Social Media Basics: 5 Ways to Promote Your Construction Blog

The necessity of content marketing has been pretty much beat into our brains for quite a while now.  It doesn't matter if you're a builder, a remodeler, a wood floor installer or a realtor.  You have to be able to provide some sort of valuable information that your customers can take away and use on their own.  It sells them on your integrity, your know-how and your awareness of what's happening in the building and construction industry.  So what are the best methods of getting your informational content out there into the world in an effective way that ensures people will see it?  It's really quite obvious...social media, of course.  Here's how to do it.

The first step, naturally, is to write and post an article on your blog about a relevant topic.  It could be information about the upcoming home show, ways to survive your kitchen remodel experience, the best kind of lighting to utilize in your custom closet, etc.  When that's done....enter social media.  

1.  Provide a description and a link on Twitter.  Make sure to add all the applicable hashtags to your tweet.  For all of us in the construction and building industry some very helpful hashtags would be the following:  #construction #building #remodeling #homes #residential #commercial #houses #realestate #kitchen #bathroom #interiordesign #design, etc.  How word spreads:  If your content is good and folks like you and your company, they will retweet it, thus the trickle-down effect.  Now, instead of reaching 1000 of your followers, you're also reaching your follower's 1000 followers.  That's 2,000 followers!

2.  If you have a Linked In account (and I hope you do), you can also post a description of your blog article in addition to a link.  This is the perfect way to make sure all your professional buddies get to see what you're up to.  Linked In has the same potential trickle-down effect that Twitter does.  If one of your professional friends shares your link, then your reach just increases.

3.  Provide a link to the article on your Facebook page.  In addition to making sure your professional associates see what you're writing about, Facebook provides the opportunity for personal friends and family to see it as well.

4.  Your email newsletter is a really great way for customers and prospects to have access to your content.  It also maintains top-of-mind awareness for your customer if you haven't seen them in a while. It will make it hard for them to forget you when they are thinking of moving on to their next home improvement project.

5.  Pinterest is a method of communication that not everyone thinks about as a means of providing blog links.  It is customary to add a photo to most blog articles.  Why not pin the photo to a board on your Pinterest account that specifically represents your company's blog articles.  Call the board "Domicile Experts Blog", for example.  Pin the photo, add a caption and link to your article and you're done!  Just another potential clicking chance for your followers to access your information by.

Of course these are just the very basic means of getting your content out there for the public to see.  Get creative and the possibilities are really endless.

Do you need assistance in managing your social media?  Einstein Design & Consulting can help you with that.  Just click on the link below to go to our website and see what we can do.

7 Things That Your Construction-Related Company Should Be Blogging About

A blog is just a basic marketing tool of every successful business nowadays, so you are doing the right thing by pursuing your new year's resolution to post valuable content to your blog every week.  But what should you be talking about?

Here are seven topics of conversation that folks in the construction industry should be blogging about:

1.  Your current projects.  If you are a remodeler, this could be before-and-after photos of that kitchen renovation that you've recently completed.  For a new home builder, it could be pics of the home you are in the middle of construction on.  Anything that shows good things that you are up to in your business.

2.  Industry news.  Is there something happening in the world of home construction that you know your customers would appreciate being informed about?  This could include anything from land rezoning news to dips in the current rate of new construction loans to the latest design trends.

3.  Charity work that you've done.  Your attention to detail and fine craftsmanship may win over some customers.  But for others, the hook may be your amount of participation in the community and all of your charitable giving.  By putting your charity work on display, you are showing that you care about the place where you live and do business.  What could be more important than that?  So go ahead and show off your involvement in the MBA Paint for Tomorrow program or your recent contribution to Habitat for Humanity.  It builds up your level of integrity and customers will appreciate your commitment. 

4.  New products or services that you are unrolling in the new year, season, quarter.  For example, if you're deciding to go green with your company, you might want to discuss what kind of sustainable building products you are including in the specs of all your new homes. 

5.  How-to's.  It's always a good idea to provide easy projects that homeowners can do on their own without your help.  They will appreciate your offer of valuable information on occasion that doesn't always include a price tag.  Some examples might be ways to make your home more energy efficient or how to prepare your house for the winter.

6.  Sales, contests, and deals that you are offering.  A blog is nothing if not a chance for free advertising.  Use it to showcase opportunities to get people in your front door.  Having a contest or featuring a sale on your blog can be the perfect way to reward people for becoming blog subscribers.  Why not host a sale that caters only to those who read the blog?  For example, you could post an article that promises "20% off when you mention this blog article".

7.  Upcoming or recent events, both for your business and other industry-related businesses.  Company charity events, auctions, seminars, MBA meetings, Food Bank drives, community meetings, special occasions.  These are all events that you should be mentioning.  Notify your followers of dates and times and how these different events will be of benefit to them.  You could also provide good photos in articles you post after the events actually take place, which act as evidence of the great time that was had by all and the different community leaders that might have attended.   This is undoubtedly a chance to side-market your affiliates, too, if they are hosting or attending a special event.  They will appreciate it and could return the favor at some point.

These are just a few ideas of different subjects that you could write about.  The possibilities are really endless.  Just make sure to keep it professional and relevant to your business.  And remember to always post links to your blog articles throughout all of your social media outlets.  If your company employees also have social media accounts, encourage them to post links as well.  The more hits, the more prospects, the more business.  Happy blogging!