How To Create Ads Your Competitors Will Steal
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How to build trust with customers before you go on a home visit
We live in a digital world where everything is set to automation and people hide behind emails and their websites.
However in some industries, like the trade industry, there is no hiding.
If you are in an industry where you have to go on home visits then building trust is something you must do very quickly.
It’s not something you can do via online, or can you?
When I first started doing content marketing for the trade, I knew of the many benefits it could bring to a company in terms of growing leads and sales.
However, there was one major advantage that I had never even thought of until my clients starting telling me the stories. When they went on visits to see clients their customers felt as if they really knew them, almost friends even.
I know it is hard to believe, but it’s true. Let me begin by first explaining to you what content marketing is and how it works.
Please save your skepticism until the very end as if you leave now you will be missing out on something miraculous.
In the beginning I knew that the trade industry had issues building customers trust on home visits but I didn’t know how to solve that problem.
Heck, this is probably why you are reading this post as you have that challenge too!
It wasn’t until 3 years later that I realised I had solved the problem without even trying.
This solution is not a quick one and in my clients case it took 6-9 months to work.
So let me quickly explain to you what content marketing is and how it will make your customers love you before you even set foot in their house.
Basically, content marketing is answering every question your customers have ever asked you and turning those questions into blog posts or videos, depending on what you are most comfortable with, then putting this content on your website.
It is said that nearly 60% of the buying decision is already made before someone contacts you.
10 years ago that would maybe have been 5%.
What will it be in another 5 years 80%?
Regardless, people are now looking on Google for the answers instead of phoning you. They search on Google for the answers to the questions they used to ask you.
If you answer these questions in the form of blogs when your customers searches for them they will find your content and you will build trust, authority and affinity with your customers.
But that’s not the best bit, and although that really helps build trust with your customers what I’m about to share will enhance that trust times 10.
If you want to hear the proof straight from one of my clients mouth just watch this video here.
If you are shot on time let me give you the gist to what he says:
“ It is quite ironic, you go to peoples’ doors, instead of me saying ‘Hi I’m John from Superwarm’, they are opening the door and saying ‘Oh hi John, good to see you’.”
“I am a little taken aback, then I realise, they have read half a dozen blogs we have written and they feel as if they know you. And that is a surprise.”
Here is where the biggest value comes. Think about all the questions people ask you on a home visit and create a guide answering all these questions. Put this guide on your website for everyone to read.
Here are two examples of one I have done for my clients:
Not only this, when someone phones or fills in a form on your website for a home visit, include a copy of this guide in the email, you will be amazed by the results.
Then when you visit the customer you will not have to sit there answering lots of questions all you will have to do is close.
In the video above, my client mentioned he increased his close rate from 33% to 70% by doing this. It increased the trust when he went to visit them.
Can you believe they answered the door by saying “ Oh hi John”, even if he had never met them before?
I would like to end with one of my own stories where I had experienced a bad example of a home visit and building trust in the hope that you would avoid doing this kind of sales tactic.
I was looking for some new windows, and my wife and I received a cold call telling us about a new government scrappage scheme.
They arranged someone to come out and see us to discuss.
I won’t name and shame here as that’s not what I am about.
So at 7:30 in the evening there was a knock at the door and there on my doorstep stood a 20 year old man wearing a lovely suit, grasping the latest iphone in one hand and a window in the other.
He sat for about an hour telling us how great his company was and telling us how bad all the competitors were before then measuring my windows.
Oh, and also told me there was no government scheme, WTF!
He tapped a few times on his oversized calculator and then told me it would be
£22,000 for my windows.
I nearly choked on my chocolate digestive.
He then went on to say, “But that is before the discount!”
After the discount it was £11,000.
But he could call his supervisor to see if we could get a trade price if we were ready to buy today.
This would mean they would be giving it to us at cost and they would make no money on it at all.
I kid you not, this is a true story.
After speaking to his boss on the phone he said he could give us it at £7,000 trade price.
When we told him we were not going to make a decision straight away he was not happy, I could see him fight back the urge to say something, his new sales training still ringing in his ears no doubt.
So he left after two and a half hours.
I did feel sorry for the guy, but that’s not the end of the story.
The next day I got a call from the company saying that they said they will send a joiner out to remeasure our windows as they could give me a price at cost.
I told them that the young chap had already given me a cost price but they insisted they would give us ‘factory cost’….. is that even a thing??
So, I said yes but the joiner never turned up. They then called back and said they would arrange another joiner to come.
