NEW! Commercial Construction Platform

                                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Amy B. Zucchi
Principal, The Karlyn Group
Marketing & PR for Best Project Data
Email

A NEW ONLINE PLATFORM HELPS THE LOCAL COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FIND PROJECTS AND CONNECT WITH PARTICIPATING TRADES.

Hudson Valley, New York, August 13, 2020. Best Project Data, a new online project lead service for the commercial construction industry launches in the Hudson Valley. Best Project Data provides general contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers, surety bond companies and professional service companies with the most up-to-date information on major public and private projects going on throughout the Hudson Valley.

“Now, more than ever it’s hard to find out about and quickly respond to construction jobs. That is why we built Best Project Data, a construction lead website that collects and distributes information on public and larger private jobs in Westchester, Rockland, Sullivan, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, Greene and Columbia counties,” informs Michael Justice, principal and developer of BEST. Project Data.

Contractors are rarely in the office and have typically relied on word of mouth to get business. The internet took longer to infiltrate the industry, but many still don’t have the time to devote the hours needed to search for projects to bid on. Best Project Data aggregates projects from dozens of sources including websites, municipalities, associations, state agencies, developers, etc.; but it doesn’t end there. Members can set daily alerts that will target their exact specialty, review plan holders as well as project updates in real-time, have information about projects so they can bid quickly and accurately and, never miss work again—which is especially important in today’s economic climate.

How Best Project Data got its name. Most national lead services don’t cover private projects well (if at all) and they miss a lot of jobs in the Hudson Valley. “We’re here in the Hudson Valley and turn over every stone to make sure we have enough jobs to keep you and your team working, We provide full contact information, plans, whatever we have or can find to get you the information you need to try and work on the project,” adds Michael.

Michael has been building software programs since he was a teenager and has a background in finance and expediting. In 2010 Michael was brought on to lead a team of developers to re-build and re-engineer a similar, well-known platform covering NY, NJ and DE.

To learn more about Best Project Data visit www.bestprojectdata.com.

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ARE YOU A THOUGHT LEADER?

Do you have what it takes to be a Thought Leader? Content marketing produces quality content and solves industry challenges. Being an influencer gains “followers” as opposed to an audience and doesn’t typically add original ideas. To be a Thought Leader you take everything to the next level.

WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A THOUGHT LEADER?

  • First, make sure you have expertise in your niche
  • Second, incorporate original thoughts in your content
  • Next, produce helpful and informative content
  • Comes up with authentic solutions
  • You begin to be recognized and referenced by colleagues
  • The title of “Thought Leader” is earned by being credible
  • Build relationships with other experts inside and outside the niche
  • Respects all levels of people in your industry
  • Gain an “audience” not followers
  • Focuses on target audience AND their competition

So, if you have any of the above characteristics, you are on your way to becoming a Thought Leader.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A THOUGHT LEADER?

  • Free marketing
  • Other Thought Leaders and Influencers will share your content
  • People outside your niche will reference you
  • Asked to participate in seminars and on panel discussions
  • Adds credibility to your brand
  • Community members / influencers may recommend you
  • You become a “go-to” source
  • Able to charge higher prices for your services

As you can see the results are impressive from becoming a thought leader. Your marketing can improve without needing to spend as much as you had in the past.

HOW TO USE A THOUGHT LEADERSHIP MARKETING STRATEGY:

  • Firstly, identify other leaders in your industry
  • Secondly, consistently compete with their content
  • Thirdly, have the time and money to invest
  • Fourthly, and most importantly, promote your content in all available avenues

To be a thought leader, you have to commit to it…it won’t happen overnight. For instance, putting out one blog a month won’t get you there. Speaking at one event is helpful, but you need consistency.

GOALS OF THOUGHT LEADERSHIP:

  • Present yourself as a confident intelligent source
  • Open people up to new ways of thinking
  • Help people make sense of content they’re already familiar with
  • Consistently be able to create and distribute content
  • Communication (Website, emails, blogs, podcasts, YouTube etc..)

In conclusion, to be a successful Thought Leader you need to be a consistent, creative, confident communicator. By sharing quality content over time, using different resources you will have the power to influence an entire industry.

