In March 2016, Google announced that over 50 million websites were culprits of getting hacked. A statistic that has ever been rising rapidly in recent years. If your roofing website has been hacked, it could adversely hurt your rankings, so prompt action is essential. As a roofer figuring out your next course of action may be your biggest headache. This post will help you to understand why roofing websites are hacked and ways that you can use to shield the bad guys from accessing your site.
Many roofing websites are created using the four significant Content Management Systems like Drupal, WordPress, Magento, and Joomla. WordPress controls over 60% of the total CMS market. So, this post will generally concentrate on WordPress sites, although the concepts can still apply to the other content management systems.
Why Would the Bad Guys Want to Hack Your Roofing Website?
Quite often, roofing contractors misinterpret the importance of securing their sites because they see themselves as unlikely to get hacked. However, roofing websites can be cut because they are perceived as vulnerable, so the bad guys can use software to hack massive sites automatically. So, what do hackers gain from their malicious acts?
Website Data
As a roofing website owner, you will have several clients making payments online; hackers see this as an opportunity to sniff financial information of your clients like debit or credit cards.
Automated Black Bots
Roofing websites can become vulnerable to hackers through an automated script. Same way, Google crawls your site to index content hackers use black bots to check for vulnerabilities.
Blackhat SEO
This is where hackers place redirects or links in your site to earn affiliate revenue. Note that these links or redirects are not visible.
System Resources
Here hackers try to access your server and send out thousands of spam emails; this will get your site and server blacklisted easily, increase utility bills, or even get your roofing website shut down.
Malware
Hackers can infect your client computers with malware such as key loggers, viruses, or other malicious software to capture information.
7 Important Steps to Take If Your Roofing Website Has Been Hacked
Inform Your Web Designer/Hosting Provider
This is the first crucial step you need to take immediately after you realize that you are a culprit of a hacking incident. In most cases, your web hosting provider can help to fix hacking problems because they are equipped with the necessary expertise to handle such issues. If your hosting service provider is not in a position to help contact your roofing website designer or system administrator.
Run a Complete Virus Scan On all Your Computers
The bad guys in their efforts to hack your roofing website infect your computer with spyware, viruses, malware, and Trojans. Use an effective commercial antivirus to detect such problems. The hackers create backdoors, which help them to avoid the normal authentication process to access your roofing website.
Remember those un-used plugins and inactive themes are soft spots for creating hackable back doors. Many renowned roofing website designers help roofers in scanning malicious and malware codes.
Assess the Nature of Damage
It is vital to know the severity of the hacking attack and the damage caused to your roofing business.
By knowing its severity, you will develop an appropriate strategy to fix it up. Get the data from the Google Search Console, where you might have received messages on malware and spam.
Also, look at your webmaster tools under the “security issues” segment to know the kind of hacking that was experienced. Checking all threats can be quickly done by comparing it with a backup.
Change All Passwords
Changing passwords is one of the initial steps to take when your roofing website is hacked. Just do it- alter your passwords even if you will write them down in a book, after doing thorough clean up and virus scan-reset, all the passwords. Since the bad guys are about your email addresses and passwords, make sure that you reset a password that is hard to guess.
You should change passwords on all sites where you have entered financial and personal details. Try to reset passwords that are hard to crack.
Shut Your Roofing Website Down
You should take your roofing website offline temporarily after the hacking incident. This action will help to save clients and people who access your roofing website from malicious span files and malware. Secondly, it will give time to your web designer or hosting provider to fix the issues without any interruption.
Clean Your Roofing Website
Before you begin the process of cleaning up your site, you should first check the backup of your site because it might contain crucial information. You need to clean up your database and file hacks by checking what the hackers have modified or changed and ought not to have been changed.
Get rid of all the URLs created by the bad guys, but be careful not to remove pages that you don’t need, because hackers might have infected useful pages that are crucial to your roofing business and which can be restored to their initial original state through your backup.
Ask for a Google Review
Once you have finished all the steps discussed above and have reset your website successfully, make sure that you request for a Google review to unflagging your site as risky. You should head straight to the Google search consoles and check for issues. Google will ask you to provide details on what you did to clean the site for every category that was hacked. This review process may take several weeks for it to be completed. However, this wait is worthwhile because, in the end, Google will leave a positive review that will describe your site as safe and secure. Don’t forget to ask for this review.
Final Thoughts
Getting your roofing website hacked is no fun. But you can regain control of your website. Remain calm and call the right design or hosting team to keep your site running.
So there are various lessons that roofers can learn from this unfortunate experience. Some of these include hiring a reputable roofing website designer, checking reviews regularly, and installing a powerful antivirus. Having the right roofing website design team can make all the difference when your site is hacked.
Schedule a free strategy session with our experts to know how we can help to secure your roofing website from malicious attacks today.
Increase Your Website Visibility, traffic and Generate Leads with Roofing Graphic Design
Graphic design is used in conventional marketing campaigns like fliers and billboards, and more importantly, it is applied in all internet marketing campaigns, from social media marketing to roofing website design.
If you are a roofing contractor that’s working with an internet marketing agency for several advertising campaigns (particularly roofing website design), it is crucial to understand fundamental graphic design terms.
Why?
In order for a roofing marketing agency to implement your roofing website design efficiently, it would be advisable if you could read from the same script. Not only will the designers appreciate it, but this will make things smooth for all the people involved- and the final draft will meet or surpass your expectations.
Without further ado, let’s explore some basic graphic design terms and what they stand for.
White Space
Every designer’s dream, white space, is essential for any website design. It allows various elements of a design to keep users engaged in your Roofing website. It is also referred to as negative space. Roofing websites that use lots of white space appear more elegant and lighter. At BlackStorm Roofing Marketing, is to make your roofing website look uncluttered and straightforward to deliver content that your clients will appreciate and enjoy.
Grid
This is something that designers use to keep your website evenly spaced. When designers apply the grid, it lets them develop organized, consistent designs.
Wire Frame
This is something that a designer develops to assist plan a proposed design. It is sent to roofing clients for approval before a particular design is built.
Scale
When you alter the size of something while keeping it scaled, this means that you shrink or grow the elements without increasing its proportions.
Texture
Texture refers to the actual feel and looks of your roofing website design. On digital design, texture implies a design that evokes a texture that might appear in natural materials.
Stock Photos
Instead of outsourcing a professional photographer, many times, designers will opt to use stock photos.
Stock photos are professional images that you can buy online. Generally, you can buy a license to download professional pictures, but some websites will offer it for free.
Saturation
Saturation refers to the intensity of a particular color in your design. When you boost the saturation of a certain design element, it becomes clearer, but when you reduce the saturation, your element appears faded.
Contrast
Contrast refers to several design elements. Contrast generally implies the amount of difference between the two things. For instance, the contrasting color of white is black. Features like smooth and rough are different elements, as well as dark and light. In the world of roofing website design, contrast can mean any of these elements.
Cool Colors
When you check your color wheel, half of the colors are known as cool colors. Such colors include indigo, violet, blue, and green. These colors relate to the feeling of relaxation and calmness.
Color Palette
A color palette is a group of colors that you select for your roofing website design. These colors collaborate to evoke your brand message and image.
Pull Quote
Pull quote assists crucial sentences in your content to stand out on your roofing page. Mostly, they are excerpts extracted from the body copy of the page and adds some interest in your design project.
Tracking
Tracking refers to the spacing between typed letters. When tracking is loose, the messages are farther apart, but when it is tight, the letters are tightly packed.
Leading
Leading is a term that denotes the amount of space between lines. With loose leading, the lines are farther apart, while tight leading squeezes your tracks together.
Alignment
Alignment refers to how elements are lined up in your roofing page. Centre, right, left are the main types of adjustments that offer endless design opportunities.
Typography
Typography refers to the use of various typefaces to develop aesthetically-pleasing roofing designs.
Need some Help With Your Roofing Graphic Design?
Visual appeal is not the only factor to consider when designing roofing graphics. Graphic design improves your brand development and awareness. Potential clients form a first impression of your business based on your graphic design representation. Do you want your customers to perceive your roofing brand as visually stimulating and engaging? BlackStorm Roofing Marketing will help to brand your roofing business appealingly.
In a competitive field like roofing, the devil is always in the details. Modern roofing websites apply some form of on-page SEO incorporated in them. However, many of them use stock templates that produce SEO elements that are cluttered, uninteresting, and common. Using well-optimized, original roofing graphic designs throughout your website will set your business ahead of the competition.
Apply your knowledge of basic roofing graphic design terms, and partner with BlackStorm Roofing Marketing to achieve the roofing website of your dreams now!
Your roofing logo design is a vital component of your brand identity. It creates the first impression to your audience and symbolizes what your business is all about. Roofing logo designs are somewhat kind of marketing collaterals since they describe the services you offer to clients.
Your roofing logo is the public face of your brand that differentiates you from the competition.
But what makes an excellent Roofing logo design?
