1. Set up a website

Many contractors avoid building a website because they don't feel it's necessary or they feel it won't be wroth the cost. That's just not true anymore. It only costs a few dollars a month to host a basic website. A sleek, professional-looking website makes a great first impression and it gives your business immediate credibility with prospective customers. Additionally, you will want to make sure your website looks great on every size screen! It should be easy to read on cell phones, tablets, and desktop computers.

2. Claim your local listings

If you haven’t claimed your online business listings, then you are missing out. Whenever an individual does a Google search for "local remodeling contractor", the top results are often these directories. For remodeling contractors, Bing, Google My Business, HomeAdvisor, Angie's List, and Yelp are some of the most important websites to be listed on. If your contact information ever changes, make sure to update your listings. This can be done very easily with the help of a listing management service such as Yext or MozLocal.

3. Advertise on your company vehicles

Vehicle advertising helps to get additional eyes on your brand. This can be done with full vinyl wrap (costs $1500-$3000) or smaller vehicle magnets and decals (often less than $100). Don't forget to include your company name, phone number, and company website URL in the design. When your truck is parked at a job, your customer's neighbors will take note. Then, they will know who to contact if they are looking to embark on a remodeling project as well.

4. Encourage satisfied customers to write reviews

More and more consumers trust and rely on online reviews to make important hiring decisions. If a homeowner is planning to spend $50,000 on a remodeling project, they want to be 150% sure that they are hiring an experienced, reputable contractor. Having a strong portfolio of online reviews can make all the difference! Additionally, high-rated remodeling contractors tend to get the most exposure on review websites. This can mean more clicks to your website and more calls to your phone.

5. Stay in touch via email

Don't lose touch with a customer at the end of a project. You should take pride in building lasting relationships with your clients. You should be the first person they think to call when they have a remodeling project in the future. Email is an easy and affordable way to keep people engaged and keep the channels of communication open. Make sure your email has a good subject line that people will want to open!

6. Purchase remodeling leads

There are several lead generation companies that supply leads to remodeling contractors. Many lead companies operate on a "pay per lead" model. This means you will pay a flat fee per lead, rather than a monthly subscription. Remodeling contractors may be interested in 1) bathroom remodeling leads, 2) kitchen remodeling leads, 3) home addition leads, 4) basement finishing leads, 5) attic renovation leads, or just general 6) home remodeling leads. Leads may be further classified by the number of rooms that need to be remodeling or the estimated budget for the job.

7. Hire a professional photographer

It's not enough to say that you do great work. Show prospects what you can do for them. We have found that it's much easier to show than tell! Think about hiring a professional photographer to take high-resolution pictures of your best work. Before-and-after pictures are particularly helpful when it comes to winning over a potential client. They want to see examples of how you have transformed a particular space.

8. Build relationships with contractors

Networking is not just about handing your business card to a stranger and walking away. It's about making new contacts and expanding your circle in ways that could potentially benefit your business. You never know who is need of a contractor. You could be in line at the grocery store or the bank when you meet your next client or a great referral source. After the initial meeting, make sure to follow up a with a call or an email.

Last Updated: September 24, 2018