Home Improvement Time Magazine Feedback - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Carport King · 07-16-2008, 10:30 AM

Well I sent out over 20 copys of our magazine and I had 2 contractors give some feed back and I thank you guys for that.

I hope the rest will give me some input good bad or ugly because it helps me plan ahead for the next issure.

Marketing is what I do here so everyones input means something to me.
I am for ever tweaking my marketing message to get the phone to work.

This morning I did a live broadcast call in radio show for the first time for home improvements for 1 hour at I thought it went well. We did get 7 leads from it and 6 people called to have the mag mailed to them.

Just trying something new and trying to wrap our 12 marketing alliance group around this and do it once a week. I'll keep you posted.

**Ed the Roofer** · 07-16-2008, 10:33 AM

Glen,

I didn't get a copy this time, or else I would have contacted you.

I was very anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Ed

MEDIAINSTALLS · 07-16-2008, 11:02 AM

Glen

The marketing package you sent to me is put together extremely well. What I like the most is the idea of a quarterly magazine. It is informative and keeps your existing clients fresh in their memory. The tips are something everybody can use and can be conversation starters about this or that for around the house with neighbors or anyone.

My company plans on following a similar format once a month is a bit much but one for every season is perfect!

Jay

Alwaysconfusd11 · 07-16-2008, 11:03 AM

I would be interested in seeing this magazine.

DavidC · 07-16-2008, 01:20 PM

I would also be interested. What's the procedure?

Good Luck
Dave

rbsremodeling · 07-16-2008, 01:30 PM

Glen

I think you did a very good job. There were 2-3 pictures out of focus/grainy and Jim Hrabak Looked like he just got out of jail and smoked a doobey. Besides that really good job.

rbsremodeling · 07-16-2008, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidC

I would also be interested. What's the procedure?

Good Luck
Dave

He mails out a package for 100 bucks but I have one I can forward to you for 50 bucks plus postage

Carport King · 07-16-2008, 01:57 PM

Hey thanks for the input everybody and if someone needs a copy just PM me and leave your address.

Yes Jim does look like that but believe me he is a work horse!

The pictures in the summer edition did turn out much better. I called that my learning curve. Hey we all start somewhere. Thanks

rbsremodeling · 07-16-2008, 02:33 PM

Just teasing a bit about Jim. The magazine is extremely well but together. I let some of my vendors and subs look at it and got some really good ideas for my own. I really appreciated sending it out.

I plan to do one similar to yours. The first one will feature subs and vendors a little more and subsequent ones will be more company product based

PS. Please don't give Jim my address.

morganexteriors · 07-16-2008, 03:39 PM

Hi Glen~

We recently received your magazine with all of the inserts it contained. Hats off to a well put together piece. After i looked through it, I showed my boss and he agreed it was some very good stuff. As someone else above mentioned, a few of the pictures were kind of grainy,...But besides that, it really looks like you took the time to do things right.
We will be putting something similiar together in the near future, and I'll look forward to sharing our results with you.

--Just a quick question though,...as much stuff as that folder is loaded with...How many of these do you send out,...How often,...And what's the rough cost per unit to mail?--Obviously, I'm going to assume you have a bulk mail permit?

All the best, and thanks again-

www.morganexteriorsnh.com

J F · 07-16-2008, 05:45 PM

Hey Glen, we got ours yesterday, thanks. I'll have some input in a few days, I appreciate you taking the time/effort to get it out.

We all owe you the time/effort to critique it....I'll do it, promise ya.

J

Dale S. · 07-17-2008, 02:18 PM

Feedback coming...reading your material has given me a LOT to think about.

dale

Carport King · 07-18-2008, 08:14 AM

Thanks to everyone for taking a look at the magazine and I hope you all get inspired to share with your suppliers and your staff and to come up with something on your own.

I can assure you it will work for you and it has exploded our sales. Your client will hold onto it. Can you believe my graphics girl did the complete layout for $640.00. Susan is the best!

Anything I can do to help let me know. I have been spending $40-60 aweek out of my pocket sending our magazine all over the country to contractors and that's a cheap price to pay if it inspired you to create your own magazine or just gave you some ideas to help make the phone ring.