A lot of roofing contractors ask us for our view on various logo design concepts. In our opinion, a Roofing logo is deemed as excellent if it meets the following characteristics:
A Roofing logo Design That Conveys the Essence of Your Roofing Brand
A great roofing logo design is one that delivers an immediate first impression of your brand philosophy, conveying why your business is unique. A roofing logo design that is based on original brand philosophy will be useful and instill confidence in its potential clients.
So before you outsource your Roofing logo design, you need first to understand your brand explicitly. If you have never thought about your brand values or features, now is the time. Creating a brand identity that resonates with your audience will be crucial as you undergo the logo design process.
Designing to convey the essence of your roofing business goes over and above your brand personality. Create your Roofing logo with your potential clients in mind. Your thorough understanding of the target audience should influence the logo design process.
A Great Roofing logo Design Should be Aesthetically Pleasing
This can be difficult to quantify, but pretty easy to tell by conducting a simple survey among coworkers and friends. Do you love looking at your roofing logo? Is better or useful than that of other roofers in your neighborhood?
As a roofer, you would like to have a prosperous company, and this means that you cannot afford to use a cluttered, unappealing, or harmful styled Roofing logo design.
At BlackStorm Roofing Marketing, we are not just able to design your aesthetically pleasing Roofing logo design. Still, we ensure that the logo leaves a long-lasting impact on your target audience. Partner with our experienced graphic designers and let your business stand out from the competition.
A Great Roofing logo Design Should Contain an Appropriate Style Choice
The style choice is one of the crucial things you need to consider when designing a roofing logo. Here are the five types of Roofing logo designs to help you make an informed decision:
Wordmarks
Wordmarks are a logo design that is entirely made up of text-generally your roofing business name. Wordmarks can be an ideal choice for roofing contractors that just getting started. Since name awareness and recognition are crucial for a new business, the main focus of the watermark style is the business name with no extra distractions. Select fitting colors and a font that resonates with the personality of your brand.
Brandmarks
If you can depict your brand visually without words, through symbols or images, then a brandmark may be an ideal choice for you. Brandmarks are generally associated with well-known roofing brands.
Combination Marks
A combination mark gives you the ability to use your company name while also including a symbol or an image, thus giving you a chance to share your story and set your business ahead of the competition.
Emblems
Just like combination marks, emblems include both a symbol and text, but typically designing a text inside the symbol. They usually stimulate a badge or a seal. If you opt to work with this logo style, ensure that it is versatile enough to be visible and apparent when sized down for smaller uses like profile pictures or promotional products.
Lettermarks
Also known as monogram-style logos, letter marks are an ideal option for brands that want to simplify their long business name with some abbreviations. Because more emphasis is put on initials or letters, letter marks generally use a more stylized font.
If finding a Roofing logo design style is becoming a significant challenge, let our graphic designers help you out!
A Good Roofing logo Design Should Be Timeless
A timeless roofing logo should look as high in ten years as it is now. Avoid going for short-lived fads when outsourcing your logo design and opt for a classic look. Psychedelic 70s-inspired logo designs might be trending in the industry today, but they might be outdated next year.
Epic Roofing logos stand the test of time since they adhere strictly to the principles of logo design that last, rather than what other roofers are doing right now.
As your roofing company changes and grows, a logo design that holds your fundamental ideals and goals will remain current. A Roofing logo that might seem timely or quirky currently may help your brand gain attention at the moment but lose it later.
A Good Roofing logo Design Should be Scalable
Your Roofing logo design should be able to adapt to any size. It must be scalable to represent your roofing brand anywhere. A scalable Roofing logo looks good, makes sense, and remains legible on any size-whether it is printed on a huge poster or a small business card. If you incorporate too much detail in your Roofing logo, it will make it harder to scale to a small size.
To attain scalability in your Roofing logo, graphic designers will create your logo in the vector format. Vector files are created with rescaling in perspective, meaning that your Roofing logo will appear as sharp as it was blown to any size.
An Epic Roofing logo Design Should be Balanced and Proportionate
Clients perceive balanced logo designs as beautiful. A well-proportioned logo design will strike a balance between different elements that make up your logo.
Proportion generally refers to the weight of elements that are included in your logo. From a practical view, having the right dimensions will make your logo whole and make sense. Symmetric Roofing logo designs are balanced by aligning the weighted elements on either side of a centerline.
On the flip side, asymmetrical logos can be balanced as well, by utilizing opposite weights to create an uneven composition, but still has some equilibrium.
A Great Roofing Website Logo Should be Simple and Memorable
Simplicity is what assists your Roofing logo design in overcoming the challenges of time and what makes it easy to work with. Your Roofing logo should be as visible and clear as possible while conveying your brand philosophy and reflecting your aesthetics.
Wise choices in graphics, color options, and typeface are essential in this step. A good Roofing logo should not be crowded with elements-just select a few active elements for your design.
Always remember to use white space wisely! Simplicity calls for wise use of the white space. The elements in your Roofing logo design need to have enough breathing space to set it apart and speak to your target audience. Furthermore, your Roofing logo should be easy to read.
A professional Roofing logo Design Should be Unique.
Your roofing company logo should be unique enough to attract attention and memorable enough to remain in your prospect’s mind.
Think about all the extraordinary logo designs that always linger on your mind; UPS and Apple are on the top of the list. Maybe we don’t forget them because we see them often, but simply because they are unforgettable and unique. Great logo designs differentiate themselves from the competition by being authentic, memorable, and different.
Your Roofing logo design must attract a first glance that people will always remember and then express reliability and trust upon subsequent interactions. An original logo calls for unique design concepts. At Blackstorm Roofing Marketing, we have a team of talented graphic designers who can respond to your design goals, with all these factors in mind, and create a truly authentic Roofing logo!
A Powerful Roofing logo Design Must Incorporate Your Business Name
A great Roofing logo design will share your brand’s story in one image. While some roofing contractors may not be able to use the brandmark-style logo, it is not advisable for a business that is not yet a household name.
Unless your business is widely known in the neighborhood (or you have a lot of marketing dollars), your company name is a vital brand identifier. It should be incorporated in your Roofing logo design to start creating connections with your potential clients.
Though we encourage roofers to use their business name in the logo, they should not incorporate extra text that will make their logo challenging to read when rescaled.
Company addresses and taglines are not some of the crucial things that roofers must include in their logo design. There may be a time when this information is appropriate as a distinct element, but your logo design should be simple, clear, and devoid of unnecessary text.
A Good Roofing logo Design Has Appropriate Use of Color(s)
Color conveys a lot about your roofing brand. Recent studies show that colors increase brand recognition by more than 80%. Our minds are programmed to react to color. Since color can impact emotions and behavior, your selected color should be influenced by the preferences and tastes of your target market. Choosing the right color will help you to highlight your brand’s characteristics and connect with your clients.
Why Hire Blackstorm Roofing marketing for all Your Roofing logo Design Needs?
Logo design is a crucial part of launching your roofing business. There many roofing, marketing, and branding agencies out there but here are some reasons why you need to partner with us for all your logo design needs:
Creativity
Blackstorm Roofing Marketing has a pool of talented graphic designers who are highly-trained and passionate about their job. They get to understand your business, analyze your competition, and the target market. They ask you questions to know your dislikes and likes. Designing a great logo is much more than making it look pretty. It takes time, extensive research, and proper use of colors, typography, and shape. Our creative designers will challenge each other until they settle for the best possible solution for your business.
Intelligent Logo Design/ Useful
Have you ever come across a logo and you think where you had seen such a logo before? That’s not good. In the modern world, the use of Photoshop has made twice harder to get a logo that differentiates you from the competition. A logo that is authentic. At Blackstorm Roofing Marketing it is our prerogative to stay abreast of the latest trends in the graphic design industry by continually researching trends, new techniques in web, and printing that can put your brand ahead of the competition.
Once you have a logo designed, roofers need to know how they can use it to improve their professional image. We will help you achieve this image by creating brand standard guidelines. Such guidelines will help to maintain a consistent brand identity when using other agencies or printers.
Consistency
Ok, got a roofing logo. Now what? Our graphic designers will not only create a classic logo that positions your business ahead of the curve, but it can assist your brand consistently across various platforms that your audience will be using. This will instill a sense of reliability and confidence in your target audience.
Let us help You Design a Unique Roofing Logo for your Roofing Business Today
Creating a classic logo is something that roofing contractors should treat with much consideration. After all, it will portray the face of your business for many years to come. And it is crucial that it successfully conveys in an effective and straightforward what your roofing business is all about. A great logo design will remain in your audience’s mind after they have walked away from your website. If it attains this objective, clients are likely to come back to your business, thus enhancing the growth of your roofing company.
When it’s time to hire a logo designer, your designer must have a good grasp of your competitors, your business, and the message you want to convey to your target audience. At BlackStorm Roofing Marketing, our graphic designers have many years of experience and know the importance of branding, and this makes your roofing logo stand out from other roofers online.
If you want to get a unique roofing logo for your business, quickly schedule a free strategy session with our growth experts to obtain a great logo that will differentiate your business today!
Improve the visibility of your roofing website, get new leads, and book more jobs with PPC ads.