I said if the price was not nearer £3,000 then don’t bother (as this what I was told it should have cost) they said that was fine, but never called me back.
Phew! That is not a way to build trust with the customer.
It is hard enough to build trust, this was just a massive reversal of trust.
It makes me feel sorry for the companies out there that actually care about their customers as it makes it so much harder for them.
Want trust? Then care.
How To Avoid a €20 Million Fine With New Data Laws (GDPR)
Are you feeling confused about the EU’s new GDPR requirements and what they’ll mean for your business?
Maybe you’re not even 100% sure of what it is, or if it even applies to you. In which case, you’re probably going to need to sit down for this.
With the news that only a fifth of UK businesses are prepared for when the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation comes into force in May 25th 2018, a lot of businesses may end up facing harsh fines, which is why it’s vital to ensure this information is made readily available for everyone to get up to speed as soon as possible.
Why? Well, if you’re not GDPR compliant by the date above, you’ll face heavy penalties of up to either 4% of your global annual turnover, or €20 million – whichever is greater.
And if that doesn’t put the fear into any business, I honestly don’t know what will! (Despite another recent study by Symantec showing startling results that that 23% of businesses feel they won’t be fully compliant by May.)
Which is why, as an experienced digital marketer, I don’t want you to get caught out. I’ve put together this blog post to discuss how GDPR affects you, and what you should be doing to prepare for it.
This post will cover:
- What GDPR is and why it’s being introduced
- How it will affect businesses in the UK
- Initial preparations for how you can stay compliant
What is GDPR anyway?
GDPR (or the General Data Protection Regulation) is a new European privacy regulation, which is set to be implemented in all local privacy laws across all countries in the EU and EEA. It applies to any businesses or companies that sell products or services to – and store personal information of – citizens in Europe.
And as long as you fall into the definition above, it doesn’t matter whether you’re located within Europe, or anywhere else in the world. This law still applies to you.
This new legislation is being introduced to give citizens of the EU and EEA more power when it comes to their personal data, and how it’s used. This applies to individuals, customers, prospects, contractors and employees in terms of control over their personal data. It also aims to take some power away from large organisations that use this data to make a profit.
It sets out to provide reassurance that their data is protected, secure and in safe hands at all times. This personal data could apply to any information related to an individual, including their name, email address, photo, social media updates – even a computer IP address, according to the GDPR Directive.
Under the GDPR, there’s also no distinction between personal data within a work environment, compared to a private or public environment.
Feeling a bit bamboozled yet?
How will it affect you?
Once GDPR is introduced, the responsibility will fall on you to ensure you’re compliant. Companies and organisations who don’t comply with GDPR will face potentially very hefty fines, up to €20 million – or even more.
This applies to any business or organisation that offers goods and/or services to EU citizens. And that’s whether your business is in the EU or not – even the data processing itself doesn’t have to take place within the EU for the onus to be on you.
There are eight key rights for individuals under the GDPR that I really want to mention here – including what you’ll need to do to comply with these rights:
1. The right to access
As in, the right to access their personal data at any time. They can also ask how this data is being used by a company or business after they’ve given it. You must be able to answer this fully and honestly. You should also be able to provide the individual with a copy of their personal data. This should be free of charge, and in electronic format – if they request this.
2. The right to be forgotten
If an individual is no longer a customer, or if they take back their consent to use their personal data, they have the right for that data to be permanently deleted and no longer accessible in any form. Holding onto it for any reason will violate this law.
3. The right to data portability
Individuals will have the right to transfer their data between different service providers. This must be done in a way that’s commonly-used, easily accessed and in a machine-readable format. You must be prepared to do this upon request.
4. The right to be informed
Essentially, this applies to any data gathering by companies or businesses. You must inform individuals before you gather their data, and they will have the right to opt into this. Consent must be freely given instead of simply implied.
5. The right to have information corrected
Individuals will have the right to make sure their data is up-to-date and correct at any given time. You must be prepared to access and update this information as and when requested to do so.
6. The right to restrict processing
Individuals have the right to request that their data should not be used for processing. They can choose to keep their record in place, but for it to remain unused.
7. The right to object
This applies to direct marketing, and gives individuals the right to put a stop to having their data processed for this use. Processing must stop immediately upon receipt of this request. You must also make this right clear to individuals at the beginning of any communication.
8. The right to be notified
In the event of a data breach that results in compromising the personal data of an individual, you must inform the individual within 72 hours of becoming aware of it.
