About Tess Wittler

My Journey: Content Marketing for the Building Industry

Here’s the truth: I fell into the construction industry.

It wasn’t a family business, like it is for so many of you. I simply needed a job in college, and I got one with a fire sprinkler contractor in town.

I started out doing administrative duties, like answering the phone, typing documents on the one IBM computer the entire office shared and running blueprints in the warehouse (that’s a smell that sticks with you). It didn’t take long until I became fascinated with construction.

Thankfully, the owner saw my interest and taught me as much as I wanted to know. While still a full-time student, I was also at the office learning how to bid jobs, pull together specs, and I even spent a summer retro-fitting an occupied assisted living facility.

At one point, I considered transferring to a different college so I could pursue a degree in construction management, but at that point, the limitations on student loans (and my savings account) prevented me from doing so.

After graduating college with my English degree, I certainly could have continued to work with that contractor and had a nice career, but I I wanted to move away from home more.

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Becoming the Construction Copywriter

My love for the construction industry grew when I took a position in governmental affairs with the Pennsylvania Builders Association (PBA). There, I spent over four years learning how legislation and regulations affect the home building industry. During my time there, we discussed many impactful topics such as workforce development, a uniform construction code and stormwater management, and I wrote countless white papers and grassroots campaigns, raised PAC dollars and worked on several political initiatives.

That is when I saw how persuasive words can be, particularly when you tell a real-life story to illustrate your points.

After the PBA, I took a position with a local home builders association, the BIA of Lancaster County.  There, I handled government affairs, membership, educational initiatives (including creating a student chapter), events planning, marketing for the Home Show and Parade of Homes, and public relations. 

This was during this time that I found my passion for helping contractors market their businessesEverything about working for the home builders association revolves around helping those in the industry connect with members, showcase their craftsmanship to the community and grow their business. It’s marketing! And I loved it!

In 2007, I decided to merge my love for the construction industry with my gift of marketing to become a content marketing expert for the building industry.

Since then, I’ve worked with hundreds of companies and organizations all across North America – from regional home builders and small design/build remodeling firms to building material dealers, manufacturers and home builder associations, including the Pennsylvania Builders Association, the BIA of Lancaster County and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

My goal: To help custom home builders and remodelers generate and nurture leads with meaningful content

I reside in the Pacific Northwest, about 45 minutes from Seattle, Washington. When I am not writing, I enjoy fishing, hiking and doing a little hobby photography with my husband, Jason, and our Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Sumi. I am also just a tad bit fanatical about hockey! #LetsGoCaps #SeaKraken

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Are you ready to start creating meaningful content?

Mary Anne Meade - Client of Tess Wittler - Copywriter for the Construction and Remodelling Industry

Mary Anne Meade

Prime 1 Builders
"Tess has been an amazing asset to our business in helping us with marketing our company better. She has an amazing talent of listening to what your needs are and helping you build [from there]."
Ginny Powell - Client of Tess Wittler - Copywriter for the Construction and Remodelling Industry

Ginny Powell

Product Marketing Specialist
Hager Companies
"Being in the door and hardware industry for 20 years, I can usually come up with a solution if a customer has an issue with a door opening. But when I had to turn one of those solutions into a case study for an industry publication, I called Tess. She walked me through the process of how to describe the specific set of circumstances from the viewpoints of the involved parties: end user, designer, distributor, door manufacturer and, of course, the hardware manufacturer. Tess then helped me convey the solution without sounding “selly”. It is a delicate balancing act that I would never have achieved without Tess’s help."
Jeff Forward - Client of Tess Wittler - Copywriter for the Construction and Remodelling Industry

Jef Forward

Forward Design Build
"I chose to work with Tess because she is a content marketing specialist who understands the home building and remodeling industry. We hired her to manage our blog, email newsletter and social media efforts – and we saw tangible results! For example, our leads in one month rose 28% - from 18 to 25 solid leads. Tess is knowledgeable, accommodating and a joy to work with."
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