The book

Please feel free to read the Construction Marketing Idea book reviews and browse the pages at either Amazon.com or Google Books.

You can also obtain additional information at the book page on the new Construction Marketing Ideas blog.

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Evaluating Live Chat

Recently, at my primary Construction Marketing Ideas Blog site,  I have been evaluating a free Live Chat service. It is early going, but the comm100.com live chat service appears to be quite solid -- and the price is certainly right.

You can connect with me by Live Chat (when I'm actually at my computer) through this link.

Live Chat Software by Comm100

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The Design and Construction Report

The Summer issue of The Design and Construction Report, published in co-operation with the Design and Construction Network, has been published.  You can view the online magazine with page turning software or a downloadable PDF file, which you can print on your office computer.

I welcome your observations about the magazine and suggestions for future issues.

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So, "way back in 2006-07" I started this blog, posting daily.  It turned out to be the first sustained and updated Construction Marketing Blog.  And  I generously shared backlinks and references to other useful sites and resources.

One day in 2007 this site skyrocketed in the search engine rankings.  It remains in first place even though I focus virtually all of my blogging (including free daily updates) on the new Construction Marketing Ideas blog.


Most likely, you are finding your way here either through search engine responses or old hyperlinks which still are active.  And of course there are page after page of useful archive contents.

But this blog is no longer the best in the business.  (With some vanity, my new Construction Marketing Ideas blog is.)  But it is still top-ranked.  It is there because I started it first.

This is a vitally important marketing rule.  You will find an uphill battle if you try to develop a message or present a service that is "better" than a competitor who occupies your potential clients' mind-space first.  No matter how objectively better your service is; you have an uphill battle.  Of course, you can pour a small fortune into paid advertising and marketing to hammer the competition.

But a much better strategy is to find another way to be first, either by redefining your demographics, your message, your "unique selling proposition" or your geographical focus.  When you are first, you win.

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The Construction Marketing Ideas book

Read the Construction Marketing Ideas book reviews and sample the book at Google books (and within Amazon page view).  Then if you wish, you can purchase it from the bookseller of your choice or directly from the publisher.

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To boston for SMPS and intensive construction marketing

This week, I'm heading to Boston, MA, for the annual Society for Marketing Professional Services Build Business Conference.

I'll be blogging extensively at the main Construction Marketing Ideas blog.

If you are at the conference and would like to connect with me, you can reach me at buckshon@cnrgp.com.

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How to create construction marketing value: Be first

One of the most fundamental principles in all types of marketing is:  "Be first to mind"  That is, the marketer who creates the first impression within the subject area or niche owns it, with relatively simple defensive measures.  You can certainly blow your first place lead, but you will have trouble losing if you use some common sense.

First does not necessarily mean best in the absolute sense.  The second or third to arrive on the scene, in the marketing sense at least, may have a superior product or service.  But (unless you are sloppy) they will always be beaten.  You can if necessary copy or emulate the "value" in the alternative services but they cannot copy or emulate your first-place marketing position.

In practice, how do you use this  basic marketing rule?  First, define your service or product so that your marketing statement is unique ("first") within the segment or community you wish to serve.  There may be dozens of roofing contractors, for example, in your area, but you ma be the first to offer free two hour emergency service regardless of conditions. (Of course, you actually need to be able to offer the service you claim, or you will run afoul of the authorities.)  You can of course define your service as "first" within a narrow geographical or demographic area.  ("First" in a certain neighbourhood, or "first" to provide complete estimates by IPhone.)

This is the first construction marketing blog.  I moved the actively maintained blog to http://www.constructionmarketingideas.com with its own domain and hosting (and have put much useful and relevant content on it.)  But if you think I'm going to give up this space and URL, you don't appreciate the power of "first".  (Still you are most welcome to read my posting on how to blog effectively for the construction industry here, and I expect you will find value in the first Construction Marketing Ideas Webinar on Thursday, July 8.)

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