This is what you need to do to be GDPR compliant
GDPR has huge implications for most companies and businesses currently based in the UK – and beyond. Which is why it’s vital you start thinking about your processes now, and keep up-to-date with the latest GDPR news to ensure you’re fully compliant by May.
It’s recommended that all businesses that work with, collect, store and/or use personal data should designate someone in your team as a data protection officer or data controller in charge of GDPR compliance.
The ICO have highlighted 12 steps you should be taking right now to ensure you’re prepared for May 2018. Here’s a brief summary:
- Ensure key decision makers in your business are aware of GDPR and its impact
- Document the data you hold, its origin, and who it’s shared with. An information audit may be a good step
- Update/introduce a privacy policy to be displayed for anyone entering personal data on your website
- Ensure your current procedures allow you to fully comply with the individuals’ rights outlined above – are you able to send personal data electronically, on-demand?
- Carefully plan for how you can update your procedures to ensure you can handle requests regarding personal data within the relevant timescales
- Update your privacy policy to include the lawful basis for your data processing activity within the GDPR – this should also be documented and easy to view
- Carefully consider how you ask for, record and store consent in terms of collecting personal data – you may need to make some changes for compliance. Consent forms must also be stored, as the burden of proof will fall to you
- Decide whether you’ll need systems in place to verify the age of individuals and whether you need to obtain consent from a guardian
- Begin taking steps to ensure you have the right procedures in place to deal with any breaches in data (this includes detecting, reporting and investigating breaches)
- Read up on the ICO’s code of code of practice on Privacy Impact Assessments, along with the latest guidance from Article 29 Working Party, and how/when you should implement these in your business
- Determine whether you need to formally appoint a Data Protection Officer. Consider how this fits in with your business’s structure and governance arrangements (if applicable)
- For businesses operating in more than one EU member state, find out your lead data protection supervisory authority. Refer to Article 29 guidelines for help and guidance
If you follow the above steps (or the ones that apply to you), this should go some way to preparing you for when the new legislation comes into effect in May.
Advice from an experienced digital marketer
Don’t panic. There’s plenty of time you ensure you become GDPR compliant before May 2018. In the meantime, I recommend keeping up-to-date with the latest news and tips on GDPR compliance. I’ve highlighted some key resources below to get you started.
If you have an email list, I’d highly recommend updating (or introducing) a privacy policy, and linking to this when running re-permissioning campaigns. This is because even if someone signed up to your list before May 2018, you will still have to prove that they have consented under the new GDPR legislation.
SuperOffice have a good example of how to begin collecting personal data in future:
Key GDPR resources to keep bookmarked
- ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office, UK): Preparing for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – ’12 Steps to Take Now’.
- The Full law text: GDPR, dated April 27th 2016
- European Commission Fact Sheet
- DMA UK: All the latest news, updates and webinars relating to GDPR
- Protection of Personal Data (via the European Commission)
Your next steps
Now is a good time to review how your business currently deals with customers’ personal data. And start thinking about the steps you can take now to become GDPR compliant. This may include running re-permissioning campaigns if you have an email list already.
Bookmark the above links, and ensure you stay notified about the latest updates and developments concerning GDPR. It may be worth designating someone in your business to be responsible for ensuring you’re fully GDPR compliant when the new law comes into effect next year.
Do you have any specific questions about GDPR? Let me know in the comments’ section. I’ll reply with something helpful!
Where to Advertise Building Services for Maximum Impact
Are you not getting the results you need when advertising your construction business?
Perhaps you’ve been spending your advertising budget on things like The Yellow Pages, radio ads, trade shows, magazines – or if you’re really brave, even SEO and Google Adwords – without seeing much of a difference.
Or, if you’re like some of the businesses that come to me, maybe you’re mainly relying on referrals to get by. You probably realise this isn’t the best way to scale your business, but you’re hesitant about where to start when placing ads.
This is a challenge many are facing these days when it comes to construction marketing – and one you can’t afford to ignore.
As an experienced construction marketer, I know it can be tough trying to decide where to advertise your business. That’s why I wanted to help, by listing some of the best places to do so below.
Where should you be advertising your construction business?
As a rule of thumb, you should be advertising where your best clients are hanging out – whether that be Facebook, LinkedIn or Google. Buying behaviour has changed in recent years, so instead of interrupting them with something like a radio ad, attract them with something that’s going to draw them in and offer them value.
Some of the things you could do include coming up with enticing ads on social media, or trying inbound marketing (in other words, coming up with quality content that answers their questions). The latter is very cost-effective, but it can take a while to work, and is tough to do when you’re trying to run a business.