Google Ads (Adwords) is a crucial marketing medium available to roofers throughout the U.S, as long as it is appropriately utilized. On the flip side, it can be a waste of your marketing dollars if managed by a novice roofing marketer without prior experience in paid search marketing campaigns. Getting leads, converting clients, and attracting clicks is the ultimate goal of many roofing contractors online, and achieving any of these objectives needs marketing savvy, leave alone the three tactics stated above.
Pay per Click advertising is an integral part of a comprehensive internet marketing strategy that brings instant results. You can achieve various goals with PPC, and some of the main reasons why roofers need to use these ads are driving relevant traffic to your roofing website, improving visibility, increasing conversions, and getting new leads. In the long run, however, most roofers use such ads to grow their business online. While PPC is simple to execute, it requires some preparation and planning; fortunately, this post will show you how to make most of your roofing PPC campaigns.
How to Create a Successful Roofing PPC Campaign in 8 Simple Steps
Start by Optimizing Your Roofing Website
Before you launch any roofing PPC campaign, you must look back and craft a useful landing page that will resonate with your ad. Here is why it’s so crucial; when property owners’ click on your PPC ad, it is because your ad content intrigued them and they want to explore more. If the link they click directs them to a generic or unrelated page in your site, like your homepage, that prospect is likely to bounce and go to your competitors.
A click on a roofing PPC ad portrays a willingness to explore more about your ad, which explains why you need to create a landing page that coincides with the content in your ads. For example, if you are running a PPC ad providing free roof inspections to homeowners, then your landing pages should provide more details about the offer or something else that resonates with content in the advertisement.
Besides, you should optimize your landing page for performance because if property owners
Click on the ad only to be directed to a page that loads slowly, or is hard to navigate, then they are likely to bounce back. Invest your time now to improve conversions so that property owners who will come later will be able to follow through. Here are a few tips that you can use to maximize your roofing website conversions:
Use images and videos strategically to retain the attention
Make information simple to digest by using stand-out quotations, bullet s, and visuals.
Research Your Roofing Keywords and Select Them Wisely
Keyword research is a crucial element of a successful roofing PPC campaign because it is the lifeline of the whole process. Without keywords, search engines like Google or Bing will not know when to display your roofing ads. Besides, selecting the appropriate keywords can guarantee the success of your roofing PPC campaigns and help you achieve a higher click-through rate, more traffic, and conversions.
Here are a few tips that will help you get the right keywords for your PPC campaign;
Examine the keywords your competitors are using
Consider what you would search if you were a property owner looking for roofing services or products
Use keyword research tools to refine your search for appropriate roofing key phrases
Be more specific with your keywords rather than generic or vague
Select local keywords when possible
Another crucial aspect of keyword research is negative keywords because these will exclude the keywords that you don’t want to use in your campaign. For example, you want to promote a roof repair service but don’t sell roofs, and then you would use tents as a negative keyword to exclude searches for that product.
Choose a Bidding Strategy
There are various bidding options that roofer can choose from, and picking the correct one will depend on several factors, including your PPC management experience, budget, and objectives. One of the first options you will have is to decide whether to use automated or manual bidding. If you are new to roofing PPC, it is advisable that you start with manual bidding as it allows setting a cap on the cost of each click. The major drawback of manual bidding is that it does not give you a chance to optimize your bids.
On the other hand, automated bidding reduces the time you spend managing your PPC campaign, but you will be required to pay more. When it comes to automated biding, you will have several bidding strategies available to help you make most out of your roofing PPC campaign.
On Google Adwords, such bidding strategies include:
Cost-Per-Click: Here, you will pay Google every time a prospect/ client clicks on your ad.
Cost per thousand viewable impressions (vCPM) bidding: You pay Google each time your ad appears one thousand times to prospects/ clients.
Cost per Acquisition (CPA) bidding: You will pay Google every time a prospect clicks on your ad, but the amount of money to be paid will be determined by the cost of acquiring a client in your niche or a similar conversion trend from your roofing website.
Cost-per-view: You will pay Google each time your video ad is viewed or engaged in YouTube.
Necessarily, you can choose any of the above-discussed strategies depending on whether your goal is to increase traffic, visibility, or conversions.
Set Your Budget
Budget is a crucial part of any roofing PPC campaign, but the good thing with this type of advertising is that you can still work with a limited budget, and you can control the dollars you spend on the ad. In fact, if you are just starting out with PPC and don’t have enough marketing dollars to dish around, you can even get started with a minimum investment of $30. When setting your budget, it is crucial that you look at your competitors and the right roofing keywords that you want to target. Unless you have a huge marketing budget, you should always look for ways to optimize your campaign to prevent wastage spend.
Create Your Landing Pages
Landing pages are crucial to the success of your roofing PPC campaign since they are the pages that provide answers or solutions to prospects /clients. While you might be tempted to link your ad with the homepage of your roofing website that will offer a poor user experience because it will not give users the exact answers they are looking for.
When you answer a prospect’s question, you just don’t give them details; you prove to them that you are a reliable and smart source of information in the roofing industry. That implies they can trust you, and once they believe in you, they can quickly become clients.
Write a Killer Roofing Ad
Once you have crafted your landing page, decide on a bidding strategy and budget, and carefully select your roofing keywords, now, creating your killer ad is finally here. One of the crucial things to remember is to keep it brief and to the point since you do not have much room or time to grab the prospects.
Another vital thing is to have an end goal in mind and write an ad copy based on that goal. For example, if you want to increase sales during a storm or hail damage period, your ad should reflect a roof repair or installation storm damage sale. You need to be creative to grab the attention, pique property owner’s curiosity and hold their interest.
To help grab property owners’ attention, think of a unique value proposition that will make your ad stand out from others, and describe how your service or product will benefit them in one sentence. Now that you have created a killer ad make sure you encourage customers to take action after reading your ad.
Don’t Forget the Call to Action.
Now that you have grabbed the attention of prospects, you can motivate them to convert using a clear call to action. ”Call now,” “schedule a consultation,” and “register now” are persuasive examples of compelling, clear calls to action that tell prospects exactly what to do to become clients. While it may appear redundant to have a CTA on an ad, they assist in acquiring clicks and, by extension, customers.
Without a call to action, there is no reason for running the ad because it merely tells clients what to do next. The call to action should be sweet and brief, but it must also be concise, compelling, and clear.
Track Your Ads to Ensure Performance.
Once your roofing PPC campaign is set up, and you are working hard to improve conversions, your work does not end. This is when the real work begins, which includes monitoring your ads, measuring performance, and making tweaks as necessary to improve results. Part of the reasons why PPC is vital to the roofing marketing industry is because it is simple to track results. You can know the exact times your ad appears somewhere, the number of clicks, and who clicks on your ad. With all that data, you can make most of your roofing PPC campaign and improve other marketing tools.
Some of the most crucial metrics in roofing PPC are click-through rate, bounce rate, and impressions. Impressions refer to the number of times your ad has appeared in searches. The term “impression” refers to a prospect/ client viewing your ad.
Click-Through Rate (CTR) refers to the percentage of prospects who click on your ad after seeing it. So, if a prospect sees your ad but doesn’t click, it is just an impression. If your chance sees and clicks on your ad, then that goes towards increasing your CTR. Your goal should be to obtain a high CTR as possible.
Lastly, the bounce rate is the number of prospects who see and click on your ad but leave without doing anything on your site. Generally, a higher bounce rate of over 90% implies that people are not getting what they want from your roofing website, and you are offering a poor user experience. You need to go back to the drawing board and revise your PPC ads to lower the bounce rate and get more leads/ clients online.
BlackStorm Roofing Marketing Manages PPC Accounts Every Day
PPC can be overly daunting because it needs some knowledge of how the process works, research, and planning if you want to make most of your campaigns. The important things to remember include choosing a bidding strategy, setting a budget, and optimizing your landing pages. Then comes the laborious task of researching and selecting the right keywords.
At BlackStorm Roofing Marketing, we have a team of passionate PPC experts who continuously meet and surpass the expectations of our clients, and they want to offer the same for your roofing business! We stay abreast of the latest PPC news so that we can use the new trends and strategies to help your roofing business earn more money.
If you want to make most of your PPC campaign, work with a roofing marketing agency that understands your business and has a track record of helping roofers improve their PPC advertising campaign performance. When you partner with us, we will help your business get more booked jobs and leads through PPC as we have helped thousands of roofing contractors throughout the country.
From selecting the right keywords to the ad copy, competition analysis to customer interest, and many things are bound to change in the roofing market. That’s why you need to hire an agency that will stay abreast of these changes to succeed in PPC advertising.
If you need help growing your roofing business online with PPC strategies that work, then schedule a free strategy session with our growth experts today.
Do you feel like your roofing business is not getting new leads or clients it should?
Do you want to let prospects/clients know about your roofing services?
If so, this post will show how roofing website design can help you outrank your competitors in the market. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a huge marketing budget to create a rocking online presence. When done correctly, a roofing website is a powerful lead generation tool that can skyrocket your roofing business growth. Recent studies show that over 92% of customers develop an opinion about your business when they visit your roofing site for the first time. Don’t waste that first golden opportunity!
