Building upon our “How to Become a Licensed Contractor” blog post, today we examine more of the details behind prerequisites for obtaining a contractor license.

Contractor License Requirements and Their Influence in the Construction Industry

Contractor license requirements differ from state to state. However, there are a few prequalification requirements that, generally speaking, are consistent across state boundaries. Consistent standards include age requirements, the level of education required, certification of U.S. citizenship or foreign residency, company registration, documentation of other occupational licensing an applicant holds, and documentation that proves one’s identity.

Generally speaking, contractor licenses have to be renewed every two years, but this also varies from state to state. Regardless of someone’s experience in the construction industry, these contractor license requirements typically apply to four groups of applicants:

• Applicants who are new to the construction industry and looking to become more active in it
• Applicants who have experience in some sectors of the construction industry (e.g., roofing) and are looking for certification for taking on work in other sectors
• Highly experienced construction professionals who are renewing their licensing or certification because their expiration date has passed
• Construction professionals or companies that will be performing work in a state that is outside their state of business registration

For companies that are looking to do work outside their state of registration, it is important to register ahead of time so that deadlines for bids or work initiation do not creep up and cause timing issues. Having deadlines such as these overlap with the time in which a building company is getting its license can create logistical, business-related, and ethical issues.

Qualifications for Becoming a Contractor

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• Age requirements- Many states require that an applicant be at least 18 years of age upon application. At the federal level, according to the Department of Labor the Fair Labor Standards Act, 14 is the minimum age for most non-farm work. However, some state laws are “tighter” in their restrictions and set the bar at 16 years of age or higher. The reason why age requirements for getting a contractor license are higher than minimum age labor standards is because of the degree of responsibility involved with contractor certification. Many applicants for contractor licensing are people who have grown up in the construction industry and are looking now to branch out on their own. Licensing therefore becomes not just a matter of allowing contractors to be employed, but also to start and run their own businesses.
• High school-level education or equivalent- When applying for a license, an applicant typically takes a written exam or two at some point. Many states have over 40 classifications of different contractor licenses available. The examinations for each of these licenses can be quite broad, and measure an applicant’s competency in finances, licensing and bonding, and other knowledge-intensive areas. A dedicated contractor can learn the ins-and-outs of these areas with hard work and focus. But education is a key resource in making sure that an applicant is able to understand and handle these details with competence. That is why many state laws spell out having a high school education or GED certification as one of their minimal qualifying standards.
• Evidence of legal residency or citizenship in the United States- This is a requirement that is in line with state and federal laws for employment. It is also a measure that helps cut down on legal complications when cases of liability or other workplace issues arise. A valid ID or proof of residency will therefore be required for meeting this standard.
• Documentation of other occupational licensing- This standard helps state agencies keep track of the construction sectors a building company is involved in. Documentation of other occupational licensing also helps to further solidify an applicant’s credibility. For some states, having an occupational license in another state can help speed up an applicant’s approval process. For instance, the state of California gives contractors who are licensed in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah the option of “reciprocity”, or being able to obtain a California contractor’s license without taking an exam. Reciprocity or similar options, though, may apply to only specific contractor classifications.
• Company registration with the Secretary of State office or equivalent- Business registration is another key factor of obtaining approval. Aside from the marketing benefits of having a name for one’s construction business, having the company registered with the state ensures legal compliance. It also strengthens a construction business’ credibility. There are multiple options for how a company can be structured, with different financial and legal benefits and drawbacks attached to each company structure. Check with your Secretary of State office, or the agency that handles company registration, for more information and the pros and cons of each company structuring.
• State-specific basic requirements- On top of these requirements, many states require proof of prior construction experience, a threshold for prior experience in the trade an applicant is applying for or a similar trade, bonding and criminal background checks, and reference letters from previous employers, among other things. With these requirements in place, you may have to prove that you have the financial means necessary for running a construction business, document that you do have on-the-job experience in a given trade, and show that you have personal credibility for offering services in that trade to begin with. Liability insurance, worker compensation, and other risk management plans and measures may also be required depending on the state’s laws. In some states, property insurance and other specialized insurance coverage may also be required.

