This Podcast Is Episode Number 0393, And It's About Overcoming Contractor Marketing Challenges Now that the internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, modern consumers no longer depend on television, radio, and print advertisements. We look and go through a plethora of information first, accessed through popular search engines (Google, Bing, and others), before deciding to make a purchase or hire a local service. Technology advancement allowed companies to promote and connect with a larger number of potential consumers than the traditional, physical presence of a brick-and-mortar store. As a contractor, you are no longer confined to your neighborhood and push services directly to them. Your online presence enables you to reach out and pull qualified leads towards your construction company. But what should you do when you don't have a marketing manager that handles this side of your business? I say work with what you already have and go from there. Grow your business and have your target clients come to you by leveraging these challenges and turning them into opportunities: Content Creation These include photos, graphics, videos, marketing copy, and blog posts on your website. I know how this could be overwhelming, especially when you're a one-person team. Start small by thinking that it only needs to equal the thoughts of your customers. Build a persona from your ideal client – list down his/her Demographics (age, gender, profession, income) and his/her Psychographics (wants, problems, desires, pain points, frustrations, and other emotional triggers). Now every time you create content for your website, the context is base on your client persona. What to blog? Tips Tutorials How-to videos Answer the most common (or not so common) questions your clients ask you - their most prominent issues Positive results of your project All in a day's work Your current project (the privacy and security of your client is still a top priority so always be cautious when doing this type of post) Best tools and emerging technologies you utilize to produce quality work Replacement options Questions to ask before hiring a contractor (specific to your trade) Inspiring spaces Checklists Contractor best practices Pick a topic and compose an excellent title. Write your blog post conversationally with a casual tone, as if you're talking to your client, and increase readability by breaking it up into parts using paragraphs and bullet points. Social Media Your social media presence makes your company accessible to your prospective clients. It promotes awareness and increases web traffic. Consider your persona and research what platform will serve you best.  – professionals, work connections, business owners  – middle-aged consumers  – younger audience, teens to young adults Also, here are , , and  statistics and fun facts for your reference. If you're not confident and savvy, I suggest going through social media sites to check where your competitors are and how they interact with their patrons. Pick three platforms to start with and download their mobile apps. Share bite-size information and good, quality photos to attract potential clients. What to post? Since people  when a post is paired with a relevant image, let's focus on photos: Behind the scenes Team/crew Office events Quotes Industry insights Local gatherings Community events you're sponsoring/attending Random tip Latest industry news Company sales and promotions (this could seem "salesy" but works great when done right and timed-appropriately) Keep in mind that consistency is key. Interact with your audience and always be authentic.  Reviews And Testimonials Here comes the Word of Mouth in the online world. Reviews come from review sites beyond your control, and Testimonials come from past clients you've gathered directly. Include a Testimonials page/section to your website and encourage previous customers to...