Use these roofing marketing hacks to make your roofing website rock.
Tip #1) Generate Your Own Exclusive Roofing Leads
Many roofing contractors are always swayed by brokers who promise to offer a steady flow of roofing leads. It sounds like a noble idea; a broker answers the entire calls and does all the adverts then, later he forwards the names of interested prospects to you. Even if your business books some jobs through this marketing method, it is not sustainable in the long term as you will have to depend on a broker and paying them.
If you want to get a continuous flow of leads, then you should focus on creating your brand name and a stunning roofing website. This will ensure that you will be the first roofer to be contacted when your services are needed in your locality.
Once your roofing website appears on the first page of search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo, when your prospects conduct an online search of roofers near them, you will generate your leads.
Without further ado, let us explore the various roofing website tricks that will help your business rock the market.
Tip #2) Add Clear Calls to Action
The Call to Action is an essential part of moving the property owners through the buying process, from the decision to awareness. It is generally a direction targeted to produce a particular response you can then act to call or email the prospect or customer. Here are some CTA ideas for roofing contractors:
Invite property owners to comment on a post with queries like “what is the biggest challenge that you have had with your guttering system?”
Encouraging property owners to schedule a free roofing inspection
Suggesting social network shares like share these strategies on Facebook Call to action are the most underutilized search engine marketing tools for roofing contractors.
A good CTA appeals to the prospect by possessing these strong qualities:
Clear Objectives -it defines an explicit action that the prospect is needed to complete
Informative and accurate -it uses data-driven and tested information.
Responsive in design -a good CTA is both clickable and viewable
Tip #3) Include a Perfect Roofing Landing Page
A landing page is not just another old website page that your prospects land on. Instead, it is a page that is designed to convert. It is the first page that your potential client lands on when the social media marketing campaigns or PPC adverts. It is a powerful tool that you can use to grow your roofing business.
A landing page with a sole aim like getting the homeowner to register for a free newsletter or directing them to download a guide
A form that collects customer’s information, which you can use later for your roofing marketing
Here are the crucial qualities to look out for in an entire roofing landing page:
Conversion-focused design your landing page should be simple to understand for potential customers and ultimately assists them to convert.
The messaging of your roofing PPC ads should be consistent with the one contained in the landing pages
The Headlines should state the unique benefits of hiring your roofing company.
It should be packed with fill out forms to collect the details you require to qualify your roofing leads
It should incorporate various trust signs (social proof) like online reviews, testimonials, certifications, and images of your past completed projects.
Tip #4) Start a Roofing Blog
A roofing blog is a powerful tool that helps to attract potential clients to your roofing website with crucial information that portrays your expertise in the industry.
Posting roofing blogs frequently makes your site to be friendly to search engines. They put more emphasis on roofing websites that post updated content regularly and thus rewards them with higher search rankings.
This strategy can mainly be helpful in the highly competitive roofing industry. Your blog should share all kinds of written content or video to help homeowners to protect their roof.
Blogging is a great way to market your roofing business.
According to Google, the total number of mobile search exceed desktop search in 10 countries including U.S. Google punishes websites that are not optimized for mobile devices by displacing them from the top search results on mobile devices.
Remember to look out for a responsive roofing website.
Tip #6) Incorporate a chatbot in your roofing website
Let’s face it: you can increase your conversion rate by incorporating a live chatbot on your roofing website.
Every time a prospect land on your site, a chatbot window immediately pops up and helps them. Your potential clients will get immediate responses to their queries without having to navigate the whole website, giving them higher chances of closing a deal, all without making phone calls to your business.
Ready to Make Your Roofing Business Rock Online and Crush Competition?
More than 90% of customers who are searching for roofing services will research information online. This implies that if your business is not correctly represented by a simple to navigate roofing website, you will be losing a huge of clients who want to book your services. Another facet of building your roofing website and improving your online reputation is to ensure that your business appears among the top three in Google Maps results. If your roofing business name features prominently when a prospect types the word “roofer near me,” you are most likely to be contacted for a quote.
How We Can Help
Do you want to hire a web designer for your roofing business? Fortunately, we can help! BlackStorm Roofing Marketing is a premier web design agency that has helped countless roofers to dominate search engine results through their unique web design services.
We have the experience, professional experts, and skills to create a responsive, unique, and functional roofing website that fits your budget.
It’s a situation that we are all too familiar with, lousy weather, and wind wreaking havoc and pulling our shingles from our roofs. Not only does this have a negative aesthetic impact on the house, but this can often also lead to leaks and drafts, nobody wants that! As a solution, many homeowners would simply call a roofing contractor to fix the issues. There is no single, industry-wide standard or certification for becoming a roofing contractor; this process often differs hugely depending on your jurisdiction and its own specific rules for the process.
In this article, we will explain the process of how to become a licensed roofing contractor in detail, summarizing the different processes involved depending on where you reside. This process can differ significantly from state to state; it’s, therefore, essential that you find the correct process for your location; this is not a “one size fits all” situation.
Do Roofing Contractors Need a License?
While, as previously stated, there is no single, industry-wide qualification, certification, or license for roofing contractors, the construction industry has also grown into one of the most strictly regulated industries in the United States. As such, each state has its own, unique contractor licensing laws, specialty classifications, and specialty contractor application requirements, making this a process that differs greatly from state to state.
Essentially, what it comes down to is whether the contractor has the intention to carry out residential or commercial roofing work. For example, in states such as Minnesota, a residential contractor is only required to carry out their Residential Roofer New License Application in order to begin work. Whereas, when a roofing contractor in Minnesota specializes in commercial roofing work on the state level, they must also carry a license on a local level in order to do so legitimately and legally.
As of writing this article, 32 currently states require a license for residential and commercial roofing contractors at the state level, meaning that this is an essential part of the process in these said states. The remaining 18 states, however, require a contractor’s license at all levels, that being the state, county, and municipal level. Any given state could, therefore hypothetically require licensure at two of these levels, or even at all three if they were so inclined.
How To Become A Qualified Roofer
There are a wide variety of other requirements that you may need in order to become a roofing contractor. These requirements may include, but are not at all limited to:
Proof of your worker’s compensation insurance.
Proof of your unemployment insurance.
Proof of passage of residential, commercial, or industrial examinations that have been carried out.
Proof of your liability and property damage insurance
Proof of submission of your surety bond.
Proof of the designation of a qualifying party or construction supervisor license
Your own copies of the Articles of Incorporation or Partnership Agreement.
Steps to Become a Qualified Roofing Contractor
Learning How to Roof
An essential step, and often the first taken toward becoming a licensed roofing contractor, is ensuring that you have all of the physical, roofing skills down and ready. To be a contractor, you must be a versatile worker, willing to confer with your clients over the specifics of a job and venture outside of your comfort zone. You must present a friendly and approachable personality to your clients, assuring them that they can come to you with any of their questions or concerns. Many learn to roof “on the job” or through practice, while others choose to go the route of taking a class at a technical or community college that may be appropriate for the job. While the latter may be a more time-consuming method, the skills that you will gain for not only this trade but likely a variety of others, more than make up for this time spent and can be a huge asset to your career in many ways.
Insurance
It is of the highest importance when working as a roofing contractor, to have adequate insurance for both yourself and your business, this is in order to protect yourself and your business from possible lawsuits, usually involving matters such as personal injury or property damage. The National Roofing Contractors Association has added a special section to its own website that is dedicated to roofing contractor insurance. The page explains what you will need for the process, as well as providing a list of companies that can provide them.
Joining a National or Regional Association
A very important step that many contractors take after being granted their license is to join a national or regional roofing association. Not only does joining one of these associations improve your credibility, making you stand out amongst a sea of other contractors, but it also keeps you informed and in the loop on all of the latest developments and happenings from within the roofing industry itself, should there be any changes in rules or regulations, you will be the first to know if you become a member of a national or regional roofing association.
Roofing License Requirements from State to State
NOTE:This information is provided as a service. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct and up-to-date; however, it is not expected to be taken as legal advice and you must always check with local authorities before making any business decisions. Requirements and regulations are subject to change at any time.
Alabama:
In order to become a Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractor in the state of Alabama, you will first need a state license. This state license is issued by the Licensing Board for General Contractors, to be eligible, there must be commercial projects to the worth of $50,000. Alternatively, you can also be eligible for residential jobs worth $10,000 or more. On top of this, you will also need to pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and a law exam. You must be able to provide Proof of completion of at least three roofing projects from within the past three years of your work.
Alaska:
In Alaska, roofing contractor work requires a state license from each of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. In order to obtain a non-residential license, you will need to be able to provide Proof of liability insurance, worker’s compensation insurance, and place a bond of $5,000. Alternatively, to obtain a residential license, you will instead need to complete the Alaska Craftsman Home Program within two years prior to applying for the license, as well as passing an exam.