After the Basic Requirements for Contractor Licensing

Because the contractor licensing application process can be so detailed, it may help to get assistance and verify the requirements that apply in the state where you intend to work.

Choice Roof Contractor Group is a nationwide alliance of independently owned commercial roofing contractors. Members benefit from shared knowledge, sales and marketing resources, professional connections, and the experience of a larger contractor network.

If you are interested in commercial roofing, you can learn more about the group and its membership benefits and support.

Be sure to check out our e-book about making it big in commercial roofing, too.

Today, we briefly examine why social media is important for local roofing companies and 3 social media platforms that roof contractors should be active on.

Why is Social Media so Important?

With the Internet, people now have tons of new ways to communicate. Social media platforms have emerged as leading ways for people to interact with each other without the barriers of time or distance. There have never been greater opportunities for engaging prospects and converting them into customers.

• Approximately 1 out of every 4 minutes spent online is spent on social media.
• Almost one-half of all Facebook users, which nowadays totals over 1 billion users, log into their Facebook accounts on a daily basis.
• 56% of Americans have a social media profile.
• 22% of Americans use social media daily.
• 64% of Americans say social media affects their purchasing decisions.
• 47% of Americans say that Facebook is the most influential social media platform on their purchasing decisions.

Any business that is not engaging these active users is simply missing out on generating free leads. This does not mean that social media should take up lots of time; just that some time and attention can pay off in the long run.

4 Social Media Platforms for Roofing Contractors

Now, let us take a look at which social media platforms are great opportunities for roof contractors.

1. Facebook

Facebook is perhaps the most important social media platform because of its number of users and how well the pages show up in Google searches. Many contractors who are new to Facebook also find it easier to use than other social media platforms. It is not a bad idea to begin posting content on a weekly basis—start off slow and post content such as pictures or blog posts that explain a part of the roofing industry in clear, plain terms. Gear your content toward your audience—consider how you would see the content if you were in their shoes. Build up your online community on Facebook, and your content will appear with greater frequency in Facebook users’ social feeds. Then you can more fully benefit from your efforts and be more successful in generating leads. Be sure to ask satisfied customers for positive reviews on your Facebook page, too. If you need posting ideas, feel free to reach out as we have a bunch of them!

2. LinkedIn

LinkedIn represents a prime opportunity for commercial roof contractors. Because it is a professional social network, interactions on this social media platform will mostly be business-oriented or professionally-oriented. LinkedIn also offers in-depth options for searching for users based on heavily broken down demographics. Among other things, you can search for users based on certain keywords within their profile, users’ job titles, number of employees at a company or place of employment, people located within certain distances of a specific zip code or location, and so much more. Other ways that you can leverage LinkedIn include building a referral network or connecting with other experts in your area. Established, lasting relationships can lead to great future business opportunities, and LinkedIn is prime territory for breaking the ice with key decision-makers and influencers.

3. Twitter

Like Facebook, Twitter is the one of the most mainstream social media platforms today. You don’t have as much room for composing messages, or “tweets”, but the opportunities for building relationships with major brands or valuable contacts on this platform can be numerous. Because it is much more “in-the-moment” with its content-sharing than other platforms, Twitter can be a great place for your to share engaging content and have that content be quickly shared by others with their online audiences. Should you be looking to establish key business relationships, Twitter can represent a good opportunity for building a foundation as well. Locate key decision-makers at an organization that could benefit from your roofing services and then build credibility through interactions with them.

3. YouTube

Most people don’t think of YouTube as a social media platform, but it certainly deserves a spot on this list. The social side comes from the ability of leaving comments on videos, but the main reason to post on YouTube is for the visibility you can gain from search engines. In addition to the video possibly showing up in a general Google search along with other websites, it’s been proven that having links within a YouTube video back to your own website will help build its favor with the algorithms. Also, it’s important to remember that millions of people use the YouTube search engine when wanting to learn about new things. If a building owner in your area wants to better understand coatings, will you be there on YouTube to show up?

Interested in learning more about effective social media strategies or great marketing strategies in general? Give us a call today at 800-670-5583, and one of the contractors will be happy to discuss ways our group can give you a whole new level of marketing support and ideas.

