Filling space

That is what this space is now, at least until the actively maintained Construction Marketing Ideas blog on its own domain, http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com, reaches second place within the relevant search engines.Some evenings I may post something substantial here, but tonight I'm just going to redirect you to the real blog where insights and ideas are updated dai...

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The best construction blog competition

As the original deadline (Feb. 28) is on Sunday, I've decided to extend the Best Construction Blog competition an extra 24 hours to allow final votes on a business day. The competition will conclude at 5 p.m. on Monday, February 1.You can vote here.And if you really want substantive, new material about Construction Marketing, please visit the properly updated Construction Marketing Ideas blog site at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Too tired for construction marketing ideas

except to remind you that everything of substance on this Construction Marketing Ideas blog is now at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Stories beneath the stories

I've had an interesting day, connecting some (regional) business and political dots. These will ultimately become a story in Ottawa Construction News, but I'll explore some ideas on a level more relevant to the Construction Marketing Ideas blog theme tomorrow morning at the actual Construction Marketing Ideas blog.You guessed it, it is at http://www.constructionmarketingideas....

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constructionmarketingideas.com

The only purpose of tonight's posting is to remind you that the real substance (and content) of this blog is at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com.Pretty simple, ...

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What really counts . . .

This morning's posting on the real Construction Marketing Ideas blog, "We are unique," has attracted some worthy comments.I put my thinking cap on for postings there, but will continue posting here daily until the real blog reaches number two within the search engine rankings. It may take a while . ....

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Stupid Construction Marketing SEO

As this site has a relatively high ranking within the search engines, it attracts more than a modest amount of comments with the purported goal of enhancing search engine rankings of the commenter. I can't figure why anyone bothers with this sort of thing -- Google has imposed "nofollow" rules for comments in most cases, meaning they don't go anywhere nor do anything to help the search engine rankings of the spam commenter. In any case, I delete them all.Tonight, I received an email representing a site hiding behind an anonymous domain registration service, asking if I minded if he "linked" to my site. A quick look a the site told me that the emailer is up to no good. It is a waste, of course. These tricks can work, some of the time, but most of the time Google has caught on to the games...

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Putting things into perspective

Construction businesses which succeed with healthy relationships and repeat businesses almost always have real challenges in adapting to a marketing-focused approach to their enterprise, but the process is much easier if you think about what you are doing well, and focus on how to extend/enhance the successful processes.By proactively enhancing your relationships, and by engaging in simple structured and measurable programs to enhance and increase your referral business, you'll achieve substantial -- and virtually immediate -- results for virtually no financial investment. In fact, you may save money, by cutting proposals and "bid chasing" for projects and jobs you don't have a chance of winning.I'll explore these ideas, and more, in tomorrow's Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http:/...

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Voting under way for 2010 Readers' Choice Awards

You can now vote for the 2009/2010 Ontario Construction Report Readers' Choice Awards.Unlike the Best Construction Blog competition, which is international in scope, the Readers' Choice Awards focus on businesses within Ontario (not surprisingly!) The principles are the same: You can vote only once on your computer in as many categories as you like. It is within the rules to "get out the votes" for favorites -- and we're already seeing this with the early voting.Again, if you are looking for anything substantive in this blog, you should head to the Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Best construction blog competition: The home stretch

With about nine days left in the competition, the vote-getting exercise is intensifying. You can see the results live at the real Construction Marketing Ideas blog, or more specifically, this posti...

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some ideas tomorrow

Tomorrow morning, I'll draw together a variety of resources for an overview posting with some rather simple but useful ideas.You won't read them here, but at the real Constuction Marketing Ideas blog, http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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The votes pour in

Today, I think, set a record for my email account -- with a surge in voting for the Best Construction Blog competition. Three bloggers initiated a "get out the vote" campaign, and I expect several others visited the site, and voted as well.I'll provide an update on the competition and also some thoughts about how the process is evolving tomorrow. I also have some interesting emails and communications with worthy ideas which I will review on Friday at the real Construction Marketing Ideas bl...