I’ve gone into more detail on some of your best options for where to advertise building services, below.
1. Your blog
Your website’s blog is one of your biggest marketing assets. It’s an extremely important tool for generating leads and establishing authority with your audience, because it’s how your best customers will find you when they type their questions into Google.
Well, at least that’s how it should work. Try and aim to publish two blog posts a week that your ideal customers will find helpful, and valuable – without sounding salesy. It can be a great, cost-effective way to generate more leads and sales.
However, you should also bear in mind that it can be tricky to do yourself, and it can take quite a before for you start seeing results.
To get started, try coming up with a list of questions your best customers ask you on a daily basis. Here are a few examples:
- What kind of home extension will be most suitable for me?
- What are the best renovation services in Edinburgh?
- How long will my conservatory project take?
- Will I have to take time off work when my project is underway?
- What is the process involved in home remodelling?
- Which materials are used when installing a home spa?
- How do I find the best home renovation company for me?
- How much will professional home extension cost?
If your best customers are asking these, chances are they’re typing them into Google.
TIP: Don’t already have a blog on your website? It’s quite simple to add one. WordPress is the most common one to use, and it has a super easy platform.
Also, bear in mind it’s not as simple as just writing and publishing blogs every week. It’s actually part of a much wider process or strategy.
TIP: Read all about the 9-step process you can use to generate more leads and sales for your construction company.
2. Facebook and/or LinkedIn
Depending on your market, Facebook or LinkedIn could be a good call when it comes to ads, as everyone’s hanging out on either one or the other and both have good targeting options to help you focus on very particular groups of people.
For instance, on Facebook you can get very specific with your targeting and focus on people based on their likes, interests, behaviour, or even their job role in a company.
So, which one should you be using?
Well, if you sell direct to customers, Facebook is usually the first port of call. However, if you’re focusing on other businesses, I’d lean more towards LinkedIn.
These platforms may be great for creating very targeted ads, however, it is still a bit of a learning curve. You need to add a specific budget, and if you go over that, it will stop (so no worries there).
However, a big mistake a lot of people make is thinking they can get great results on these platforms without paying. For engagement, it can be good. However, I wouldn’t bother using it as a channel to drive traffic and sales unless you’re prepared to pay.
3. Google MyBusiness
Google MyBusiness makes it easier than ever for potential customers to find your construction company online, and is extremely helpful for anyone who wants to know more about your business.
This is because when they do a local search for the services you provide, it should come up with your construction business’s listing, including a description of your business, photos, contact details and opening times.
Never heard of Google MyBusiness? Chances are, you’ve probably been using it without even realising – simply by doing a search for building supplies or a restaurant and looking at the local results it brings up.
So, what does it do? Well, in essence, it combines Google search, maps, and Google+ together with Reviews, Insights and Google Analytics into one easy-to-use interface.
It’s also completely free, so if there’s one thing on this list you really ought to do, it’s claim your Google MyBusiness listing today.
TIP: For the full down-low on Google MyBusiness, check out my blog post: ‘Construction Marketing: What You Need to Know About Google MyBusiness’.
4. Google Adwords
Google Adwords (otherwise known as ‘paid search’) is effective, and the ‘go-to’ source for a lot of advertisers. It basically means you’re paying to display a listing that will show up at the top of Google.
Your ad will display to people depending on which keywords you’re targeting, and what they type into search. Often, it’s not even obvious that you’re clicking on an ad, unless you look closely.
However, this tool can be expensive in the wrong hands. Although, you don’t have to sit by whilst your budget spirals out of control – you can pause or adjust a campaign any time.
Learning how to do Google Adwords the right way can take a bit of getting used to. In fact, I wanted to help with that, which is why I’ve written a guide based on 15 years’ experience of using Adwords myself. It’s called ‘The Ultimate Google Adwords Companion’ and it’s absolutely free to download.
TIP: I’ve also put together some tips here so that you can improve your Adwords every week – it takes under 30 minutes!
5. Retargeted ads
Ad retargeting is a great way of making the most of your ad budget, as it means your ads are only displayed to those who have previously visited your site in the past 30 days.
It could help to dramatically increase your conversion rates and ensure you’re getting the most out of your ad budget.
You can use ad retargeting on platforms such as Google – which allows you to place an ad on other websites that are opted into their network – or on Facebook. A great benefit of this is that it only comes in at a fraction of the cost.
