Success Stories: Edwards Smith Construction

From time to time, I'll devote this space to a question and answer session with successful local people who have used the Internet to boost their business.

First up: Edwards Smith Construction.

When and how did your business start?

Jim Edwards: I started building here in 1983 and, after 10 years or so, decided to go on my own, forming Edwards Construction in 1994. Then in 2008, with Andy Smith, we formed Edwards Smith Construction.

What makes you unique among your competitors?

We pride ourselves on our integrity, quality, and a relentless attention to detail. A core philosophy is to never "chase the money." Integrity will never be compromised. We will never cut corners, and we will always provide our clients with clear options. All our carpentry is done in house, utilizing the most highly-trained craftsmen. What we offer is very different than most other builders out there.

Building higher-end luxury homes, if done right, is often a lot more complex than a commercial building. A number of our homes have required commercial grade heating and electrical systems. We navigate our clients through the entire process.

In our industry, integration between the different trades is very rare. The norm is that each part of a home is built separately. Subcontractors are brought in to do their part and there's no communication between them and the next subcontractor. That's when construction defects can happen. Complete integration is what we offer. Andy (Smith) is consistently keeping up-to-date with the latest technology, construction trends, and techniques so we're confident in every aspect of building a home.

We've done small bathroom remodels to multi-million dollar homes and everything in between. It's not the size of the job; it's understanding how things go together. Others rely on subcontractors for knowledge of how things should be done. We think it's important to have that knowledge ourselves and see any lack of knowledge on our part as a disservice to our clients. I've said many times, "We might not make money on this job, but it's going to be done right."

What prompted you to begin working with WSI (We Simplify the Internet) and how long have you been a client?

We wanted local support for our website and Internet marketing. We were struggling with actually utilizing our website as a digital marketing tool. The first company we worked with was out of Montana and the support was out of Boise. It was frustrating. We finally said we need someone who is local, someone we can call who is always available, and can be here in person when needed. Initially, we were calling Sam (Granier) at WSI 3 times a day. He always answered our calls and returned our emails. We've been with WSI nearly 3 years now.

Have you worked with other digital marketing companies? How helpful were they?

Yes. They were Web 1.0 ... old school web development, without consideration for the future of Internet marketing. We ourselves didn't understand how quickly Internet marketing was changing and how our website needed to be a part of it. And we weren't told that "this" wasn't going to work with "that"... for instance we spent money on a video and then learned it wasn't optimal at all - eating up a lot of bandwidth and not working for mobile applications. Ultimately, they built the website but the marketing aspect was lacking. In fairness, the market has changed a lot since our first website was built. They weren't really equipped to address those changes as they occurred.

How much of an impact has WSI had on your overall growth and continued success?

The website has become a positive piece of the puzzle. WSI's help has resulted in more activity on our website. Sam has highlighted the importance of pictures and other visual aspects. We now recognize how powerful pictures are in our industry. We've seen more phone calls, as well as different types of phone calls. Sam has certainly helped build our presence on Facebook and Pinterest, making it easier for people to access our information online.

What specific resources or campaigns have you implemented with WSI?

Website Development, Mobile Site Development, SEO (Search Engine Optimization), and Monthly Management.

What are your objectives for the future, as digital marketing and the Internet as a whole become increasingly important for your success?

Continuing to increase our brand recognition and presence in the area. A part of what we were missing when we brought Sam in was a strong regional presence. Our goal was to get local brand awareness. Someone may not hire us right away, but we at least want to be on the radar when the opportunity to bid arises.

More recently, rebranding ourselves. We're more than just the guys that build high-end homes. We've handled big, small and everything in between - always with the same Edwards Smith quality and philosophy behind them. We've been fortunate to work on a number of high-end homes, but at the same time handled other projects including remodels and commercial tenant improvements. No matter the job, the quality of the work will always be Edwards Smith.

Sam Granier and Jacob Myong are Certified WSI Consultants for the Coeur d'Alene Press. Sam has been with The Press for 5 years and is an expert in Digital Marketing. Email Sam at sgranier@wsimediaone.com or Jacob at jacob@cdapress.com. www.cdainternetmarketing.com

Edwards Smith Construction

1112 N. Government Way

Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814

http://edwardssmith.com/

Established 1994 Edwards Construction

2008 Edwards Smith Construction

Jim Edwards / Andy Smith - Principals