Best construction blog competition deadline today

Today is the deadline for nominations for the Design and Construction Report 2011 Best Construction Blog Competition.Within a few days, once we've reviewed the nominations for eligibility, we'll set up the voting polls.  You can vote as many times as you like -- and encourage your friends, colleagues and supporters to vote as well.  However, we'll ensure some balance in the competition by supplementing the popular vote with an panel of independent judges who will review the nominations and select their finalists.To learn more about last year's finalists, visit the relevant archived issue of the Design and Construction Report. There...

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The international perspective and construction marketing

This blog, of course, is read around the world -- and I've received book orders and communications from more than a dozen countries.  Does wisdom and advice about construction marketing written from an English North American perspective have value in other places (and conversely, can we learn something from other areas that we can apply in North America).The answer of course is there are some universal human truths and one of these truths is we are all different but we tend to gather/clump in more-or-less homogeneous groups.  Outsiders therefore have trouble breaking into foreign cultures but when they can make that entry, they can...

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No money for construction marketing? No problem.

Right now, in looking at the headline for this posting, I think of the used car dealer who advertises the "no money down" deal or (worse) "we'll get you out of your current lease and into the car of your dreams -- and make the payments for you for three months."Of course, if you buy into that dealer's promise, you'll be stuck in an even greater financial trap with even higher financing costs for a car which will probably be worse than something you own now.  After all, you've got to pay all those credit costs plus, of course, the dealer's marketing expenses (and the dealer rightfully should earn a profit on the transaction.But is there really...

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The Construction Marketing Ideas video experiment -- an update

Yesterday's Construction Marketing Ideas video broadcast again attracted an audience of, well half a person.  One of my company's employees tuned in but he noticed something I've seen at my end -- there are times when you can hear the audio but see only the "book cover" image on the video screen. Conversely, for the first time on my own console, I could actually see the video (with a few seconds time delay) live as it should appear.  I'm not sure if, in practice, I would have been the only person who could view the video as the viewership numbers indicate only I and the employee were online.The experiment continues, of course. ...

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Relationships and construction marketing -- A livestream video

This week's experimental livestream video broadcast (at 2 pm. est today, January 27, 2011) will focus on the meaning of "relationships" in marketing.  I'll explore some recent postings on the the importance of interpersonal relationships with current and potential clients -- and debunk some of the myths around relationship marketing and communications.The broadcast continues an experimental series as I seek to master the techniques and technology of video broadcasts -- and even more challenging, live video.  The "podcast kit" arrived yesterday including a "mixer" and some microphones, headphones and cables (and a whole bunch of other...

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Another clue in the Change Order boat mystery

From the home page of skire.comYesterday, a reader provided a tantalizing clue that may, for once and all, solve the Change Order boat mystery.The image of the large yacht marked "change order" moored next to a dinghy named "original contract" has been circulating for several years in architectural, engineering and construction offices.  Individuals who see the image often try to Google the results and almost inevitably arrive at one of my postings on this topic.Yesterday afternoon, a reader pointed out in an email to me that the image appears in a rotating cycle (number 3 if you click the little buttons) on the home page of Skire.com. Certainly...

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Best construction blog competition deadline approaching

The nomination deadline for the 2011 Best Construction Blog is rapidly approaching.You can find more information through this link.Construction BlogsThe Best Blog Competition 2011 -- Nominations invi...

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The two worlds of construction marketing

In the past few years I've observed a lot of really good -- and really bad -- marketing for the construction industry.The really good stuff combines superb client relationships, respect, consistent learning and imaginative yet systematic and highly measurable initiatives to bring in and retain new business.The really bad stuff is thoughtless, seat-of-your-pants money wasting because the business owner is too lazy to learn what really needs to be done and/or is swayed by telemarketers and spammers pitching junk.Of course, you need to keep your mind open and eyes alert for what works, and what won't.Can I wave a magic wand and solve all of your...