Wondering how it works? Well, have you ever been looking at something you’d been thinking about buying, but just hadn’t gotten around to it yet, and then later on when you’ve been on Facebook or YouTube you’ve noticed an ad for the exact same thing? It serves to remind you of your interest, and you’ll probably end up clicking on it.
That’s why retargeted ads tend to work so well. It basically keeps you at the forefront of people’s minds!
TIP: Just remember to rotate your ads every week. This helps to keep things fresh, otherwise people may get bored and you won’t get as good results.
Advice from an experienced construction marketer
All said and done, the one thing you have to realise is that your business won’t grow or scale to the place you want to get it without marketing. That’s the reality. If you don’t have time to market yourself, that’s fine. However, you will need some outside help.
Saying that, marketing yourself is the cheapest way; but it’s not easy. One of my own clients, Superwarm, started off doing ads on Facebook himself. He was doing really well, with okay results. However, it got to the point where he’d done all he could do, which is why he decided to approach me to really turn things around.
I strongly believe I can teach anyone to market their own business. However, most of them simply don’t have the time or inclination to make it work. Save yourself a lot of heartache and time, and ask yourself: do you?
If you don’t have the time, but you do have the money, it’s worth getting outside help. And if you do decide to go it alone, don’t try it without a strategy. Facebook and Google ads are a waste of time and money in a lot of cases – that is, when you don’t know what you’re doing.
Your next steps
I hope you’ve found this blog helpful when discovering where to advertise building services for the best results. For your next steps, I challenge you to go away and think about which platforms would be the best for you to advertise on. And, if you haven’t already, I’d strongly advise creating a Google MyBusiness page!
Want some more advice or guidance on how to best market your building services or construction business? Shortlist a few inbound or digital marketing agencies to speak to, and ask them what they can help you to achieve. They should be able to advise you further.
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5 New Construction Marketing Insights for 2016
Are you looking to stay on top of the latest trends in construction marketing?
It’s important to stay ahead of the competition in any industry, and in order to do that, we have to understand which marketing tactics seem the most prominent, and which are falling by the wayside.
These days, information is always at our fingertips, and as an inbound marketer specialising in helping the construction and home improvement industries, I’ve been monitoring recent developments in construction marketing with great interest, as the industry evolves to meet changing buyer behaviours.
With that in mind, we’ve put together five of the most important statistics recently published by the Construction Marketing Association. Continue reading
Construction Marketing: How to Stop Relying on Friends and Referrals
[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#01b2eb” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(119,119,119,0.81)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title_font_size=”70px”] [/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” global_module=”11380″ transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#eafaff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” module_id=”ds_down_arrow_section” module_class=”ds_down_arrow_section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”blog subscribe” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_padding=”|0px||0px” disabled=”off”]GET YOUR FREE ESSENTIAL WEBSITE CHECKLIST FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES
Discover the 25 most important points your website must have to maximise the number of qualified leads you receive.
Subscribe to the Stargazer blog and get your free copy right now →
Is your construction business still relying on friends and referrals to get by?
Many construction businesses come to me looking for new ways to increase their leads and sales, and I usually hear the same, worrying story; that each month it’s becoming harder and harder to find new customers to engage with.
If that sounds like you, I feel your pain – I really do.
But what if I told you there was a way your business could stop relying on friends and referrals – for good? It’s called inbound marketing, and it’s all about creating a powerful sales engine that will generate you leads and sales for years to come.
And below, I’m going to detail exactly how you start today. Continue reading
5 Reasons Word of Mouth Only Gets Construction Businesses So Far
[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#01b2eb” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(119,119,119,0.81)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title_font_size=”70px”] [/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” global_module=”11380″ transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#eafaff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” module_id=”ds_down_arrow_section” module_class=”ds_down_arrow_section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”blog subscribe” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_padding=”|0px||0px” disabled=”off”]GET YOUR FREE ESSENTIAL WEBSITE CHECKLIST FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES
Discover the 25 most important points your website must have to maximise the number of qualified leads you receive.
Subscribe to the Stargazer blog and get your free copy right now →
Does your construction business pride itself on word of mouth to get new business?
Perhaps you think that because you’re offering a great quality service or products, and making sure your customers are always delighted at the end of the day, that your work will speak for for itself -and of course, to an extent that’s true.
