Contractors have perhaps the hardest job of all industries to try and get the word out there about their company or business.  Relying mostly on word of mouth marketing and friends hiring them on for specific jobs, it can be hard to get ahead.

When contractors come to me to build a website, I always tell them that they need to start a blog.  This suggestion is usually met with a blank stare and one question:  “Why?”  At first many are left unconvinced, but I’m hoping that at the end of this particular blog entry, you too will be convinced of just how great a blog is and how it can help your business tremendously.

Want some simple tips on starting your blog today? Check out our FREE Ebook, “How to Start a Business Blog.”

The Benefits of a Blog

For all industries across the board, a blog will help increase the amount of traffic that you have coming to your website (which you as a contractor need, so if you don’t have a website, start building one!).  It’s no wonder that businesses are starting to devote more and more time to blogs than they ever have before.

So why are they bothering to invest their time in a blog?  Because a blog…

  • Will have you stand out as an expert in your niche.  You’ll suddenly become “just some plumber” to “the guy who can fix any and all leaks”
  • Allows you to easily upload new content, like text, video and pictures to your website with ease.  No need for web building or designing skills any more!
  • A blog is a great form of communication that will help you build up a following.  Don’t expect success overnight, but in time you will begin to get regular loyal readers coming to your blog.

So here’s the big question: What do you blog about?  The first answer may seem obvious, but you’ll be surprised by how many contract-working bloggers neglect this part…

Talk About You

The whole point about having a blog is to share your own personal experiences with your  leads, customers, and clients.  If you don’t talk about you, then how are people supposed to get to know you better?  How are they supposed to trust that you’re the best guy or gal for the job?

When I say “talk about you”, I don’t mean talk about what you had for dinner last night.  But writing about some of your favorite contracting jobs, some of your most challenging contract jobs, and your personal experience in the industry as a whole will get people to know you better.  They’ll like you more.  As simple as it may sound, people like hiring people that they find personable, knowledgeable, and, well, likable.

Show your Work

Blogging gives you the excellent opportunity to show off your skills.  It’s well worth your while to write blogs that show you in action.  For example, why not write a blog about how you cut glass to size for customers?  That will give people a good idea of the process that you use to do your job, and make them trust you your ability and process a lot more.  Take pictures of the steps that you take along the way too.

Talk about Safety

A lot of employers are interested in what sort of safety qualifications and insurance you have so that they aren’t liable for you if you do happen to be injured on the job.  Writing articles about safety on the jobsite and what you do to keep yourself and others safe will win over a lot clients and customers.

What’s Hot in your Industry?

You may be surprised by just how interested people who are suddenly looking for contract work around their home to be done become in your industry!  Is there a hot news story that was released that is related to your job in home renovations?  Think about how different stories happening in your industry may also correlate with your own industry, and write blog articles about their cause and effect relationship.

Key Takeaways:

The bottom line is that there are a lot of different topics that you can write about, no matter what niche or industry you’re in.  You need that business blog to not only boost your online presence, but to also act as a tool to help tell people that you’re the right person for the job.

Need Help?

If you’re a contractor interested in starting a successful blog, contact us today to schedule your free marketing analysis.