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The "construction marketer" who really doesn't get it

I never identify inviduals or organizations negatively in this blog, but I found this posting on a linkedin.group is worthy of a little analysis:Make A Difference Our company's motto to provide our past, present and future clients "Superior Client Service" in all the services we provide. Check out (engineering practice's name removed). If you have any questions or comments about any of the services that we offer, please feel free to contact me here or at our office. If I don't know the answer, we have a complete and competent staff of personal that will. Hoping for a great year for everyone. This rather blatant pitch...

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The big (construction marketing and sales) rock

 This image evokes one of the biggest challenges we have in business, especially when we are trying to move a big construction marketing or sales project forward.  It can feel, at times, like you are trying to push a rock up a mountain.  This is especially the case if you are working alone and your assigned task is to get a "yes" from a senior, unknown people outside your scope of authority and responsibility. Should you ever try to push rocks up mountains, alone?  In most cases, the reward is hardly worth the risk but there are times in life where this sort of super-human force is both possible and necessary.  We've...

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The three dumbest construction marketing mistakes

I've posted at the other Construction Marketing Ideas blog a rather snappy critique of the three things that contractors commonly do wrong, consistently. But at this one, I welcome your story of your greatest construction marketing mistake -- or success.  If it is a mistake, unless you give me express permission, I won't publish your name or identity anywhere and will disguise the story sufficiently that, while others can learn from it, you won't experience further embarrassment.  If you've achieved a marketing triumph and want to share it with the world, on the other hand, I'm all ears.Finally, time is running short to nominate...

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Live video broadcast today: About public bidding and RFP opportunities

Today's experimental live video feed at 2 p.m. EST will focus on the real world behind bidding and RFP opportunities.  Sure, much work appears to be available this way, but the real world is stacked in favour of insiders.  How do you get on the inside?You can view the Livestream video at http://www.livestream.com/constructionmarketingideas During the experimental broadcast, I invite you to call in on our special Skype broadcast line at 1 (919) 407-8842.  If I take your call during the show, you'll receive a free copy of my Construction Marketing Ideas book.This blog entry is the only place I am announcing the broadcast (outside...

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An email exchange to show how construction marketing should be done (especially for renovators)

A few days ago, John Liptak of OakWood Renovation Experts sent me an email to a link of an hour-long local radio broadcast featuring his business.  (Patricia is his daughter and is actively involved in the local renovating contracting business, perhaps the most assertive and effective marketer in the Ottawa area.)Patricia and I were guests on the CFRA Rabi Bulka Show for 1 hour.If you wish to hear the podcast… http://www.oak.ca/FTP/OakWoodCRFARabbiBulka110116.mp2I enjoyed listening to the podcast in the background as I worked my computer and sent him a note telling him that.  His response:Thanks Mark, we were also on 88.5 FM and it...

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Some worthy construction marketing ideas

Take a look at the forums at remodelcrazy.com and contractortalk.com.  You'll find a wealth of useful resources and peer-based idea sharing there especially if you are in the residential/consumer markets.In the business-to-business space, you can of course consider linkedin.com and the many groups there including our own Construction Marketing Ideas group. (It is closed group, so you will either have to be invited or request to participate.)Finally, of course, you go to the "other" Construction Marketing Ideas blog for some additional resources, blog listings and the li...

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Construction marketing: Where should you advertise, now? Where not?

The CMI Facebook pageIf you are considering an advertising campaign, consider first Facebook.  Consider last, The Yellow Pages.These are blunt generalities.  In truth, you should assess your business, its demographics and ideally spend some time face-to-face with your best and most valuable current clients (and those who you think will be the most valuable in the future) to learn which media they follow, which interests they have, and where they hang out.  Then you naturally can co-ordinate your advertising with their interests in mind (and while you are at it, hopefully obtain some testimonials you can use in your own marketing.)Facebook's...

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What really works with Construction Marketing?

