You may or may not realize it, but times have changed - especially when it comes to consumer buying patterns. Today most consumers looking for contractors are 3/4 of the way through the buying journey before they reach out to talk to an actual person.

If we have a question, we go to the internet to "Google It." Chances are you came to his very page through a Google search or at least via a search engine.

The key to attracting more homeowners or property owners and getting higher quality leads is to provide answers to customer questions before they ask them. Utilize your website to discuss potential costs or compare products. For example, you may have a blog or article that looks at Brick vs. Vinyl vs. Wood siding.

Having relevant and related content about home building or remodeling helps attract visitors to your site form the search engines. Once there, we help engage potential customers.

Don't be afraid to be vulnerable and talk about what you don't do to engage your potential customers. For example, if you don't have an unlimited license, then be upfront and tell them. Also, don't portray yourself as a contractor that can build million-dollar homes. Nothing is worse for a prospect than realizing in the final hour that the person they hired or want to hire can't do it all. Listing what you offer and what someone can expect when contacting you to build trust.

Engaging also uses social proof via testimonials and reviews. Why? Take a look at these statistics: 

• The average consumer reads 10 online reviews before making a purchase decision.
• 57% of consumers will only buy or use a business service if it has at least a 4-star rating.
• Purchase likelihood peaks when the average star rating of a product is between 4.2 and 4.5 stars on a five-star scale. —Power Reviews 2014: The Proven Power of Reviews From Reviews to Revenue (PDF File)
• 88% of consumers trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Long gone are the days where customers would stay loyal to a tradesman just for loyalty's sake or where you could rely solely on word of mouth and referrals.

Today's homeowners are used to immediate gratification with building services. The internet has put customers in the driver's seat and sparked an "I want it now" economy. They expect an immediate response to appointment requests and phone messages, a frictionless customer experience, and top-notch, next-day service.

By providing a great experience from the start, you create a plumbing customer for life, someone who will share their experience with others online and in person. Later you can use their information to market to them again to keep you on their mind if they have a future plumbing need.

More than half of Americans have scrapped a planned purchase or transaction because of bad service, and 33 percent say they’ll consider switching companies after just a single instance of poor service.

Nearly 50 percent of customers say they’ve left a brand to which they were loyal to go to a competitor that is better at meeting their needs. Failing to stay relevant will accelerate the exit of even your most loyal customers.

Content marketing and Inbound marketing doesn’t happen overnight. We often equate it to running a marathon versus a sprint. The beauty of content marketing is that it should have a long-lasting effect if done correctly. If you are taking the time to answers prospects’ questions through your website, you may see returns from one post for years to come.

At Cube Creative, we know your business is unique, and you deserve a plan that is unique and customized for your construction business.

In addition to building out a 12-month content plan designed to attract search engine users, we also build in a few “quick wins” at the onset of your marketing campaign to jumpstart lead generation in the first month.

These may include:

• New or redesigned website with a focus on providing the most value to your user
• Obvious calls to action for fast contact
• Geographic landing pages targeting your services and your service area
• Assisting you in setting up your Google My Business Page
• Gathering user reviews
• Search engine optimization