Remodeling Contractor Basic Marketing Plan
Remodeling Contractor Basic Marketing Plan
Remodeling Contractor Basic Marketing Plan
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Table of Contents - Basic Outline Marketing Plan
1.0 Marketing Vision......................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Goals .............................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Purpose .........................................................................................................................................1
1.3 Picture ...........................................................................................................................................2
1.4 Gap Dashboard .............................................................................................................................2
2.0 Ideal Customer ........................................................................................................................................3
2.1 Market Description.........................................................................................................................3
3.0 Remarkable Difference ...........................................................................................................................3
3.1 Differentiators ................................................................................................................................3
4.0 Core Strategy..........................................................................................................................................3
4.1 Core Branding Elements................................................................................................................4
5.0 Product/Service Innovation .....................................................................................................................4
5.1 Price Rationale ..............................................................................................................................4
6.0 Marketing Materials .................................................................................................................................5
7.0 Web Plan ................................................................................................................................................5
7.1 Social Media Plan ..........................................................................................................................5
8.0 Lead Generation Plan .............................................................................................................................6
8.1 Advertising.....................................................................................................................................6
8.2 Referrals........................................................................................................................................6
9.0 Lead Conversion Plan.............................................................................................................................7
10.0 Service Experience ...............................................................................................................................7
10.1 Loyalty Product/Service Offerings ...............................................................................................7
10.2 WOW Process .............................................................................................................................7
11.0 Marketing Calendar...............................................................................................................................8
11.1 Monthly ........................................................................................................................................8
12.0 Critical Numbers ....................................................................................................................................9
12.1 Sales Forecast ............................................................................................................................9
12.2 Marketing Expense Budget ........................................................................................................11
12.3 Key Marketing Metrics ...............................................................................................................13
13.0 Marketing Training Game....................................................................................................................13
Page 1
Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
We are on a path to becoming the remodeler of choice in our chosen upscale market. Our weekly
all-staff meetings always involve discussion of ways we can improve every aspect of business
and service to reflect this vision.
1.1 Goals
Personal
Income of $275,000
21 days of vacation
National Ethic s in Business award
Top 25 Remodeler
Business
$5 mil revenue
25 design projects
100% 9 or above rating
Strategic
Top 3 in market
10 carpenters
Buy building
Tactical
Redo website
Top 10 for 5 search terms
Column in Home Section
Hire marketing coach
1.2 Purpose
Remodeling is a tough business filled with lots of unkept promises. We will become known as
one of the most ethical service providers in our industry and in business in general. Every
decision we make will be infused with our core ethics.
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
1.3 Picture
It's 3pm on a Tuesday and as I enter the office our design team is meeting with a prospect going
over our process and portfolio. The customer came to us through a customer whose kitchen was
one of the largest we have ever completed. Every aspect of the job went well and in addition
to sending us referrals the owner sends the lead project manager on the job cookies and
Christmas cards.
When I return to my desk I find 3 inquiries and a request for an interview to talk about our
recently instituted green-building process. Shortly I will meet with our customer service team
to talk about this year's customer appreciation project.
A quick glance at the project and key indicators board shows we are well on our way to a record
year and quickly becoming known as the remodeler of choice if you understand that the
remodeling process is as important as project.
My personal projections are based on a 20% increase in income tied to an even larger increase in
revenue.
The business projections are a healthy but realistic 30% increase in business due in large part to
our added design capabilities.
Business
Revenue of $5 million $5,120,000 $5,632,000 $6,195,200
25 Design Projects 25 30 35
100% Ratings of 9 or above 0 yes yes
Tactical
Redo website 0 yes yes
Top 10 for 5 Internet search terms 0 yes yes
Write column for the newpaper Home section 0 12 12
Hire marketing coach 0 0 0
Strategic
Top 3 in market 0 yes yes
10 carpenters on staff 0 ten ten
Buy a building for our business 0 done done
Page 2
Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
You would spot our ideal customer in an older, established neighborhood sending one or
more their children off to college and making plans for tomorrow's volunteer board
committee meeting. They subscribe to urban living, entertainment and design magazines
and entertain often. They belong to an area country club, may own a lake home and attend
church on Sunday. They have remodeled before and are probably looking to stay in their
home for at least 10 more years.
Our ideal customers are homeowners living in upscale, but older, neighborhoods. They value the
remodeling process and creating space for entertaining and large family gatherings. They are
often self-employed with flexible schedules and enjoy playing an active role in the design
phase of their project. The average project size with our ideal customer is $75,000.