Arizona:
In order to begin roofing work in the state of Arizona, you’ll need a state license; this will be issued by the State of Arizona Registrar of Contractors, or ROC. Roofing is classified as a specialty profession in Arizona, with specific licenses needed for both residential and commercial work. As well as this, you will also need to pass a trade exam, provide your financial statement, and finally, you will need to provide Proof of worker’s compensation, as well as a surety bond.
Arkansas:
Any type of construction work that is found to have a value of $2,000 or higher requires a state license in Arkansas before it can be carried out. In Arkansas, there are commercial and residential Home Improvement contractor licenses; both of these licenses are granted by the Contractors Licensing Board. If you are attempting to apply for an unlimited license, you must then provide a financial statement, and Proof of worker’s compensation insurance on top of this.
California:
In order to obtain a roofing license in California, you must be licensed to work on roofing projects worth more than $500 within the state of California. To be able to be granted a roofing license in California, you must pass an exam. However, before you apply, you will also need to be able to provide at least four years of roofing experience within your past ten years of work. You will additionally need a $15,000 surety bond in order to obtain a roofing license in California.
Colorado:
In Colorado, roofing contractors fall under the title of “general contractors” and are therefore not required to hold a state roofing license at all. It is required that you have a business license, however. It is also very important to check your own local requirements, as the regulations may differ from place to place.
Connecticut:
In Connecticut, roofing contractors are not required to have a state license, however, if your business does operate under the title of “home improvement contractor,” you will then also need to be registered with the Department of Consumer Protection. There is a yearly fee for registration with this department.
Delaware:
In the state of Delaware, for any roofing contractor job that is worth more than $50,000, you must register with and get a business license from the Delaware Division of Revenue. As well as this, a Class B Asbestos Abatement Certification is also issued by the Division of Facilities Management; you will need to complete an approved training course in order to receive this specific type of license.
Florida:
In order to become a roofing contractor in the state of Florida, a license is required to be certified to work anywhere in the state. This “Division 2 Contractor License” is to be issued by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You will also need to pass an exam, and in order to be eligible to take the exam, you must show four years of experience in your specific area. You will also be required to provide Proof of financial stability, as well as Proof of insurance.
Georgia:
Any roofing project worth more than $2,500 in the state of Georgia requires a state license. Said license is issued by the State Construction Industry Licensing Board in Georgia. In order to be licensed, you will need to pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and law exam. You will require pre-approval for this exam, demonstrating at least two years of experience, as well as completion of at least two projects in your area, and finally Proof of insurance.
Hawaii:
In the state of Hawaii, a C-42 Roofing Contractor License is required to begin roofing. This is issued by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Professional and Vocational Licensing. You will also need to pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and law exam. I order to be eligible to take this exam; you will need to show at least four years of supervisory work experience in the past ten years.
Idaho:
In the state of Idaho, roofing regulations do not require a contractor to hold a state license. Instead, you are required to register with the Idaho Contractors Board. There are no requirements for experience, education, or examination by this board. However, you will need to provide your business information, as well as Proof of insurance.
Illinois:
How To Become A Licensed Roofer in the state of Illinois? A license is required in Illinois in order to begin roofing. This license is issued by the Department of Professional Regulation. There are three types of licenses, you must apply for the license of the type of work you plan to do primarily – Residential, Commercial, or Commercial/Industrial, though you will need to pass the Residential license exam before you can apply for this. In order to qualify to apply, you must pass the state exam, if applicable, you must also show Proof of insurance and provide a $10,000 surety bond.
Indiana:
The state of Indiana does not require roofing contractors to hold a license. However, there may also be local requirements that apply to you, so do be sure to check on these before you begin any roofing work.
Iowa:
In Iowa, any construction contractor, of any kind, who earns more than $2,000 per year, is required to be registered with the Iowa Division of Labour. There is no state exam, but you must be able to show Proof of unemployment insurance. A state license is only required for roofers if you’re working with asbestos.
Kansas:
While there is no requirement for roofers to have a state in Kansas, you must hold a roofing contractor registration certificate; this is issued by the Kansas Attorney General. You must also be able to provide Proof of liability insurance, as well as worker’s compensation insurance.
Kentucky:
There are no set roofing contractor requirements of licenses required in the state of Kentucky. However, you may personally wish to become certified with the Kentucky Roofing Contractors Association (KRCA) for its added benefits.
Louisiana:
The state of Louisiana requires a state license for any building construction work worth more than $75,000, as well as for home improvement or repair work worth more than $7,500. It is the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors that issues these commercial and residential licenses, and home improvement registration. You will need to pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and law exam. You will also need to provide Proof of general liability, as well as worker’s compensation insurance.
Maine:
In the state of Maine, roofing contractors do not require any specific state license, unless they are working with asbestos. In which case, you will be required to attain a Conditional Asbestos Abatement License from the Department of Environmental Protection.
Maryland:
In Maryland, general contractors, including roofers, do not need any kind of state license in order to carry out their work. However, certain types of roofing work may fall under the banner of “Home Improvement”, which does require a state license. This license is issued by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission, or MHIC. In order to apply for this license, you’ll need to be able to provide two years of work experience and pass the exam. You will additionally need to provide Proof of insurance.
Massachusetts:
In the state of Massachusetts, roofing contractors are required to be licensed by the State Board of Building Regulations and Standards. This is known as the Construction Supervisor License; however, if you work primarily on existing structures, you will also need a state registration as well. There is no exam for this, but there is for the Construction Supervisor’s License. You will need to pass the exam and additionally be able to provide three years of work experience.
Michigan:
Roofing contractors in Michigan are required to hold a state license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. This roofing license falls under the title of “Residential Maintenance and Alteration”. Before you are ready to apply, you will also need to complete 60 hours of education, as well as then passing an exam.
Minnesota:
As previously explained, in the state of Minnesota, there are different requirements for residential and commercial roofing work.
How To Become A Certified Roofer In Minnesota, you’re required to hold a state license if the total of your yearly work is above $15,000. This license is issued by the Department of Labor and Industry in Minnesota. In order to attain a license, you will need to pass the residential roofer trade exam; you must additionally provide Proof of insurance, as well as posting a $15,000 surety bond.
Mississippi:
In Mississippi, if your residential roofing services are worth over $10,000, you will require a Residential Roofing License from the Mississippi State Board of Contractors. You will also need to pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and law exam. You will also be required to provide your financial information and show Proof of insurance before you can be approved.
Missouri:
There are no specific state requirements in Missouri for roofing contractor work. However, it is important that you check local requirements for your area as these may still be in place and need to be adhered to.
Montana:
In Montana, there are similarly no set requirements for roofing contractors. However, roofers, along with all other construction contractors and subcontractors with employees, are required to register with the Department of Labor and Industry. In the case that you have no employees, you can still register if you so wish, but you are no longer required to.
Nebraska:
While there are no specific requirements for roofing contractors in Nebraska, roofing contractors, as with all other general contractors and sub-contractors who perform construction or repair work in Nebraska, are required to register with the Nebraska Department of Labor.
Nevada:
In Nevada, it is required that roofing contractors obtain a C-15a Roofing Contractor License, this is issued by the State Contractors Board. In order to be pre-approved to take the necessary exam, you will be required to provide at least four years of experience in the past ten years. Education may also be used as a substitute for some of these years of experience. You will be required to show your finances, obtain a bond, and finally show Proof of worker’s compensation insurance. You will only then be approved to take the trade, business, and law exams needed.
New Hampshire:
Unless you are working directly with asbestos, a roofing contractor license is not required in order to work as a contractor in the state of New Hampshire. Though, as always, local requirements should be researched beforehand.
New Jersey:
While you are not required to carry any form of contractor’s license in New Jersey for roofing, you are required to be registered. On top of this, from March 2018 onwards, you no longer require a construction permit in New Jersey for roofing jobs on one- and two-family homes in particular.
New Mexico:
In New Mexico, roofing contractors operate under the title of “Construction Contractors,” meaning that they need a state license in order to begin working. In order to then take the required exam, you must provide two years of experience in your given area. You must also pass the trade exam, in addition to the business and law exam.
New York:
In the state of New York, you are not required to have a state license in order to begin carrying out roofing contractor work. However, as previously mentioned, there are still local requirements often, and these should be fully looked into beforehand.
North Carolina:
In order to work as a roofing contractor in the state of North Carolina, you will require a state license, though this is only for any jobs worth $30,000 or more. This license is issued by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. You will need to be pre-approved before you are able to the exam. To do so, you must demonstrate a minimum working capital, which is appropriate depending on the size of the jobs you wish to bid on in the future.
North Dakota:
If you wish to carry out roofing jobs worth more than $4,000 in the state of North Dakota, there are a number of requirements involved. There are four classes of licenses that are issued by the Secretary of State of North Dakota; these mostly depend on the size of the jobs you plan to embark upon. There is no exam requirement in this state, though you will need to be able to show that you don’t owe any taxes, as well as being able to provide Proof of worker’s compensation insurance and liability insurance.
