Best construction blog update

At the new Construction Marketing Ideas blog, I report on updated results for the Best Construction Blog competition, including the surprising surge in some late entries. All original content for this blog is now located at the http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com si...

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Delinking pricing, and (separate topic) career opportunity

Today, at the new Construction Marketing Ideas blog, I report on a career opportunity as associate publisher for the Design and Construction Report, and suggest a marketing method where you are able to delink your marketing/client from the organization ultimately paying the bills.Original posting and work are now at the new site, http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Over the pond

In today's Construction Marketing Ideas blog, I reference a useful site from the U.K.Meanwhile, upwards of 40 people voted yesterday in the Best Construction Blog Competition. Extended nominations close today.All of this material is at the new Wordpress site which is now this blog's primary ho...

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The move to Wordpress (2)

It's time. Beginning today, the heart and soul of the Construction Marketing Blog will be at our own domain, http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com. You can see the current postings by heading over there, and you may wish to bookmark the Wordpress site as the primary location for this blog.Will I stop posting here? No, at least for some time, you will also find some fresh material in these pages, but mostly it will be summarizing and referencing the ideas developed at the other site.The new blog is still a work in progress, but the early volume of responses to the Best Construction Marketing blog is impressive. The entries will become the...

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The move to Wordpress

Quietly, for the past few days I've been working on the transition of this blog to the new Constructionmarketingideas.com site on my own Wordpress-framework host.Although not intended to be really public yet, I set the code and voting mechanism in place for the Best Construction Blog competition and the votes started arriving, along with comments from some nominated bloggers to correct errors in their listings, or ask why they weren't included. As I fixed various bugs, more votes continued to arrive, suggesting some viral marketing is happening. (People are telling their friends and colleagues about the site and voting, and these guests are...

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A marketing mystery

So, who is behind roofersmarketing.com, or for that matter, marketing-for-roofers.com? The site is certainly appealing, with lots of refreshing content and ideas, but some thing's odd here. You can't find any real contact information about the site owner.My guess is this is part of a SEO initiative by a marketing organization (I have an instinct about who it is, but cannot prove it, so won't assert it publicly here).Nothing wrong with this sort of strategy, of course, and I suppose with the backlinks from this public blog I've helped the mysterious organization with their objectives, but the advice and ideas on the site are useful and relevant,...

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Mike Jeffries' eight low or no-cost lead generation ideas

Mike Jeffries offers at closingsuccesssystems.com a weekly service (via autoresponder) to provide "eight different low or NO cost ways to generate 25, 50 or even 100 Quality leads."Here is a summary of his eight suggestions. I've cut some portions of the content of this week's email in part to respect his copyright, and in part because if you want any of these approaches to work you will need to do just a little more work than read a single blog posting.Endorsements - "Find a business owner or influential homeowner and get them to endorse you to everyone they know - see an example in the download - this could mean 250 or more opportunities."Referrals(Offer)...

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Christmas 2009

Reprinted from the Construction Marketing Ideas newsletter, Dec. 22.How will you remember 2009?For some, it has been a year of genuine turmoil and struggle, as formerly thriving businesses faced painful retrenchments and struggled to survive.Some readers lost their jobs, some their businesses.We had our own share of challenges, as rosy economic projections last October gave way to an acute business crisis that tore into our business until we were able to bring things under control in the summer.Within the gloom and pain, however, we discovered some bright beacons for the future.The original idea to relaunch a printed Washington (D.C.) Construction...

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The road to Wordpress . . .

Regular readers here know that I've decided to use the Christmas holiday break to "move" this blog to its permanent site at our own Constructionmarketingideas.com domain. I chose the break to complete the change -- and set up the voting for the Best Construction Blog competition, because this stuff takes time and experimentation, hard to do when regular business responsibilities are in the way.Since our family isn't traveling during the holidays, I'll be working on the transition most days when not hanging out with Vivian and Eric. Most of the activity, of course, will be at the new site but I'll do my best to post something here virtually...

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The Linkedin.com Construction Marketing Ideas group

You can connect with the linkedin.com Construction Marketing Ideas Group here. Number of members today: 202The Construction Marketing Ideas Linkedin.com group related to this blog (and the new version on Wordpress at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com) continues to grow rapidly. In addition to about 15 people I invited who accepted, the group received 12 inbound inquiries yesterday, and membership now is 202.The reason for this rapid growth can be explained on two levels: Ease, and value.Ease is that you really don't have to do much to join. Just click on your interest in participating through the relevant Linkedin.com profile (if...

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The newsletter

If you have requested it, the final Construction Marketing Ideas newsletter for 2009 should arrive in your email box this morning. Over the year, readership has continued to increase and now almost 3,000 people receive the bi-weekly newsletter.Next year, I expect the newsletter will have more impact as I've just discovered how to effectively embed video in the emails. As well, the linkedin.com Construction Marketing Ideas group is growing rapidly (approximately 20 new members joined yesterday), increasing the networking and relationship-building value of the newsletter, blogs and other social media resources.Next week, meanwhile, as our business...

