50 Ways to Market Your Designation

How many of these marketing tips are you already incorporating into your marketing strategy? Perhaps some of these will give you a few good ideas. Thank you to all who contributed their best practices!

1. Print business cards with logo and designation displayed.
   
   
2. Post jobsite signs including the CGR logo.
   
   
3. Have clean and labeled trucks- they are your traveling billboards.
   
   
4. Keep clean jobsites — your clients will appreciate it and spread the word.
   
5. Send thank you’s to your clients with business cards for referrals.
   
   
6. Supply staff uniforms displaying your name/logo.
   
   
7. Compile examples of your work, awards, designations, mission, etc., for a portfolio to share with clients.
   
   
8. Document all remodeling work you do including all change orders.
   
   
9. Participation in home shows.
   
   
10. Place ads in home show programs.
    
    
11. Belong to organizations such as the Rotary club, your local HBA — you may gain exposure from radio, TV media seeking industry information.
    
    
12. Enter award competitions as a tool to promote to customers.
    
    
13. Develop relationships with real estate agents, subcontractors, bankers, architects, builders, landscape companies, and other specialty remodelers to build a referral base and market back to them.
    
    
14. Produce radio commercials.
    
    
15. Produce TV commercials.
    
    
16. Generate referrals from previous customers.
    
    
17. Generate referrals from other sources including your fellow Remodelors Council members.
    
    
18. Send out press releases to local media.
    
    
19. Promote your warranty on the work you do.
    
    
20. Explain your designation on the back of your business card.
    
    
21. Listen to customers’ concerns about remodelers, and use CGR’s business management focus to set yourself apart, and emphasize your business’ stability.
    
    
22. Encourage your customer to contact NAHB for more information on CGR.
    
    
23. Write an article for an industry publication and keep it in your portfolio.
    
    
24. Present consumer seminars.
    
    
25. Teach an adult education class.
    
    
26. Participate in charitable events.
    
    
27. Send direct mail postcards.
    
    
28. Create letterhead, change order forms, and receipts with your logo and designation displayed.
    
    
29. Have customers complete an evaluation when the project is complete.
    
    
30. Give a small gift to someone who has given you a successful referral.
    
    
31. Create a coupon that your customer gives to a referral.
    
    
32. Print ads in newspapers, magazines, community newsletters.
    
    
33. Create a Web site.
    
    
34. Send out a newsletter to customers or those in your target market with the latest trends, ideas, and ways you have added value to your company.
    
35. Go to www.esribis.com/reports/ziplookup.html. By entering a U.S. postal zip code, you can get a glimpse about the demographics of that particular market. You can use this information to plan more effective direct mailings!
    
    
36. When you price a job, or provide an estimate, add a percentage for your marketing budget. Then, when you collect your money, be sure to set aside the percentage for marketing.
    
    
37. Throw in-home parties hosted by recent customers.
    
    
38. Send postcards to project neighbors.
    
    
39. Market the visitability aspect of your work.
    
    
40. Contact manufacturers of major products used in the renovation and ask them to promote your project on their Web sites, in national publications or possibly by creating a case study brochure.
    
    
41. Participate in May is Remodeling Month.
    
    
42. Participate in your local Parade of Homes.
    
    
43. Participate in your local Council’s community service projects.
    
    
44. Join the Remodelor 20 Club: www.nahb.org/20clubs.
    
    
45. Generate a flyer or brochure with testimonials from your customers.
    
    
46. Create value proposition — what does a customer get from CGR?
    
    
47. Send a press release to your local newspaper about your designation renewal.
    
    
48. Encourage your local association to promote National Designation Month by submitting articles about local designation holders (including you) to your local newspaper.
    
    
49. Attend and participate in trade shows.
    
    
50. Use a logo embosser on all documents.

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