Social media isn’t just for foodies and influencers. For contractors and construction companies, it’s an effective tool to showcase projects, share expertise, and build customer trust.
But let’s face it, coming up with fresh and engaging social content can be tough. Here are five content ideas that can help your construction business stand out on social media.
1. Time-Lapse Videos
Who doesn’t love watching a time-lapse? Set up a camera to capture the progress of your projects throughout each step. By speeding up hours of work into just a few seconds, these videos can transform a lengthy construction process into a captivating visual story that grabs attention and holds it until the last brick is laid.
How to Make a Time-Lapse Video
Set Up Your Shot: Position your camera where it can capture the entire scope of the project without interruption. Make sure it’s a safe spot where the camera won’t be moved or obstructed as work progresses.
Plan Your Interval: Decide how often the camera should take a photo. The interval might depend on the length of the project and the total duration you want your time-lapse to cover. For a day-long project, a photo every 30 seconds might work well.
Make Necessary Edits: Once you’ve captured all the footage, use video editing software to stitch the images together and add music or narration to enhance the viewing experience.
Narrate the Journey: Consider adding a voice-over or captions to explain various stages of the construction process. This educational angle can add value and increase viewer engagement.
Time-lapse videos tell the story of a project from start to finish, highlighting the effort and changes that occur along the way. They’re also more likely to be shared by viewers, extending your reach and increasing your brand visibility.
2. DIY Content & Tutorials
Share your expertise by posting short DIY videos or tutorials on small projects or quick fixes around the house. This type of content empowers your audience by providing them with practical, actionable advice, and demonstrates your expertise and willingness to help, beyond just promoting your services.
How to Create Engaging DIY Content
Identify Common Problems: Focus on common issues or frequent questions from your clients that can be addressed through a DIY approach. This relevance ensures that your content meets actual needs.
Step-by-Step Guides: Whether it’s fixing a leaky faucet or patching a hole in drywall, clear, step-by-step instructions are crucial. Use photos or short video clips for each step to enhance understanding.
Tools and Materials: Always list the tools and materials needed at the beginning of your tutorial. This prep step helps followers ensure they have everything necessary before they start.
Ideas for DIY Content
Seasonal Maintenance Tips: Offer seasonal advice such as preparing for winter or summer, which can help homeowners avoid costly repairs.
Home Safety Upgrades: Simple tutorials on installing smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, or basic home security systems can be extremely beneficial.
Quick Fixes: Share quick-fix solutions to common problems like creaky doors or loose tiles, which don’t require professional intervention but are handy for maintaining a home’s look and functionality.
Tips for Maximizing DIY Content Impact
Clear Visuals: Ensure that all visuals are clear and well-lit. Each step should be easily understandable through images or videos alone.
Accessibility: Use simple language and explain any technical terms. The goal is to make your tutorials accessible to beginners.
Call to Action: Encourage followers to try the tips themselves and share results or ask further questions. This keeps the conversation going and builds your online community.
By incorporating DIY content and tutorials into your social media strategy, you not only enhance your brand’s reputation as a helpful and knowledgeable authority but also create a more engaged and loyal online community. This content strategy not only attracts potential customers but also keeps existing followers interested and active on your channels.
3. Industry News & Trends
Keep your followers informed with updates on trends and new construction technology in the industry. This establishes your brand as a thought leader and a go-to resource for industry-related information.
Why It Matters
Expertise Showcase: Sharing knowledgeable content demonstrates your company’s expertise and commitment to staying updated with industry standards.
Engagement Booster: Industry news often sparks discussions, encouraging engagement from professionals and enthusiasts alike.
Networking Tool: By discussing industry trends, you can connect with peers, potential partners, and industry influencers, expanding your professional network.
Crafting Engaging Industry News Content
Curate Relevant News: Choose news that is relevant to your audience’s interests and needs. This could include technology trends, changes in regulations, or significant economic shifts affecting the construction sector.
Add Your Commentary: Don’t just share news; add your insights or take on it. This personal touch can differentiate your content from simple news aggregation and spark deeper discussions.
Predict Trends: Use your industry knowledge to predict future trends based on current news. This forward-looking perspective can be particularly engaging for your audience.