Duh.If you think I'm going to suggest much beyond encouraging, developing and enhancing your repeat and referral business, you are wrong (and partially right).Your absolutely best and most effective marketing strategy is to create such a satisfying experience that your clients are happy to repeat and refer their friends -- then you build on this process by encouraging it and systematizing your approaches to building out the repeat and referral interest.Social media can be especially effective in building your reputation BUT you need to be on the ball, because negative publicity can spread like wildfire and you won't have much time, if any, to...

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An invitation for a video broadcast test

Next Thursday, I would like to test the capacity of phone communication by Skype while on a live video broadcast.  As noted yesterday, Chase helped out last week but this time around the ideal test will be with someone outside of our company who would welcome a conversation about construction marketing.  You can ask me questions and I'll ask you some about your business, achievements and challenges.I don't expect many people will be watching the show -- because this is still at experimental stages and the chances of glitches and miscues are really high.My plan will be, by pre-arrangement, to phone the selected volunteer(s) by Skype (you don't need a Skype account, we can call you on a regular phone line) just before or during the broadcast at 2 pm. EST on Thursday January 20.In compensation,...

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Old construction marketing ideas blog: New experiments

dI've moved most of my material and thinking to the new Construction Marketing Ideas blog, but am reserving this place for experiments and ideas.  It is where I report on the "test bed" of innovations before they are ready, really, for the shining light. "Wait", you may wonder.  Why would this blogger use the blog with higher search engine rankings (number one in most of the world) to focus on stuff that isn't "ready, really, for the shining light."The reason is that this blog is a relatively safe place to explore ideas and invite feedback and reflects my values that sometimes you need to be out front and visible even when things...

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Out on a construction marketing journalistic limb

Cole BartiromoOver on the actively maintained Construction Marketing Ideas blog, I have written a story about the strange stunts of a person in California who has decided fame is worth some risk -- of course he has taken more than his share of (criminal) risk in his life.&nb...

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The second weekly video Construction Marketing Ideas livecast

The specialized video lighting equipment arrived in our office from California yesterday.  Tomorrow, I'll set it up and turn on the video camera at 2 pm for the second weekly Construction Marketing Ideas livestream broadcast.Last week, I had trouble connecting with the livestream server -- by the time we were ready to broadcast at 2:07 p.m., the two or three people who had visited the site decided to move on, so my broadcast was for an audience of one -- me, myself and I.  Don't worry.  You didn't miss anything.  I hadn't really prepared a proper show and my stream-of-consciousness ramblings would hardly win a public speaking...

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Fighting Nature book survey results

The survey for the cover of Bill Caswell's new book, How Humans Fight the Laws of Nature and Lose, has resulted in a decision about the cover -- and a realization that we need to add a subtitle:  How to Thrive in Life and Business.The survey is still open and you can see the results once you complete it....

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The Fighting Nature survey

So far, over the weekend, we've received 55 responses to the survey for the cover design of How Humans Fight Against the Laws of Nature -- and Lose by Bill Caswell.  The survey is giving us a clear idea of which cover readers find is their favorite, even as several readers add useful comments and suggest alternative approaches.If you are planning a construction marketing campaign, I recommend this type of survey wen you are trying new ideas on for size.  If you keep the question(s) simple and easy to answer (no more than three questions), you will achieve meaningful and highly measurable results and not irritate readers with excessive...

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Fighting Nature -- a new book

We're stretching our business into new markets with the upcoming publication of How Humans Fight the Laws of Nature -- and Lose, by Bill Caswell.  I describe the (marketing) reasoning behind this initiative in the other Construction Marketing Ideas blog, but will use this space as well to encourage you to vote in the survey for the book's cover design.We've provided five choices.  On the survey form, you can select which one you like the best and that's it.  If you would like to receive a free sample chapter when the book is published (and an offer for a special 25 per cent discount) you can respond -- but you certainly don't need...

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Roads less travelled -- finding your own way to construction marketing success

Mark Salter, one of my African newspaper colleaguesI bore my family with tales from my two youthful journeys to Africa.  In 1976, after graduating from university in Vancouver, B.C., instead of taking the standard post-graduate trip to Europe, I ended up on an overland truck tour through the Sahara, central Africa (the Congo) and ended up in Nairobi, Kenya.  Then I made one of those decisions that reshaped my life: I carried on, independently, to southern Africa, spending a month in Rhodesia before returning home from South Africa.In Canada, I discovered a job on the Medicine Hat News in Alberta (the managing editor said he hired me...

