Footbridge Media Enters into Strategic Partnership With Nexstar Network
Footbridge Media, the leading online marketing firm for home improvement contractors, has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Nexstar® Network, the preeminent business-development and best practices organization for independent home service plumbing, heating, air conditioning and electrical professionals.
5 Things Every Contractor Should Do For 2012
As the last few days of 2011 come upon us, I am hoping that all of our clients as well as readers of our blog are ready for the 2012 season. As owner of a home improvement company, regardless if you are one-man handyman shop or a complete custom home builder, listed below are things you need to complete in order to compete in the 2012 market.
It’s That Time Of Year – Holiday Marketing Solutions
The holiday season is soon coming upon us and this is a great time to get your products and services in front of your clients again. After all, marketing to our clients is our core importance in business throughout the year. Touching base with your client base on a regular basis is much better then marketing to a cold list. A simple and cost-effective way of keeping the name of your home improvement business on the top of minds to potential customers is sending seasonal “Holiday Cards” or postcards. This is a great and affordable way to touch base with your client base. Remember, clients may not remember you a year from now, even though you may think you are that great!
The LOST Contractor
The Lost Service Contractor
Most contractors, techs and sales people are freakin’ suffering out there! If not suffering, they’re certainly not very happy with the way things are. How do I come to this conclusion? You and I see it every day in the contracting industry. It manifests itself in the massive amount of turnover we are all suffering through. Employees and owners certainly are not earning the money they daydreamed they would while going through trade school or when they first started their business.
What was once so filled with promise and opportunity is now filled with people who sometimes can barely pay their bills. How ridiculous is that?!
That is why we wrote this e-book which was first released in 2006. This e-book shatters the myths that has been perpetrated on contractors and their employees for decades. If you are an average Technician or salesperson then I’m sure you know all the myths and excuses that there are to know. But with these myths and excuses you will only achieve average or below average results.
How To Get More Reviews For Your Company
Got this thought from Tom Johnson over at Johnson Home Construction up around Wilmington, NC, and look at his comment when I checked in at work on Google+
Notice I didn’t ask for a review here. There is a time and a place to ask for reviews or testimonials from previous customers, but no one likes to be asked, again and again, to leave a comment on work that you have done. But, as you may have gathered from Tom’s comment above, there are always more subtle ways to remind folks to support your company.
Eliminate “Estimate” and “Bid” from Your Vocabulary
I really do not like the word “estimate”, or even worse bid. Estimate implies inexactness. It may be higher, it may be lower. A project consultation, energy audit or design analysis implies much more detail and precision. Bid implies that you are competing for the project.
Instead of offering a “free estimate” offer an in-home consultation. Explain that this is much more than a bid or free estimate. They receive a detailed evaluation of their project that includes:
- Detailed discussion of project goals and ideas. What are the three most important concerns or objectives for this project?
- Evaluation of home. Is site suitable for the proposed project? Evaluate feasibility, design considerations.
- Exact material lists and job proposal. (optional: plans or designs)
- Offer exact written quote for project, including scheduling, materials, products, etc.
If you are an HVAC contractor, or sell replacement windows, offer a “Energy Audit”, instead of a “Free Estimate”. You can show the homeowner all the energy wasting areas in their home, including the uninsulated window openings, door cracks, etc. Many of these areas are small, simple and inexpensive to fix.
