Sales, Marketing, Advertising and Business Development Forum

Construction Deal.com

feeds@kickapps.com (DCPlus) — Fri, 28 May 2010 09:10:26 PST

Do any of you guys/gals use constructiondeal.com? I have set up the free profile and requested to be listed in the service directory (also free). Are any of you using the pay portion? Is it worth it? They claim to be better than Service Magic. But I've heard alot of conflicting comments about them and our industry. All input is welcome! Thanks!

Always include Cross-Promoting

feeds@kickapps.com (Jeff B) — Mon, 24 May 2010 06:44:17 PST

This is probably especially important to the guys / gals new to this business.
Cross-Promoting.

Don’t limit your marketing merely to the media you’re using. Market it all over the place. Anything worth promoting is worth cross-promoting.

You need to realize that all the media work better if they’re supported by the other media. Put your web site onto your brochures. Mention your advertising in your direct mail. Refer to your direct mail in your telemarketing. Plants the seeds of your offering with some kinds of marketing and fertilize them with other kinds.

You’re not really promoting unless you’re cross-promoting. Your trade show booth will be far more valuable to you if you promote it on your website or email newsletter. All your advertising should include something like this: "Call or write for our free brochure." If you advertise in the yellow pages, include this statement: “Visit our web site for even more...

anyone using ServiceMagic ??

feeds@kickapps.com (SurfaceMakeovers) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:26:28 PST

I'm posting here since you all are actually in the biz of course.
Wondering what your experience is with
www.servicemagic.com
the rep tells me $10 to join and then only pay $9 for each pre-screened leed ??
there is a very specific catagory for concrete resurfacing only.
they will not charge for bad leads, - - example being someone calling for new concrete - which I dont do...
I will be able to adjust the amouunts of leads and the distances as desired ??
I think I'm gonna go for it
Anyone try it ???

LEADS-NOW!!!

feeds@kickapps.com (DCS Inc) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:40:02 PST

Attention Indiana trained contractors. I'm emailing from the flower and Patio Show. I have as of right now many, many pre-qualified leads. I'm handing these out and they need to be attended to ASAP.

Email me and let me know the area you will work, the type of application you do and if you can contact these REALLY soon. I've sent out a newsletter email to everyone just a few moments ago.

We are absolutely swamped...... I need your help NOW.

Email me at elitecrete@comcast.net I will get them right out to you. Some are large, some are small, some want counter top overlays, a few want vertical, I even have some that want additional concrete. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO............ gene

CONTRACT!!!!!!!!!!!!

feeds@kickapps.com (stampit) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:43:09 PST

Will Anybody be willing to send me a copy of there contract they use. I really need to get one together right now. There is not many honest people left out there. ( sad to say ) Thank You for the help.

Anthony

Free Logo Design

feeds@kickapps.com (DCPlus) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:37:42 PST

Guys -

I decided to look into changing my logo for my main company. I found quite a few free design sites but this one seemed to have the most options as far as customization goes. I figured some of you may be thinking of giving your companies a new look. And new guys may want to look into it as well to give themselves an identity. The site does require that you sign up. But it's free. Once you have your logo finished, you can save it to the site and have it emailed to you in multiple formats.

LogoEase

Here's the one I'm working on now. Critiques are welcome.

Subcontracting

feeds@kickapps.com (hawkerdog) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:50:05 PST

Hello All,

My partner and I are starting a new EC overlay business. We are looking into different ways to market the business. One idea we have is to approach some flooring retailers and offer our services. They would sell the overlay and we would essentially become subcontractors and do the work. I have some reservations about this idea though -- namely the lack of control over estimating jobs and a reduced profit margin. Has anyone attempted this or have any thoughts regarding this approach? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Search Engine Registry

feeds@kickapps.com (DCPlus) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:39:27 PST

Hey all! I stumbled across a website for claiming your business name for search engines. Of course, you can go to each one and do it but this one takes care of the top 4 (Google, Yahoo, Bing, & BOTW).

Go to www.getlisted.org, type in your business name(s) and zip code. It will check all four engines at once to see if you are fully registered at each one. Then you can access the business claim pages of each one. Once you've claimed your business name, you can come back in a day or two to the get listed site and re-run the check. It shows you a progress bar that give you the percentage of your status on the 4 major search engines.

Quick, easy, and painless! Just the way I like it! Have fun out there!

LEADS leads ... leads

feeds@kickapps.com (Dr K) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:37:25 PST

just recieved a post card in the mail from
concrete network...
asking me to subscribe to a MONTHLY investment
to start recieving LEADS...
any one have 25 bucks to gamble???
any one tried this?
what ever happened to ELITE CRETE promised lead service?
just askin

my new logo, feedback appreciated.

feeds@kickapps.com (briandeas) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:21:18 PST

So I made my new logo for my business. Just in case your wondering, DFD stands for Deas Floor Decor. It evolved into concrete only so i changed it up a bit. Its kinda hard to find am illustration for your logo so i went with a grey concrete with what looks like Elite Crete Blue tile pattern about to cover the concrete. Ive been staring at it so much that I dont even know if it flows. What do you guys think?

