Every good Independent Building Contractor needs to be marketed. Word needs to spread like wildfire about the services you provide and every aspect of your business that affects the customer. Just as the customer needs tools to find you, you need different avenues of approach to find your potential customers. If you’re new to the business, there’s a little more involved than meets the eye. If you’ve been in the business for years and are looking to expand, media outlets for marketing purposes change from year to year, and you may need to be updated on the changes. Building contractors are in a very competitive field, and they need every advantage they can get to succeed.

The National Association of Homebuilders [N.A.H.B.] is the perfect place to start to find whatever marketing need you may have. They have up to date information on market trends, as well as the latest information on social networking tools. The housing data they provide can be used if you feel you need to relocate or expand your business in order to stay competitive. Expanding your business is just another form of marketing in that you are getting your services to your customers. Trade shows and special events are good ways to interface with your potential customers. In this digital age, it’s refreshing for potential customers to meet contractors face to face. Sometimes, you are your best marketing tool.

The method of advertising and marketing in trade publications is a method as old as the trade itself. There are many to choose from and Builder News magazine is a good place to start. It has a nationwide publication and covers all aspects of building. You can also find it here:  http://bnmag.com/
Builder Magazine also has diversified content and focuses on how businesses are doing. You can typically pick these up free at the home improvement stores in your area. Customers typically pick up these magazines to help get home improvement or addition ideas. They are good outlets to let your business be seen as they are a good supplement to the online editions of print magazines.

And while you want to explore all your marketing options, your advertising won’t be complete until it’s online. To get maximum exposure, you want to be as close to the top of every major search engine list as possible. This is done with strong S.E.O. keywords and power words. Both are designed to get the attention of the customer. They also help your advertisement be demographic specific. You don’t want to advertise the installation of solar panels in Seattle when there’s more of a market for it in Phoenix.

As the late Yogi Berra once said: “When in doubt, bunt”. If you’re new to the business, take it slow and don’t make any mistakes. In this business, mistakes can be very costly. And if you’re an old hand at it, keep up on the latest online marketing trends so as to stay competitive. If you don’t beat the competition, the competition will beat you.