Ideas for Sharing Industry News and Insights
Weekly Roundups: Create weekly posts or videos that summarize the top news stories in the construction industry, providing a quick and easy way for your followers to stay informed.
Deep Dives: Occasionally, select a major piece of news and do a deep dive into what it means for the industry. This could be in the form of a blog post, video, or even a podcast episode.
Expert Interviews: Collaborate with industry experts or influencers to discuss current news or trends. These interviews can add significant credibility and new perspectives to your content.
Tailor your content to fit different social media platforms. For instance, LinkedIn is ideal for more professional and detailed content, while X (Twitter) is great for quick updates, and Instagram can be used for visually appealing infographics.
Regular posting about industry trends and relevant news can help in building a routine for your followers to look forward to your updates. This strategy enhances trust and respect among your current and potential clients, setting you apart in a competitive market.
4. Collaboration & Guest Posts
In the construction and contracting world, credibility and trust are as vital as any tool in your belt. Collaborating with industry experts — like interior designers, landscapers, or architects — can significantly enhance the credibility and appeal of your social media content. By bringing these experts into your content creation process, you can offer your audience unique insights and a broader scope of knowledge.
How to Collaborate on Social Media:
Guest Posts: Invite experts to write guest posts for your blog or social media platforms. They could share design tips, landscaping advice, or architectural trends that complement your main construction content.
Co-hosted Webinars: Organize webinars where you and an expert discuss industry topics, share best practices, or explore trends. These can be live-streamed and interactive, offering real-time value to the audience.
Interview Series: Launch a series where you interview various experts. These can be formatted as video interviews, podcasts, or written Q&As. Each session can focus on different aspects of the construction and building process.
Joint Projects Showcase: Collaborate on a project and document the process through a series of posts or videos, highlighting each expert’s role and contributions. This not only shows teamwork but also the integrated value of multiple expertise areas in a single project.
Tips for Successful Collaborations
Cross-Promotion: Ensure that all parties involved in the collaboration promote the content through their channels. This mutual promotion can significantly amplify the reach of your posts.
Clear Objectives: Have a clear understanding with your collaborators about the goals of your joint efforts. Whether it’s increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or educating the audience, alignment on objectives is crucial.
Quality Over Quantity: Focus on the quality of interactions and content produced rather than the number of collaborations. A few well-produced pieces can have a greater impact than numerous lower-quality posts.
Choose Wisely: Select experts whose values and quality of work align with your brand. Their expertise should complement yours, providing tangible benefits to your audience.
5. Before-and-After Photos
Before-and-after content is a staple for construction companies on social media. It provides clear, visual proof of the quality and impact of your work, delivering a compelling narrative of transformation that can influence potential clients’ perceptions and decision-making.
How to Create Before-and-After Photos
Consistency: Use the same angles and lighting when capturing the ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos to ensure that the focus remains on the changes made, not on differences in photography style.
Quality: Ensure your photos are high resolution and well-lit. Poor quality images can detract from the impact of the transformation.
Details: Accompany your photos with captions that describe what was done and any particular challenges overcome. This context can enhance the viewer’s appreciation of the work.
Types of Before-and-After Photos
Progress Shots: Include a few progress shots between the before and after images to provide a mini-narrative of how the transformation unfolded.
Highlight Specifics: Instead of only showcasing the entire project, focus on specific elements like kitchen renovations, landscaping changes, or even major roofing transformations.
Testimonials: Combine before-and-after imagery with video testimonials from clients. This can make the content more dynamic and trustworthy.
If you’re looking to elevate your before-and-after photos, check out the Before & After Photo feature from CompanyCam. This tool allows you to perfectly align before and after shots, and even overlays your company logo!
Social media is a gold mine for contractors looking to showcase projects, share knowledge, and engage with a broader audience. By implementing the five content ideas we’ve discussed, you’ll not only diversify your social media presence but also strengthen your brand’s reputation as a knowledgeable and trustworthy leader in the construction industry.
Remember, the key to success in social media is consistency and quality. Keep your content fresh, informative, and engaging, and you’ll see your efforts pay off in more followers, higher engagement, and ultimately, more clients knocking on your door.
