10,000 Members. Where Were You Before?

Teetorbilt

NO SITES PLEASE! Just a description only.

Like most, I hang at at a few sites but my favorite was similar to here. There were a couple of flames and the Admin. decided to change formats and review EVERY SINGLE POST which meant that your post may not show up for days. It sucked and I really don't remember how I found CT. I'm glad that I did though.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

Albert Einstein

Nathan

Well, this is going to sound like a commercial but ...

I was a member of a painting forum trying to learn how to start and run my business. It was a good site at the time.
I started to look around at some of the other trade sites such as HVAC, Landscaping, Electrical, and so on. What I noticed was half of everything discussed was really business knowledge and the other half was specific trade knowledge. And the business knowledge was the same across all the sites no matter what the trade.

So I started thinking.... what if we pulled everyone together and gave them a place to discuss both their specific trade and business, marketing and sales knowledge together. Anyways, that's how I started contractortalk.com

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

JNLP

Never been to any forums for work related stuff until I stumbled upon here somehow.

Only 5 other forums I've belong at... One for Glocks, one for Corvettes, one for photography, one for webmasters, and one dedicated to all those fun things you can do with the internet which is frowned upon by mothers everywhere.

dougchips

This was actually my first one! I always thought that contractors were a bunch of fly by nights with only a few that can run a proper business. Once I began reading some of the post here, I found out that I can actually learn some new ways to run my business.

Cole

I was on a diy forum helping diyers.

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Tulsa's Leader in Outdoor Living Construction | Facebook | Tulsa Pergola Builder | Tulsa Outdoor Kitchens

Floorwizard

I was the same as Cole.
I found this site back in the beginning and had a feeling about it.
so I dropped the other sites and stayed on Nathan's.

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"in 20 years you will regret more what you did not do than what you did"

RobertCDF

I poked around on some other ones and I still poke around on some (less than 100 posts on those) I like this one the best for sure.

Only 1 is a trade style forum the others are: Pro audio, a tool manufacture, and a product manufacture. And of course a few of Nathans other sites.

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Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

streetracer

Forums are invaluable, especially to someone such as myself who is new to the biz. My "forum" days go way back to rec.motorcycles and alt.motorcycle.sportbike on usenet. It was a text only interface and by gosh we liked it that way! I currently frequent a Small Business Forum which has a good Marketing section.

When I decided to go into the home improvement and repair business, I did a search on "contractor forum", and VIOLA! When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Props to Nathan for EXCELLENT SEO .

POOLMANinCT

i had no life before contractor talk


Thanks Nathan,,


(actually it got cold & i came inside bing bing found CT after "spying" a landscaper/grass jockey forum & thought wow those guys are lucky to have a forum like that...)


TY again nathan

ProWallGuy

I was a member of that same painting forum, and you came along and spammed your new site. That's how I found CT.com.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Nathan

I spent time on the phone with Gary before and after starting this site and I hold a lot of respect for him. In fact, originally I offered to start the site with him as a partnership. That is why the orginal name of the site was contractorschatroom.com. But ultimately he didn't have time or interest for it.
Maybe I'm remembering things wrong (and it wouldn't be the first time) but I really don't remember "spamming" Gary's site.

Either way your here and have played a big part in making this site into what it is today.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

ProWallGuy

No, I was just kidding about the spam. I just know I heard about it over there.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

George Z

I was in couple of painting forums.
Your site was suggested to us by the owner of the Painters Network.
Come to think of it now, that's really nice of him.

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Toronto Painters Commercial Painting Commercial Painting Toronto Toronto Office Painters
Painting Toronto Blog

Nathan

Yea, Harry is a great guy! We actually did a post exchange back then promoting each other.

I try to be friends with a lot of forum admins out there. It pays to network.

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Nathan

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot

dayspring

My first one was .....This one! LOL

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"Never met a man yet that I couldn't learn something from"
http://remodelingncarolina.com

747

I didn't even know there were forums on the internet when i found this one. I don't remember how i found it. I was searching for info about doing something. I can't believe i have over a thousand posts just stopping by killing time and seeing what you guys are working on.

ron schenker

That's my story, to the T

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Don't worry, the baseboard will hide it!