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The video experiment -- broadcasting to an audience of one

Printed OCNYesterday, when I tried to sign into Livestream.com at 2:00 p.m., the system continuously bounced off.  At 2:00, I could see a few people (perhaps two or three) briefly visiting the stream site at http://www.livestream.com/constructionmarketingideas before leaving.  I achieved the connection at 2:07 p.m. and began broadcasting to an audience of one:  Me, myself and I.This may be fortunate because the presentation and image quality would hardly meet broadcast standards.  The resulting video is posted (at least for now) on the livestream site.  I'm not sure whether you see what I do when you click on the stored...

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Construction Marketing Ideas video update

The latest issue of Ontario Construction Report.Yesterday, I ordered a specialized lighting system for the video broadcasts at a cost of a little more than $200 for the set.  Of course, we could have handled the lighting issue less  expensively -- probably some strategically placed lamps purchased at Ikea would do the job -- but the system I'll be using is still extremely low-end by professional standards.  You can spend thousands on this sort of stuff if you want to be truly professional.While I have no aspirations to be a professional video producer/celebrity, I still need to get the basic capacities in order to achieve my goal...

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Learning by doing: Construction Marketing Ideas videos

Beginning Thursday, January 6, you will be able to view a free live video Construction Marketing Ideas broadcast at 2 p.m. EST (11 a.m. PST, check the world clock for other time zones.) The upcoming broadcast -- and those in weeks to follow -- won't meet any technical or production excellence standards but if you choose to visit, you will see the evolution in standards and quality as I obtain experience, equipment and qualified technical support.  I expect within six months, the videos will be of sufficiently high quality that we will be able to include them in a useful resource library and assist others with the process of video production.You...

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The free construction marketing ideas blog listing service

You can obtain free enhanced listings for your architectural, engineering or construction industry blog at the new Construction Marketing Ideas blog site -- and, if you wish, enter your blog in the annual Design and Construction Report's Best Construction Blog competition.The new listing engine allows you to describe your blog in greater detail, include a graphic and enables viewers to communicate directly with you by email.  You don't need to worry about spam, as your email address is hidden.I will of course moderate all postings carefully.  If you are a "search engine optimizer" trying to manipulate links, your entries will almost...

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Weekly live Construction Marketing Ideas video broadcasts

We'll, I've decided to start a weekly live video broadcast.  Technical and production quality won't be the greatest at the start but as time progresses, I think you'll see many improvements.  Within a year, I expect the weekly broadcast will have a significant following and will provide substantive library content for this blog and other resources (and help us build our overall business's video capacities).If you are around at 2 p.m. on Thursday, tune in to http://www.livestream.com/constructionmarketingide...

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An enhanced Construction Blog listing resource

Well, after several hours of frustration, I set up the framework for the new blog and directory listing service on the Wordpress version of this blog at http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com.I will need a few days to transfer the existing blog listings to the new service.  As well, publishers will have the opportunity to enhance their listings with detailed descriptions and even a snapshot image.  Readers will be able to click through to the blog or send an email to the blog's owner.As before, there is no cost for your qualified blogs to be listed.  While I certainly welcome reciprocating links, these are not necessary if you...

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Preparing for the 2011 Best Construction Blog competition

There are days when everything goes as planned, and then, well, there are the other sorts of days.I had cleared some free time on New Years Day to set up the framework for a comprehensive new Construction Blogs resource on the new Construction Marketing Ideas blog site.  This initiative will allow bloggers to describe their blogs in much greater detail, include reference listings, and even provide direct feedback from visitors.This morning I made (some) progress in setting the framework, but it isn't quite ready -- and of course the challenge will be finding the time to complete this work when business resumes full-scale in a couple of days. ...

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