Happy selling. Glen

snciwz8 · 07-18-2008, 10:51 AM

Hi Glen,

Just received your material the other day. NICELY DONE. We to currently have a well put together presentation pak we leave with the homeowner. We don't have a mag, but we have manufacture brochures, copies of our contractors license and insurance, warranty certificate. business card.
Still remaining is the challenge of getting it into the house. Would love to find a cost effective way to get the phone to ring to help out with canvassing program.

NICE JOB.

Snciwz8

Publisher1 · 07-19-2008, 02:28 AM

Glen, here's my response; a posting on the Construction Marketing Ideas blog, with plenty of links back here and to Glen's own site!

Carport King · 07-19-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Publisher1

Glen, here's my response; a posting on the Construction Marketing Ideas blog, with plenty of links back here and to Glen's own site!

Wow thanks alot for the nice write up.I even made it above the fold on google. Life is good and marketing is a blast. I hope everyone gets inspired and comes up with something for there companies. It does not need to be big and I started out with 16 pages then 24 now moving up to 36 pages.

The only reason I did 16 was that was the printers smallest edition. But from there it grew legs and I am so excited about doing the 36 page edition with the new alliance group. Who knows where it goes from there but I am hanging on for the ride.

I want to start my own internet home improvement time TV show. I got the domain so watch out and hey send me some Ideas. Thanks

mkc3190 · 07-20-2008, 10:28 AM

An internet TV show is an excellent idea. I haven't done the research or competition analysis, but video is a huge up and coming trend.

You could also start to put audio programs together in a podcast. That might be a simple first step. It's a bit easier than video and you can start the learning curve on putting an education program together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carport King

Wow thanks alot for the nice write up.I even made it above the fold on google. Life is good and marketing is a blast. I hope everyone gets inspired and comes up with something for there companies. It does not need to be big and I started out with 16 pages then 24 now moving up to 36 pages.

The only reason I did 16 was that was the printers smallest edition. But from there it grew legs and I am so excited about doing the 36 page edition with the new alliance group. Who knows where it goes from there but I am hanging on for the ride.

I want to start my own internet home improvement time TV show. I got the domain so watch out and hey send me some Ideas. Thanks

Crete Buster · 07-24-2008, 01:37 PM

Glen,

Great work. You've accomplished a lot with your magazine. Providing knowledge and value to your target market. Becoming a resource/friend to your target market, instead of just a contractor. You can tell your company's story in a passive yet aggressive way. The magazine has a longer shelf life than just a flyer. I'm sure your team members have a sense of pride and boosted morale. The customer testimonies througout add a good touch. It would be great if you could line up a testimony to coordinate with the topic of the article on that page. I'm not sure what your purpose and strategy is for you website, but you may be able to put a plug in for it a bit more throughout the magazine. This could help you to create an online community, get more newsletter sign ups, offer more specials, article content, customer resources etc. It may be able to help you tracking as well if you use a code or a "how did you hear about us" question on your sign up page. Overall it was great.

P.S. The only reason I wrote the last couple suggestions is because you give so much to the site, I'd like to try to give back to you. But I know I'm far less knowledgeable than you at age 25.

Carport King · 08-03-2008, 04:05 PM

I hope everyone continues to give me some feed back on our magazine. I have sent out alot more all over the country.

I have recieved alot of good Ideas and input and working hard on the up coming 36 pages with our new marketing alliance group. This I believe will open the eyes to alot of you on some other marketing choices.

The group of 12 noncompeting businesses helps us wrap the whole home improvement thing togeather. So now we have the outside and the inside of the home covered.

This time I will have an online version also. Ouch on my wallet!

Alwaysconfusd11 · 08-03-2008, 04:31 PM

I just got it a day or 2 ago. It is awesome, it gave me a lot of ideas, and I think I will be putting together a package now as well. I plan on just leaving it with prospective clients, and hopefully it will turn into something I can mail out as well.
The really like how you added the position along with a persons name when you captioned their pictures. When I read the Winter ’08 I noticed it didn’t say what they did. ie page 10 Spring ’08 you have your outdoor kitchen designer’s picture, his name and his position.
.