Sure Fire Way To Become The Contracting Expert

This is one of the coolest ideas I have seen for Contractors in a long, long time.

You want to be the expert write a book. The coolest part about this book is the process to make the book. I explain the entire process in the audio below.

We recorded audio on how to make this book in our podcast that will help break everything down for you.

Enjoy and Leave a Comment...I like the +1's, but feedback helps..

http://contractorssecretweapon.com/the-one-about-becoming-the-expert-in-your-market-place-28/

Justin

A Dirty Epiphany..Four Small Words Can Change A Buyer.

I love to do Mud Runs with my wife and friends.

This past week we did the Rugged Maniac (Picture Above).

The event was first class when it comes to mud runs. Thousands of people, 26 obstacles, tons of mud and fun.

At this event there were sponsors all over the place. The tents were full except for the Air Force tent. I thought it was a little funny to see the Air Force and I wanted to chat. I watched from afar as people just walked right past the guy trying to hand out bags. The blue cheap bags that you get everywhere and nobody wants them.

I hear him asking, "HEY, would you like a bag?" 

I watched for 3 minutes and he started to get board and spin the bag and pace around.

I heard over the bull horn my race was starting.

I finished the race and headed back to sponsors covered in mud. I see a line to the Air Force tent. I am trying to see around the crowd, did someone fall down, I hear the same guy, "Hey, Would you like a bag for your dirty clothes?" 

Wow..The bags were going off the shelf. Three large boxes later he was empty. A big smile on his face.

My thought, how can I do this in my business?

Example: "Hey, I build homes" Who cares right.."Hey, I am your builder" Awful, some what desperate.
"Hey, Do you need more room for your family" Engagement

How can you apply this to your business? Give me your thoughts
Justin

Controversial Advertising For Contractors

I debated writing this for 3.5 minutes. I almost took out 2 cars while trying to pullover and take a picture of this. I am not usually attracted to men spread out over 30 feet of canvass but, I read Roofers..That caught my eye.

I have a roofing license and in all my years of doing this I have never seen an advertisement like this. When I think roofing, I think of Sweat, Hardwork, Professional, A little crazy..I dont think of this advertisement. I think this does a disservice to our industry.

My next thought, how about the customers perspective..WIFM..Whats in it for me.

If I have a roof leak and I see this billboard. Will this guy come and fix my leak? Doubtfull. He looks more like and escort.

I know women make majority of the buying decision and I want to turn it over to the ladies on this one? Give me your thoughts on this?

Keep sexy out of construction or I am calling this company now?

Have a great Memorial Day, Thank a vet.
Justin

Can You Get A Crew Together?

I love getting the calls every week from prospects looking for me to get a crew together. Typical conversations dont start with "Can you get a crew together?". This past week I decided to have some fun with the person on the other line. Here is the conversations:

ME: "Hello, this is Justin how can I help you"

Bill: " Hey Justin, my name is Bill and I got several properties were looking to rehab and I wanted to know if you have a crew or can put a crew together?"

ME: "WOW, Bill where did you get my information?" "I would love to help you, tell me more"

Bill: Goes on and on about investors, and addresses, and working with tight budgets, etcccc...(Minimum 7.5 minute explanation)

ME: "So, who referred me to you?"

Bill: "I got your info online and I like the name of your company, are you interested in these project?"

If you have been in business for decent amount of time you have come across this type call. They have no clue what you do and really have no interest in knowing about you or the value you bring to the deal. I am not interested in going through the hiring process for someone I dont know. Testing strangers out on customers I have never worked with before. Supervising multiple jobs and being pulled away from existing customers. What do people really think about what I do? Do they devalue my trade so much that they think I wave a magic get er done wond and the project comes together..

I usually let them off with I am too busy or I am just not interested. I decided to see how far Bill wanted to go with this. I meet him today and will follow up with everyone next week.

How do you handle this, tell me your story?

Comments welcome.

WOW...Thank You. The 4 Minute Idea.

My pool guy Jack comes every Wednesday like clock work to clean and balance my pool. In the past several years I have only seen him twice. I got a brief conversation with him in 2011 to talk about a new pump that started leaking.

When I come home every Wednesday the pool looks great, which is what I am paying for.

The pool deck looks spotless of leaves and debris, which I do not pay for.

It took me about 13 cleanings to realize that everyday there was leaves and debris everywhere. I finally called Jack and found out that every Wednesday he blew the pool deck off. WHAT..Why?

Jack informed that when he unloads his trailer to clean the pool he has a small gas blower that he uses to blow the leaves off the deck and away from the pool. Once the pool is clean the presentation is better to have a clean deck and pool. Also, there was chance the deck leaves would end up in the pool by the time I got home.

This took Jack an extra 4 minutes to blow my deck off every week. This equates to 16 minutes per month.

WOW..Thank you, was my response.

The Aha moment was then for me. What am I doing to get a similar response, WOW thank you??

What are you doing in your business to get a WOW Thank you?

This past Wednesday we posted our 11th Podcast for Contractors. Marketing the Basics, great information. Here is the link to listen on your Phone or Computer. http://contractorssecretweapon.com/back-to-the-basics-marketing/

Does 10 Estimates Keep You Honest..Follow Up Video.

Wow this blog post has gone viral through the Contractor Community.

I had the opportunity to interview the 10 estimates customer. He got to breakdown his thoughts and hiring process. Check the video out and leave some comments below..

