you made it, so we can do it again in-house, from now on.”
In the construction industry–especially lately–it’s a common occurance to get low-balled and otherwise manipulated by vendors, contractors, and subs. This video shows us how ridiculous these situations can be to construction companies and, really, all business owners.
More favorites:
1. We didn’t budget for this.
2. I mean, lunch at the taco stand was about $12. Sir, this is not the taco stand. Well, it was, I had beef… Sir, you had the filet. Yeah…cow.
3. I’m not making any money on this either.
4. We can do this. This is not a challenge. This is an opportunity.
5. Well I can cover your hard costs, but that’s really as far as I’m willing to go.
6. We’re gonna make it up on the next one.
Heard any of these before? How do you deal with these “opportunities” in your business?
(This video was brought to my attention by the awesome folks over at CenterNetworks.)
Contractor Marketing: How to Create Your Own Lead Generation Website
by admin on January 25, 2009
in Construction Marketing
Every day I talk to contractors who are looking for new ways to improve their marketing campaigns.
Overwhelmingly, my time is spent answering questions about how to create an online lead generation campaign that gets results in the construction industry.
For most contractors, builders and remodelers, this goal can be achieved with either a minimum of effort, or a minimum of expense. But you usually have to choose one or the other.
You can pay someone to do it for you, or you can do it yourself. Assuming you have a bare minimum level of tech savvy, you can create your own lead generation website system. This is true as long as you have some serious time on your hands. (If you’re already to the point where you can’t sleep at night from the stress of economic uncertainty, this might be the best way for you to spend those early morning hours.)
Conversely, you can find someone to do it for you. This can cost anywhere from $0.00 all the way up to $10,000+. And, to a point, you get what you pay for.
If you are thinking about trying to dominate your local market on the internet, here are some free resources to help you determine either how to spend your time, or how to get your money’s worth:
1. Report: How to Dominate the Internet Marketplace in Your Industry
2. SEO Book Video – The Web is a Social Activity
3.
Construction Marketing Website Awesomeness.
So, take a look at these resources and see if you can’t come up with a way to create your own lead generation website that works for your business, your budget, and your lifestyle.
Pass it along: If you know someone who could use help with website promotion and online marketing, feel free to send them a link to this page, or link to it on your own website.
New Marketing for Contractors
by admin on December 15, 2008
in Contractor Marketing
Hi, I’m Seth. Good to meet you. Look around, everything on this website is yours for free! Oh, and let me know if I can help you and your business in any way.
Overwhelmingly, people have been coming to me for online marketing advice more than any other construction marketing topic these days.
It’s an exciting time for online marketing. Our changing economic landscape combined with all the crazy, fun new changes in the way the internet works add up to some interesting opportunities.
There’s all this new stuff like social media, “new media” link building, and online video marketing.
I talked to one established construction marketing expert the other day who mentioned that “social media” has been killing him lately. And I know some folks who are real newbies, but have cracked the social media nut and are achieving huge results.
Also, I’ve found there are rafts of old, outdated information floating around in our sea of knowledge. Watch out for them, because if you jump on one of those rafts, you might go adrift towards the marketing “Bermuda Triangle.”
Marketing has changed. BIG time.
Has “relationship building” changed? No. Do we have new ways to establish relationships now? YES.
Have referrals dried up? No. Are there exciting new ways to maximize referrals? YES.
Is advertising obsolete? Yes. Ha ha. Sorry, I mean “No.” But do the old established advertising methods work for contractors? Not really. Not anymore.
Overall, adding real value for free, and making real personal connections will get you far.
1. Be helpful with no expectation of gaining anything in return. You will gain instant trust.
2. Help others make connections and grow their businesses every chance you get. Watch them reciprocate with referrals.
3. Answer questions and give your best information away for free. Become a trusted advisor (and make the sale.)
This new wave of online marketing and the viral spreading of ideas might be foreign to you. That’s OK. You don’t have to become a social media expert to run a construction business.
But you can take a look into the future of ALL small business marketing by taking note of the principles that the online community has adopted.
People buy from people they like. That’s a timeless principle.
Why is today’s marketing landscape different from the past?
Because now we have access to tools that allow us to connect exponentially faster than before.
Add value to the conversation, and make personal connections. Do this by shaking hands, one at a time. OR, inject these principles into your online presence, and do it everywhere, all at once, even while you sleep.
That’s the opportunity we have today.
Pass it along: If you know someone who could use help with website promotion and online marketing, feel free to send them a link to this page, or link to it on your own website.
