Below, we examine five ways commercial roof contractors can strengthen their roofing marketing for better business promotion. More business promotion means more market exposure, and that means greater chances for “hooking” prospects and leads.

Steps for More Effective Roofing Marketing

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• • Sign up for Google+ as soon as possible. With roof contractors’ busy schedules, spending time on social media may seem like a waste of time. But Google+ has a strong impact on how much and where a business shows up in search rankings on search engines like Google. As many as 9 out of 10 Americans rely upon the Internet to find out about local businesses, and if you do not have a website or are inactive on social media, you are missing out on free opportunities for generating leads. Our partner, Top Roof Marketing offers some great-but-quick thoughts on why being active on Google+ is so essential.
  • If you are on social media, try to become more active. Your activity on social media does not have to be extensive. At the minimum, posting quality content with website links at least once a week is good. However, as is the case with many other things, the more effort you put into your social media efforts, the more you will get out of it. Post pictures of projects you have completed recently so customers and prospects can see the quality of your work. Posting tips for your customers that will educate them more about your industry will help as well- it will build your reputation as a credible authority, and people will be more likely to approach you about using your services. More tips for social media can be found at our Social Media for Roofing Contractors page. For our nationwide contractor network, we recommend that our members post the content we put out and “like” and “share” this content as much as possible. Doing so helps boost our search rankings more, and that gives our members even more roofing leads, among other exclusive benefits.
  • Educate yourself about what is available for marketing. As the old saying goes, “knowledge is power”, and that is just as true in the roofing industry. Many fly-by-night marketing firms or roofing lead generation companies will offer free “marketing guru” advice that may seem beneficial for your roofing company at first glance. But those marketing strategies may not be all that effective in reality—some marketing firms are just looking to build up their business as much as possible without crafting marketing campaigns that are really tailored to roofing contractors’ needs. When someone approaches you about ideas for things like digital marketing—especially “SEO marketing” and “social media marketing”—being at least aware of what is involved with those strategies will help you discern who is genuinely interested in meeting your needs. Plus, you can learn of ways to take advantage of these marketing tools yourself.

• Evaluate your marketing efforts and objectives. Sometimes even established roofing companies need revamping. Start by taking a look at your business objectives for the year- how much do you hope to grow your business by? Think in terms of gross sales revenue for the year as well as quantifiable measures for customer retention and the number of leads brought in. Then take a look at the marketing strategies you are using to get your roofing company’s name out there. Are you doing any advertising? What are you doing for that? What is your Return on Investment (ROI)? Your customer acquisition cost (basically, the overall per-customer cost of methods used to get a lead’s attention and then convert him or her to a customer)? Use objective benchmarks to measure your marketing’s effectiveness, and do not be afraid to turn to new strategies or campaigns for greater possible gains.
• Look for creative ways to attract leads. This is perhaps the most important and most actionable item of these five suggestions. With the arrival of new marketing tools like LinkedIn, there are many ways in which you can reach out to prospects and attract their attention like never before. LinkedIn in particular represents a great opportunity for commercial roof contractors. Many important decision-makers are active on LinkedIn, including business owners, property managers, and key figures in settings like architecture firms or real estate firms. Because these people are accessible through LinkedIn, it makes sense to use this platform for developing key connections that can lead to commercial roof projects. Be sure to check out and learn more about LinkedIn as a way for generating leads for your commercial roofing company.

Interested in Learning More?

Should you be interested in learning more ways you can take your roofing marketing to the next level, call us today at 800-670-5583. Contractor members have direct access to commercial roofing veterans who share how to build a strong, profitable roofing business.

When a building owner has a commercial roof installed or repaired, thereafter it may become the last thing he or she thinks of. But since a commercial roof is one of the most important components of a building—after all, it protects the building’s interior space and contents from harm—it is important to make sure it remains in tip-top shape.

For an almost-maintenance-free roof, check out the reasons for why a roof maintenance program is important below.

Reasons Why a Roof Maintenance Program Is Necessary

• Regular roof inspections and maintenance mean fewer roof repair or replacement bills. No matter what type of commercial roof you may have, it is likely the roof will encounter problems at some point in time. Common commercial roofing problems include roof leaks, roof punctures or tears, moisture trapped under a roof cover, and others. While these are problems-in-themselves, they can also be indicators of bigger roofing issues at play or that are developing. A regular roof maintenance program will identify signs of trouble before bigger issues arise, helping you cut down on expensive roof repair bills or, if the problems are substantial, cost-heavy roof replacement. That ultimately results in more savings in your pocket.
• Frequent roof inspections will extend the life of your roof. Because current troubles and future problems are taken care with regular roof maintenance, your roof will be free of roof life-altering complications that would otherwise arise as a result of those problems. In the long run, when your roof does need to be serviced it will be likely to have only small repair needs as a result of your tenacity.
• A roof maintenance program will identify potential causes of roofing problems. Among other things, sitting pools of water or sitting debris can be causes of roofing problems. A regular roof maintenance program will help you keep your roof free of debris, and help you quickly take care of the ponding water before it affects the roof cover and causes leaks. As is the cause with services in other industries, preventative actions will greatly help in the elimination of sources of roofing trouble.
• Having your roof regularly inspected will help in making sure skylights are properly secured. If a skylight is unsecure or not well-sealed around its framing edge, leaks can penetrate and dislodge a skylight from the roof cover. In turn, when a skylight is dislodged, rain and debris can enter a building during storms with powerful winds or other extreme weather conditions. Making sure that all skylights are suitably secure and well-sealed in a regular roof inspection plan, therefore, will help you save time and money in costly debris pickup and disposal.

