Nonresidential construction spending fell 0.2% in May, marking the end of 11 months of continuous growth. While a 17% growth has been observed over the period, the majority of the increase is due to manufacturing-related construction. Despite these figures, contractors remain optimistic as per ABC’s ConstructionConfidence Index,” said Anirban Basu, Associated Builders andContractors’ chief economist
Author: BUILT Strategies
Town architect on biggest lessons learned from Baldwin Park’s success 20 years later
Mark Jones, principal at LRK, reflects on the success of BaldwinPark community in Orlando, where his firm served as town architect. The community’s vision was to promote interaction while maintaining privacy, leading to thoughtful planning such as positioning of houses and porches. Recent home sales above $2.5million underscore its success. Jones highlights the importance of traditional neighborhood developments and their sustainability for future planning.
More than $1 trillion in CRE debt maturities loom. These metros have the most exposure.
Commercial real estate (CRE) faces a looming $1.5 trillion debt due by 2025 amid a challenging economic landscape with high interest rates and decreased leasing activity post-Covid. Key markets, including New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, and Las Vegas, carry the most maturing Commercial MortgageBacked Securities (CMBS) debt, triggering concerns about refinancing and property sales. Distressed loans, delinquencies, and landlords walking away from underperforming properties compound the issue.
Gainesville business builds homes out of shipping containers
Welding to Recycle, a Gainesville-based business founded by JohnCook, repurposes shipping containers into sustainable, durable homes and offices. Started with sustainability in mind, Cook’s business aims to extend the lifecycle of containers that would otherwise end up in landfills. Despite challenges with supply chain shortages during the pandemic, the company continues to design and build 10 to 13 container homes per year. Alachua
2024 Construction Outlook a Mixed Bag, per Report
Labor has been consistently cited as a top challenge for general contractors, an issue that long predates the Covid-19 pandemic.
In December, the construction industry added 17,000 net jobs, part of what was a stronger-than-expected jobs report released late last week by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Between December 2022 and December 2023, industry employment grew 2.5%, to 197,000 new jobs, according to an analysis of BLS data by industry trade group the Associated Builders and Contractors.
Building Your Digital Brand Through Local SEO
By Michael A. Monahan, Founder, President & Fractional Chief Marketing Officer
In the ever-evolving world of construction marketing, staying ahead of the competition is crucial for success. The construction industry is no stranger to fierce competition, with countless firms vying for the same projects. To thrive in this highly competitive landscape, construction companies must not only excel in their craft but also master the art of marketing.
Effective marketing can be a game-changer for construction firms, enabling them to secure more contracts, expand their reach, and establish a strong brand presence. In this blog, we’ll explore the key strategies that can help your construction marketing firm unlock success and achieve long-term growth.
Step 1: Audit Keywords: Begin by identifying the keywords you’re targeting. Take stock of what you currently rank for and identify any missed opportunities. Create a list of services, products, or pages you want to drive traffic to, and use tools like Keyword Finder to compile a list of high-volume local target keywords.
Step 2: Audit Your Competition’s Local SEO: Analyze your competitors’ local SEO strategies to understand what you’re up against. Look at factors like Google My Business (GMB) rankings, organic rankings, review quantity and quality, the number of links, site speed, and social stats to develop hypotheses on their success in local SERPs.
Step 3: Audit Google My Business Listing: Your GMB listing is crucial for local SEO success. Ensure it is claimed, verified, and well-optimized with your target keywords. Check for completeness, multiple reviews, high ratings, appropriate business categories, images, GMB posts, and participation in the Questions & Answers section.
Step 4: Audit Reviews for Quality and Quantity: Reviews play a significant role in local rankings and reputation building. Positive and detailed reviews across various platforms can boost your business. Google even considers keywords used in reviews. Manage and gather reviews using tools like Customer Voice or KiyOh.
Step 5: Audit Links for Quality and Quantity: Links are still a primary ranking factor. Secure quality links with local content, high domain authority, and relevance. Quality and quantity matter, and spammy, off-topic links can harm your rankings. Use Ahrefs or Open Site Explorer to evaluate your links.