Ohio:
As with a number of the other states list, there are no state licensing requirements in order to be roofing contractor work in the state of Ohio. As with previous entries, we advise that you still be sure to check your local requirements before you begin work.
Oklahoma:
You are not required to carry a state license in order to carry out roofing contractor work in Oklahoma. However, you do need a Roofing Contractor Registration. In order to be registered and be granted the equivalent of an Oklahoma roofing license, you will be required to provide proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance.
Oregon:
In the state of Oregon, roofing contractors require a state license to begin working. You will need to finish your pre-license training and pass a test before you are granted a license from the Construction Contractors Board. You will also be required to provide Proof of general liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance.
Pennsylvania:
There are no requirements in the state of Pennsylvania for roofing contractors to have a state license before they begin work. However, we still advise that you enquire into the local requirements for roofing contractors in your area before you consider beginning work.
Rhode Island:
In order to become a roofing contractor in the state of Rhode Island, a state license is required. This license is granted by the State of Rhode Island Contractors’ Registration and Licensing Board. In order to become licensed, you will need to pass an exam, as well as complete at least ten hours of roofing education per year. You will also need to be able to proof of insurance and be bonded.
South Carolina:
In South Carolina, roofing contractors require a state license before they are able to begin work in this area, unless they fall under the title of “Residential Speciality Contractor, to do so you must be registered with the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation. In order to register, you first must provide references and a surety bond, so long as your work is expected to be worth more than $5,000.
South Dakota:
In South Dakota, there are no requirements for roofing contractors to carry state licenses. We advise that contractors in South Dakota still research their local roofing contractor requirements before beginning work, as these may differ.
Tennessee:
In the state of Tennessee, as of January 2014, all roofing contractors are required to carry a state license in order to perform any projects that are expected to be worth more than $25,000. In order to do so, you must first pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and law exam. You must then also provide a financial statement and provide Proof of general liability, as well as worker’s compensation insurance.
Texas:
In the state of Texas, there is no requirement for its roofing contractors to carry any sort of state license to carry out their work. There is, however, a voluntary licensing process through the Roofing Contractors Association in Texas, if this is something you are interested in looking into.
Utah:
All kinds of construction contractors, roofing contractors included, require a state license issued by the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. To do so, you will need to pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and law exam. In order to become eligible to take this exam, you must first have four years of work experience. In addition to this, you must also be able to provide Proof of general liability and worker’s compensation insurance.
Vermont:
In Vermont, there is no requirement for roofing contractors to carry a state license in order to be doing their work. As always, we do advise that you look into local contractor requirements for your area before beginning this work, as this can affect it.
Virginia:
For Virginians, it is a requirement for roofing contractors to have a state license, issued by the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. In addition to this, you will need to pass a trade exam, as well as a business and a law exam. In order to become eligible to take this exam, you must first have four years of work experience in this area; you must also be able to provide Proof of general liability and worker’s compensation insurance.
Washington:
In Washington State, there is no requirement for its roofing contractors to carry any sort of state license before they begin carrying out their work. There is, however, a requirement to register with the Department of Labor and Industries Contractors’ Registration Section if you reside within this state.
West Virginia:
In the state of West Virginia, roofing contractors are required to attain a state license in order to begin their work. This license is granted by the Division of Labor West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board. You will need to be able to pass a trade exam, in addition to a business and law exam. As well as this, you must also be able to provide Proof of worker’s compensation insurance.
Wisconsin:
In the state of Wisconsin, there is also no requirement for roofing contractors to be granted a state license before carrying out their work. It is important to note, however, that if you work closely with asbestos, you will then require to be certified by the Asbestos Unit Bureau of Public Health.
Wyoming:
Finally, in Wyoming, there are no requirements for roofing contractors to attain a state license before they carry out their work. We maintain that it is important, if you reside in this state, to look into your own local requirements as well as just the state ones.
Get a great career as a roofer. It will give you access to regular work with a steady stream of projects waiting for you. You need to be equipped with skills to work on different building types, including residential and commercial structures.
Ever wonder what exactly a roofer does, and how to become one? Read on and learn how to get into roofing, and discover what it takes to become one.
How To Get Into Roofing
What is a Roofer?
A roofer repairs make replacements and install roofs of building structures. They work with materials like shingles, metal, and tar. As a roofer, you will get the chance to work both from the ground and on top of buildings. More often than not, you will be standing on a slope.
To give you an idea of how to work in roofing, you will use tools for installing roofs and make assessments in roofing conditions. Part of your duties would be any one of these things, giving a customer an estimate, applying a waterproofing coat, or maybe replace an entire roof. You will be working with certified roofing contractors and operate under a business license, which will allow you to work on both commercial and residential buildings.
All of the above details answers the question as to what do roofers do. Additionally, on any given day, an inspection usually occurs after each completed job.
What Does a Roofer Do?
As a roofing company, they install and repair roofs of all types using all kinds of materials. This includes asphalt, cedar shingles, metal, and more. As a roofer, you will have to be prepared to work in all kinds of weather conditions, and almost any situation involving rooftop conditions.
It is possible that you might be working on a steep-sloped roof in the rain one day, and, on a flat roof under the hot sun the next. Every time a new roof is installed, thick plywood is laid down first, then after that, felt is installed. This contraption makes it easier to keep your footing after that comes to the shingles, which are either metal panels or an asphalt membrane.
Roofers must be detail-oriented since the quality of the work done will depend much on how good of a job was completed. It will be inspected and checked if done properly. It will seal any leak that could cause damage inside the building.
They also install attic fans and vent boots on the roof.
How To Be A Good Roofer
A good roofer is when he gets to finish difficult tasks in not-so-good weather conditions. He or she can also work high above the ground and follow protocols for all kinds of jobs. You must be efficient as you follow guidelines depending on the materials you use.
You will need good communication skills as well as the physical strength to move and carry heavy tools and various materials. All these you will be doing with a positive attitude. Working for both residential and commercial clients will require you to be culturally sensitive, coupled with good customer service skills. These are crucial components to being a good roofer.
What Do Roofers Wear?
Working as a roofer also requires proper gear and clothing. It should be able to protect you from environmental factors such as accidents and other dangerous materials. Eye protection and a hard hat sometimes are required.
Wearing long-sleeve shirts and thick pants will protect you from cuts, scrapes, and even sunburn. Work boots with thick soles can help with its necessary grip that is needed while you walk on the roof surface. The thick soles will also help protect your feet from the hot surface of the roof.
Gloves serve to protect your hands from burns while at the same time improving grip.
What Tools Do Roofers Use?
Tools are used for installing, making repairs, and removal of roofs. Basic tools like hammers and ladders are the most commonly used. They also use shingle removers, shovels, roofing nailers, roofing hammers, hammer tackers, some utility knives, and power machines.
Depending on the specifications of the job, you might be using a power drill, or maybe a power saw to cut and install materials. You will also be using a crowbar to remove shingles, shears, cut asphalt, or fiberglass shingles. Other peripherals include a tape measure and level to measure the roof slope.
Having experience using these tools will be helpful to your roofing career.
Do Roofers Work in the Rain?
Depending on the type of roofing job that needs to be done, roofers are required to work even if it’s raining. For example, during a storm, if a tree fell on a building, roofers must get to work and make repairs just so that water doesn’t get into the structure.
Admittedly, it is risky for roofers to be working in such conditions, so much so that companies avoid sending in a team to the roof unless it is an emergency. What roofers do is cover their work with tarp or plastic to protect against any leak in the event of a storm.
What Type of Training/ Credentials Does a Roofer Need?
Most roofers learn through on-the-job training. They take up a formal apprenticeship program that is complete with classes and paid training. Even when they are still in training, they get to do and complete real roofing jobs.
An apprentice gets to learn to use the necessary tools and safety precautions needed. The experience and certification give them the chance to be hired as a full-time roofer. A good roofer also needs to study and make the necessary upgrades as a roofing professional throughout his career.
Physical fitness is a must since this job is also equally physically demanding. You must not be afraid of heights and must have a good sense of balance. You also must be able to take care of details and maintain focus in potentially dangerous situations.
Teamwork is crucial to the roofing business as well as the ability to work independently. A good roofer does not need much supervision. A survey conducted by Owl Guru cites the top 5 skills and knowledge that roofers must have:
Building and Construction
Design
Mathematics
Education and Training
Customer and Personal Service
Are Roofing Jobs Readily Available?
Why be a roofer?
It so happens that taking up roofing as a career today gives you bright job prospects. There is an ongoing housing boom that started a few years back where roofing repairs and replacements have become in demand.
Our economic recovery has created a growing market for projects both in residential and commercial areas. Along with that demand will raise the need for more quality roofers. Opportunities are steadily on the rise, and more positions are becoming available.
If you like working with your hands, this job is for you!
How do clients search for your roofing business online?
Your roofing website may be ranked #1 in Bing and Google, but what about Siri?
According to a recent report by Pew Research, over 80% of Americans now own smartphones, and another study showed that over 90% of those phone owners use their device’s digital assistants. Iphone’s Siri is one of the most famous voice assistants that most people use to look for roofing products or services online.
