If you’re a contractor trying to grow your business, chances are you’ve felt frustrated by marketing at some point. You’ve tried ads, built a website, maybe even worked with an agency—and still, the results weren’t there. It’s not your fault. The problem is that most marketing advice isn’t built for contractors. It’s built for tech startups and e-commerce brands—not for people running crews and quoting jobs.
At Built Right Marketing, we work only with contractors and home service pros. After years in the industry, we’ve seen the same costly mistakes over and over again. Here are the top 5—and how you can avoid them.
1. Relying Only on Referrals
Referrals are great, but they’re not predictable. You can’t scale a business on “word-of-mouth” alone. It’s like trying to build a house on a foundation that might or might not show up next week.
Instead: Build a marketing engine. Use Google ads, SEO, social proof, and automated follow-ups to create steady, reliable lead flow.
2. Treating Marketing Like an Expense (Not an Investment)
If you’re looking at marketing as a cost instead of a revenue generator, you’ll always be hesitant to invest. The best contractors treat marketing like payroll—it’s essential, and when done right, it brings exponential returns.
Instead: Track your ROI. Know your cost-per-lead, close rate, and revenue per job. Adjust based on data, not feelings.
3. Not Following Up with Leads Fast Enough
Speed-to-lead is real. If you wait even 30 minutes to respond to a new inquiry, chances are you’ve already lost them to another contractor.
Instead: Use AI or CRM automation to respond instantly with a text or email. Set up reminders for your team to follow up.
4. Having a Website That Looks Nice—But Doesn’t Convert
Lots of contractors have websites, but very few have websites that work. If your site looks good but doesn’t generate leads, it’s just digital wallpaper.
Instead: Focus on conversion. Use clear calls to action, fast load times, mobile optimization, and trust elements like reviews and certifications.
5. Choosing a Marketing Company That Doesn’t Understand Contractors
There’s a big difference between selling shoes and selling $12,000 HVAC installs. If your agency doesn’t know the contractor world, you’ll waste time and money explaining the basics.
Instead: Partner with a team that knows the trades. At Built Right Marketing, we speak your language and deliver real results without fluff.
Final Word
You don’t need to be a marketing expert to grow your business. You just need the right system, strategy, and support. Avoiding these mistakes will put you ahead of 90% of contractors—and set you up for long-term growth.
Let’s build your marketing right—Built Right.
