This Podcast Is Episode Number 522, And It's About Increasing Construction Company Profitability Through Better Practices If you feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of technological gadgets, never mind apps and other digital "solutions,"; you're not alone. Technology sprawl and the rabbit hole of more and more information available all the time makes productivity—and healthy downtime—a real challenge for many of us. Although we may be quicker at completing redundant tasks, more time is wasted managing all our different apps and technologies—and more of us live in a near-constant state of distraction. An epidemic of distracted workers Maintaining focus on the job is increasingly difficult in the era of social media, chat apps, games, and the ability to search for anything at any time—whether related to the task at hand or not. Recent research shows that, on average, office workers switch between tasks roughly every three minutes. Half of those "task switches" were not because the phone rang or someone stopped by with a question—they were self-interruptions. The same study showed that when an interruption is related to the primary task, it isn't a problem for the worker to maintain focus when the interruption ends. But when people have to "shift their cognitive resources" to a new task, it takes longer to remember where they were, refocus, and regain momentum. If your team isn't working across the same devices, platforms, and apps, imagine the increased inefficiency as workers spend more time dealing with incompatibility issues. For anyone moving between several decentralized apps during the workday, the cost is mental exhaustion—which can lead to an increased lack of focus and even less productivity. Tools and tips for increasing efficiency No matter how much we'd like to improve our productivity, multitasking is a myth; most humans can only perform one task well at a time. It seems there are never enough hours in the day to complete every job on your list. Often you're faced with prioritizing what you need to do right now – deal with a customer, meet a deadline, attend an event – and the things you know you should do for the ongoing growth of your construction business. Scheduling time to attend to these business activities regularly is a great way to get on track for tremendous success. 1. If you must use a computer at work To help minimize the temptation to check Facebook or random search, focus on your to-do list and block all digital distractions, like placing your smartphone next to you, so you can focus on just what's in front of you. Another tip is to batch email rather than reading and responding to messages continually. Sending emails twice a day—once in the morning and again in the afternoon—will train people not to expect to hear from you instantly, creating more reasonable (and sane) expectations. No one can or should be available to work around the clock for our own personal and collective well-being. 2. Know your numbers It's not uncommon for business owners to lose touch with how well their business is performing daily. But an awareness of your real-time income and expenses is the key to making better decisions that will nurture growth. Implement these changes and see the difference they make in your business: Switch to an offering access to real-time data anywhere. Monitor your finances daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly; review the data with your accountant often. Check-in on your other numbers – your website metrics and software analytics – to know whether your marketing, lead generation and sales tactics are working. 3. Update your business plan Construction companies should update their business plan at least once a year—sooner if an upcoming change requires planning, financing, or re-assigning resources (for instance, a service launch or a new side business). Many trade business owners neglect to revise their plans regularly. They end up operating on autopilot,...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 521, And It's About Unlocking The Secrets Of Small Construction Business Cash Flow Cash is king! Construction Company cash flow is the movement of money in and out of your Construction Company; these movements are known in accounting circles as inflow and outflow. Inflows for your Construction Company primarily come from selling goods or services to your customers, but keep in mind that inflow only occurs when you make a cash sale or collect on receivables. Other examples of cash inflows are borrowed funds, income derived from sales of assets, and investment income from interest. Outflows for your Construction Company are generally the result of paying labor, material, other direct and indirect costs of goods sold, and overhead expenses. Is Cash Flow Same As Profit? While they might seem similar, profit and cash flow are two entirely different concepts, each with completely different results. Profit helps calculate your taxes and report to the IRS. The idea of profit is somewhat broad and only looks at income and expenses over a certain period, say a fiscal quarter. Cash flow, on the other hand, is a more dynamic tool focusing on the day-to-day operations of a Construction Company owner. It is concerned with money movement in and out of a Construction Company. However, more important, it is concerned with the times when the direction of the money occurs. In theory, even profitable Construction Companies can go bankrupt. It would take a lot of negligence and total disregard for cash flow, but it is possible. Consider how profit and cash flow relate to your Construction Company. Example: If your retail Construction Company bought a $1,000 item and turned around to sell it for $2,000, then you have made a $1,000 profit. However, what if the item's buyer is slow to pay their bill, and six months pass before you collect on the account? Your Construction Company may show a profit, but what about the bills it has to pay during those six months? You may not have the cash to pay the bills despite the profits you earned on the sale. Furthermore, this cash flow gap may cause you to miss other profit opportunities, damage your credit rating, and force you to take out loans and create debt. If this mistake is repeated enough times, you may go bankrupt. Maintaining a healthy cash flow is essential for a small business's sustainability and growth. Your construction business can be incredibly profitable but fail because of improper cash flow management. To prevent that from happening, here are some best practices that can help you better manage your cash flow and maintain the financial health of your small business. Remember, being proactive and vigilant about your finances is the key to success.  