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The solstice

Winter's here -- and for many of us, the Christmas break means relatively light business volume for the next couple of weeks.I've got a few days of intense work getting our January issues to print before things slow down, then will use the quiet time between Christmas and New Years to catch up on some projects that have needed attention for some time. These include the review of galley proofs for the Construction Marketing Ideas book, and the migration of this blog's primary focus to the Wordpress site. (If you go to constructionmarketingideas.com you'll see I am now updating that site daily with fresh content -- during the holidays, I will...

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Upcoming events

A previous seminar led by consultant Bill Caswell. For more information about the upcoming event and to register, visit this site.Please consider marking your calendar for two special events in January and February.On Jan 12 in Ottawa, I will be giving a special presentation to the Construction Specifications Canada Ottawa Chapter about Social (online) Media and AEC Marketing, and on Feb 16, we are sponsoring a special Webinar with Business Consultant Bill Caswell on Taking Your Construction Business to the Next Level.We'll have more posted on both events within the next few days. Fees are mode...

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Best blog competition deadline

Tomorrow (Dec. 20), is the deadline for nominations for the Design and Construction Report Best Construction Industry Marketing Blog competition. We've received dozens of responses -- and over the holidays, as this blog 'migrates' to the Wordpress site at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com. All relevant blogs will be referenced and hyperlinked. The voting will open early in January and continue for the month.The eligibility rules are simple: The blog must relate to the Architectural, Engineering and Construction Industry. It needs to be updated regularly and have been published at least three months with original content. I will screen...

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How much is it worth?

How much is the Congolese cup worth? I'm sure the local Congolese traders would value a deck of playing cards much more than one of our newspapers, however.In 1976, after graduating from university, I signed up for an overland truck tour of Africa. Twenty mostly young people (I was 23) rode in the back of a Bedford truck through the Sahara and the Congo, arriving in Nairobi, Kenya about three months later. (I continued on my own to South Africa via then-Rhodesia, setting the stage for my true life-changing adventure two years later, when I returned to Africa and found employment on The Bulawayo Chronicle for 18 months as Rhodesia turned to...

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The Holiday Season

We're in a final intense few days of work before the Christmas season hibernation begins, and this blog makes its move to the Wordpress site.In preparation for the changeover, and before you head off for vacation, consider nominating your favorite construction industry blog for the Best Blog Competition. All blogs relevant to the industry with the exception of this one are eligible. (Well, there are a couple of other rules to deter spam blogs and others set up purely for Search Engine Optimization: The blog needs to have been around at least three months and updated weekly with primarily original content.)During the holidays, I will use entries...

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Cultural norms and industry conventions

Why are time share condos sold by high-pressure, slick, manipulative salespeople? Why are most used cars sold at dealerships (or divisions of dealerships) which appear scuzzy, with cheap brightly coloured pennants? Why do most contractors rush out to public bid competitions and hope to win by "bidding low?"I wish I could have a straightforward answer to these questions, but the questions provide their own insight. Different industries have different marketing conventions and norms. Breaking free of these standard practices and trying something different is risky and uncomfortable. It is much easier to revert to the norm of, for want of a...

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The recession's human toll (2)

You can access the recession survey results in real time by completing the survey yourself (you don't need to identify yourself to participate). If you wish to see some raw data and comments, visit the other Construction Marketing Ideas blog at the new primary Wordpress location, http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com.In the last day, we've received another 31 survey responses -- and again, the stories are disturbing (and sometimes inspiring.)On average, it seems that most people who answered found the year was about what could be expected, and next year will be about the same (or slightly better).But there is something more in the results...

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The recession's human toll

I've been reading through some of the 27 responses so far to the survey about how the recession of 2009 has impacted your business and life, and am both inspired and disturbed by the answers.Some readers are really struggling, despite all their best efforts; a few are thriving, and several have successfully adapted to the changed environment. Geography is certainly a factor; some areas are harder-hit than others. But some of the most disturbing business failure stories occur in what should be relatively strong markets; and some of the most inspiring successes are in weaker areas.Readers who complete the survey can see overall results in real...

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The recession: How bad is it, really?

We've set a simple four-question survey and you can see the results right away. No need to identify yourself. You can reach the survey at this li...

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Old ane new: Employee (and employer) accountability and communication

Last night, I reviewed the departing memo from our former administrative employee. She described the woeful inadequacies of our computer systems and the horrible state of our office. She also had a few less-than-enthusiastic words about my own behaviour. Ouch.Her complaints are well taken, and I appreciate the initiative of another of the company's senior employees in co-ordinating the exit interview/report (to be given to me only after the departing employee left). After all, as company president/owner, I am truly accountable and responsible for everything that happens here, and it is important for me to learn what is really happening, not...

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Hiring choices

If you client experience is the most important element in construction marketing -- and for most of us, it is, because of the vital importance of repeat and referral business -- your front-line administration and reception employees are indeed among your most important marketing representatives.So choosing who you hire for this work is vitally important, but never easy.Of course, many more people "qualify" to be receptionists/administrators than competent sales representatives, designers, or tradespeople. The "entry level office position" is akin to the construction labourer -- yes, you need some important skills, but this isn't an area where...