Don’t get me wrong – word of mouth is amazing, and if your company is getting business from referrals and people saying great things about you, you’re definitely doing something right. I’m even sure that in the past, many successful businesses have built great names for themselves using word of mouth alone. Continue reading
The 5 Most Important Lessons I’ve Learned from Construction Marketing
[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#01b2eb” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(119,119,119,0.81)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title_font_size=”70px”] [/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” global_module=”11380″ transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#eafaff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” module_id=”ds_down_arrow_section” module_class=”ds_down_arrow_section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”blog subscribe” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_padding=”|0px||0px” disabled=”off”]GET YOUR FREE ESSENTIAL WEBSITE CHECKLIST FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES
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Are you looking for reliable ways to market your construction business?
Having come from a construction background myself, I know that it’s more than likely you’ve worked hard to build your construction business up over the years – just as I’ve done with Stargazer. And I want to help.
That’s why I’ve really sat down and thought about the biggest lessons I’ve learned from construction marketing over the years, so I can share this valuable information with you – you never know, you might learn a thing or two.
So, without further ado, here are the top five lessons I’ve learned from construction marketing: Continue reading
How Construction Companies Can Distance Themselves From Cowboys
[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#01b2eb” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(119,119,119,0.81)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title_font_size=”70px”] [/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” global_module=”11380″ transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#eafaff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” module_id=”ds_down_arrow_section” module_class=”ds_down_arrow_section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”blog subscribe” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_padding=”|0px||0px” disabled=”off”]GET YOUR FREE ESSENTIAL WEBSITE CHECKLIST FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES
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Are you still trying to work out how to distance your construction business from the cowboys?
It’s an ongoing concern for many businesses that approach me here at Stargazer; that image of the lazy builder or joiner who cuts corners and deliberately rips off honest customers. It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and can do a huge amount of damage to the construction industry’s reputation as a whole.
Perhaps you’ve even given quotes to customers who’ve been scammed in the past, and have been wary about doing business with you for that very reason – hell, you may even have lost business because you couldn’t demonstrate trust.
In this blog post, I’m going to tell you how to distance yourself from cowboys once and for all – with inbound marketing. Continue reading
13 Ways to Generate Leads for Your Business
[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#01b2eb” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(119,119,119,0.87)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title_font_size=”70px”] [/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” global_module=”11380″ transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#eafaff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” module_id=”ds_down_arrow_section” module_class=”ds_down_arrow_section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”blog subscribe” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_padding=”|0px||0px” disabled=”off” border_color=”#ffffff”] DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE GUIDE ON HOW TO REACH MORE CUSTOMERS ONLINE Discover what you absolutely must do in 2017 to reach your customers online. Subscribe to the Stargazer blog and get your free copy right now → [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”|0px||” custom_padding=”|0px||” disabled=”off” border_color=”#ffffff”] [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”|25%|0px|25%” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_padding=”||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]Are you looking for some of the best content on how to generate leads for your business?
As an inbound marketer who specialises in leads this is something I get asked about a lot, and usually goes along the lines of: “I need leads for my business”
To make things interesting, I’ve personally evaluated and ranked the effectiveness of each of these 13 tips based on time, cost, effort, and the return you can expect, with a score of 1 – 5 (5 being the best). Continue reading
Construction Company Marketing Plans That Make Money: A 9-Step Process
[et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#01b2eb” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off”][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”background” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”on” text_bg_color=”rgba(119,119,119,0.81)” module_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0)” title_all_caps=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” title_font_size=”70px”] [/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” global_module=”11380″ transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#eafaff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” fullwidth=”off” specialty=”off” module_id=”ds_down_arrow_section” module_class=”ds_down_arrow_section” disabled=”off”][et_pb_row global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”off” custom_width_px=”1080px” custom_width_percent=”80%” use_custom_gutter=”off” gutter_width=”1″ padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” make_equal=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”on” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”on” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”on” parallax_4=”off” parallax_method_4=”on” disabled=”off”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_text global_parent=”11380″ admin_label=”blog subscribe” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” text_font_size=”18″ text_text_color=”#000000″ text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” use_border_color=”off” border_style=”solid” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_padding=”|0px||0px” disabled=”off”]GET YOUR FREE ESSENTIAL WEBSITE CHECKLIST FOR HOME IMPROVEMENT COMPANIES
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Are you curious about the construction company marketing plans that make the most money?
Perhaps you’re even looking for ways to effectively increase leads and sales so you can grow your own construction business – if so, you’ve come to the right place!
In the past, I’ve talked a little about what makes a good marketing plan for a construction company, but I’ve never written down from start to finish exactly what needs to be done – despite it being something I get asked about quite a lot as an inbound marketer.