Participative marketing is a new way to look at communicating with a target market. By using social media, blogs, and forums, a company can create a way for stakeholders to have an impact on an organization and its offerings. General contractors can use participative marketing as a way to create and grow an effective business.

Every company has a brand. It is a way of letting others know what the company is about as well as what it offers. It is a way of creating a reputation, and general contractors need to develop a brand identity just as businesses in other fields need to create and enhance brand recognition. Participative marketing is one way to help create a brand identity.

Before a company can explain to others what they are, they need to understand their own identity. Participative marketing can help in this area by opening a discussion with employees and current customers. Find out what others think of the company to understand what changes may need to be made.

Compare this outsider’s opinion of your business with how you want others to perceive you. If you don’t have a mission statement, you may want to create one so that you have a roadmap for your organization. Once you have a mission statement, decide what changes you need to make to your business to make how others perceive your company and how you want them to see you.

In order to help change customers’ perceptions, find out what they are looking for in a general contractor. If your specialty is plumbing and you find out that many people in your market want a company that can install a spa, then you may want to consider offering this service. If you find out that the majority of consumers in your market aren’t interested in your specialty, you may want to consider switching specialties or moving to another market.

Participative marketing helps businesses learn what customers want and what your market needs. This helps a business stay ahead of market trends and offer services that are needed in their field. Listening to customers, employees, and suppliers also helps build a positive reputation for a business. With so many companies gaining a reputation of being greedy and not caring about consumers, taking these extra steps can help make a business stand out.

General contractors need to find ways to make customers know of their presence. In this competitive market, making sure that customers know you really are different is one way to ensure success. Consider opening a steady dialogue with your target market through participative marketing strategies, and make your customers see you are different from your competitors.