Our process is just as important as the completed project. Many companies can get the work
done, but few can get it done in a way that doesn't make you hate the journey.
3.1 Differentiators
Architect on staff
Very experienced design consultants
20-year success history
Carpenters on staff
We want to be seen in the top tier of remodeling contractors competing for the most
prestigious work in town, based on our reputation and our process that includes design and
attention to detail. We will be considered one of the most expensive options, but worth it. If
you've remodeled before, then you know that the process is as important as the project.
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
Professionally designed logo, marketing materials and website. Our brand identity walks a fine line
between rich and sensible. Expensive but valuable.
DesignRemodel
Design only
Our pricing is based on industry-provided data for square foot construction. We constantly
monitor materials cost and averages for our part of the country. Our aim is to be consistently
above industry standard and focus on customer service as opposed to lower-bid work. Our ability
to add design gives us a much more accurate pricing picture for each project.
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
Our marketing assistant is in charge of video for each project and the design and project
consultants collect photos during the project. We also set-up a cam vision camera so a
homeowner can see their project in progress at any time.
Every customer will receive a photo and video shoot of their project before, during and after. We
will turn the video into a short testimonial for web and presentation and create a hardbound
Blurb book for coffee table display after each project.
Our Web presence is a great competitive advantage for us. The images, videos, audios and blogs
will help us create the changing content our site needs and assure that we do very well in the
search engines locally.
We will use our image-rich site as a place for changing content and to display our process and
professional approach as well as tons of useful and changing content.
We will also create an Intranet portal for each customer to view project details and
communication.
Our site and our direct mail program will promote our "Trends" ezine. We will send out customer
and subscriber monthly ezines.
We will employ several blogs as our primary new media tools. We will also post podcast-style
interviews with our best customers on a monthly basis and look to interview design and
manufacturing and other home type experts such as entertainment, wine, chef and even audio
and technology experts.
Page 5
Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
Our lead generation will come from a combination of targeted advertising, monthly PR, and
focus on customers for referrals.
Monthly press announcements to media and contact database. We'll produce a Q and A column
in weekly newspaper Style section as well as a Quarterly big pitch story.
Quarterly direct-mail full-color, oversized postcards to core ZIP codes highlighting before and
after project images. Promote design seminars in each mailing.
8.1 Advertising
Space
Magazine
Home and
Garden Mag
Local PPC
8.2 Referrals
Pardon our dust - 3 letters to neighbors of projects giving details about work and contact for
any issues.
Carpenter for a day - all customers are offered the use of a carpenter for a day for each
referred customer.
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
We plan to bring our prospects into our office for their initial consultation, interrupting the
standard practice in our industry of running out to a home for the first meeting.
This approach will help differentiate us and allow us to properly conduct presentations that
highlight our process and showcase our design expertise.
This approach also shows that we have a very professional staff, office and process - something
that also differentiates us from much of the competition.
We will convert 10% of all leads that make the initial visit to our office.
Highlights of our planned customer experience are presented in the following topics.
We will send hand-written Thank You notes to every prospect that comes to an initial meeting.
We will send gift certificates to all past customers good for $100 off window cleaning from a
strategic partner.
1. Initial meeting in our office to set the tone - video and professional presentation
2. Job site is cleaned up every day at the end of the day - progress note left daily
3. After project:
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
11.1 Monthly
Page 8
Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
Table: Milestones
Milestones
Our sales forecast and marketing expense forecasts are shown in the following tables. We
believe that our tightly focused marketing efforts will yield more serious leads, and that a greater
percentage of these serious leads will be converted into clients by our style of business and
the quality of our work.
Even though interior remodeling is possible all year long, many customers still see it as
seasonal. The sales forecast reflects this as our sales rise and fall. Remodeling projects of homes
and condos are usually one or two month jobs. Changing a commercial building into a residence
takes significantly longer, and usually involves the creation of several condo units within the one
original building. Revenue from this type of project usually comes in installments as the project
can run three to nine months from concept to completion.
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
Sales Monthly
$800,000
$700,000
$600,000
$200,000
$100,000
$0
Month 2 Month 6 Month 10
Month 4 Month 8 Month 12
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
Sales by Year
$6,000,000
$5,000,000
Condo Remodels
$3,000,000
Commercial to Residence Remod
$2,000,000
$1,000,000
$0
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
Our goal is to spend approximately 1% of our forecast sales revenue in marketing expenses.
This is perhaps optimistic. The following table shows a general listing of anticipated recurring
expenses. Additional funds are earmarked for special events, unspecified activities and new
strategies and tactics.