Choosing a professional roof contractor who is licensed, bonded, and insured (or satisfies the professional contractor requirements for the state in which you reside) is best for ensuring that you enjoy the benefits above. We do offer tips for consideration when hiring a roof contractor.

Should you want a free local roof inspection, give us a call at 800-670-5583.  We will also be happy to discuss the non-prorated warranties covering labor and material costs that back the high-performance, energy-efficient Conklin roof systems we use.

A roofing contractor association or Choice Roof Contractor Group… how should a roofer decide which is better for giving him support? In a nutshell: by looking at the benefits offered by membership in each. We take a look at the benefits offered by each organization.

Before we take that step, though, let’s briefly review what makes up a roofing contractor association and cover some of the associations that exist in the United States.

What is a Roofing Contractor Association?

A roofing contractor association is a professional trade association that serves roof contractors with common interests or in a certain geographic area. Many of these associations are not-for-profit organizations and also function as representation for roofing companies in a number of areas, including public policymaking, sectors within the construction industry, and more. It is not unusual for this type of organization to represent other parties than roof contractors, either. For example: the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is one of the oldest and most well-known trade associations in the construction industry. It represents residential and commercial roofing contractors across the United States, along with roofing industry-related businesses and other service providers or stakeholders. International parties are also welcome to join.

Other such associations cover a “tighter” geographic area, often representing only roof contractors in a more localized area. For instance, the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association is one of the largest multi-state roofing contractor associations in the United States. As its name shows, it serves and represents roof contractors located in the Midwestern United States. Other associations for roof contractors are available at state, regional, or even local levels, such as the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association, North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, and San Diego Roofing Contractors Association.

Roofing Contractor Association vs. Nationwide Contractor Network

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Both a roofing contractor association and Choice Roof Contractor Group have their unique benefits and advantages. But what exactly are these? To answer this question, we can look at several of the ways a trade association and a contractor network may differ.

• Membership structure. Trade associations and contractor networks may use different membership models, dues structures, eligibility requirements, and benefits. Contractors should review the current terms of each organization and compare them based on their own business needs.
• Advocacy and industry representation. Organizations such as the NRCA may provide advocacy, education, industry information, networking opportunities, conventions, directories, and other professional resources. Choice Roof Contractor Group focuses more directly on contractor-to-contractor connections, shared practical knowledge, sales and marketing resources, partner introductions, and ongoing support within a nationwide commercial roofing network.
• Professional connections and shared experience. A national association can give contractors access to broad educational and networking opportunities. Choice Roof Contractor Group also provides opportunities for members to connect with other commercial roofing contractors, exchange practical experience, discuss business strategies, and learn from one another.
• Resources and business support. Different organizations offer different combinations of educational materials, events, publications, networking, discounts, sales resources, marketing guidance, and other services. Choice Roof Contractor Group provides members with resources such as shared knowledge, sales and marketing materials, professional connections, partner introductions, and ongoing support.
• Membership requirements and fit. Contractors should also compare the qualifications and expectations associated with each organization. Choice Roof Contractor Group members are required to have third-party training or certification, provide proof of insurance, demonstrate professional business conduct, and commit to the group’s values.

Concluding Thoughts

In conclusion, both roofing contractor associations and contractor networks can offer meaningful value to commercial roof contractors. The best fit depends on what a contractor is looking for, whether that is industry advocacy, education, broad professional networking, contractor-to-contractor collaboration, sales and marketing resources, or other forms of business support.

In many cases, participation in a trade association and a contractor network can complement each other. Contractors should take a close look at each organization’s current requirements, benefits, and resources and decide which combination best supports their business goals.

For more information about Choice Roof Contractor Group, visit our Contractor Network page.

With economic conditions remaining tight, building owners are more selective than ever about whom they let on their commercial roofs. That is with good reason, of course. Roofing is a big expense, and if a roof service is done poorly or improperly, the expense can easily become bigger.

In lieu of this reality, many roof contractors may find it difficult to get roof maintenance contracts with building owners. But that does not mean that roof contractors should refrain from pursuing them. Maintenance contractors, after all, are an ongoing source of revenue. Because a roof has maintenance demands throughout a year’s time, the contractor who obtains the contract will have ongoing work. In turn, ongoing work means more gross revenue coming in.