As voice search and use of smartphones continue to increase, more and more clients looking for roofing contractor’s recommendations turn to Siri rather than to their search engines. If you don’t leverage Siri to get found by prospects, you are losing leads to your competitors.
More and more roofers ask us how they can get found by Siri when prospects look for their products or services via voice search. The good news is that getting your roofing business findable on Siri is super simple. Without further ado, let us dive in to understand why and how to get your business found by Siri.
Why Should Your Roofing Business Get Found by Siri?
Siri is made famous with iPhone users, and that popularity is on the upward trend, as new iPhones with Siri enhancements to Siri continue to be released in the market. Siri offers notable advantages to users. Here are some reasons why you need to put Siri to work for your roofing business:
Roofing Company Listing
As voice search gets smarter and smartphones increase, more and more prospects seeking local roofing services are turning to Siri than Google. To that end, ensure that your roofing company is listed on popular maps like Google Maps and Apple Maps, as well as sites like Yelp, Foursquare, Citysearch, and Google Places. Ratings and reviews from local sites help your roofing business to get found on Siri.
Banking and Payments
Siri allows you to send money verbally to suppliers or vendors through apps such as Square Cash, Venmo, and PayPal. For instance, you can say, “pay supplier X $230 with Venmo.” The good thing is that you don’t require to download the app-just utilize the cards that are already in your wallet.
Time Management
There are many hours in each workday, and when you want things done in sequence and quickly, Siri will help you set the time limits of each task. This will help to improve the productivity and morale of your employees.
How to Get Found by Siri as a Roofing Contractor
Siri utilizes Apple Maps to locate businesses, so the first thing you need to do right now is to list your roofing company on Apple Maps.
Here is how you can check if your roofing business is currently listed on Apple Maps:
Grab your iPhone and tap on the Maps icon
Go to the search box and type your roofing business name
If you see the name of your roofing company, then you are on Apple Maps
If you don’t see the name of your business, it means that your company is not listed on Apple Maps.
If you did not see your roofing business in Apple Maps, then you need to add it manually using the Apple Maps Connect Website.
Here are some actionable tips to add your roofing business on Apple Map Connect:
Keep your phone near in case they request for a security code
Once signed-in click “add place” link at the top of your page
Enter your roofing company name and city in the queries box.
If your business appears, click the listing to begin the process of claiming it.
If your company does not show up, click the link again and “Add New Place.”
Here’s how your Roofing Company can Get Found on Siri
Get on the Map First
One of the most popular applications of voice search is to ask for directions, and over 80% of prospects who perform a voice-based local search are likely to use driving directions on smartphones. Here’s how to ensure that those prospects can find your business on Siri: Apple Maps: Go to Apple Maps Connect and enter your Apple ID to list your business.
List Your Roofing Business on Local Directories
Siri depends heavily on local listings; therefore, make sure that your roofing company is listed on every local directory site you can find like Yelp, Citysearch Four Square, amongst others. Most Siri searchers ask for roofer near me; thus, your proximity to them can make a huge difference, but if your business is listed on major directory sites, it could stand above other competitors in the market.
Be Consistent to Get Found by Siri
Check all your listings to make sure that they are consistent in terms of spacing, abbreviations, and even spelling. If your business is listed as Acme, Inc at 101 Main Street and Acme at 101 Main Street at another, then Siri might assume that those are two separate business entities. Go through your listings to make sure that your listings are consistent with your roofing website as well.
Keywords are Crucial to Getting Found by Siri
Use highly descriptive keywords about your roofing business in the listing and on your roofing website. The more Siri understands your business, the higher the chances of recommending your company to prospects.
Claim All Your Local Listings
Siri gives priority to legitimate roofing companies, and you can make sure that your company is legit by claiming all the listings in your roofing website. The process is simple, as you only need to visit the local directory site and click claim your business page and look for your company name.
Get online Reviews to be found by Siri
Siri uses reviews and ratings to determine which roofing business to recommend, so ask clients to post reviews, rank your business as much as possible, and give more details about your services.
Beef Up Your Tags
Use schema microdata and rich snippets on your roofing website; include crucial information like your address, operating hours, and phone number, to make it easier for your roofing business to get found on Siri.
BlackStorm Roofing Marketing Will Help Your Roofing Business Get Found by Siri Almost Instantly
Voice search popularity will continue to increase as more sophisticated smartphones hit the market. To keep abreast of this trend, you should make your roofing website voice search ready. At Blackstorm, we have a team experts who will help your roofing website get found by Siri almost instantly.
We are a full-service roofing marketing agency that specializes in website design, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and reputation management. We have more than ten years of experience in creating internet marketing campaigns that drive results. Our experts know how they can adapt your SEO strategy for voice search.
If you are searching for a reputable roofing marketing agency that drives results, then look no further than Blackstorm Roofing Marketing.
Our clients can bear witness that we over-deliver on our promises. We have countless positive testimonials that attest to the great work we do for our customers.
Get Found by Siri Today
If you are ready to begin optimizing your roofing website for voice search, then kindly schedule a free strategy session with our experts to get your business listed with Siri today.
Give Your Roofing Business a Voice, Stay ahead of the Competition and Book More jobs with Alexa
Hey, Alexa, where can I find an experienced roofing contractor near me?
In the modern roofing landscape, most of your clients are finding your business online through Google. They turn to Google and type roof replacement (service type) contractor in (name of the city or town).
But now, with the rising popularity of Alexa, the rules of the game are slowly changing. Why?
Because local voice search is the new norm, and thus roofing contractors must optimize their websites to get found on Alexa, Siri, and Google Home Assistants.
Here are a few suggestions why you must get found on Alexa when crafting your local roofing marketing strategy, as well as surefire tips you can implement today to make your business voice ready.
Why is Getting Found on Alexa Important for Roofing Contractors?
While some property owners still use Google’s search bar, the dramatic shift to using Alexa is becoming prominent. From smart home devices, like Google Home to Amazon Echo, property owners are no longer using the search bar to get their roofing questions answered. Instead, they use a voice-enabled device to ask them. But the words they speak are very different from the keywords you have been using on your internet marketing strategy for years.
For Instance, if they want to find a roofer, they will ask, Alexa, who is an experienced roofing contractor near me? As opposed to typing in the search bar, “roofing contractor in Murfreesboro.” They could also ask questions like “Who can I hire to replace my roof?” or “is there someone near me who can fix my roof?”
So the secret to success in today’s voice search world is to think about the type of questions property owners are asking and then incorporating them in your online marketing strategy accordingly.
3 Ways Roofers can use to get found on Alexa for free
So, major roofing contractors have been investing in voice search and reaping maximum benefits. But all they do is to fix or repair roofs, just like your business. So, if they are booking more jobs via Alexa, what is stopping you?
Much like having a mobile-friendly roofing website or an app, voice activation is also another platform worth considering, and being found in Alexa is as crucial as being found on a tablet, desktop, or mobile. Here are three tips that will help you get started with Alexa:
Alexa skills kit
Amazon has compiled an excellent guide to help your business get involved with voice. Just like building a roofing website or app, there are guidelines to consider and rules to follow. It incorporates their voice design guide, which takes you through all the stages of the design process.
You will need to think about questions that property owners will ask and the way your design will answer, and this ultimate guide to ensure that your interaction feels natural, answers accurately, and offers excellent service. Consider partnering with a reputable roofing marketing agency for more support.
Schema Markup
As a roofer, you need to make sure that your business is showing up in voice search results. One excellent way of achieving this is by using structured data known as schema markup.
Schema assists search engines in understanding the content of your roofing website. When direct queries are asked in Alexa, such as “where can I get the best roofer near me?”
Correct schema markup will assist your roofing business to show up in search results on Alexa.
Understanding Intent and Conversational Content
Your content is paramount for success in voice search. Question asked on Alexa and Siri are more structured than the typed ones. We talk as if to a partner or friend. As a roofing contractor, you need to make sure that your content answers questions that property owners might have naturally. Write informative, conversational content.
Try to know the intent behind each query. If the user is requesting to know about the differences between a roof replacement and roof installation, they might be looking for your services. If they want to know how much it costs to fix a roof, then they have more intent to book a roofing job.
Make sure that your content will incorporate long-tail keywords that will be relevant to the searcher’s intent.
Alexa is here to stay. Make sure that your roofing business gets found on Alexa and book more jobs today.
How can Roofing Contractors Optimize for Amazon Alexa?
Alexa has the highest percentage of the total smart speaker’s market share. However, it only occupies 25% of the overall voice search market share when you consider devices like (computers, games console, and phones amongst others)
Alexa gets your local roofing business details, reviews, and photos from two primary sources. Yelp offers most of your local business details, reviews, and photos for the Alexa search. So, if you optimize your Yelp listing, your roofing business will easily get found on Alexa.
Let’s make sure that your roofing business is optimized for voice search and get found on Alexa by prospects.