Let's dive in! 1. Understand Your Cash Flow Cycle Before managing your cash flow, you must understand your cash flow cycle. This involves tracking when money comes into your business and when it goes out. You can identify patterns and potential issues by examining the timing and sources of your cash inflows and outflows. For example, you'll notice periods with higher expenses and lower profits or the reverse.  This information helps you make informed decisions on maintaining a positive cash flow. For example, you might offer more sales during your slow periods or find ways to cut costs.  2. Develop Accurate Financial Forecasts Financial forecasting is crucial to cash flow management, allowing you to anticipate your cash flow cycles. Regularly create and update cash flow projections, considering expected sales, expenses, and other relevant factors. Accurate economic forecasts will help you identify potential cash shortages or surpluses and effectively make informed resource allocation decisions. For example, you might hold off buying new equipment this month because the next two months are expected to be slower financially, then make the purchases when you have more cash coming...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 520, And It's About The Problem With High-Profit Jobs In The Construction Industry Many problems can be traced back to the "Halo Effect," which happens when a contractor thinks, "We are so good at (fill in the blank) we should expand into (fill in the blank)." The most common situation is when a residential remodel contractor with a reputation and a substantial company generating 15% or more profits decides to start building custom homes. Or the opposite, a home builder who decides to branch out into residential remodeling. Residential Remodel Contractor Building A Home The processes, tools, equipment, materials, skills, and invoicing procedures required to build a house from the ground up differ entirely from modifying a home with people living there. The remodeling contractor uses a form of "Cost Plus" or "Not To Exceed" to provide the homeowner with the scope of work and a contract price the bank needs to finance the construction. That process can work for a residential remodel because the house is already in place, which helps define the size and scope of the project. The size and scope of the homeowner's dream house are limited only by what the building codes will allow. When the labor, material, other costs, and subcontractor bills pile up, the remodeling contractor asks for a construction draw and is told the bank needs a  filled out and submitted. Then it will take a while for the bank inspector to review the project and approve the draw. This is when the remodeling contractor figures out they are providing all the labor, material, other costs, and subcontractor expense up front and getting paid only when and if the building inspectors, architect, bank, and the client agree to the draw request. Home Builder Doing A Residential Remodel The processes, tools, equipment, materials, skills, and invoicing procedures required to modify a home with people living in it differ entirely from building a house from the ground up. New construction workers are more like cave dwellers with a brute-force mentality. If something doesn't fit or will not work the way they want, they use more brute force until it does. Every problem has one answer "Brute Force." The same goes for managing sub-contractors and suppliers. The home builder bids on a residential remodel project using the exact square foot costs they have continuously operated in building houses and quickly discovers the meaning of "Hidden Costs." These costs include dry rot, cracked foundations, broken plumbing, bad wiring, worn-out HVAC, and other unpleasant surprises. Homeowners living in the house while the remodel is happening do not ever want to be without water, lights, heat, and privacy, and they don't know how much debris, dust, and noise is involved in a remodel. Homeowners want to believe everything is included in the original contract price, including the little extras they think of along the way. When it comes to change orders, that is something most home builders do not understand. They don't have a process for tracking them, let alone pricing and getting paid for doing them. Most trade contractors and subcontractors working on residential remodel projects understand change orders and how to pressure the builder to get paid. Too often, this is the main reason home builders go bankrupt - cash flow issues. The Solution Most construction business owners who use accounting software quickly master the basics. They automate processes like invoicing and payroll, track expenses, and view real-time financial reports to manage cash flow and make better business decisions. The problem is that high-profit jobs have a way of turning into low or no-profit jobs, and in some cases, they can bankrupt your construction company because you bid on the project using whatever model you are accustomed to using, and in the end, you wind up with cash flow problems. But what many business owners don't take advantage of are key insights that...