Roofing SEO Podcast

Having passed the infamous 20th of March, the spring season is here, and it is prime time for roofing companies to capture business leads. Punxsutawney Phil may not have been spot on with his early spring prediction, but the weather is starting to progress closer to warmth across the nation. With cold spells still interjecting themselves, this combination of hot and cold has a chance to create severe hail storms, something we’ll touch on more later. But spring, in general, is always going to present a major opportunity to roofing contractors. But how does one take advantage of the most suitable season to generate roofing leads and grow your business?

The truth is that winning the race for spring roofing leads should start before the spring season. The companies that have already created a custom website optimized it for search and placed themselves on Google My Business will have a significant head start on those late to the party. Google and Facebook reviews of these businesses are also an essential factor determining who scoops up most of the leads this spring. The gap may already be large.

Not everyone had the foresight to optimize their website before spring, especially those new to the roofing industry or a specific location. Having an aged domain name will always be ideal for SEO purposes, and optimization takes time in general. Most new roofing campaigns are looking at a 6-month minimum for organic ranking. One way to close the gap in the meantime is to invest in PPC management through Google Ads. Buying clicks can get leads quickly.

If PPC is out of your price range, the time to start gearing up for next spring (2020) is right now. While the idea of waiting this long may seem discouraging, it will pay off next year. Remember, while you might lose the SEO race this year, you can get a head start on the race next year. The reality is that the roofing business is more like an online marathon. If you consistently improve, you will end up winning in the end. So even if PPC is an option, you should still invest in SEO for next year right now.

There are some roofers in the industry known as storm chasers. But the truth of the matter is that companies who are already optimized for hail storm roof damage in their service area are going to have a leg up on fly-by-nighters. The top roofing websites have an individual webpage for storm roof damage and their homepage and pages for other services. Over time, this page optimizes for the target keywords that heal inflicted homeowners’ search on Google. 

Your business must have a presence on Google My Business and supporting reviews and a verified address to generate local leads. The goal for roofers is to show up on the Local Map Pack, a group of Maps listings selected by Google based on relevance, radius, and reviews. Roofers should try to generate as many reviews as possible and do so consistently. Google checks not only quantity but also recency. Google Ads can also appear on the Map Pack if adequately connected to your GMB account.

Are you tired of losing out on spring roofing leads every year? Roofing SEO Webmasters’ complete digital marketing package can solve your problems once and for all. As a digital marketing agency that provides custom website design, content marketing, Google Maps optimization, PPC, and SEO, there’s no aspect of the race that we can’t enhance. The best leads come from an investment in your own brand, which we empower our roofing clients. We build everything from the ground up with custom codebase, schema markup, and logo design.

The post Winning The Race for Spring Roofing Leads (Podcast) appeared first on Roofing Webmasters.

Are you considering starting a roofing business? We don’t blame you. The roofing contractor industry is currently worth over $51 billion in the United States, and revenue is projected to grow by 3.8% in 2021. 

However, starting a roofing business isn’t something that you can do overnight. Aside from acquiring your business license, permits, and insurance, there is a lot to consider. With this in mind, you shouldn’t start your contracting business on a whim, but if you’re serious about reaching your goals, you can undoubtedly achieve them using this guide.

While it would be folly to provide a step-by-step guide of everything you would need to start a roofing business (every state has different requirements), our guide will run you through some of the critical considerations you need to consider. These tips will provide you with a general blueprint on what it takes to start and maintain a successful roofing business. 

If you are looking specifically to start a commercial roofing company, be sure to check out our previous post about that subject so you can begin getting commercial jobs as soon as possible. But for a residential roofing company or all-encompassing roofing business, continue with this guide.

The name of your roofing business needs to do a lot of things. It has to stick out in the mind of consumers. It has to convey the spirit of your business. It has to be memorable. It has to look good on print and on computer screens. 

In general, though, you don’t want to choose a name that’s too long. Try creating a shortlist of titles that you are considering and then workshopping them with friends, family, or colleagues. Remember that the name should also be simple for people to type into their web browser’s address bar. 

Having the guidance of established members of your local business community can be a huge help when you’re just starting. When starting a roofing business, one of your top priorities should be to get involved with the local business community. Consider local business networking groups or chambers of commerce. 

Don’t be afraid to reach out to members of the business community for help. Chambers of commerce and networking groups will likely have valuable resources too. Try getting on local business directories for roofers. Expanding your reach can help market your young roofing business and make more consumers aware of your services. 

Depending on what state you operate in, you will need a variety of licenses. Of course, you will need to get your business license first and foremost. Some states will also require that you get a contractor’s license and a roofing license. You can find a helpful guide of the kinds of permits you will need according to the state you live in here. It can also be beneficial to contact your county clerk to point you in the right direction. Also, be aware that some states regulate business licenses at the county level. So even if you live in California, what is required in L.A. county may differ from what’s needed in Ventura county. 

Depending on where you are in the country, you may have an off-season. Some regions are too cold or snowy in the winter to do roofing work. If this is the case where you live, you need to have a plan to carry you through each off-season. Your strategy may be as simple as saving enough money during the busy season to cover business expenses (rent, equipment, salaries, etc.) during the off-season. However, you could go as far as to branch out and offer supplemental services for inclement weather conditions. 

The failure rate of new roofing businesses is over 50%. Most companies fail within the first five years too. One reason that roofing companies fail at such a high clip is that they don’t get enough leads in the first few years. Lead generation is where digital marketing comes in. Digital marketing is crucial for new roofing businesses. It will help get your name out there and drum up all-important leads. 

Digital marketing could be a sizable investment at first, but it pays off huge in the end. Digital marketing could include:

• Review Management: It’s essential to let customers know that you care about their experience. Replying to reviews (good and bad ones) is a great way to get more people to notice your business and increase customer satisfaction. 

Of course, as a roofing contractor, you will need certain types of equipment. Roofing equipment can be pretty pricey, so you may be tempted to opt for cheaper products. Fruglness isn’t always the brightest idea in the roofing industry. You have to be careful about buying affordable or used equipment because you could be paying more for replacements in the end. 

Besides, doing quality work will be the best way to make it in the roofing business. You have to make sure that you have the equipment to help you get the job done right. Buying the right tools and equipment is also crucial for safety. You have to make sure that your workforce is healthy and able as much as possible. The right equipment will eliminate safety hazards – not to mention lawsuits. 

As your business starts to pick up steam, your role should shift. When you first start, you will likely wear many hats – project manager, accountant, secretary, supply manager, and, oh yeah, roofer. While playing all these different roles may be manageable when you only have a handful of customers, it will become impossible as your business grows. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or hire help. One key to successful businesses is knowing how and when to delegate service to the right people in your organization. As your workforce grows, train people within it up in different areas. The best help will come from people who are already familiar with your business. 

There are a lot of things to consider if you are planning to start your own roofing business. While our guide on how to start a roofing company is sure to provide you with helpful insight, there are certain things you won’t see coming. That’s where we come in. We offer an essential service for all roofing companies. Our job is to market your business so that it gets more leads and more customers. If you are starting a roofing company, give it the best chance at success by working with our team. 

The post How To Start a Roofing Company/Business in 2022 appeared first on Roofing Webmasters.