At BlackStorm we are Roofing Marketing Pros, our mission is to empower and educate roofing contractors like you to understand your options to make better business decisions that will increase your sales and grow your roofing business. We develop effective internet marketing solutions that convert leads and drive relevant traffic to your business. Stop losing qualified leads to your rivals. Schedule a free strategy session with our experts to make your roofing business get found on Alexa today!
Create unparalleled customer experience; outrank your competitors and Book More Roofing Jobs with Voice Search SEO
As many roofers know, SEO is a dynamic field, yet it is an essential component of any internet marketing strategy, as discussed in our previous blog post. The trend for searching online has changed as well. Nowadays, property owners use voice search to look for roofing services or products online.
With voice assistants such as the Amazon Alexa and Apple’s Siri becoming mainstream in most American homes, your roofing business must have a voice search strategy to stand above the competition. So what does voice search entail, and why is it making waves in roofing marketing? And, why is voice search so important for your roofing business? You will be surprised to know how ignoring this emerging roofing SEO trend could adversely affect the traffic and visibility of your roofing website. Read on to get all your voice search queries answered.
What is Voice Search?
Voice search is a speech recognition technology that allows property owners to use the voice command to search your roofing website or app. Users here conducts an online search by saying the terms aloud instead of typing them in the search query box. Property owners use voice search because their hands are full since it is quicker to speak than type, plus you don’t need a screen or keyboard.
Reasons Why Voice Search is Making Waves in Roofing Marketing
Nowadays, most of your customers are finding your roofing business through Google. They simply turn to Google and type (roofing service type) contractor in (name of the town or city) and hire the roofer who pops up on the first page. But now, with the rising popularity of Google assistants, Siri and Alexa, the game of search is changing. Why? Since people don’t speak the same way they do when typing on the search query box, thus all the keyword research you have done using your internet marketing may no longer be helpful.
Roofers who want to remain visible to property owners in the coming years will be required to find a way to incorporate voice search into their internet marketing strategies because of the following reasons:
A Voice Search Strategy Can Improve User Experience.
Implementing a voice search strategy not only helps your roofing business to remain relevant but also creates a unique customer experience that can foster relationships and increase brand royalty.
Since Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa can differentiate between voices, they provide insights about users that result in more personalized content and messages, which is fantastic for improving user experience. Furthermore, voice search technology can help users to interact with your roofing brand more naturally and seamlessly, thus encouraging loyalty and retention.
Lastly, voice search interactions take less time than text-based ones, which is more convenient for busy property owners who expect instant gratification and stellar experience every time they interact with your roofing brand.
Voice Search Affects Your Roofing SEO
Another primary reason roofers must incorporate voice search into their internet marketing strategies is because voice search affects roofing SEO best practices.
One of the main reasons for such changes is the phenomenon that people interact with search engine queries differently, whether on voice or text. Voice searches tend to be longer than text-based searches, and you can solve this by including long-tail keywords in your content.
Similarly, voice search is going to impact SEO by increasing the importance of Local SEO because many mobile searchers have a local intent, such as identifying a roofer in the nearby city or town.
Furthermore, Google Assistant seems to concentrate more on the featured snippets when giving answers to users. This means that your roofing business has to incorporate such best practices in your roofing SEO campaigns.
Roofers Use Voice Search to Drive Traffic
Although the benefits of voice search have not been exploited fully, one thing is clear that roofers who will implement voice search strategies will be rewarded with high roofing website traffic. When a voice assistant provides an answer, it also prompts the user to visit the roofing website in which the response was pulled from.
For roofers, that are successful with voice-optimized SEO; this could imply a boost in traffic if your roofing business appears typically as a top result or a featured snippet that provides solutions to users.
A Unique Voice Search Strategy Helps Your Roofing Business to Outrank the Competition
Having a roofing voice strategy is not just crucial for ensuring that your clients can find your business online, but also prevents prospects from visiting your competition instead.
For instance, if your competitors have implemented a voice search strategy and your business has not, they will rank high in search engines and thus be found more by clients. At the moment, voice search still is a new concept; therefore, many roofers have not jumped into the bandwagon, allowing your business to stand out from them.
Voice Search Helps Your Business to be Available for Clients When They Need Your Services
The fantastic thing about voice search is that property owners tend to use it when they need specific roofing services or products speedily. Nowadays, consumers are looking for services or products that they are going to use at that moment. For roofers who have adopted voice-optimized SEO, it means that their business will be at the top of the results page when homeowners need roofing services and obtain traffic.
Just like mobile-first indexing changed the digital marketing landscape and forced roofing websites to change from the conventional form of SEO, voice search will do the same. Because of this, your roofing business needs to create a voice search strategy that will help stay ahead of the curve. Fortunately, this post will provide helpful tips to make your roofing website voice-search ready in 2020.
How to Optimize Your Roofing Website for Voice Search Results
Implement Structured Data
Schema markup or structured data is one of the crucial factors that assist search engines in classifying and organizing your content. In simple terms, this data helps Google to understand information on your roofing website. Having this information will not impact rankings directly, but it will allow you to appear in voice search and featured snippets results.
Using schema markup is crucial for local roofing contractors because property owners usually search for office hours, a phone number, or address. By listing all the details about your roofing company, you stand a good chance of getting conversions, improved digital footprint, and better rankings.
How do you implement structured data on your roofing website? If you are using WordPress, look for schema plugins, and you will see hundreds of schema markup functionalities. If your hands are full, consider outsourcing your SEO to a reputable roofing marketing agency.
Claim Your Google My Business Listing
To ensure that your roofing business is ready for local search, you will want to claim and optimize your Google My Business profile. Include accurate contact details and the name of your business, operating hours, and correct phone number. It is also advisable to write a short description of your business and the roofing services/products that you provide. Be sure that your information is consistent in all the directories. Finally, make sure that you select a category that corresponds with your business.
You should also try to add high-quality images that depict the services that your business offers and you plus your employees. This will help to build trust among property owners searching for your roofing business. One effective way to make prospects find your roofing business is to include business contact details at the header or footer of your website.
Speed Up Your Roofing Website
Prospects/ clients using voice search can be in a hurry; after all, voice search is faster than typing a query in a search query box. To ensure that you achieve your prospect’s need for speed, make sure that your website loads in less than three seconds. Page speed is a crucial factor that influences search engine rankings.
You can use various tools like Google’s page speed insight to check your roofing website loading time. The good thing with this tool is that it gives you numerous suggestions on how to improve your page speed. Ensure that you prioritize visible content, minify CSS & HTML, optimize images, eliminate unnecessary plugins and theme elements, and implement browser caching.
Make Your Roofing Website Mobile Friendly
As a roofer, creating a mobile-friendly experience should be the core of all your optimization efforts. After all, the majority of voice search queries occur in mobile devices. When optimizing your roofing website for mobile devices, you need to remember the following things:
Avoid using flash to add media or effects on your site instead of using HTML5.
Make your site easy to navigate by making clicks and links significant enough to read.
If you want to know whether your roofing website is compatible with mobile devices, try out a mobile-friendly compatibility test on Google.
Focus on Long-Tail Roofing Keywords
Short-tail keywords are slowly becoming less relevant in conversational search queries, and the trend is bound to continue in the coming years. Prospects using voice search ask direct questions, to obtain more relevant answers. That’s where long-tail roofing keywords come in.
Long-tail keywords are generally specific. As the name suggests, these are keywords that are longer than a typical search query. Prospects act like they are conversing with a human being during a voice search.
For example, when typing a search query, a prospect uses relevant keywords like the best roofer in Tennessee. While conducting a voice search, a prospect might ask, Hey Siri (or Ok Google), where can I get the best roofing contractor in Tennessee? Therefore, it is highly recommended that you find and utilize conversational keywords that prospects would use while talking. You need to find long-tail keywords and include them in your content.
Improve Your Online Reputation
As a roofer, you already know that bad reputation (whether offline or online) can adversely affect your voice search rankings-Google even shows ratings on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 star being described as worst, 4-5 shows your business is the best. If you want to improve your prominence on result pages, make sure that clients/ prospects are talking positively about your business.
Client testimonials are another effective way of proving your trustworthiness and authority. So are positive mentions on Home advisor, Social media, and Yelp. Fortunately, Blackstorm Roofing Marketing can help your roofing reputation by sharing positive client testimonials on your website, collecting reviews from your previous clients.
Stay Ahead of the Game by Implementing a Voice Search Strategy in Your Roofing Website Today
In today’s competitive roofing landscape, your roofing business needs to stay ahead of the curve. If you want to stand out from other roofers, voice search SEO is something that you cannot afford to ignore.
Voice search allows your business to create an unparalleled customer experience. Stay ahead of the curve is what we believe in here at BlackStorm Roofing Marketing. That, combined with our primary focus on the roofing industry, makes us the best choice for your digital marketing needs. As a roofer, you might have worked with different marketers who don’t know the ins and out of your industry.
Now that you have understood what voice search is and why every roofer is swearing by it, its time to improve your SEO strategy to incorporate this new trend.
If you need help finding experts to create and implement voice search strategy in your roofing business, schedule a free strategy session with our SEO professionals today.