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 519, And It's About Using Financial Reconciliation To Keep Your Construction Business On Track   As a small business owner, you're likely already aware of the importance of keeping your finances in order. Financial management goes deeper than paying your bills on time and collecting invoices (although those are also important). It involves regularly checking your financial situation to ensure your accounts are in order, your records are up-to-date, and you're spending within your budget. Among those activities, financial reconciliation is vital in keeping your finances and business on track. Force reconciliations can cause your net income to be over or understated, which means you pay too much in taxes now or too little now and the rest later with penalties and interest because the IRS can ask for a copy of your bookkeeping record.    Here's what you should know about financial reconciliation and how it can help your construction business. What is financial reconciliation? Financial reconciliation is a process of ensuring your financial records are consistent and accurate. When you conduct a financial reconciliation, you review financial statements and compare them with your bank statements, credit card statements, vendor statements, and other relevant financial records, such as invoices.  As you do this, you'll look for errors or discrepancies–for example, if a payment appears on your bank statement but not your accounting records or the costs are for different amounts on different records. When you conduct a financial reconciliation, you want to ensure that the money in your bank account matches the money your financial documents show you should have. Discrepancies need to be addressed, or you'll wind up with financial information that isn't accurate, which affects your cash flow and your ability to make financial decisions. If the discrepancy involves an ongoing payment to you or a vendor, catching it early could save you much money.   Financial reconciliation ensures that all financial transactions are recorded accurately and thoroughly in your accounting system. That way, you know exactly how much money you have and how much is moving into and out of your business, and you can make informed financial decisions.  Types of financial reconciliation Every business has different reconciliation needs, depending on how big, how many, and what types of transactions it has. Bank reconciliation involves your business's bank statement to your accounting records to ensure that all transactions have been recorded correctly. You're looking to safeguard your bank statement's bottom line matches your bank account balance. If not, you'll want to determine why. Is there an automatic withdrawal not yet posted to your account? If so, you need to be aware of it to prevent yourself from overdrawing on your account.  Credit card reconciliation involves reconciling your business's credit card statements with your accounting records to ensure that all charges have been recorded accurately. This is similar to a bank reconciliation in that you need to know exactly how much you've spent on your credit card–including pending transactions–to understand how much you have available.  You can also conduct vendor statement reconciliation, examining your vendor statements against your accounting records to ensure all invoices have been paid and recorded accurately. This can prevent any errors in paying your vendors.  You'll need to conduct intercompany reconciliation if you have two units of business or more–such as divisions, subsidiaries, or franchises. This is where you compare financial records between two or more companies to ensure transactions are recorded accurately and consistently. Why you need financial reconciliation Financial reconciliation is a vital tool that helps you manage your business more effectively. It ensures your financial records are...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 518, And It's About How To Protect Your Construction Company From Bankruptcy   Starting a construction business is not for the faint of heart. A certain level of stress comes with ensuring your company's success. If things go wrong, it all falls back on you. That said, the freedom and sense of accomplishment of running your own business make the challenges well worth it. With good planning and strong business practices, you can avoid the pitfalls and drive your trade business to financial success. Learn the top reasons why small businesses end up in bankruptcy and what you can do to prevent that from happening to you. 1. Poor cash flow Not bringing enough money in is the main reason why businesses fail. You must have more money coming in than is going out, or you're on the express train to bankruptcy. This might mean increasing your prices, decreasing costs, or combining the two. There might also be different service models you can offer (such as subscription services) or ways to branch out your income.    Work with an accountant or bookkeeper to help you identify issues with your cash flow as soon as you know there's a problem–or to prevent one before it happens. The earlier you catch a cash flow problem, the better. 2. Insufficient initial funding Don't rely solely on credit to fund your business. If you start in a deficit, climbing out of debt and becoming cash positive will be much harder. It can also be challenging to break the habit of throwing capital investments on credit in an attempt to start making money. Explore all of your options for initial funding. Ensure you have enough budget to start your business on the right foot.  3. Difficult market conditions Economic recessions or depressions can negatively affect businesses, especially those relying heavily on consumer spending. Unfortunately, there's not much anyone can do about a poor economic climate but try to budget for the ebbs and flows of the market so you have breathing room if times get tough. An emergency account with money set aside for unexpected situations will at least give you some cash to survive on if things take a downturn. 