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"Cold calling is killing me"

The Greater Ottawa Carleton Home Builders' Association Boat Cruise last summer. Relationships developed within this association have been vital to my business -- If you are going to cold call the association's members, (or for that matter, if you plan to call the members of any association) however, results will be much better if you join first.This posting on contractortalk.com touches close to my heart.Cold Calling is Killing MeOkay I printed out the entire list off the local Home Builders Association website. On the "L's" right now and dammit I'm tired, I could work a 10 hour shift and not be so wore out haha. Out of about 50 so far I have...

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Niche market expansion

The Official Show Guide for the Home Renovations Show (from Caneast Shows) represents a significant "jump" in our market focus, but the initiative shows how businesses can effectively expand into new areas without compromising core values and priorities.Last year, through a client referral, we made a big business stretch -- from publishing purely business-to-business regional construction newspapers (and websites), to producing a large-circulation local home renovation magazine, Ottawa Renovates.This task represented such a major shift from our market focus and model, I had real fears about the impact of the expansion on my business, especially...

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The economic turn-around

Hindsight purportedly provides amazingly clear vision. Looking back, we should not have any doubts or uncertainties: the facts are supposed to speak for themselves.Of course it never works quite that way, as historians appreciate. History is interpreted and revised based on current perspectives, technologies and resources (and sometimes contemporary ideologies). I certainly thought of this dynamic a couple of years ago, comfortably seated on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Tel Aviv. Certainly, there was plenty of security, but not the form that Hitler would have ever imagined.Today, some -- perhaps most -- of this blog's readers are...

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Which is the right course?

The Construction Marketing Ideas blog moves to a new Wordpress site/format in the Christmas/New Years week. In the meantime, you'll see many unique postings on both blog sites. This blog will be updated daily until the holiday period.If you head over to the Wordpress version of the Construction Marketing Ideas blog (as we prepare for the primary switchover during the Christmas Holiday period) , you'll see poll with a a set of four questions.All the answers are correct, but please select the one that is most relevant to y...

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Remembering the basics

If you haven't completed this poll, answer the question and see the results. If you have completed it, consider again the implications of the overall results, which remain consistent even as more people complete it.JavaScript needs to be enabled for polling to work. Online Surveys by Constant Conta...

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Culture clashes

As we prepare for the switch to the other (Wordpress) version of this blog, I posted this entry: "Culture Clashes" the...

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Your favourite construction industry blog

Nominations close for this competition within a couple of weeks. You can link to the nomination form h...

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Responsibility

Yesterday, because of my screw up, I created stress and emergency planning responsibilities for others. As manager of my son's minor hockey team, I booked the team into a "contact" tournament, when our league plays by non-contact rules.Not everyone reading this blog knows much about hockey, but it is the major sport in our region and at professional level can be quite intense and physical. Body contact rules are in place to ensure younger players and those without training in the more forceful aspects of the game are not put at risk.But, in going ahead with the tournament booking, I failed to check a website which would have confirmed we were...

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The "on behalf of" call -- and other ineffective sales tricks

As Chase and Daniel Smith continued to work at Construct Canada yesterday, I spent some time in the office putting out fires and catching problems. Screw ups in our invoicing system, a mistakenly placed ad (which I caught with the help of our administrator just in time), and the writing of marketing materials for future projects took up much of my time.And there was the inbound call I did not return."Hi, I'm calling on behalf of the Society for Marketing Professional Services . . .",I listened a few more seconds, then hit "delete".But wait. Readers here know that I'm a true believer in SMPS and will do everything I can possible to support the...

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Construct Canada 2009 Day 1

Daniel Smith with one of our special booth guests handing out papers and calendars.I flew home yesterday evening, leaving Chase, Daniel Smith, and a group of Hooter Girls from the Niagara region to hand out calendars (with highly gender-specific images) and sample publications, as they met other exhibitors, attended seminars and programs, and generally "connected" on the Construct Canada show floor in Toronto.This show, at least theoretically, represents a Home Run marketing opportunity. Most of our clients, after all, are businesses seeking to market their products and services to the construction industry in Ontario, the demographic profile...

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Time and place

We're at Construct Canada, booth 3027.Today is the first day of Construct Canada, the largest Canadian construction trade show. After a five hour drive to Toronto yesterday, we completed the booth setup and will be ready to go when the show opens at 10 a.m. this morning. Our booth number is 3027.This is approaching our first decade at the show, and there is some symbolism about the booth location, a spot near where one of our former competitors had a regular space.In the earlier years of our business, I didn't think of participating in the show, but received a phone call out of the blue from the show organizers asking us if we could generate...

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Strengths and weaknesses

We all have strengths and weaknesses. Of course we need to work within our weaknesses, but in business, we should focus on our strengths.I thought about this yesterday evening, returning home from a board of directors meeting of the Ottawa Construction Specifications Chapter where I committed to a Jan. 12 presentation on social media and online marketing.Our son, Eric, had just arrived home from a hockey practice that I had directed his entire team (I am the team manager) to attend.Trouble is, I had sent him -- and the entire team -- to a practice that had been rescheduled, and two other teams were booked for the ice.The "rationalization" for...

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