Here is the original Post:
http://sellingandmarketingforcontractors.blogspot.com/2014/03/does-10-estimates-really-keep-everyone.html

The Contractor Secret Weapon Weekly Podcast is growing. Here is the latest episode to help with Unique Selling Proposition. Hope you enjoy.

http://contractorssecretweapon.com/8-usp-in-your-marketing-what-makes-you-unique/

How You Avoid Being a Commodity Contractor.

This is a follow up to last weeks, commodity contractor blog post.

I had the pleasure of having coffee with a very wealthy client that turned into a very expensive lunch and great conversation. Luckily, he paid.

Somehow our conversation between two men took a drastic turn when the topic of Nordstroms started. We have a local Nordstrom in Tampa that his wife was shopping at while we had coffee.

The only thing I knew about Nordstrom is they sold higher end clothing/shoes and to keep my wife away.

I asked, "Why does your wife like Nordstroms"
His answer was priceless, "My wife can spend hours in that store, they have a personal stylists that assists her every step of the way. She likes the layout of the store, very open and welcoming. She earns points on her Nordstrom Card toward future purchases. She goes to the other stores Neiman Marcus, and Saks but, really goes back to Nordstrom for the personal touch. Lastly, the stylist will call or email when they have new arrivals that fits her style."

I would typically space out while another man talked about a department store. I found myself asking more questions. I was curios to see buying habits of higher end customers. Customers that could choose to shop wherever they wanted but, found themselves spending thousands of dollars in one store.

My findings and how they pertain to Contractors:

Nordstroms has 5 competitors in the market place. They have carved a great niche with high end and personal services. The wide open store layout invites customers to freely walk through the store and take in everything Nordstroms has to offer. Lastly, the return policy is 100% Guarantee.

Enough about Nordstroms.

Ways not be a commodity and more like Nordstroms:

1. Position yourself as the expert. If you are the best at what you do, you dont need to talk about being the best. Show your expertise with articles, and answering questions on community dashboards. Highlight your projects through social media and be open to answer questions and let prospects freely look around.
2. When customers arent asking for your bid or price, but when they can get on your schedule. Welcome to the Nordstroms experience. You are the contractor they want and will wait until your avialable.
3. Your 100% satisfaction Guarantee. Offer that longer warranty, your business uses better materials and trades. Extend the guarantee and warranty.
4. BONUS. Stay in touch with your customer. Thank you card or pictures taken during their project with personal note from you. Bottle of wine with your label. Anything that keeps you top of mind.

Creating a higher end niche keeps you out of price wars. Spending more time on higher end will garnish higher profits and better referrals. How do you want to spend your time price wars or profits?

Want to know more about selling to higher end? Call me or send an email.

Justin 727-644-0160 or Justin@ContractorsNetworking.com

Are You A Commodity Contractor?

Are you a commodity contractor?

I was recently asked my niche in the local market. I explained what I do better than anybody else. Then I proceeded to explain why I do it better than anybody else.

The prospect I was talking with called 8-9 companies and told me they all sound the same. The ones that did call back, I cannot differentiate between any of them.

I simply told the prospect, I cannot help them. You will waste your time and everybody else searching through these commodity contractors.

I had an AHA moment just then.

DO you have that awkward moment where the prospect asks "What company are you with again"?

Sometimes I want to hang up the phone and other times I say my name and company.

If you cant create a distinct difference between you and other contractors, you are a commodity contractor.
How do I know if I am? Here are some examples:

1. If you constantly lose jobs to price. COMMODITY
2. If your marketing is exactly the same as competitors. COMMODITY
3. If you strive to be the lowest, and brag about all your jobs. COMMODITY
4. If your telling your team to wait and cash their checks...DRUM ROLL....COMMODITY

If your stuck and cant figure out how to get out of the rat race, I can help call me.

If your ready to increase leads and profits, email me.

If this sounds like your business. Call me or email: Justin 727-644-0160 or heavenly.foundations@gmail.com

Are You Selling What People Want?

In my everyday business I run across a lot of people who think they know what they want. In truth, they have no idea.

I recently polled all my current jobs and the past thirty jobs completed. I had two customers that knew what they wanted. Two out of Forty, Approximately 5% knew what they wanted.

My question to you, how do you know your selling what people want, if only 5% know what they want?

Do you sell your products? Do you sell what you think they need?

My formula to make sure your selling what people want:

1. Sell based on results. (This is my secret sauce.) 
• Listen to what people want. 
• Reiterate to them what they want. 
• Add your professional opinion and thoughts. 
• The customer will get what there asking for and you add value by giving a professional opinion to re affirm the customers choice.

Defining Your Target Market or Following Competitors Target Market?

This is a follow up to Rock Star Contractor Mindset from 1/31/14.

I grab the mail every week to look at competitor ads. Over the past 3-5 years there has been a National company that advertises windows. Specifically any size window for $189.00 installed. I am sure you'll have seen the ads or commercials. I don't know how they can make money at $189.

Shortly after this $189 phenomenon, I started seeing competitors (Mom and Pop Window companies) trying to compete against this large national brand. The Mom and Pop companies didn't do the research needed to sustain. They started to go after this low hanging fruit and mimic the advertisement only to find out there is no pot of GOLD at the end of the rainbow. Unfortunately, this still happens today in 2014.

My 3 suggestions:

1. Take notes on competitors for ideas, dont copy there advertisements.
2. Find your unique selling proposition. The large national brand above can install any size window for $189, that is unique. 
3. Look at other industries for some ideas on how they target market. Some of the best ideas come from industries outside of Construction. Also, these companies outside of Construction aren't threatened when you call for questions.

The Mom and Pop's didn't last very long in the $189 arena and some went out of business. The others that made it through for little margins are glad to still be around.

Please leave a comment below.