4. Poor financial management Finances can get complicated, so you must ensure you're on top. Failing to keep accurate financial records, not managing expenses effectively, and not correctly forecasting future revenues and costs are all issues that could hurt you financially. Work with an accountant, bookkeeper, or advisor if you have difficulty managing your finances. They can help you set a plan and show you how to ensure your money is best used.  5. Lack of market research If you can't compete with your rivals, your construction business may struggle to generate enough revenue to stay afloat. This problem typically comes back to a lack of market research.  Entrepreneur jumps into a market they're passionate about, only to discover that somebody else is already offering the same thing – and they've already got the market cornered. Or maybe there's no need for that particular product or service.  Market research before entering the business and offering a new product or service. The results will tell you whether there's a need for what you're offering.  6. Legal issues Lawsuits, fines, and penalties can be costly for businesses, draining their financial resources. The best way to avoid this is to ensure you're familiar with the rules and regulations you must follow or get help from a professional advisor when necessary. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Construction Company Failure is Always Preceded by Bad Bookkeeping The construction company owner who buys QuickBooks and hires a regular bookkeeper to "put stuff into QuickBooks" and then ignores all of the financial and job costing reports generated from their QuickBooks file drives their construction company into economic doom. Too often, contractors have led down the primrose path...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 517, And It's About How To Weigh ROI Vs Cost When Making A Business Purchase Deciding to purchase something to help your construction business is a big decision. It can be challenging to part with hard-earned money, especially in the early days. To understand the right time to invest by purchasing something for your business, you must calculate whether the Return on Investment (ROI) would be profitable. The cost is the money you spend making the purchase plus any indirect costs (such as training costs) related to the purchase. The ROI is a calculation of financial gains or benefits that you obtain due to that cost. To determine ROI profitability, there is a simple formula you can use. If the purchase yields a positive return, it can be considered profitable. However, if the purchase does not earn back the money it costs, it would be considered a negative return on investment.   Return on Investment Formula Using a formula to calculate the ROI only offers a rough initial estimate. Other factors might come into play, such as future work you will get because of the new asset or unforeseen expenses. The formula to determine ROI is: ROI = (Net Profit / Cost of Investment) x 100 Let’s see an example: Suppose you run a spec home building company. Three employees spend their time in the field gathering data and taking stock of how a proposed development project would affect the landscape. Vegetation, waterways, animals – everything is taken into consideration. You have one client who would like you to survey very rugged terrain. They would pay $2500 if you could complete this work, but covering the landscape would be difficult and take time. The only way to do it effectively would be to purchase a drone for $1000. It would cost $200 to train each employee how to use the drone. The new equipment would make taking on this work possible and save many hours spent physically in the field. Additionally, having a drone would mean you could offer your new aerial surveying services to other clients who are undertaking more large-scale or complex projects. Calculating the ROI of obtaining new equipment for this project: First, you would tally your total expenses and expected revenue to decide whether this purchase would be profitable. Expected Revenue = $2500 Total Expenses = $1000 + ($200 x 3) = $1600 Then, you would subtract the expenses from your expected revenue to determine the net profit. Net Profit = $2500 – $1600 = $900 To calculate the expected return on investment, you would divide the net profit by the cost of the investment and multiply that number by 100. ROI = ($900 / $1600) x 100 = 56.25% Your return on investment would be 56.25%, a positive return. Not only that, but your new equipment may allow you to gain more work in the future, making your ROI even better. What happens when you don’t put your investment to work What if you purchase the drone but find the learning curve overwhelming, and it collects dust in a corner? In this case, your client may not hire you, or the hours required to do the work on foot may make taking on the project cost prohibitive. Your ROI would be zero, plus you would be down $1600 from the initial expense and training. This would result in a negative return on investment, mainly if you have already performed the employee training. On the other hand, how many places can you find with a strong chance Of 100% Return on Investment? Let me say - If something seems too good to be true, it probably is, and you should stay far away from it. We Do Like Managed Risks This is anything we can control the input and have a more remarkable than the breakeven chance of making a profit. We pay close attention to the higher levels of math and how it is used to predict probable outcomes accurately. Decision Modeling Decision modeling uses reliable QuickBooks reports to generate predictions of profit and loss based upon re-allocating resources and...