Below, we examine some ways in which commercial roof contractors can better position themselves for getting maintenance contracts from building owners.

How to Get Maintenance Contracts

Free Guide: How to Switch to Commercial

These are just a few of the many ways to land maintenance contracts with building owners, helping you be a step above other contractors in your area. 

 Call us today at 800-670-5583 to learn more about how we can help you obtain short-term and long-term gains.  We’re happy to help every way that we can.

Many roofing companies offer free commercial roof inspections. These inspections are oftentimes no-obligation and give commercial roof contractors the opportunity to show building owners their expertise and value.

However, where many – if not most – contractors differ from each other is the quality of the free inspection they offer. Fly-by-night or less-than-stellar roofing companies may perform roof inspections that are quick or hardly comprehensive in order to increase their number of bids within an area or seemingly maximize their time. But any roof inspection that is done too quickly or anything less than the utmost awareness and precision can spell disaster for a building owner’s needs. After all, if a roof’s issues or developing problems are not identified, then what will prevent those issues from arising in the short-run or long-run?

Below, we cover 9 steps for how Choice Roof Contractors complete in-depth roof inspections with building owners’ needs in mind.

Steps for How to Inspect a Commercial Roof

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2.      Closely examining building records and interviewing the building’s occupants. As is common sense, any existing plans of a building’s layout will be tremendously helpful in assessing a roof’s condition. A savvy roofing company would therefore seek out any original plans and specifications. Additionally, another key component of interacting with the building’s occupants and asking if they know of any current or prospective issues. Do they know of any leaks? If so, how often does the roof leak? In what weather conditions does the leaking appear? How long has the leak been taking place? Asking as many questions as possible to gauge the situation is crucial.
 
3.      Carefully inspecting the roof’s interior system. Having completed the second step, a reliable commercial roof contractor would then closely examine and evaluate the roof’s interior system. Among other things, he will be looking for signs of rust or water stains, structural defects, noticeable corrosion or weaknesses, and the type and condition of mechanical fasteners that come from the roof deck. Known roofing leaks should also be examined inside of the building for determination of the leak source or presence of any issues such as roof splits. Aside from this inspection component’s value in the possible early identification of any issues, this step will also let the contractor know of which areas he should be careful traversing.
 
4.      Inspecting the building envelope. Before proceeding to the roof’s top deck, a commercial roof contractor should make a general inspection of the building envelope. The presence of out-of-the-ordinary defects, such as pre-cast panels tilting or cracks in building features around corners, window openings, or doors may be evidence of structural movement or structural problems. These features will vary from building to building, of course. Any indicators of water entry along the building features such as the building’s masonry should also be taken note of for determining if anything may be wrong with the building’s gutters, down spots, or other relevant building features.
 
5.      Inspecting the rooftop. Now is the time for the contractor to switch his efforts to the top of the building. The information he gained from the original plans and specifications will be invaluable here. A close inspection of the rooftop will begin with a general lookover of the rooftop for any debris, standing pools of water, signs of abuse or wear-and-tear, or even vegetation, as these can be indicators of long-term problems.
 
6.      Inspecting the roof perimeter and then the roof field. Once the general overview is finished, a contractor should examine the roof perimeter as that is where most leaks and other roof problems occur. In this stage, things such as counter flashings, base flashings, coping, and coping joints will be closely examined. A roof contractor will also examine the gutters. Once the perimeter check is complete, the roof’s main body is next. Pools of water can be indicators of poor roof design or construction. Should the roof be a membranous roof like an EPDM roof, the contractor will examine the membrane’s surface for its condition. Are there any signs of debris or dirt build-up? Any signs of excessive or lacking amounts of surfacing layers such as gravel? A careful contractor will take note of all small details, as they can be clues to any issues at play.
 
7.      Inspecting roof-based accessories and equipment. Sometimes leaks can come from equipment or accessories that have been poorly installed or are in poor condition. A careful roof contractor will examine areas including drains, seals, flashing, and other key areas as is relevant to that particular roof’s type.
 
8.      Determining multiple options for action. Once a contractor has completed all of these steps, he then comes up with solutions that are tailored toward the roof’s specific needs. A customer needs-focused contractor will present the building owner with multiple options that can fit his needs, make suggestions as to which are the best, and offer that advisement with the building owner’s budgetary concerns in mind. This is where the roof contractor can show the building owner what he can bring to the table.
 
9.      Submitting a proposal for the agreed-upon roofing solutions. Should the building owner be impressed with the roof contractor’s assessment and expertise, the contractor can then move forward with a proposal for action. The solutions agreed upon will include quotes for work to be done, estimated times of project initiation and completion, and other key details.
 

Choice Roof Contractors abide by these strict quality standards in their roof inspections as well as all other facets of their commercial roof services. Call us today at 800-670-5583 to learn why one of our standout network members can be the perfect fit for your needs and wallet.