Tag Archives: blogging

Blogging, Co-Schedule, Trello, Oh My! #ConstChat Recap

Blogging for Contractors

Today’s chat topic and questions are from Tess Wittler, a regular chat participant, and blogging for contractors expert. Check out her 52 Ideas post.

But first, some of her tips.

Construction is so visual – photo blogs or vlogs with bullet points.
I started using http://coschedule.com/ a few weeks ago and love it! CoSchedule has analytics, “drip” posting, and a content calendar all built into it, and is also a WordPress plugin if you want it. CoSchedule – you need to pay for it, BUT totally is worth the cost, IMO.
I use Trello to gather my blogging ideas. Trello connects with Google Docs (as does CoSchedule) so you always have one place to gather, write and post your blogs. Link to Trello https://trello.com/tour .
Smart approach is to post a blog article and then “drip” it out to the social media over days.
This may be “old school” but I use Feedly to gather online pubs/blogs to browse.
Most people are VISUAL learners.
Learning preference of visual is why YouTube and photos on Facebook are so effective!
Re ROI – you can’t always measure tangilble in marketing efforts, but you know what’s working.
Sometimes we get so focused on sharing WORDS that we forget there are other ways to share content that’s interesting and helpful.
Can any of you line up a few “guest” blog writers? Perhaps suppliers or others in the company?

Questions:

Q1. Where do you find topics to write about?

A1. Topics may appear from anywhere. Frequently Asked Questions are good for blogging. #ConstChat

— Window Works CA (@WindowWorksCA) August 13, 2015

@RigginsConst A1: I play off of what I see that's currently popular. #ConstChat

— Milan Jara (@Milan_Jara) August 13, 2015

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Reason Number 8 to Blog: Getting to Know The People Behind the Brand

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There are many reasons that a company should have a blog and we covered a few of them back in this post including authority, creativity, perspective, focus, and social sharing.

Reason 6 to blog is to be found by people and loved by search engines. Yep. People ask “how to fix cracks in concrete tilt-up panels.”

Reason 7 to blog is problem solving. When you blog to solve a problem, you’re serving your audience (current and potential clients).

Reason 8 to blog: Familiarity

Another reason to blog is so that people can get to know you and your company a bit better. On one of my past anniversaries, I did a “Featured Tweeter” spot about myself for that reason.

Getting to Know Tom Riggins

For this blog’s five year anniversary, I’m highlighting Tom Riggins, our President.

Tom isn’t just a board member and off-site owner. He is our primary project manager. This means he meets with clients, hosts jobs walks with subcontractors, estimates jobs, coordinates with our design-build team, and makes time for building surveys, a client favorite. Now, that’s a lot of hats!

Growing up in the construction industry gave Tom years of experience beyond his age in estimating, project management, and supervision of new, remodel, and tenant improvement work.

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Five Reasons Why You Should Blog

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Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered – either by themselves or by others.

~ Mark Twain

I am passionate about social media. That’s my one and only disclaimer. If, during conversation, I sense an opening, a teachable moment if you will, then I will attempt to convince you to set up a Twitter account. Depending on your business, I may steer you in the direction of a Facebook Page. So, yes, I have been known to get on my soap box.

Not often, however, do I try to make blogging converts. Why? It does take quite a bit more energy and dedication to blog than to converse in 140 characters or upload a cute photo for a caption contest.

But do I believe in blogging any less? No. Blogging is a very important to your business tool belt. In all likelihood you should be doing it.

Why? Here are five reasons right off the top of my head.

1. Blogging Gives You Street Cred as an Expert

Blogging allows you to position yourself as an expert. People tend to trust written information just because it is printed/published. Don’t believe me? Think of all the emails that people forward to you that should have been checked at snopes.com first.

My caveat with regard to being an “expert” is that you can become a trusted advisor “among your circle of influence.” Everyone has one. Humans are social; we belong in groups. There are varying degrees of influence, of course. Do people in your social group look to you for advice on parenting, which movie to see next week, or how to fix their leaky faucet?

You may never reach the heights of popularity of Zig Ziglar or Guy Kawasaki, but you do have influence. Find out what it is and start building up your street cred. Continue reading →