Step 6: Audit Schema-Markup for Local: Schema markup helps search engines understand your data better. Use tools like Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to ensure your site includes schema markup. Plugins like “All In One Schema Rich Snippets” (for WordPress) can simplify this process.
Step 7: Audit Local SEO Citations: Check how often your business is mentioned online, including structured and unstructured citations. Audit your listings on social platforms, directories, and main data aggregators like Axiom, Neustar/Localeze, Factual, and Infogroup. Use tools like Whitespark’s Local Citation Finder and Moz Check Listings.
Step 8: Audit SEO on Main Pages: Audit your main website pages, examining page titles, title tags, sub-headings, word count, and meta descriptions. Evaluate how well your pages are optimized for local SEO with the help of tools like Screaming Frog.
Step 9: Audit Image SEO: Optimize image filenames and alt text with relevant keywords to help search engines understand image content. Ensure images are optimized for page load speed. Use Screaming Frog to evaluate image SEO.
Step 10: Check Website Speed: Page load speed is crucial for user experience and ranking. Use Google PageSpeed Insights Tool, Pingdom’s Website Speed Test, or GTMetrix to assess and improve your website’s speed.
Step 11: Audit Site Engagement: Engagement metrics like CTR, dwell time, bounce rate, and conversion rate impact rankings. Use Google Analytics to examine your engagement metrics and compare them to industry benchmarks.
Step 12: Audit Social Engagement: A strong social media presence can enhance your local SEO efforts. Evaluate your social platforms by tracking likes, shares, followers, and mentions of your brand.
Performing a comprehensive local SEO audit by following these 12 steps will help your business improve its online visibility, ranking, and overall performance in the competitive local market. Stay on top of these crucial aspects, adapt your strategies as needed, and watch your local SEO efforts pay off.
If you’d like to have the marketing technicians at BUILT Strategies take a look at your local SEO, contact us for a initial consultation.
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Builders and Contractors: A Primer on the Importance of Optimizing Your Company’s Google Business Profile
By Michael A. Monahan, Founder, President & Fractional Chief Marketing Officer
BUILT Marketing Strategies
In today’s digital age, where online presence can make or break a business, optimizing your builder or contractor company’s Google Business profile is not just a choice – it’s a necessity. Your Google Business profile is often the first interaction potential clients have with your company, and it plays a pivotal role in establishing trust, visibility, and credibility.
Why Optimize Your Google Business Profile?
- Enhanced Visibility: A well-optimized profile increases your chances of appearing in local search results, making it easier for potential clients in your area to find you.
- Credibility: A complete and up-to-date profile, including positive reviews and ratings, fosters trust among potential clients. It shows that your business is legitimate and reliable.
- Improved Engagement: An optimized profile allows you to provide important information, such as contact details, business hours, and services offered, making it easier for clients to get in touch and take action.
Best Practices for Optimizing Your Google Business Profile
- Complete Your Profile: Fill in all the necessary information, including your business name, address, phone number, website, and accurate business hours. Make sure to choose the correct category that best describes your services.
- Quality Images: Upload high-quality photos showcasing your past projects, team, and the services you offer. Visual content helps potential clients get a better understanding of your work.
- Regular Updates: Keep your profile up-to-date with any changes in business hours, services, or contact information. This ensures that clients can always reach you. We can usually tell if a company’s profile is up to date and optimized just by checking whether they have updated operating hours during observed holidays.
- Engage with Reviews: Respond to both positive and negative reviews professionally and promptly. Show your commitment to customer satisfaction and willingness to address concerns.
- Use Posts: Google Business allows you to create posts about promotions, events, or news. Utilize this feature to keep your profile fresh and engaging.
- Monitor Insights: Regularly check the performance insights on your profile. This data can help you understand how potential clients are engaging with your listing and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Take Action
If optimizing your Google Business profile feels overwhelming, consider engaging with a marketing technician who specializes in optimizing online profiles or even hiring a fractional Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) to lead your overall marketing strategy. These experts can provide invaluable guidance and hands-on support to ensure your company’s online presence thrives.
Your company’s Google Business profile is a powerful tool that can significantly impact your online visibility and credibility. By following the best practices mentioned above and seeking professional assistance if needed, you can ensure that your profile effectively represents your business and attracts the clients you deserve.