Contact our office…

Want to find out more how you can become a thought leader? Contact The Karlyn Group for a free consultation. The Karlyn Group has focused heavily on getting involved in the local community. Local clients include law firms, personal chefs, a Buddhist Temple, health trainers and other professional service companies.

Cutting Corners Can Hamper Growth. Why you need to Invest in Your Marketing.

When owning or running a business, you want people to purchase what you’re producing! Many small business owners underestimate the power of a good marketing plan. Time and again, marketing is cut it out of the budget completely or a family member/intern is tasked to “take care of it with minimal spend going toward talent and advertising.” Understanding YOUR target market is crucial when creating your Website, social media voice, company logo, location of ads, etc. Handing this off to someone without experience is incredibly risky when you are trying to make a name for yourself.

You need a solid game plan if you are stepping into the ring of digital Marketing. Think of this as the ABC’s of your plan of attack. Consumers and/or businesses need to be Aware you have a Website and social media pages, in addition to a Budget so you can properly get your message out there and create targeted Content to convert “clicks” into “customers”. A website will not automatically generate income, a Facebook page will not automatically acquire followers, and banner ads need to reach the audience you are looking to attract by directing them to landing pages designed to KEEP their attention with.

We constantly remind our clients that in order to see results, they must stick to the marketing plan and budget that was put in place specifically for them. In general, companies should expect to spend 8-10% of their annual gross revenue on marketing and advertising. Even though digital marketing has sped up the time it takes to see results, companies should not expect miracles to happen overnight. It is important to give the marketing process time to resonate with their intended audience.

Learning to love your data…

Setting up analytics on your website provides intelligence on what is working, when it is working and with how many people—very important when you are spending hard-earned money. Reviewing your analytics regularly makes it easier to make informed decisions about your campaigns. You can change your target audience, your artwork and your messaging as often as you like, and analytics will provide you with the insight needed to do this with more success. Even with all of these tools available why are so many business owners still not investing in their brand?

But where do we start?

There are so many places to put marketing dollars that it can be overwhelming. Branding, PR, advertising, a new Website, SEO, events, social media, email, CRM systems…knowing how much to do and spend is crucial. Without a thought-out plan, ads won’t perform as well. The same is true with mailings, social media, etc. It takes more time to come up with messaging on the spot, or for random social media posts, than putting everything down on paper and in a schedule.

Fear of commitment?

Launch meetings are used by agencies to educate business owners on why and how marketing budgets are vital and also to set expectations for the company. Amy Zucchi-Justice, Founder & Managing Director of The Karlyn Group explains; “We build in a research/set up period to make sure we are all on the same page from the beginning. We have met with many businesses that aren’t serious about their marketing. They haven’t spent money on marketing at all, and as a result, do not grow, or remain in business for long.” Why would you want to skimp on your brand? A poorly designed website can lose customers before they even leave the home page. A website without the right user experience is throwing money out the window. There are similar disasters with a bad logo, an unclear mission statement and ads that simply direct traffic to a generic home page.

We aren’t sure if it is the fear of spending money, or just the lack of knowledge on the importance of hiring an expert. There are so many options when hiring a marketing expert that don’t involve committing to a full-time employee with benefits, which will help you save considerably. Companies can work with a consultant, a freelancer or an agency and pay per project, per hour or on a monthly retainer. There are solutions for every business owner, and you can control your spend month to month if need be. To find out more about pricing, contact us here. A consultant can create your entire marketing strategy and run it, or just provide the blue print for you to run on your own. They can create content for blogs and articles, or just post for you on your social media pages.

Getting organized is a good start.

A marketing plan will help you to bring everything together in one document that you can follow and adjust as needed. It will keep you on track and hold you accountable to your commitments. It should include a timeline of marketing activities and budget so you can plan for the year. Your plan should include:

  • Target market and secondary market
  • Mission statements and taglines for campaigns
  • Website build/update schedule with site map
  • Campaign timelines for email, social, mailings, newsletters
  • Follow up/drip campaigns
  • Social media calendar
  • Event schedule and possible speaking engagements
  • A budget assigned to activities

Marketing requires patience and dedication. It goes beyond social media and should contain a multi-tiered approach that works together. With access to data and analytics available at your fingertips, companies should make it a priority to review them monthly to make better marketing decisions. Hiring the right marketing help is very important when so much is at stake. Investing in your business should be a priority.