Today, we go over the dynamics of the marketing world for the roofing industry.

Marketing. It is one of those words that roof contractors come across all the time. Despite all of the innovations that have come forward in marketing and advertising, nothing beats the power of word-of-mouth referrals. A stellar reputation for honesty, quality workmanship, and great customer service still goes a long way in any part of the building industry— especially commercial roofing.

With the timely arrival of new methods of communication, though, interacting with prospects, leads, and customers has become far less difficult. With communication avenues such as social media and texting, the barriers of time and space no longer hold as much sway in whether or not a roofing marketing campaign is effective.

Consumer surveys now show the power of the Internet in customers’ decision-making process: 98% of Americans say that they look for local businesses online using a search engine. There are 1+ billion active users on Facebook alone in any given month, and every 20 minutes users share 1 million links on Facebook, make 2 million friend requests, and send 3 million messages.

It is clear that people are interacting on these platforms. With so much “buzz” going on, it makes sense for roofing contractors to be there as well. Otherwise, these missed interaction opportunities mean lost business.

Roofing Marketing and Opportunities on the Web

Because so many people are finding these social media platforms and other digital methods of communication so appealing, roofing contractors can take advantage of this hubbub of social activity as well. The foundational principle that stands behind effective marketing strategies with these platforms is no secret, either—to be successful, a roof contractor must simply demonstrate that he is reputable. As is the case with word-of-mouth advertising, reputation is king.

For solid marketing strategies for roofing contractors, it is optimal to consider the following tips and ideas.

Three Marketing Tips and Ideas for Roofing Contractors

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Make sure that your website is crisp and professional. It should have plenty of quality images that show “before”, “during”, and “after” pictures of your roofing jobs. Make sure that you and your workers are professionally dressed and at work when a photo is taken of your roofing job. Every word on your website should be directed toward informing consumers and enticing them to use your services—elsewise, the wording is not needed. Do not neglect the power of “roofing SEO” either—SEO refers to search engine optimization, or how you get a website at the top of search engines like Google or Yahoo. A well-ranked website can generate lots of free leads who need service immediately.

2.  Get active on social media like Facebook, Google+, and Twitter. With so many people active on social media, it makes sense for roof contractors to be there as well. It is especially important to become active on Google+. Among many other benefits, being active on Google+ has a direct bearing on how you appear in search rankings on Google, easily the world’s most popular search engine. Google+ social media interactions—and the data behind them—are open to Google’s search ranking algorithms, or the ways Google determines the search rankings of websites. Other social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter do not make their data as accessible, and therefore do not have as direct an impact.

Becoming active on social media may seem time-consuming. But it does not take much to start out. Post pictures of roofing jobs weekly. Keep your “followers” engaged by issuing personalized messages during key parts of the year, such as the holidays. We offer more tips for navigating social media and making good use of it in a prior blog post, too. Above all, keep in mind two fundamental principles: demonstrate your work quality and examples of quality service, and engage your followers. Do not post updates about your roofing company alone, but also content that will be educational for your followers. You will build up your credibility more that way and won’t get ignored.

3.  Learn the ins-and-outs of LinkedIn, and leverage it for full advantage. Yes, LinkedIn is another social media platform. Why does this platform deserve mention by itself? Because it is a gold mine for quality leads. At present, there are over 259 million LinkedIn users from over 200 countries across the globe. Many of those users are in the United States, and LinkedIn is the premier social networking platform for professionals. That means that people who are decision-makers or potential referral partners are on there—and likely actively using it.

Learn how to use this amazing resource for full benefit. Just consider this tip and the potential it can hold for your marketing alone: check out LinkedIn Groups. There are groups or online communities on LinkedIn that are wholly devoted to particular areas or professional focuses. Find the groups or associations that your customer profile demographics fall into, and join them and engage them with quality, educational content. Take time to build “online relationships”, and you may see more leads coming your way than ever before.

Roofing Contractor Marketing Support and Our Platform

For other effective roofing marketing ideas, give us a call at 800-670-5583. We will be happy to help you with your needs and show how we support our members with our full-service platform.

We also offer a free commercial roofing e-book filled with information on how to build and maintain a strong, profitable roofing business.