If you are a decorative concrete contractor, the internet is the perfect place to get new business. Most consumers know very little about the processes of restoring concrete, polishing, micro toppings, staining, epoxies or the new polyureas that have grown rapidly in recent years.

As a result, it is likely that over 90% of buyers search online for information and contractors. If you are not found on the internet, you’re missing a lot of business.  It’s that simple. There are projects being completed in your backyard that you don’t even know exist.

How To Get Prime Positions On Google

Step One – Keywords

In a recent search I found over 2,500 keyword phrases that consumers search for on Google, Yahoo and Bing that relate to the decorative concrete industry. Some may seem a bit odd like “garage floor paint” when what they really want is a high performance epoxy or polyurea.

As a result, the first step before building a website or blog is to research the terms your customers are searching for. Most people think that the top searched words are where it’s at. Many of the lesser searched detailed terms  teach us what your customers are thinking about when they sit down at their keyword to start searching.

Think about your own searches. You bang out a whole bunch of searches until you find what you want. Once you find what you’re looking for, you stop. Chances are you’ll come back to that site over and over, you might even tell your friends about it.

The first step – build your website or blog to deliver what your customers want, not what you think they want. It all starts with keywords. Do your keyword research first.

Step 2 – Creating Content

Most websites are nothing more than online brochures with nice photos. Can you really deliver what is on your site? Have you provided any information that educates your prospective client, or are you the same as every other contractor? If every contractor has the same photos, then what’s the difference between you and them? Price? Quality?

Use your website and blog to educate your customer so they understand the positives and the negatives. Be honest, provide quality educational content. Quality, educational content creates trust. Your customers want to hire someone they can trust. This is what they are looking for. Again, deliver what your customers want and when they land on your site they will stick. They will call you and they will be presold.

Step 3 – Dominate The Search In Your Local Market

It’s been said many times that, within a 30 minute drive there is more business than you can do in a lifetime. If that’s true, than how come you drive an hour or two each way to do a project?

By optimizing websites and blogs with keywords that relate to your specialty in a defined geographic area, you can dominate all the searched terms.

The process is to combine those terms your customers search for and localize them. Combine them with the name of towns, neighborhoods, county and state where you work. It’s pretty simple really, requiring only common sense and a plan.

How Do You Learn?

I was taught how to build a successful local real estate business at CBRE starting in 1987. CBRE is the largest commercial real estate business in the world. Their success is based on specialization in defined local markets. The idea is to become the expert in a defined area. It’s sort of like being a farmer. Cultivate your field and it will always produce. The same system applies to your business. Real Estate and construction are local businesses. Always have been, always will.

I have taught hundreds of highly productive real estate professionals the system, as well as contractors and small business owners over the years. It’s always the same. The ones who don’t follow the plan struggle and eventually go out of business. Those who follow the system succeed. I completed over $500 million in transactions using this system.

That strategy works like a charm when you combine localized Search Engine Optimization with a system.

We Provide The Training

For those of you who already have a website that is not being found on the internet, we have developed a marketing training program. The program includes  eight weeks of one on one coaching and development of a blog designed to match your existing website. In the program you will learn how to market your business online and get a consistent flow of new business in your target market.

Here’s What You Will Learn

1. How To Consistently Get New Business – We will work with you to create a defined plan for your business.
2. Blog Development – we will teach you how to write content that you optimize with keywords then publish to the internet. If you can type an e-mail you can create case studies about projects you have completed that are 50 -250 words with photos. I guarantee this is easier than applying coatings to concrete or building concrete countertops.
3. Case Studies - we’ll show you how to create case studies about your completed projects that are educational to your clients and create credibility. We will show you how and where to place keyword pharses that are optimized by Google, Yahoo and Bing.
4. Press Releases and Article Marketing – We’ll show you how to create articles that are published online that create valuable links back to your site.
5. Link Building – Creating inbound links back to your site is a simple, but valuable way to give your blog weight that Google and others will reward with prime placement.
6. Video – we’ll get you started on your way to using video that can be displayed on your blog as easily as a photo.
7. The System – you will learn a system that can be implemented in 1 hour per week that will get quick results but will produce hundreds of Google and other search engine positions in your target market. This is not about just a few prime positions online.

