[6 - 10] The Details – Twenty Low-Cost Ways To Market Your Company

This is the second sequel to the post “Twenty Low-Cost Ways To Market Your Company”. This post further explains the points 6-10 of the article: Writing a regular newsletter, customer surveys, joining the trade associations, the importance of attending meetings.

6.  Write a regular newsletter

This is wonderful way to stay in front of your clients, leads and suppliers.  Send a newsletter out on a regular basis, either quarterly or monthly, but do it consistently.  This will have a magical effect on your business.

Here’s the reality of newsletters.  It’s hard to do.  You have to assign the task to someone, find a subject, write the content, edit the content, find the graphics and arrange the newsletter.  Then you have to gather your mailing list, print it, put labels on the letters and finally mail them.  The mailing list is in itself a big job.  Sending newsletter is not a piece of cake.  It takes a lot of time so you need to find the most efficient way to send your newsletter.  It is something that most of us avoid.

There are several options.  You can do everything in-house, you can hire a local person to put it together for you, or you can use a service like MyNewsletterBuilder to do it for you.  Strongly consider using this third option.

Just think, if you do actually send out a newsletter, on a regular basis, then your sales are going to increase.  That is a no-brainer.  You can easily pay for some help here.  On the other hand, if you send out a few newsletters and get burnt out because it is a lot of hard work, then you won’t increase your sales for long.  I speak from experience.  So take a look at MyNewsletterBuilder.com and see how much they can reduce the drudgery.  You do what you do best.  Send a message and get some jobs.  (If you call Justin @ MyNewsletterBuilder at 828-232-0016 ext. 213 and mention that you heard about them at Remodeler Biz, he’ll give you a 20% Discount on your new account.)


7.  Poll your existing customers so that you can improve your services

Many companies send a survey to their customers at the end of the job to find out what they can do to improve.  This not only teaches you more about your customer’s needs, but it adds to your professionalism.  A survey shows that you care.  Put some thought into the questions you ask them.   They’ll respect you for your efforts.

Surveys lately have taken to the Internet, as has almost everything.  I recommend SurveyMonkey.com.  It is a simple way to ask a few questions of your customers.  It simplifies the process of making the survey, sending it out and analyzing the results.  Take a look at how easy this is to do.

Don’t be shy about asking questions about your performance. Ask about your customer support, field personnel, the quality of your work, and how your system or process could be improved. Be sure to leave an open comment area for comments, feedback or even testimonials.  Companies that excel are those that accept feedback and act upon it.


8.  Join the NAHB, your local Homebuilders Association and the National Kitchen and Bath Association

Belonging to these associations is invaluable.  I didn’t realize this during my first seven years of business.  In fact I wasn’t even very aware of our Homebuilder’s Association.  In 1985 I got an urge to grow my business, joined the National Association of Homebuilders  and I have been a member ever since.  Over the years I have had the privilege of associating with many smart and helpful members.  Networking is one of the most valuable assets of the association.

Attending the various conferences has helped strengthen our business and has kept us abreast of new products and innovative ways to run our business.  Attending the seminars that are offered can make your company one of the best.  Take advantage of these educational and association benefits.  Joining the NAHB and/or the NKBA will always pay off.

The International Builder Show is going to be in Orlando on January 12-15, 2011.  The Remodeling Show is going to be in Baltimore this year on September 14-17.  The Southern Building Show is one of my favorite.  It will be in Atlanta on May 13-15.  The SBS is a smaller show, but has great educational seminars.  I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention the JLC LIVE 2010.  The conference is on March 24-27 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, RI.  This is a terrific show and has a lot of hands-on workshops.  And last but definitely not least, The Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS) put on by the NKBA will open April 14 -18 in Chicago.  This is the perfect show to enhance your kitchen and bath sales.


9.  Join your local Remodeler’s Council or NARI

Become a member of your local Remodeler’s council (NAHB Remodeler)  The NAHBR is usually a part of your Homebuilder’s Association).  Or join your local National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).  Don’t just join.  Membership alone won’t won’t help.  You must attend.  Network with the members.  You won’t find a better source for help when you need it.  Our remodelers council has grown and matured over the years and has served all of us very well.  When anyone needs to find a trade or a product, someone in the council will always come through.

Lately we have changed up our monthly meeting place by having about half of our meetings away from the Homebuilder’s building.  We have them at lumber yards, cabinet shops, plumbing suppliers, and various other vendor’s places.  Many of the meetings that are on-site (at the Homebuilders) are sponsored by one of our associate members.

The council will keep you up-to-date on the latest legislative news that affects all of us.  And you can work toward the many professional designations that are offered.   Make attending your local meetings a must.  Make it a repeating schedule on your calendar.  No person is an island.  Join!


10.  Go to meetings

If you belong to the Chamber of Commerce, the Better Business Bureau, or your Homebuilders Association, be sure to attend the meetings.  It takes time, but soon you will get to know a lot of people, and they will know you.  Will they think of you when they need to refer a remodeler?  Sure they will.  (Remember to use your “elevator speech”)

When an open house or grand opening is announced at your vendor’s place of business, make a point of showing up.  Take some business cards, and go shake some hands.  You’ll both gain from your efforts.  I know that it’s hard to leave your warm home after a hard day’s work; but if you do I think you’ll enjoy the experience and it will pay off for you and your biz.

Next post [11-15] The Details – Twenty Low-Cost Ways To Market Your Company

You may copy this article into your newsletter, blog or website, as long as you don’t make any changes to the article and you include the following bio:

www.RemodelerBiz.com is published by Randall S Soules, a 37 year construction veteran. The intent of this web site is to help builders, remodelers and those in the trades, create a rewarding career and lifestyle.  At Remodeler Biz you’ll find helpful articles on niches, marketing, graphic standards and the design-then-build field.