Is The Internet a Valuable Marketing Tool For Contractors?

If you were to ask enough licensed contractors, you’d probably hear dozens of different opinions on Internet marketing. Some think it might be the best tool ever for finding new clients and projects, while others prefer more traditional techniques like word-of-mouth and printed ads.

With that in mind, it’s reasonable for new (or future) contractors to ask whether Internet marketing can be a valuable tool for them. Here are a few things you can use a website for, even if you aren’t that well-known yet, or don’t have a lot of money to promote your contracting business:

Search engine marketing. That’s a complicated term for a very simple idea: if you’re like most people, you turn to Google (or maybe Bing) when you need answers. So do most customers, which is why it pays to have the ads on the sites, especially if you have a specialty business. For example, you might want someone who is searching for “best Pasadena cabinets” to find your website, since that could lead to a new project right away.

For sharing your portfolio. Although it’s a great idea to have a physical book of samples and customer testimonials, what do you do for clients who aren’t there in person? The answer is usually to have a portfolio section on your website, one that shows off your very best work and specialties.

Customer recommendations. In the same way, strong recommendations are the lifeblood of any contracting business – especially when it comes to gathering referrals. Why not post some of your best quotes and feedback on your website? Or better yet, add them to social media profiles (like Facebook and Twitter) where new potential customers can see them.

Prices, policies, and calendars. Do you have questions that potential clients ask you about again and again? Most contractors do. Putting the answers to them (especially in terms of your fees and schedule availability) on your website can help you weed out people who would be a bad fit and save you a lot of time and phone calls and back-and-forth telephone and e-mail exchanges.

Of course, there are a lot of other things you could use the Internet for when it comes to promoting your contracting business, but these are good, affordable options to start with, even if you aren’t that web-savvy.

Looking for a great way to grow your contracting business this year? Why not see our list of upcoming CSLS courses and find a new idea or specialty?