Imperfect solutions

Last night, as I prepared to turn off and go to bed, a newsletter reader asked me a challenging question.  He outlined the situation and the “choices” available to him, but nothing looked that good or simple.  His circumstances as they existed weren’t perfect and, based on the information he gave me, the solution couldn’t [...]

Read more »

Discovering the (surprising) story behind the story

Yesterday, at an association function, a client shared a story which changed my perceptions.  I can’t “name names” here because I haven’t verified the story and, in any case, I don’t generally publish negative news about individuals or businesses here. This story isn’t that negative, really, but it certainly shows how a combination of marketing [...]

Read more »

Your reputation and construction marketing branding power

Reputation is an unusual and challenging marketing topic. Great reputations for integrity and quality clearly can be exceptionally helpful but the story also can be truly complex because your reputation carries only so much weight within the marketing space. I’ve seen a few situations (within the trades and business overall) where I’ve picked up some [...]

Read more »

Putting our passions to construction marketing work: The paradox of distraction

Sometimes people around me roll their heads in amazement when I get on a journalistic roll.  Few things get me more excited than the hunt for a mysterious bad guy causing trouble and hiding behind a disguised identity  When I engage in these searches, my adrenaline rises, thinking intensity reaches its peak and I pour [...]

Read more »

Three (almost) free construction marketing ideas

Here are three ideas you can implement within the next week. Invite your three best clients for lunch (or coffee) to “pick brain” (and share ideas) This can be highly informal.  You can learn about their interests, trends, anything you can do to improve your service and which associations/groups they value the most.  Also, you [...]

Read more »

How to follow your own construction marketing path

Readers here (and in my Construction Marketing Ideas book — the key chapter is excepted in the Design and Construction Report published yesterday) know that I advocate you should align your marketing initiatives with your strengths:  That is, the qualities and skills which you enjoy and where you have real natural talent.  When you develop [...]

Read more »

Three simple construction marketing ideas

Be first.  Be yourself.  Be true. Can the Construction Marketing Ideas concepts be boiled down to these simple values?  I suppose you can debate the point; you can be “first” at something totally wrong, you could be obnoxious, irritating and totally uninterested in the needs of your clients and you can be so honest that [...]

Read more »

The perils of open book management: When things are too open

Yesterday, I learned from a professional practitioner (I’m not going to share any details which could identify the individual, practice or even the specific profession) of the perils of Open Book Management gone wild. In this case, the practice broke one of the rules that even Jack Stack would consider vital in Open Book Management. [...]

Read more »

Successful construction marketing: Do what you love and do well (2)

I’ve received several responses to the “two questions” survey which validate my belief that, in developing your marketing and business development strategies, you should follow your strengths — that is, do what you love doing and do well.  This topic is the main story in the current issue of The Design and Construction Report which [...]

Read more »

Successful construction marketing: “Do what you love, and what you do well”

The mantra “follow your strengths” in co-ordinating your construction marketing is one of the fundamental themes in my Construction Marketing Ideas book and in one-on-one consulting.  Your strengths are your unique combination of interests/activities which you enjoy and you have real talent.  If you don’t want to buy the book (surely you will!), you can [...]

Read more »

Next Page »