You’re winning jobs, but clients keep grinding you down on price. You know you’re delivering high-quality work, yet when people find you online, you look just like every other builder in the area.
Sound familiar? This is one of the biggest frustrations we hear from builders. You’re relying on referrals, but when new clients search for you online, there’s nothing that sets you apart, so you get treated like a commodity.
WHY MARGINS MATTER
Here’s the reality: if you don’t stand out online, you’ll keep attracting the wrong type of enquiries. That means spending your valuable time chasing price checkers instead of speaking with serious clients who value quality.
Your margins take a hit, your pipeline becomes unreliable, and instead of growing, you’re stuck on the same rollercoaster of referrals and word-of-mouth. For builders who want consistent, profitable growth, blending in online is no longer an option.
HOW TO INCREASE MARGINS
1. Niche Down and Specialise
One of the fastest ways to increase margins is by niching. Clients are willing to pay more for a builder who specialises — whether that’s luxury custom homes, heritage renovations, or architect-designed extensions. When you’re the go-to name in a particular niche, price becomes less of a sticking point because you’re seen as the expert.
Think about it: would you expect to pay the same rate for a generalist or a specialist heart surgeon? The same principle applies in construction.
2. Position Yourself as the Expert Online
Digital marketing for builders is no longer optional.
Potential clients will Google you, compare you to competitors, and make judgements long before they pick up the phone. If your website, ads, and reviews communicate authority and trust, you’ll stand out.
Builders who invest in strong branding, educational content, and client testimonials create credibility — and credibility allows you to command higher prices.
3. Align Your Leads with Your Value
Not all leads are created equal. If you’re attracting clients who just want the cheapest quote, you’ll always be stuck fighting on price. Instead, focus your digital marketing on targeting the right type of client — the ones who value quality, design, and experience.
For example, by using pre-qualification forms and tailored ad campaigns, you can filter out tyre-kickers and focus your time on prospects who are serious about investing in their dream home or renovation.
Practical Takeaways
- Audit your last 10 jobs. Which ones were most profitable? What types of projects do you actually want more of?
- Review your website and marketing materials. Do they position you as a specialist or as just another generalist builder?
- Put in place a lead system that filters enquiries before you spend hours quoting jobs that don’t fit.
At Arrow Agency, we help builders implement digital marketing strategies that attract the right clients, position them as experts, and build a predictable pipeline — so they can charge the margins they deserve.
If you’re not sure where to start, we help builders implement the right systems to track, convert, and scale their leads. Book a call to see how this can work in your building company.