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Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
Website upgrades
$40,000
Project Spotlight/Referral videos
$35,000
Page 12
Remodeling Contractor Marketing Plan
We've listed some key numbers in the following table. We will need to keep a close eye on these,
to see if we meet our own expectations. Some, such as testimonials, can be beyond our control,
since we may do an excellent job for someone, but if they are introverts by nature, we'll never
get them to speak on camera or put themselves into the public eye. We can hope that in
cases such as this these folks will give us good word-of-mouth referrals. If our numbers are off
in too many categories, we may, after proper analysis, have to make substantial changes to
our marketing efforts.
Part of the marketing VPs charge will be ongoing training of the entire staff, in customer
contact, and different techniques to intrigue, entice and satisfy the needs and desires of
prospects. We will develop our skills in encouraging people to decide that they really want to
be our clients.
Our training continues with our carpenters and workers to ensure that the clients are
comfortable during the job, and are delighted with their project's results.
Page 13
Appendix
Table: Sales Forecast
Sales Forecast
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
Sales
Home Remodels 0% $140,000 $150,000 $175,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $175,000 $150,000 $150,000 $100,000
Condo Remodels 0% $125,000 $130,000 $175,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $150,000
Commercial to Residence Remodels 0% $0 $0 $400,000 $0 $0 $0 $200,000 $0 $0 $200,000 $100,000 $0
Total Sales $265,000 $280,000 $750,000 $400,000 $400,000 $400,000 $600,000 $400,000 $375,000 $550,000 $450,000 $250,000
Direct Cost of Sales Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
Home Remodels $70,000 $75,000 $87,500 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $87,500 $75,000 $75,000 $50,000
Condo Remodels $62,500 $65,000 $87,500 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $100,000 $75,000
Commercial to Residence Remodels $0 $0 $200,000 $0 $0 $0 $100,000 $0 $0 $100,000 $50,000 $0
Subtotal Direct Cost of Sales $132,500 $140,000 $375,000 $200,000 $200,000 $200,000 $300,000 $200,000 $187,500 $275,000 $225,000 $125,000
Page 1
Appendix
Table: Marketing Expense Budget
Marketing Expense Budget Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
Website upgrades $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000 $1,000
Project Spotlight/Referral videos $2,000 $2,000 $2,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000 $4,000 $4,000 $4,000 $3,000 $3,000 $3,000
Pardon Our Dust Mailings $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500
Quarterly Direct Mailings $2,550 $0 $0 $2,550 $0 $0 $2,550 $0 $0 $2,550 $0 $0
Monthly Print Advertising $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000 $15,000
Top Quality Color Print Brochures and $7,000 $0 $0 $7,000 $0 $0 $7,000 $0 $7,000 $0 $0 $0
Collaterals
Podcast Production $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500 $500
Design Workshops/ Cooking Classes $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450 $1,450
One Time Events/ Special Events/ $5,000 $12,000 $12,000 $5,000 $12,000 $12,000 $5,000 $12,000 $5,000 $12,000 $12,000 $12,000
Other $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000 $7,000
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total Sales and Marketing Expenses $42,000 $39,450 $39,450 $43,000 $40,450 $40,450 $44,000 $41,450 $41,450 $43,000 $40,450 $40,450
Percent of Sales 15.85% 14.09% 5.26% 10.75% 10.11% 10.11% 7.33% 10.36% 11.05% 7.82% 8.99% 16.18%
Page 2
Appendix
Table: Key Marketing Metrics
Page 3
Appendix
Table: Gap Dashboard
Gap Dashboard
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Month 7 Month 8 Month 9 Month 10 Month 11 Month 12
Personal
Income of $275,000 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917 $22,917
21 Days of vacation 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 3 3
National Ethics in Business Award 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yes 0 0 0
Top 25 Remodeler 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Business
Revenue of $5 million $265,000 $280,000 $750,000 $400,000 $400,000 $400,000 $600,000 $400,000 $375,000 $550,000 $450,000 $250,000
25 Design Projects 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
100% Ratings of 9 or above yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Tactical
Redo website yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Top 10 for 5 Internet search terms 0 0 0 0 0 yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Write column for the newpaper Home 0 yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
section
Hire marketing coach yes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Strategic
Top 3 in market 0 0 0 0 0 yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
10 carpenters on staff seven seven eight ten ten ten ten ten ten ten ten ten
Buy a building for our business 0 0 0 0 yes 0 0 0 0 0 0 done
Page 4