The Karlyn Group works with small to medium size companies that want to take their marketing to the next level. Our team can put together a plan and strategy that meets your goals and unique needs. The Karlyn Group is part of your team—we become part of your team. Contact us with any questions you may have.

Logos & Branding Matter. Here’s Why!

flat design vector illusration concept of branding

The look and feel of your company’s brand, logo, and marketing pieces are important.

The construction industry, while known for designing and building as a profession, can often fall short when it comes to their own branding. Often times companies won’t have a fully designed logo, but simply use clip art and some standard type-face on a paper.

Nowadays, your potential clients are paying attention and judging you for your appearance. Logos are using really nice, clean, modern typefaces and less “classic.” If you’ve had the same logo for three generations, you may want to simply modernize it while retaining some of the original elements, or you may want to redesign it. It’s good to review and update the logo and branding materials every five to 10 years. Above all, your branding should be tasteful, attractive, and help your company stand out from the crowd. Continue reading “Logos & Branding Matter. Here’s Why!”

Post-event Marketing: How to Convert Attendees into Clients

Group of Multiethnic People Having a Coffee Break

In our last article, we discussed participating in and/or hosting your own events or user groups as a means of marketing. In terms of post-event marketing, there are several different tools, depending on whether you were the host or a participant.

When you host an event yourself, you have access to the participant list. Possible next steps with the attendee list would be to: Continue reading “Post-event Marketing: How to Convert Attendees into Clients”

Event Participation = Marketing Opportunity

There are many types of industry-specific events each year. Getting involved with such an event is a great tactic to help boost your brand, sales, clientele and more.

With so many events, what is the best way to manage it all? How do you choose which ones are best for you and your marketing strategy?

There are conferences, networking events, trade shows, etc. Some are national, some are regional, some are local…it is crucial to find the right kind to attend. In order to make sure that your participation is a productive tool for you and your company, you should: Continue reading “Event Participation = Marketing Opportunity”

Three Systems that Help Convert a Lead into a Customer

Many of the email and marketing systems available today can do a lot of marketing work for you. These systems have features such as forms to capture leads, automatic replies, and even customized follow-ups. These sophisticated, integrated tools are changing the way businesses prioritize their marketing efforts. By knowing what stage of the buying process your customers are in, your sales team can focus on the lower-hanging fruit and your marketing team can focus on everyone else. Continue reading “Three Systems that Help Convert a Lead into a Customer”

Tips to Convert an Online Lead into a Sale

lead generation sign illustration design over a binary background

Lead generation means taking leads—potential clients and customers—and nurturing them in the right way so that you can convert them into actual clients and customers.

In the past, we’ve talked about having unique landing pages on your website that tie in with your social media outlets; somebody who gives their information on your website is a hotter lead than someone you make a cold call to. Arguably, the person who volunteers their information to you could be a better lead than a referral, because they clearly want something from you—and they have already taken the time and made a leap of faith to give you their information. Continue reading “Tips to Convert an Online Lead into a Sale”

Building a Brand: Online Advertising Tips

Online Marketing Strategy Branding Commerce Advertising Concept

Online advertising can be a very powerful tool for the construction industry. Companies such as Google and Facebook provide a lot of information about how to utilize their online advertising services. However, as these services have expanded and diversified, they have also become a bit complex. Continue reading “Building a Brand: Online Advertising Tips”

Which Social Media is the Right Social Media?

Kiev, Ukraine – August 26, 2013 – A collection of well-known social media brands printed on paper and placed on plastic signs. Include Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram and Tumblr logos.

In just a short time, social media sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) have evolved to become crucial tools used by professionals to market their services, build their collaborative networks, and achieve their goals. Thoughtful, strategic use of social media enables construction businesses to highlight their successful projects, showcase their services, and promote their expertise.

At first, the variety of social media options can seem intimidating, but once you familiarize yourself with a few of them, you’ll understand which can be of most help to you. Continue reading “Which Social Media is the Right Social Media?”