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 516, And It's About Construction Business Growth Through Networking And Having A Mentor Most business owners receive plenty of well-intentioned advice and 'helpful opinion' from family and friends. However, good business advice spoken from commercial experience is another matter entirely. That's not to say it's hard to find, but finding a reputable source in the Internet age is sometimes less than straightforward – especially if you have a specific problem to solve and limited time. This is why, for good times or bad, developing a network of peers or seeking out a business mentor can be a great idea. Networking Business owners shouldn't feel they need to operate in isolation. There are several options to consider, and you're not limited to only one or a few. Developing a network of peers and colleagues is an excellent way to keep in touch with new developments, and you'll have a great resource to access when you need input and advice. Your local chamber of commerce Your local chamber of commerce is likely to be a helpful resource. They should be able to put you in touch with industry bodies and refer you to people who can give you professional advice. In addition, they might also have information and resources to help you deal with the issues you are facing. Attending meetings and events is also an excellent way to brush up on skills and meet and network with other business people operating in your area. Local chambers can be found online through the US Chamber of Commerce. Your industry body Most industry sectors have some organization representing the collective interests of businesses operating in the sector; some will have more than one. They can give you industry-specific advice and put you in touch with other people in your line of business for input. These sources should also be able to refer you to reputable outside professionals if you need the help of an accountant or a lawyer, for example. They will generally also hold regular meetings where you can meet and get to know other small business owners. Once you've met or contacted a business peer or professional, swap business cards and keep their details on file; while you can do this manually, it would be more effective to include their details in your contacts on your computer and mobile and to connect with them through other networks like the business-focused LinkedIn or even Twitter. If you keep people's contact details, you can give them a call whenever you need assistance. Even if they cannot help you, they might be able to suggest someone who can. LinkedIn is a great networking resource for business people. You can join several online groups to ask relevant questions and get good advice. You can create your own if you can't find a forum to suit your needs.  We are also highly recommended on , and we recommend it, too. It is a great way to connect with local business owners and work-from-home entrepreneurs who are also there to network and market their services and might need a plumber, handyperson, roofer, or remodeling soon. Credible online sources of advice It would probably be best to meet face-to-face with your banker, accountant, or lawyer for financial or legal advice, depending on the advice you need. But there are several additional resources you can turn to for assistance. The usa.gov site dedicates part of its site to small and medium businesses. The United States Patent and Trademark Office website lets you do many online functions. For the answers to several employment or health and safety issues, look at the United States Department of Labor website. Business mentors If you're not looking for business advice on a particular problem but are more interested in long-term direction to help you grow and develop your construction business, you should consider getting a business mentor. Mentors can act as an experienced sounding board for ideas and help you consider...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 515, And It's About What Every Trade Business Owner Should Know About Raising Prices Raising prices can be a sore subject. Many construction business owners like you assume doing so will spell the end of your competitiveness. But by not raising prices, you're simply letting inflation and your suppliers' maintenance of your margins quietly eat away at profitability. The bottom line is that costs will always rise long-term - at least with inflation. That means you have to pass on the costs to your customers or consume those costs yourself to the point where one day, you'll have to either suddenly raise prices or accept the eventual failure of your business. The worst thing you can do is avoid measuring your costs by sticking your head in the sand. Cost rises will catch up with you eventually, so take action to maintain your margins. Analyze and reduce your costs Regularly check the accuracy of the prices you use in your forecasts and break-even calculations. If you're using outdated costs, your predictions could be dangerously off course from the actual performance of your business. Ideally, you should have your figures analyzed by a professional accountant with experience in the construction industry - and even then, you should remain directly involved to maintain an understanding of your books. But if that's impossible and you have to make your own costs and margin analysis, try using the following tips to help you resolve any profit issues. Analyze costs and profits on an individual product and service level first before looking at the business as a whole. You may miss critical financial details if you try and cut straight to the chase. Try making minor, subtle adjustments throughout your range rather than hiking prices on one service, even if the margin on that particular item is the one causing the biggest headache. Sharp, sudden price rises are more likely to attract a long-term adverse reaction from the target market than almost imperceptible ones they can easily accept. If you find a loss-making