SUCCESS TIPS FOR WOMEN MAKING THEIR WAY IN THE CONTRACTING BUSINESS

Guest Post by Gloria Martinez.

As a woman in the painting and contracting field, you’re likely to encounter naysayers just for being female in a male-dominated industry. And being a woman who also owns a business puts you in yet another group where you’re in a minority.

So how do you take on the naysayers and achieve your goals anyway? Equip yourself with the right resources and strategies for overcoming those obstacles...

Mindset, Mentors, and Marketing
As a female entrepreneur, half the battle you face is your own mindset. A positive mindset is a powerful tool, especially when it comes to marketing your business with confidence. 

• If you worry about being taken seriously in the field, seek out female mentors to get the positive inspiration you need.
• The good news is that becoming your own boss is one of the best ways for women in male-dominated industries to break down barriers.
• Ask yourself what you bring to the table as a female business owner that sets you apart, then highlight those traits in your marketing efforts.
• In the contracting world, following best practices is a way to build a good reputation.
• You will also have more success in attracting clients with a digital marketing strategy that’s tailored to the painting and contracting industry.

Know What Your Business Needs to Grow
Reaching your target market is a huge part of what it takes to grow a contracting business, but marketing is only one piece of the puzzle. Explore these other avenues for growth too.

• Your business can’t grow if you aren’t growing — these organizations help women develop leadership skills.
• Growth also comes from knowing which tasks you’re better off outsourcing, such as accounting. When I need to find bookkeeping services near me, I like to search online for qualified freelancers.
• Whether you need to hire staff or invest in other areas of growth, consider looking into resources that provide funding to women entrepreneurs.
• Sometimes what your business needs to grow is a wider range of services that you can offer to your existing clients.

Avoid (and Learn from) Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes, but your business will be stronger when you know which ones are most common in your industry — and how you can avoid them.

• Too many women in business go through impostor syndrome, and as a result, hold themselves back from setting big goals.
• Similarly, it’s common for painting contractors to make the mistake of charging too little. Know your worth — and make sure you are compensated accordingly.
• If you have staff that you can rely on for field management, don’t make the mistake of wasting your time and energy doubling their efforts. 
• You put in so much hard work building your business, so keep it protected by staying current on any applicable licenses, permits, bonds, and insurance.

It’s an unfortunate reality that women in this industry face some obstacles that men don’t ever have to worry about. But in spite of those challenges, the truth of the matter is that female contractors have talents to contribute to the industry that men simply can’t match. So take the time to identify your top talents, and use those skills and these tips to overcome any challenge.

Photo credit: Rawpixel

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Gloria Martinez loves sharing her business expertise and hopes to inspire other women to start their own businesses and seek promotions in the workplace. She started WomenLed.org to celebrate the advancements women have made and inspire women to become entrepreneurs and seek promotions in the workplace.