Construction Chat is a weekly chat on Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time. If you’re free, we’d love you to join us.
This week’s topic is lead generation.
It was chosen by Tess Wittler of TessWittler.com Let’s have a round of applause for her time and expertise!
By the way, her e-course on this subject starts 10/9. Check out her website for more info.
Below are the questions as asked during the chat and some responses.
Q1. Do you have a system in place to generate leads?
A1 – primarily from our sales team but looking to generate more online. #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
A1. Would like to have a better system in place using social media. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
A1. From sales, trade shows etc however we don't have one dedicated database unfortunately. That has been tasked to me. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
http://twitter.com/shawneda/status/517707288875118593
A1: No consistent system, per se. Dodge, existing references, social media, prior customers all funnel to leads. #ConstChat
— Eric D. Lussier (@EricDLussier) October 2, 2014
A1 – so lead gen online is all about directing your views back to your website … #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) October 2, 2014
Q2. Do you use social media to generate leads?
We use social media for B2C lead generation. #constchat
— Zircon Corporation (@ZirconTools) October 2, 2014
A2: Yes, we have started this year. #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
A2. Would like a better system. Social Media has been to build awareness and influence. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
A2. We have had leads through our social media platforms. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
Q2: Absolutely use #SocialMedia to for lead generation. Both personal account(s) and business accounts. #ConstChat
— Eric D. Lussier (@EricDLussier) October 2, 2014
A2: Yes! Mostly through FB, blog and website. @TessWittler @RigginsConst #constchat
— Infinity Pools Texas (@InfinityPoolsTX) October 2, 2014
A2 LinkedIn is a tailor-made for sales lead generation. #constchat #some
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) October 2, 2014
Q3. What platforms work best for lead generation and why?
A3 – Lately, Twitter and LinkedIn for me. Twitter for new subscribers and LinkedIn for good prospects. #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) October 2, 2014
.@TessWittler I agree. @LinkedIn + @Twitter = perfect #LeadGeneration recipe #ConstChat
— Wahiba Chair (@ItsMeWahiba) October 2, 2014
A3. We use Twitter quite a lot to build relationships. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
A3. Twitter and LinkedIn for us. It surprised me how fast our LI account has grown. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
A3: On Twitter we have met new customers. Facebook we talk more to existing. #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
Twitter is great for the initial engagement. #constchat
— Zircon Corporation (@ZirconTools) October 2, 2014
Q3b – Do you then try to drive traffic back to your website? Or stay on said platform?
A3b: Monthly emails always have CTA back to our website. #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
A3b. Yes especially now with our new blog. We include links to specific product, services or information. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
A3B. Yes we drive traffic to our website and are working toward more industry engagement online across all platforms. #ConstChat
— Shawneda (@shawneda) October 2, 2014
A3b. We always try to drive traffic back to our own website #constchat
— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) October 2, 2014
Q4: Do you have an email list?
@RigginsConst – we sure do and use it weekly for our blog
— Burgin Construction (@BurginCo) October 2, 2014
A4. Yes we have and our building our email list. #ConstChat
— Shawneda (@shawneda) October 2, 2014
A4: Yes! All people we have interacted with in person or online. #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
A4. Working on it! #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
A4 yes #constchat
— Sean Stroub (@SeanCrossPoints) October 2, 2014
A4. We are working on it but it needs to be cleaned up. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
Q4b. Are you seeing good growth with email lists? Or stagnant?
A4b: Pretty good growth. Keeping them engaged is the struggle! #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
Lists will ebb and flow as will participation. RT @FastenMaster A4b: Pretty good growth. Keeping them engaged is the struggle! #ConstChat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) October 2, 2014
A4b. We would see better growth if we could get our indep. agencies to send in their leads for the local trade shows 🙂 #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
A4B. Yes and we are continuing to contact past and new customers to keep them engaged via email newsletter. #ConstChat
— Shawneda (@shawneda) October 2, 2014
Q5. What tactics do you use to grow your email list?