product in your books, don't immediately delete it. Consider first whether it's required to aid sales of profitable services. Schedule small price increases every six months or years rather than waiting every few years to raise prices more noticeably. Increase your prices If your costs are optimal, look at the other end of your margin - the price. You may be hesitant to raise prices because you think any price advantage you have over the competition is too significant to lose, but if you give customers more compelling reasons to hire you, you may be able to justify a higher price. Remember, it's all about positioning. Premium pricing reinforces the value of a premium service. If your market research tells you there's a gap in the market for a value alternative, fill it. But if there's also a gap for a superior choice, take that option if you can deliver a product or service to the required standards. Why? Put simply; there's always someone willing to go cheaper. Look at how large shopping outlets use their buying power to find ultra-cheap stock and take customers away from smaller businesses with tighter margins. Many small business owners take it as gospel that the last thing they should do is raise prices, but the opposite is true more often than not. Just make sure that if you do raise your prices, you do so: At a fair pace and intervals instead of raising prices in a way that will shock the market With consideration of the market's price tolerance Alter your product or service mix Any two margins are rarely the same in a range of products, so why focus equally on selling them all if concentrating on the higher-margin products will increase your income? If costs and pricing are optimal, altering your product mix is the only way to maintain or increase your margins. This means being ruthless and chopping products or services that may be close to your heart to focus instead on those that...

This Podcast Is Episode Number 514, And It's About How To Attract Profitable Construction Clients  

This Podcast Is Episode Number 513, And It's About Seven Ways Your Construction Business Can Market Its Services When you go into business as a tradesperson, you often focus on performing your trade to the best of your ability – as it should be. With time, the quality of your work will speak for itself, which is the most valuable testimonial of all. Before the internet was commercially available, just as many experts advised contractors about the layout and design of yellow page ads and which books to spend money on, I say you spend money because that is what it was - Marketing. Many of us who owned and operated construction companies spent thousands of dollars on these experts. Based on their recommendations, we spent tens of thousands of dollars annually in full-page yellow page ads as close to the first position. Spending Money Is Easy, Investing Money Takes Work However, any trades accountant or bookkeeper will tell you there's more to it now. While your good reputation preceding you is undoubtedly essential, there are a few other ways that you'll want to market your services to ensure that you have a steady stream of work. Read on to learn seven paths you can market your construction business. 1. Appear in directories Since setting up a new business is usually a digital experience, it's easy to overlook the step of making sure you appear on a physical list where people can find you. Ensure your trade business is on relevant trade directories in your area. Additionally, make sure you appear in the online equivalent. Yelp, Google, and Facebook each have business directories. And let's not forget the old standby: the phone book. Yes, they still exist! They are valuable resources for some people looking to hire a tradesperson. 2. Have a website Some website-building platforms are very user-friendly, but hire someone if you feel that's beyond you. Almost everyone does an online search before they hire a business, and not having a website is like waving a giant flag that says you're out of touch, old-fashioned, or possibly not legitimate. Meanwhile, having a website reassures people that you are who you say you are and can provide the services they need.  3. Leverage social media Nothing is more substantial than a good referral, and people naturally turn to social media to find out what your customers are saying if they don't know someone who's used your services personally. Keep your social media presence strong and engaged. If you're uncomfortable doing this, hire someone to do it for you. It's critical when doing business today. 4. Offer referral promotions When you wind up with a happy client, give them an easy way to speak positively about you and suggest you to their friends. A card or a thank-you email with a discount code will do the trick. 5. Run ads Construction marketing can be tricky because, typically, your services aren't always needed. But when you are required, it's usually urgent.  If your trade business doesn't appear on the first page of Google, it might be worth your while to take out an online ad. That way, when someone searches for a tradesperson in your area, your business will appear next to their search. The only way someone can click on your information is if they see it – so make sure they have that chance, whether through an organic search or a paid ad. 6. Make yourself visible in the real world Make sure your construction business's name and logo appear on any equipment you use, and make clothes for your team to wear when they're out and about. It may be smaller than a billboard, but driving and walking around letting people know who you are, what you do, and how to contact you will go a long way to marketing your company. If people become familiar with your business name, they'll likely turn to you when needed.  7. Good old-fashioned snail mail Believe it or not, print campaigns are alive and well! If you operate a construction business whose services are...