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Unlock the Power of Business Listings for Your Builder/Contractor Firm
By Michael A. Monahan, Founder, President & Fractional Chief Marketing Officer
BUILT Marketing Strategies
In today’s digital age, your business’s online presence is more crucial than ever. Customers are constantly searching for products and services online, and having accurate and readily available business listings is like shining the bat signal for your potential customers. At our construction marketing firm, we understand the significance of business listings, and we’re here to guide you through the essentials.
NAP+W: The Building Blocks of Business Listings
NAP+W may sound like a naptime session, but in the world of business listings, it stands for Name, Address, Phone number, and Website. These four pieces of information make up the core of your business listings, providing potential customers with the fundamental details they need to discover, contact, and locate your business.
To go the extra mile, consider adding information like your business’s hours of operation. It’s a detail that consumers find particularly valuable when researching local businesses.
The Importance of Accuracy
The effectiveness of your business listings hinges on two key factors: presence and accuracy. Your business listings should be available across various sources, including search engines, online directories, maps, and social sites. The more places your business appears, the better. However, having a presence is only beneficial if your listings are accurate. Consistency and correctness across all sources are paramount.
Why Are Business Listings Essential?
Accurate and widely available business listings can have a profound impact on your business. Here’s why they matter:
- No More Hide and Seek: Just like the bat signal helps guide Batman to the scene, accurate listings guide consumers right to your business’s doorstep. If your listing is incorrect or missing, potential customers are more likely to choose a competitor, resulting in missed opportunities.
- Build Trust through Reviews: Customer reviews play a vital role in building your online reputation and fostering brand loyalty. Accurate listings make it possible for customers to find and review your business, enhancing transparency and trust.
- Boost Your Visibility: Consistent, accurate listings and a strong review presence can significantly improve your ranking in local search engine results. This enhanced visibility leads to more customers, which is every business owner’s goal.
What’s Next?
Now that you understand the importance of business listings, it’s time to take action. Create listings on high-impact websites to improve your listings score.
Don’t underestimate the power of business listings in today’s digital landscape. Let them light the way for your construction business’s online success.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you optimize your business listings and enhance your online presence. Together, we’ll build a stronger foundation for your business’s future.
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Can this Urban Jungle in Tampa Become an Urban Paradise?
From the Tampa Bay Business Journal – Tampa’s Fowler Avenue epitomizes suburban sprawl: The road, which yawns as wide as eight lanes in some stretches, is lined with surface parking lots for strip centers, chain restaurants and drive-thru pharmacies.
But some far-seeing real estate developers and business leaders imagine a day when Fowler Avenue is lined by mixed-use high-rises with apartments and medical office space atop street-level retail and parking decks. (click here to read more)
New Year. New Website: Why You Should be Thinking about The Foundation of Your Digital Marketing Presence Heading into 2024
By Michael Monahan, Founder, President & Lead Consultant
BUILT Marketing Strategies
In today’s digital-first world, your website is often the first point of interaction between your business and potential customers. Digital marketing is hard. Building a new web site doesn’t have to be.
Having a site that both looks professional while also driving conversations and conversions is crucial. A website that positions you as the expert and streamlines the online purchasing or booking process can significantly impact your bottom line.
Leveraging a team of experienced designers and developers, plus the power of a trusted hosting platform, you can have a fast, secure website up and running in just 10 business days.
However, quick turnarounds don’t necessarily come at the cost of functionality. Whether you need an informational site or a fully developed e-commerce site, you’ll be equipped to convert customers or sell online immediately.
Hosting on a trusted cloud platform offers you the peace of mind of speed, storage, and security, ensuring that your site’s foundation is as robust as the business it represents. Plus, with WordPress as your CMS, managing content becomes seamless, powering over 60% of CMS-based websites globally.
Finally, keep track of your success with an insightful reporting dashboard, giving you visibility into key performance metrics. A new website isn’t just a cost; it’s an investment in your digital presence and business growth.
For more information about how you can have a new website for the new year. Contact us at 833.44.BUILT or by e-mail at [email protected]. For more information, visit www.builtstrategies.com.
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