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Home » Blog » How to Do Construction Marketing: A No-Nonsense 1,000-Word Playbook

Darren / June 19, 2025

How to Do Construction Marketing: A No-Nonsense 1,000-Word Playbook

Your crews pour concrete and swing hammers. Marketing feels like a separate language. Good news: you can learn it the same way you learned to read blueprints—one clear line at a time. This guide turns construction marketing into a set of simple, actionable steps you can start today.


1. Lay the Foundation: Know Who You’re Talking To

Before you buy an ad or post a video, answer two questions:

  1. Who is my ideal client?
    Homeowners in zip codes with houses over $500k? Facility managers at mid-size warehouses?
  2. What problem keeps them up at night?
    Leaky roof, outdated storefront, busted parking lot?

Write the answers on paper. They’re your marketing blueprint. Every message, photo, and bid should speak to that person and that pain.


2. Build a Website That Works as Hard as Your Crew

Think of your website as a digital foreman. It greets visitors 24/7, answers questions, and schedules appointments. To keep it efficient:

  • Above-the-fold clarity – In the first screen, show what you do, where you do it, and how to contact you.
  • Fast load times – A slow site is like a rusty excavator; nobody waits around.
  • Clickable calls to action (CTAs) – “Get a Quote” or “Book a Walk-Through” buttons belong on every page.
  • Project gallery – Before-and-after shots do the selling for you.
  • Trust badges – Licenses, safety certifications, and warranty icons build confidence.

Pro tip: Add a short video walkthrough of a recent project. People trust faces and voices more than stock photos.


3. Master Local SEO: Be the First Name They See

When someone types “kitchen remodeling near me,” you want to appear in the map pack. Here’s the three-step drill:

  1. Google Business Profile (GBP) – Claim it, fill every field, and post weekly updates.
  2. NAP consistency – Make your Name, Address, Phone match across directories (Yelp, Houzz, BBB).
  3. Reviews – Ask for them at project handoff. More five-star reviews = higher local rank.

Think of Local SEO as signage on a busy highway. The clearer and brighter it is, the faster drivers (clients) take your exit.


4. Content Marketing: Teach, Don’t Preach

People research big purchases. Meet them with helpful answers.

  • Blog posts – “What Does a Deck Cost in 2025?” or “7 Permits You Need Before a Home Addition.”
  • How-to videos – Walk through a concrete pour or demo an energy-efficient window install.
  • Downloadable checklists – “Pre-Remodel Prep Sheet” they exchange for an email.

Use plain language. Imagine explaining the job to a neighbor over the fence. Search engines love clear, useful content, and so do homeowners.


5. Social Media: Show the Build, Show the People

You don’t need dance trends. You need trust.

  • Instagram & Facebook Stories – Quick clips of daily progress.
  • LinkedIn updates – Perfect for commercial clients and networking.
  • Live Q&A – Go live once a month to answer renovation questions.

Behind-the-scenes posts—crew birthdays, tool tips, safety moments—humanize your brand. Like framing studs, these small touches support the bigger structure of trust.


6. Paid Ads: Accelerate the Pipeline

Organic tactics take time. Ads kick in right away.

Platform Best Use Budget Starter
Google Search High-intent leads (“roof repair near me”) $25/day in target zip codes
Facebook & Instagram Visual before-and-after stories $10/day retargeting site visitors
Local Service Ads Pay-per-lead model for licensed trades Budget per booked call

Set a landing page for each campaign. Measure calls, form fills, and booked appointments—not just clicks.


7. Reputation Management: Guard Your Good Name

A single one-star review can feel like a cracked foundation. Respond fast:

  1. Acknowledge – “We’re sorry you had this experience.”
  2. Move offline – “Please call our owner at ___ so we can fix it.”
  3. Share resolution – Post a follow-up once solved.

Positive reviews? Reply with gratitude and a quick detail: “Glad the new deck works for backyard BBQs!” Genuine engagement boosts SEO and shows future clients you care.


8. Partnership Marketing: Build Bridges That Feed You Leads

  • Architects and designers – Offer joint webinars on remodeling trends.
  • Realtors – Provide a “quick curb-appeal punch list” for their listings.
  • Suppliers – Swap social shout-outs or co-sponsor community events.

These alliances act like subcontractors for your marketing, extending reach without extra payroll.


9. Track, Test, Tweak: Numbers Keep You Honest

On every first of the month, jot down:

  • Website visitors
  • Phone calls from Google Business Profile
  • Form submissions
  • Ad spend and return

If a tactic isn’t paying for itself within three months, retool or replace it. Marketing, like construction, improves through change orders.


10. Seasonal Strategy: Stay Busy All Year

  • Winter: Push interior remodels—basements, baths, office conversions.
  • Spring: Promote roofing and siding before storm season.
  • Summer: Spotlight decks, patios, and additions.
  • Fall: Market energy upgrades—windows, insulation, furnace swaps.

Align campaigns with what clients naturally think about that month. It’s like pouring concrete in warm weather—you work with the season, not against it.


Quick-Win Checklist (Print and Pin to the Office Wall)

☑ Define your ideal client and top problem
☑ Audit website for speed, gallery, and clear CTAs
☑ Post a new project photo and answer a GBP Q&A this week
☑ Draft one 600-word blog post on a common client question
☑ Record a 30-second Instagram Reel from today’s jobsite
☑ Launch a $25/day Google ad targeting two key zip codes
☑ Request reviews from your last three customers
☑ Call a local architect to propose a joint workshop

Small actions stack like bricks. Pop one on the wall each day, and soon you’ll have a marketing fortress.


Final Thoughts

Construction marketing isn’t mystical—it’s a series of repeatable tasks that turn strangers into leads and leads into signed contracts. Treat each tactic like a trade. Master it, measure it, and move on to the next phase. Before long, the jobs will line up like trucks at the ready-mix plant.


Want a Pro to Inspect Your Digital Curb Appeal?

Your homepage is the front door to your business. Let’s make sure it invites clients in. Grab a free homepage review and get step-by-step feedback you can implement this week—no pressure, just practical advice.

Build safe, sell smart, and see you on the next project.

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Filed Under: Construction Marketing

Darren

My job is to help construction companies translate what they do into a website that actually works—for the visitor and the bottom line. I’ve seen what works (and what doesn’t) across every construction vertical—residential, commercial, specialty trades—in markets all over the world.

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