2011 Construction Outlook Survey Results

The Construction Marketing Association (CMA) announces the results of a September survey of construction marketers that identifies marketing budge outlook, top marketing priorities, and tactical marketing plans for the upcoming fiscal year. The anonymous survey was conducted via SurveyMonkey, a web-based tool, and posed four questions:

For the coming fiscal year, do you intend to increase or decrease marketing activities and budgets?

What is your most important marketing priority for 2011?

Which marketing tactics will increase or decrease in 2011?

What type of (construction) company are you?

The answers to the first question regarding plans to increase or decrease marketing activities and budgets identified a resounding 65% majority of respondents planning to increase, with a minority 22.5% planning to decrease marketing activities or budgets, and 12.5% maintaining marketing activities and budgets. Regarding top marketing priorities for 2011, Measuring Results topped all at 21% of respondents, followed by Internet Marketing at 17%, which included websites, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media. Implementing Marketing ranked third at 14%, followed by Sales Lead Generation at 11%. Marketing Budgets and Talent Recruitment round out top priorities at 8% and 6%. While Product Development, Advertising and Publicity/PR ranked relatively low at 3% each.
Regarding marketing tactic increases/decreases, not surprisingly almost all respondents plan to increase Internet, Social Media and PR activities, with planned increases/decreases split for Promotions and Advertising. Reinforcing personal experience, a majority (59%) of respondents plan to decrease Trade Show activities/budgets. The company classification question somewhat mirrors the overall industry make-up with 28% of respondents from architectural, engineering or construction firms (AEC), followed by 25% building materials, and 17% home builders or remodelers, which likely has some overlap with AEC. Equipment/Tools represented 14%, followed by services at 9%.