Why Construction Marketing Matters More Than Ever…
Before we dive into the 5 strategies, let’s talk about why marketing is such a big deal in the construction world today. See, the days of relying just on word-of-mouth and local newspaper ads are long gone. In today’s digital age, more and more construction companies are using advanced digital marketing strategies to secure jobs.
You could be leaving money on the table.
Your next client could be sitting on the couch in their living room scrolling through their phone looking for a contractor to build their new home extension. Will they find you or your competitors instead of you?
Don’t worry, by the time you’ve finished reading this article, you’ll have five killer strategies you can use to have your phone ringing off the hook with inquiries. Let’s dive in…
Construction Letter Leads
Let’s start with a game-changing construction lead generation strategy that most of your competitors probably haven’t even heard of… Construction letter leads.
Here’s how it works: You sign up with a platform like Buildscout, select the type of jobs you want, and send personalised letters to property owners who’ve just been granted planning permission. It’s a little bit like having a crystal ball that tells you exactly who needs your services.
All you have to do is choose what kind of jobs you want, choose a conversion optimised letter template from our library, and then track your campaign results. We handle the printing, posting, and follow up. You can start your first campaign in minutes.
Why it works:
- You're reaching out to clients at the perfect moment
- Personalised letters stand out in the noisy digital age
- Easy to scale because you have full control over how many leads you contact
Here’s the deal with construction letter leads… It’s about sending the right letter, to the right person, at the right time. Here are some tips for crafting the perfect letter if you choose not to use one of our proven templates:
Crafting the Perfect Letter:
- Personalised hook: Congratulate them on their planning permission
- Show you've done your homework: Mention specific details about their project
- Highlight your expertise: Share how you've tackled similar projects
- Include a clear call-to-action: Make it easy for them to get in touch by offering a free quote
Pro tip: Your letters should look and read like they’ve been sent by a real person, not a robot. Inject some personality but keep it professional. Remember, it’s about them, not you.
When should you send your letters? You have three options…
Timing is Everything:
- Right after land purchase
- During planning permission application
- After planning permission granted
Different types of businesses will want to send their letters at different stages of the planning process. Each stage has pros and cons. Test different timings and see what works best for your business and the types of project you want.
Want to start your first construction letter leads campaign? Sign up today and if you don’t get a project within the first 90 days, we’ll give you a full refund with no questions asked.
Click here and start sending letters today
Video Marketing
Most people think video marketing is just for influencers, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Video marketing is your ticket to showcasing your work in ways that still images simply can’t. It’s becoming common practice for construction professionals to have videos showcasing their work on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Pro tip: You can link people to your video portfolio in your customised letters!
Considering using video marketing in 2024? Try this:
- Use a drone to get aerial shots of your latest projects
- Create virtual tours of completed projects
- Share your latest projects on social media
- Record time-lapse videos of your next construction project
Remember, people love seeing transformations. Before and after videos are pure video marketing gold and will do more to convince a client than a thousand words ever could.
And don’t worry, you don’t need Hollywood level production to nail your video marketing. All you need is a simple smartphone camera. It’s all about authentically demonstrating your expertise.
Here are some ideas for construction video content:
- "Day in the Life" of your construction team
- Quick tips for home maintenance
- Before and after transformation videos
- Client testimonials (these are marketing gold)
Always add captions to your videos. Most people watch without sound, especially on social media.
Content Marketing
Being in the construction industry is no excuse to now have blog posts, how-to guides, and project case studies. This is the stuff that positions you as a trusted expert. But why is content marketing so important in 2024?
- Helps with SEO so you get discovered online
- Builds trust with potential clients
- Gives clients an idea of what it’s like to work with you
You don’t need to rush your content marketing. One solid blog post a month uploaded to your website is better than five you rushed and spent 10 minutes on. Quality over quantity. Here are some content marketing ideas for construction companies:
- "5 Things to Consider Before Starting Your Home Renovation"
- "7 things you need to know before extending your kitchen"
- "How to Plan Your Construction Project: A Step-by-Step Guide"
- Case studies of your most impressive projects with video before and after
Remember, your content shouldn’t just be a wall of text. You’re a construction company, you need to show people your work. Infographics, videos, images are all a “must have” for construction content marketing.
Social Media Marketing
You’ve probably heard a lot about social media marketing, and there’s a good reason for that. Most people don’t know where to start on social media. Well, it’s not just about posting content, it’s about engaging and building relationships with your clients.
LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, Youtube, Facebook, choose one or two platforms that you feel comfortable with and start posting. Here are some ideas for your first (or next) social media posts:
- Before and after pictures and videos
- Spotlight your team members
- Engage with local community pages
- Share customer success stories
The key with social media is to be consistent and authentic. You don’t need a professional setup, just be yourself and show them what you do.
Some Platform-Specific Tips:
- LinkedIn: Great for B2B connections, sharing industry insights and company news.
- Instagram: Perfect for visual content, show off your projects and testimonials.
- Facebook: Ideal for community engagement, join local groups and share helpful tips.
Local SEO
Local SEO is an amazing source of leads for many local construction businesses. Local SEO is all about making sure you show up on Google when people in your area are looking for construction services.
Here’s how you can use it to get more leads:
- Claim and optimise your Google My Business listing
- Encourage happy clients to leave reviews (and respond to them)
- Ensure your name, address, and phone number is consistent across all online platforms
Did you know: 46% of all Google searches are from searchers looking for local information and results, make sure you’re the one they find!
Here are some bonus Local SEO tips:
- Get listed in local business directories (do your own research on each)
- Partner with other local businesses for cross-promotion
- Create location-specific landing pages on your website
- Use local keywords in your content (e.g., "best construction company in [Your City]")
Putting everything together…
All of this might seem overwhelming, we get it. Start small, pick one strategy and give it a shot. If you want big results in a short time, you can have your first construction letter leads campaign up and running in a couple of hours.
Click here to start sending customised letters and getting fresh construction leads today
The goal here isn’t to implement everything in this article. It’s about steadily growing your business trying one new thing at a time. Doing this is how you stay ahead of the competitions. Here’s a few questions you should answer if you want to market your construction business like a pro:
- Set clear goals: What do you want to achieve with your marketing?
- Know your audience: Who are your ideal clients?
- Choose your channels: Where do your potential clients hang out online?
- Create a content calendar: Plan out what you'll share and when
- Measure and adjust: Keep track of what works and what doesn't
Wrapping up
Construction marketing in 2024 is all about being where your potential clients are, showing them what you can do, and making it easy for them to choose you. That can be through personalised letters, transformation videos, or smart local SEO. The important thing is to start today.
Marketing your construction business might seem challenging now, but if you start small and stay consistent, your business will grow. Remember, the company that stands out and gets noticed is the one that gets the job.
Finally, if you’d like to start sending personalised letters to your dream jobs as soon as they get planning permission… Click here to get started today