As of this writing we have 17 committed students for our July/August Session with 3 more available. There are 5 spots available for August. If you are interested in learning more and seeing actual proof of results give me (Ed Winslow) a call at 1-203-762-1366 or e-mail ejw@creteventures.com .

The entire package including blog development and training is $1,795.00 payable in 3 installments over the term of the class. I’d be very disappointed if you didn’t produce at least $100,000.00 in new business from your online marketing efforts in your first 12 months.

We are currently teaching mortgage professionals, real estate brokers, insurance agents and various contractors the same program outlined here.

New York City Epoxy Floor Coatings

Fernando Franco specializes in epoxy floor coatings in New York City like the one featured here. This one is is created in a metallic finish that is a designer look with industrial strength.

The options with high performance epoxies are unlimited. There are thin, inexpensive systems for low traffic areas to ultra high performance systems for commercial kitchens, cold rooms, warehouses, retail stores and restaurants.

In addition to epoxy systems, Garage and Beyond provides decorative concrete systems for all types of concrete surfaces in New York City and the tri-state area. For more information contact Fernando at 866-568-5611 or visit www.garageandbeyond.com .

Wichita Concrete Coatings

G1 Concrete Coatings of Wichita, Kansas launched their new website this week. The company is run by concrete coatings veteran, Joe Tinker, specializing in concrete surface repair and application of technologically advanced polyurea floor coatings.

Polyurea concrete flooring are having an industry changing impact in the coatings and decorative concrete industry. When properly applied with premium blends, they are much more durable than any other coating and last longer. There are many other unique characteristics such as non-yellowing, scratch resistant, non-slip and reduce bacteria growth with improved air quality. They also cure quickly, reducing application time enabling floors to be put into service the next day rather than waiting days like many other types of coatings.

G1 Concrete Coatings uses Espartic Polyurea which has been developed over years by flooring contractors, coating technicians and the top blenders in the industry. The product has been designed to be the leading coating in the industry, providing clients with the most cost effective, durable result available.

Visit the new G1 Concrete Coatings website for more information. www.g1concretecoatings.com

Vermont Concrete Floor

Garage Outfitters of Vermont specializing in concrete floor coatings launched their new website www.garageoutfittersvt.com .The company is based in Burlington and run by Jake Lauffler.

Garage Outfitters provides a complete garage remodeling service including concrete floor coatings and custom cabinets.  They are also the Vermont affiliate of Espartic a specialty manufacturer of polyurea coatings based in Denver Colorado. Espartic coatings was developed as the ultimate coating for cold weather climates nationwide. It not only provides a waterproofing solution, but withstands harsh road salts which can deteriorate concrete rapidly.

In addition to serving the garage floor market they also apply their polyurea coatings to a variety of flooring types including:

• Hospital/Medical Floors
• Dog Kennels
• Retail Stores
• Resort and Hotels
• Industrial Warehouses
• Showrooms
• Restaurants and commercial kitchens

For more information visit www.garageoutfittersvt.com or call Jake at 802-777-3343

San Diego Garage Floor Paint Supplies

Gerry Sadler of Concrete Solutions is your contact for garage floor paint supplies in San Diego and Southern California. Gerry can be reached at 619-987-4721 .

Concrete Solutions manufactures Ultra Surface Epoxy systems which is an industrial grade epoxy paint system. They carry a Do It Yourself system and a high performance line of specialized epoxies for contractors.

Color choices are unlimited with a clear coat application as well. The clear is ideal for stained concrete floors.

Concrete Solutions also carries a full line of concrete restoration products for leveling and crack repair plus all the application tools. They have two instructional videos for repair and a simple “how to”  DVD showing step by step instructions for applying their epoxy garage floor paint.

Concrete Solutions is based in San Diego with national distribution.

NYC Industrial Flooring

Decorative concrete has many options when it comes to NYC industrial flooring. There are various types of coatings that solve a myriad of design and function issues.

Each floor is different. In some cases your floor may need a self leveling concrete to raise the floor and level the surface. There are a few self leveling concrete products that can be stained and sealed. The results can be flat gray with a matte finish or bright colors with a high gloss.