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Lessons learned

Today, after sorting through some technical glitches, I listened to Bill Caswell's presentation on Taking Your Construction Business to the Next Level again. In preparation for the event, and of course in my own relationship with him over the past few years, I've heard the message several times.Caswell advocates a process based on respecting and engaging employees in the business decision-making, and ensuring that the work they do is in sync with their fundamental personalities and character. This stuff may seem obvious but few businesses get it right.I'd like to say his concepts are a formula for 100 per cent success, but that is too simplistic....

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The book

The indexer has completed her work. Along with the index, she provided a long list of editing corrections, which I am reviewing this evening and will send to the designer tonight. The Construction Marketing Ideas book is almost ready to go to print, thankfully.I'll write about more substantial topics, however, at the real Construction Marketing Ideas blog tomorrow. You can visit the new site at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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About RIMC . . .

I've just moved the RIMC posting from last summer to the new Construction Marketing Ideas site. This avoids duplicate content challenges.On the main Google listings, http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com is now in fourth spot for the keywords "construction marketing". I will continue posting some content on this site daily until the real Construction Marketing Ideas blog is in second place. You can save some time by heading directly the...

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Four marketing models

Ideas often connect in fours in the classic grid.I'll see if I can relate this kind of thinking tomorrow in the Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Beyond respect: Looking beyond the obvious

Consider two businesses: The well-established small contractor which relies on word-of-mouth referrals, and the relatively large competitor which spends a small fortune on marketing. Is one better than the other?Objectively, I think most of us have found in experience that, generally, you receive "better" value and quality from the small, reliable, and well-regarded contractor than the large an intensive marketer.But, from a business perspective, the bigger player (assuming this isn't a flash in the pan story of a business that grows too large and then crashes under the weight of debt an mismanagement) has probably got it better -- and if you...

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Taking your construction business to the next level

Tomorrow morning, I'll be getting together with consultant Bill Caswell for a visit to an operating construction business where he will deliver his "Taking your construction business to the next level" in front of a live audience. This is in preparation for Tuesday's Webinar where he will communicate the same practical message to participants across North America.You can register online for $49.00. You can also connect with the real Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Effective marketing: Up close and personal

Today, I tried two experiments. In the first, we sent an email to about 1,600 people to encourage some referrals. The results: zero.Then, this afternoon, I attended a presentation at the local Construction Specifications Canada Chapter (I am on the chapter's board of directors, and we are official sponsors for the chapter in exchange for free advertising and promotion). In a one minute conversation, I received a 'yes' for a feature that probably will generate $3,000 in revenue.I'll explore the different approaches, and why one works and the other doesn't, at the real Construction Marketing Ideas blog tomorr...

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The book (6)

Today, I contracted with an indexer/final editor for the new Construction Marketing Ideas book.The cover here appears to be the most popular so is the one we will likely use.If you wish to read something more substantial (pending the publication of the book!), you can go to the "real" Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Video: The Design and Construction Report

If you would like your company featured in the next issue of The Design and Construction Report, please email me at buckshon@cnrgp.com.Note this blog has moved to its own domain at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com, and you should bookmark that site for useful content at the Construction Marketing Ideas bl...

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The real blog

Is at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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Best construction blog update

Here's a snapshot of the Best Construction Blog competition results (on Feb. 5) as the competition ends its final weeks.You can see the rankings "live" and vote by visiting the active Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com.Once we've finished the contest, we'll profile the finalists in the Design and Construction Report, and find a permanent home for hyperlinks from the various blogs referenced there.Eventually, this site will fade into obscurity, but I'll continue daily posts here until the real blog reaches second place in Google rankin...

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The Book (5)

Last cover choice for the Construction Marketing Ideas book. This weekend, I will make the decision -- as I prepare to contract out the indexing and final copy editing.If you wish to vote, you can complete the survey here.And if you wish to read something really substantial in this blog, you can go to the current actively-maintained Construction Marketing Ideas blog site at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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The book (4)

Here is the fourth of five choices for the new Construction Marketing Ideas book cover. You can vote for your favorite here.If you want to read something more substantial, visit the actively-maintained Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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The book (3)

Here is another cover for the Construction Marketing Ideas book. We have five covers to choose from. You can vote on your favorite here.For more insightful postings, you can also visit the actively maintained Construction Marketing Ideas blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.c...

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