Thoughts on Home Shows/Trade Shows?

feeds@kickapps.com (MJL Masonry) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:44:12 PST

Hi, I am interested this fall in exhibiting at some trade shows/home shows. I would have dozen of samples and a few for people to walk on. Also possibly some counter tops.

What I am looking is for anyone's input on their experiences at these shows. Turn around, how big of a show you went to, tips, ideas, etc.

Stole a marketing idea from Elite Crete

feeds@kickapps.com (CaliCat) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:19:08 PST

I get a few different newsletters from ec or my distributor each month so I decided to use constantcontact on my own and it is paying off big even here in struggling california. I first joined the usgbc.org for $300 a year and got access to hundreds of architects and interior designers near me. I copied all of their emails and I send out a newsltter once a month talking about a project or two. I am not getting about 8 to 10 emails from architects every time I send one out and bidding two big jobs from them too. I cant believe how easy it is.

YUKU account

feeds@kickapps.com (Hedgerow LLc) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:12:12 PST

I know that this is the wrong forum to ask, but I can not get on to the trained contractors area thru YUKU. I keep getting a message that my membership is pending although I had an account on EZboard for this site for three years. Help! Help!

craigs list

feeds@kickapps.com (Sweetcretefloors) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:31:10 PST

for shits and giggles I posted something on craigs list I got about 200 spam emails

but I got 1 good lead on 1500 foot interior remodel job awesome I am going saturday morning to check it out.

Landing Commercial Work the Easy Way

feeds@kickapps.com (ecHouston) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:30:31 PST

One of my rookies must have been listening during our class room session on how to find work! He took two pages from Elite Crete which were included on his disk in the manual a few info pages about HPT and overlay along with an introduction letter about his company an service's as an email to send to commercial contractors. That took him maybe an hour to get together! Then he went on line and Googled Commercial Contractors in his area and copied their info to his data base and started sending. Within a day he had requests for bids! If you need work and are not trying this free method of searching for bids your missing out! He was selling Elite Crete and himself. It is amazing how many don't know who you are and how to find you if you don't tell them . I believe if you educate these commercial contractors and arch. folks you will be well rewarded.
Warren

Ideas for advertising a Massive Direct Mailing

feeds@kickapps.com (MJL Masonry) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:13:20 PST

In my neck of the woods in southern new england everyone knows stamp concrete but when it comes to acid stains and other resurfacing jobs people are clueless. Never mind something like vertical stamping. I want to advertise these services more in a direct mailing campaign. Would love to get the point across that someones plain concrete driveway, walk, steps, wall, etc can be unique and new again. Also givig them a better return in added value. Looking for anyone input to my ad.

Right now I can say it'll have the following:
-a 10% discount (really isn't though)
-before /after pictures
-list of services
-my information as well as my website (which is being built and will be informative to my customers)
-will offer free estimates and design consolations

Anyone have any ideas, thoughts?

Also I was thinking of a mass mailing to all the GCs in my area sending them info packets on my services I could provide...

Simple Stuff

feeds@kickapps.com (Brad Holmes) — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:11:48 PST

Although this needs to be in the marketing forum I thought I would post it here first. Brian Deas of Memphis contacted a local paper (1/2 a mil circulation) about an out door kitchen project he was working on. Check out the link below. Guys, newspaper bust there ass trying to find stuff to fill there pages every day. They welcome just about anything that draws readers attention. Buy an ad and that really stirs there interest. Brian will sell lots of jobs........simple stuff!!!

http://www.memphisflyer.com/memphis/a-greater-outdoors/Content?oid=1521171

Tootin' my own horn

feeds@kickapps.com (DCPlus) — Fri, 22 May 2009 22:43:55 PST

Hey everybody,

Be sure to go get the Spring 08 issue of Fabulous Floors magazine on stands now. You'll find an article on Warren Wert from Houston and me.

Warren, I just got my copies in the mail today. Did you get yours yet?

flyer

feeds@kickapps.com (Sweetcretefloors) — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:09:12 PST

I passed out some flyers for pressure washing and got a call before I could get out of the neighborhood. then I upsold them a pressure wash, stain, score, and seal. might be an Idea to use pressure washing as bait for decorative concrete. just thought I would pass the information on. it will put a grand in my pocket yo

wes

http://www.stampedconcreteoftexas.com/ pay per bid site?

feeds@kickapps.com (tshampoe) — Mon, 04 May 2009 14:45:16 PST

I just responded to a marketing link on Craigslist that asked for concrete crews making a 100 an hour. It was a link to http://www.stampedconcreteoftexas.com/ where you pay 50 bucks to register and then get leads based on how much the job is worth. For jobs up to 1,800 bucks you 20 bucks for the chance bid, then it goes up from there. Anyone use a pay per bid service?

I also called Reed and they told me it would be about 2400 per year to get bids from them. Anyone use Reed?