Concrete polishing has become a popular finish in NYC and is in demand as industrial, retail and residential flooring. You likely have seen it and possibly thought it was marble. Stain and dye options for polishing projects have opened up numerous options.

Epoxies are still very popular for industrial and commercial kitchen use. Coloring techniques have made epoxies a decorative option as well.

Contact us at 203-762-1366 to learn about the options for your floor.

NYC decorative Concrete

If you are looking for a decorative concrete floor in NYC there are numerous options.

1. Concrete Polishing – The photo on top is stained polished concrete. The process is achieved by grinding the surface with a coarse blade, the using consecutive finer blades. The process may start with a 40 grit and go up to as high as 3,000 grit. Very durable and natural finish.

2. Self Leveling Concrete – if your concrete is in rough shape and needs to be raised, self leveling concrete may be your best choice. Photos 2 & 3 are self leveling concrete. The beauty of self leveling concrete is that flooring height can be adjusted to meet up with door jams, steps, floor vents and adjacent hardwood or tile. Totally custom.

3. Epoxies and Polyureas – These are thin industrial strength coatings. They are great for any floor but ideal for commercial kitchens, warehouses, restaurants and retail stores.

Each system has a function and design feature that solves a problem. Not every application will be ideal for each floor.

Which decorative concrete option is ideal for your NYC floor? Call 203-762-1366 and we’ll provide you with the options.

Rock Solid Surfacing Colorado

Rock Solid Surfacing of Colorado recently launched their new website. The new site was built by Crete Ventures the owner of MetroCrete.

Rock Solid, as you will learn from their website and blog, specializes in concrete restoration and application of a technologically advanced polyurea coating for a variety of residential and commercial property types. Their core product is manufactured by E Spartic who carries a full line of coatings, crack repair and specialized equipment for concrete restoration.

Rock Solid Surfacing is based in Edwards Colorado in the Vail Valley area of the Colorado Rockies. In recent months they opened a second location in Denver.

Rock Solid started in the coatings business over 10 years ago in the residential garage remodeling market. Over the years they expanded into all types of commercial flooring including:

• Medical / Hospital
• Restaurant and Commercial Kitchens
• Aircraft Hangars
• Retail Store Flooring
• Auto and Marine Showrooms
• Industrial Warehouses and Self Storage
• Epoxy Repair and Glue / Mastic removal
• Concrete Polishing

Visit www.rocksolidsurfacing.com for full details.

Texas Decorative Concrete Supply

If you are new to the business they have regularly scheduled training for all applications including the Buddy Rhodes concrete countertop system.

Residential and commercial property owners can contact any of their 3 locations for complete information on all their products and an appropriate contractor for your project. Just click the Decorative Concrete Supply link to view their products and contact information. www.decorativecs.com

Stamped Concrete Dallas Texas

Stained Garage Floor Dallas Texas

Cleaning Mildew From Concrete

Surface Gel Teks Gelled Acids are an ideal product for cleaning mildew from concrete surfaces.  They solve significant problem that a typical liquid acid cannot provide. Acid has long been known to be the most effective product for cleaning not only mold and algae but also rust stains and oils from concrete surfaces.

The problem is that liquid acids are very difficult to control. They need to be diluted with water and lack an effective application method. Liquid acid is like trying to work a hammer without a handle.  Gels are to acid what a handle is to a hammer . They make the acid work.

If you have mildew on your concrete surface which has built up over the years on a patio, stairs or sidewalk you can simply pour the gelled acid into a paint tray and roll on the surface just like paint. Let the acids sit for about 15 minutes until they neutralize and wash off the surface.

The acid pulls the mildew, mold and algae out of the concrete and is contained in the gel. The gel works as a carrier. They come in two strengths. HD24 is 24% acid and the HD stands for heavy duty. HD 24 also will profile a sidewalk creating a non slip surface and is very effective as a concrete etching product prior to applying epoxy coatings. The other is Tek Gel for profiling which is 20% acid. Both are ASTM certified .

For full details and ordering information visit www.etchingconcrete.com