Blogs

For more than a decade, search engine optimization has been the headline topic for businesses trying to boost their website rankings. But the SEO techniques that worked 15 years ago do not work now, and many of them can actually diminish organic search rankings on major search engines (such as Google). Those window and door websites that still employ outdated SEO practices are really just placing a big anchor around local search rankings.

As the housing market crashed in 2008, I was in the early days of my career in construction-related publishing. Despite entering the workforce—and the construction-related workforce at that—at arguably one of the most tumultuous times possible, I somehow weathered the Great Recession with my job intact.

According to James Mulvey, senior social media strategist, Hootsuite, there are three main challenges for businesses utilizing social media in 2018. They are: the continuing decline of unpaid, organic reach; keeping pace with social network innovation; and validating the worth of existing strategies.

Here are five trends to implement in 2018, according to Amber Naslund, senior director, industry leadership, Hootsuite. 

Last year, Google declared that if it discovered any “review gating” by businesses after April 12, 2018, any reviews posted after that date could be eradicated. Review gating is when companies put together a system that gets potential reviewers to reveal whether they want to post a positive or negative review. If they select the positive route, the reviewer is sent straight to a place where they can leave a review. If they select the negative route, they are effectively detoured away from posting a review, forcing the reviewer to contact the business directly instead.

I’m sure you’ve experienced a customer who says they want their home to ‘have a more modern feel,’ then goes on to describe a classic window or door. So, what does the customer really want? Here is an opportunity to provide something of value: professional advice about trends that will enhance the value of their home with modern features that make life a little easier.

One of our member companies recently reached out to our staff to gain some insight on the lack of building code enforcement in Puerto Rico. The member told us the problem existed before the hurricane but is worse now. He also expressed frustration over competing with other companies that regularly violate code. 

Do you know where any particular client enters into your sales funnel? Are they at the bottom, moments away from a buying decision? Or are they further up the funnel, where they are gathering data and information in order to make a go/no go decision for their project?

Understanding where your buyer is when they enter your sales funnel is critical for two reasons. First, it creates a powerful marketing machine that converts clients into buyers. And, it sets appropriate expectations and cadences for your sales process.

This week is the National Association of Women in Construction’s Women in Construction Week, an annual event the first week of March that aims to promote women as a viable component of the industry. Although women comprise about 47 percent of the total U.S. workforce, construction is made up of only 9 percent women, with just 3 percent being in the actual trades, according to NAWIC.

The path to the top of local search rankings used to be so much easier—professionally written content wasn’t a necessity. And, frankly, content didn’t even really need to be all that great. Getting ranked in local search was as simple as posting copy packed with a ton of keywords about a particular industry, plus some images and a few videos showing off inventory.

The editorial staff at Window & Door is excited to head to Las Vegas next week for GlassBuild America: The Glass, Window & Door Expo, where the who’s who of fenestration professionals will gather for the biggest event for the industry. In addition to tips on how to navigate the show floor and get the most out of the event, we also asked longtime exhibitors and attendees about what not to do.