About Tess Wittler
SEO & Marketing Strategist for Custom Home Builders & Design-Build Remodelers
If you’ve landed here, you probably already know something isn’t quite working with your marketing.
Maybe your website gets some traffic but the leads aren’t the right fit. Maybe you’ve worked with a marketing agency that promised results but never really understood what you do or who you serve. Maybe you’ve tried to handle it yourself, and it’s become one more thing competing for your attention.
Whatever brought you here, you’re in the right place.
Who I Am and What I Do
I’m Tess Wittler, a marketing strategist who works exclusively with custom home builders and design-build remodeling firms. I help firms like yours become easier to find, easier to trust, and easier to choose — by the homeowners who are actually the right fit for your work.
That means smarter SEO visibility, stronger content, clearer messaging, and a web presence that reflects the quality of what you build.
I’m not a generalist who wandered into the construction industry. I’m a self-described construction nerd who’s been here for more than three decades — and that changes everything about how I work.
Why That Matters
Most marketing consultants learn your industry from the outside. They take on a construction client, do some research, figure it out well enough, and move on. I came from inside.
I started my career at the Pennsylvania Builders Association, where I worked as a Grassroots Coordinator and Legislative Assistant — translating complex policy issues into language builders could act on. From there, I spent nearly a decade as Assistant EVP at the BIA of Lancaster County, managing communications, member services, events, and operations for one of Pennsylvania’s most active home builders associations.
I launched Tess Wittler Marketing in 2007, and I’ve spent the years since working directly with custom builders and remodelers across the U.S. and Canada.
I understand the language of the jobsite and the boardroom. I know what makes the design-build process different. I know why your ideal clients care about more than price per square foot — and I know how to communicate that in a way that attracts them before they ever pick up the phone.
How I Work
When you hire me, you work with me. Not a junior account manager. Not an outsourced team. Me.
I’m the one reviewing your analytics, developing your strategy, writing your content, and keeping things moving. That means consistent communication, honest feedback, and no surprises.
And while SEO and AI visibility are often where we start, smart marketing strategy doesn’t stop at the browser. I help clients think through the full picture — referral programs, trade partner relationships, community presence, event marketing, print and direct mail, and how all of it connects back to a cohesive message. Online and offline aren’t separate strategies. They’re two parts of the same conversation with your ideal client.
I work with clients on monthly retainers for ongoing online visibility and content strategy, as well as one-time projects — audits, website content refreshes, and strategy sessions for firms that need focused help with a specific problem. If you’re not sure what you need yet, that’s fine. Most good conversations start there.
A Bit More About Me
I’m a Central Pennsylvania native currently residing in Morgantown, West Virginia, with my husband, Jason, and our two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Sumi and Taika.
When I’m not working, you’ll find me outdoors — hiking, fishing, or chasing a good photo — or cheering loudly for the Washington Capitals.
I believe great marketing shouldn’t feel complicated or disconnected from who you actually are. That’s the kind of work I aim to do every day.
Ready to Talk?
If what you’ve read here resonates, I’d love to learn more about your firm and where your marketing stands today. The first step is a simple conversation — no pressure, no pitch.
Yes — always. When you hire me, you get me. I’m the one reviewing your analytics, developing your strategy, writing your content, and keeping things moving forward. There’s no junior account manager handling your account, no outsourced team working behind the scenes, and no getting passed around when you have a question. Just consistent, direct communication with someone who actually knows your business.
I work exclusively with residential construction professionals — custom home builders, design-build remodeling firms, and specialty contractors. This isn’t a niche I stumbled into. I’ve spent more than three decades in the building industry, and that depth of experience shapes everything I do. If you build or renovate homes, I understand your world, your clients, and your challenges better than most marketers ever will.
It usually starts with a conversation. You’ll tell me about your firm, where your marketing stands today, and what’s not working. From there I’ll recommend the best next step — whether that’s an audit, a strategy session, or a retainer engagement. If we’re a good fit, we’ll move forward from there. No pressure, no hard sell.
Contact me to start the conversation.