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The Contractor Coaching Partnership Blog

Contractor Lead Gen Forum on Linkedin

Posted by Mark Paskell on Sun, May 03, 2009 @ 11:00 PM

This past week I posted a simple question on the Linkedin NARI group. It was, should contractor organizations and trade publications lead the charge to protect contractors from lead gen companies tactics. Little did I realize, that the thread hit a nerve in a big way with many contractors throughout the country. The responses blew me away and started a strong and passionate debate about the subject. This debate is likely to continue for weeks. The basic problem is how lead gen sites use questionable tactics to sell low quality leads to contractors. There are thousands of verifiable complaints about lead gen firms all over the web on forums.

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Tags: Linkedin, marketing, NARI, Contractor, business coaching, sales training

Use an effective contractor sales process to win more jobs.

Posted by Mark Paskell on Fri, Feb 20, 2009 @ 07:50 PM

In today's competitive construction market it is harder and harder to win jobs without an effective sales process and sales training. Just a few years ago a decent contractor who showed up on time, talked well, looked good and had a decent bedside manner had no problem getting plenty of jobs. Most contractors with little or no formal sales training were very busy. The residential contractor now knows that being a simple order taker is no longer good enough in this market. It is critical to have an effective sales process and sales training to win jobs from the new consumer. The chances of succeeding without an effective sales process and training is small. In addition, the cost of leads has skyrocketed. Can you really afford to blow a lead?

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Tags: sales process, contractor coaching, residential contractors, sales training

Working on your business during the slow times

Posted by Mark Paskell on Mon, Jan 19, 2009 @ 01:20 AM

With the winter upon us, now is the perfect time to work on your business. With a down economy and the normal slowdown of remodeling work during the winter, now is the time to be reviewing and analyzing our entire business. We can be proactive and use this time to make changes to our business to be in a competitive position when the slowdown is over. The economy will turn around and those companies who are prepared for the inevitable increase in leads and business, will be ready to take advantage of a new and ever demanding customer. They will be anxious to catch up on long delayed projects. Many people are holding off on desired projects due to the uncertainty in the economy. This pent up demand will be released and the professional improved companies will be ready to take advantage of the opportunity. If you are not prepared you will miss out.

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Tags: mark the coach, NARI, contractor coach, marketing plan, business plan, sales training

I want to be a carpenter, not a salesman.

Posted by Mark Paskell on Mon, Dec 08, 2008 @ 09:00 AM

Today's residential homeowner construction market has tightened and leads for contracting services are scarce. Leads are more precious than ever. Many remodeling companies were founded by carpenters and tradesman with little or no formal training in sales. You are very good at building things, you are an expert at crafting and your miter joints are perfect. You started out working for someone else only to find you were treated poorly, paid less than what you are worth with no benefits and blamed for the mistakes of the owner. You said the heck with this crap and you started your own remodeling business. After all you can do better and you won't treat your people that way.

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Tags: contractors, Contractor Business Coach, Residential Construction, sales training