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Maximize LBM Sales by Capturing DIY Search Traffic
LBM dealers are in a unique position.
While professional B2B buyers remain their bread and butter, more and more everyday consumers influence purchases from hardware stores, lumberyards, and home centers across the US.
There's no doubt the rise of DIY drives this B2C growth. In fact, the DIY home improvement retailing market size in the US is projected to reach nearly $680 billion by 2025, up from an estimated $438 billion in 2020.
Recent surveys show that 3 out of 4 homeowners attempt home improvement projects. Young homeowners use tools like YouTube and TikTok to take on projects without the assistance of a professional.
Other consumers opt for contractor help, but make their own product selections, ultimately controlling what gets purchased.
Our own home and building supply division president, John Maiuri, spoke on this during his recent 2024 State of LBM interview:
"I would suggest that people should never underestimate, even if they're oriented to the trade businesses, the nature of involvement at the DIY level," Maiuri said. "They may not actually be doing it themselves, but in many, many cases, the homeowners or the property owners are driving decisions from behind the scenes."
LBM Monthly Keyword Searches
View our latest map of state-wide LBM keyword searches to discover what you could be missing out on.
0-100K LBM Keyword Searches
100K-200K LBM Keyword Searches
200K-300K LBM Keyword Searches
300K+ LBM Keyword Searches
*Monthly searches based on daily keyword volume per state for April 15, 2024 multiplied by 30 days.
Maiuri emphasized that both contractors and consumers carry around their phones with them every day. When they're asked a question or have to make a choice, they turn to the internet to search for products, reviews, or local businesses where they can purchase supplies for their projects.
This begs the question: when these DIYers or local contractors are searching online for terms like "hardware store" or "home center", are you being found?
Without a strong website presence, these decision-makers are unlikely to stumble upon your business. Without ecommerce functionality, they're even more unlikely to browse your products.
Don't wait for "someday". Someday is now. Capitalize on this growing market before your competitors get there first.
By ECI Staff
ECI Staff loves to share their insights and expertise on a variety of topics including sales, marketing, cloud, ERP, and SMB development as well as on product specific education. With offices throughout the United States, Mexico, England, the Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand, more than 40 employees contribute to blog on a regular basis.
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