Contractors: make more money by being proactive, selective, innovative, and smart. Follow our seven tips to success, and you’ll be well on your way to more referrals, more jobs, and ultimately….more money.

Showcase your best work online.
Potential customers want to see what you are capable of and want to see real-life examples of your past work. They are looking for validation that your work is professional and “high-end.” Take quality photos, making sure the lighting is bright, and your finished project is free of clutter – including tools and supplies. Post your photos to your website and social media channels like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

Establish an Angie’s List presence and start promoting your business online today.
Nowadays, most consumers won’t spend a single cent without first scouring the internet for real customer reviews and testimonials. They want reassurance from like-minded consumers that you are a reputable business, complete the job within the agreed-upon time frame, and not skip town with their down payment. For even more leads, check out Homeadvisor.com.

Make yourself available for quotes and questions during normal business hours.
Prospective customers want to talk to a human being and not an answering machine. They want instant answers instead of the promise of a call back at some later time. This is especially true if they have an emergency repair requiring an immediate attention, like a leaky roof or broken HVAC system. If you are not available during normal business hours, consider hiring a call service. The costs are minimal, averaging about $1 per minute.

Check, manage, and, if necessary, repair your online reputation.
Contractors make more money when they have a positive online reputation with 5-star reviews. When a customer searches your company name on Google, do the search results accurately represent who you are as a company? Is that one negative review from a disgruntled customer the first result they see? Do your Angie’s List, Google, and Yelp reviews leave a lot to be desired? You can strengthen your online presence with positive reviews and content, hopefully pushing negative reviews to the second or third search results pages. If all else fails, hire an outside online reputation management company. A good business reputation will give you a competitive advantage.

Utilize “Google My Business” and stand out on Google for FREE.
Create a free local business profile and watch the leads start rolling in with Google My Business. Connect and engage with local customers by helping them easily find your address, hours of operation, phone number, pictures of your business, and more. Have a say in how your business appears on Google Search and Google Maps. Start by adding or claiming your business and fine-tune your listings as you see fit. You can utilize this service even if you do not have a storefront or physical location.

Properly maintain your tools and equipment to keep repairs and replacement costs down.
Keep an inventory of everything you own and create a maintenance schedule. After each use, clean, inspect and store your tools and equipment properly. Increasing your tools and equipment’s lifespan will keep operating costs down and keep more money in your pocket.

Keep your employees happy and healthy.
Research shows that happy employees work more efficiently and produce better results. More productivity during normal business hours equates to fewer overtime costs. Splurge for the occasional free lunch, offer paid personal time off, plan employee appreciation events, and offer the best health insurance you can afford.

Contractors make more money when they follow these seven tips. It’s been proven. If that’s your goal, take a few minutes out of each day to implement these initiatives. Your efforts should start paying dividends almost immediately.