A5 – I give away a free eBook "52 Content Ideas" … #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) October 2, 2014
A4: Aside from in-person, we have created a form on our site. #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
A5: Ask potential email contacts to be part of our list on our outbound marketing, website, blogs, part of our tweets, etc. Ask! #constchat
— Zircon Corporation (@ZirconTools) October 2, 2014
A5 yes, offer new valuable content 'pieces' , key is valuable to your prospects, build a good fresh, content library #constchat
— Sean Stroub (@SeanCrossPoints) October 2, 2014
Q6. Do you give away a “freebie,” such as a free report, from your website?
A6. No freebie yet. It's in the works, though. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
A6. Well, our courses are free. 😀 #constchat
— AEC Daily (@AECdaily) October 2, 2014
Think we might need some advice here! RT @TessWittler A6 – I wish more in the industry did webinars to grow their list. #constchat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
A6. No, but like the idea of offering a meaty "white paper" (registration required) to generate targeted leads. #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) October 2, 2014
Q7. How do you stay in touch with past customers and prospects?
A7. Good ol' telephone and personal visits, too. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
A7: Weekly email, quarterly phone calls and/or snail mail #ConstChat
— Joseph Hughes (@ConDynamics) October 2, 2014
A7 – My primary is e-newsletter that I send out weekly (weekly isn't necessary for const industry prof though) #constchat
— Tess Wittler (@TessWittler) October 2, 2014
A7 use phone, email, tw, FB, G+ to contact. I use @nimble system to set contact goals that surface the contacts back up for me #constchat
— Sean Stroub (@SeanCrossPoints) October 2, 2014
Q7b: Have any of you thought about asking vendors or others to guest post for you?
A7B — we embed others into our blog content, so that is a win-win for both entities. #constchat
— Zircon Corporation (@ZirconTools) October 2, 2014
A7b. I love working w professional biz writers for copy. Good ones always seem to find a clever turn of the phrase #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) October 2, 2014
A7b. We have asked our independent sales reps. #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
A7b: IMO, if you're going to outsource content writing, make sure you have a clear SOP for the writer to follow. #ConstChat
— Joseph Hughes (@ConDynamics) October 2, 2014
Q7b also re format content turn a whitepaper into slidedeck to ebook to video/webinar to blog, prospects might like 1 vs other #constchat
— Sean Stroub (@SeanCrossPoints) October 2, 2014
Q7b. (Part II) Do any of you OUTSOURCE your email writing?
A7b. Nope. It is all us 🙂 #ConstChat
— HagerCo (@HagerCo) October 2, 2014
A7b: We've tried, but have found that this is more valuable if done in house #ConstChat
— Joseph Hughes (@ConDynamics) October 2, 2014
We do, plus we have in-house writers. #constchat
— Zircon Corporation (@ZirconTools) October 2, 2014
A7. I create all content #ConstChat I'm the social media and marketing coordinator and a national bestselling author.
— Shawneda (@shawneda) October 2, 2014
A7b. I love working w professional biz writers for copy. Good ones always seem to find a clever turn of the phrase #constchat
— Liftec Forklifts (@LiftecForklifts) October 2, 2014
Q8. What is your biggest challenge to generating leads online?
A7: Our customers are not terribly web savvy. #ConstChat
— FastenMaster (@FastenMaster) October 2, 2014
A8. Having good scripts, knowing what to say to people. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
A8. Having too many opportunities is our challenge. Our expertise is useful in several heavy lifting industrial applications. #ConstChat
— Shawneda (@shawneda) October 2, 2014
A8. Online leads. For a commercial general contractor is trickier. Mostly come from #CRE brokers. #ConstChat
— Riggins Construction (@RigginsConst) October 2, 2014
Bonus Tweets:
Thanks for another great chat @TessWittler and @RigginsConst! I learn a lot!! I'll be reviewing this chat later!! #constchat
— Infinity Pools Texas (@InfinityPoolsTX) October 2, 2014
Thanks @RigginsConst @TessWittler this was my first ever Twitter Chat – struggled to keep up, but lots of good info 🙂 #ConstChat
— Joseph Hughes (@ConDynamics) October 2, 2014
I think people love the IDEA of Twitter more than Twitter itself. #ConstChat
— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) October 2, 2014
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