Beyond The Tools

Rob Matheny, the co-founder of Reliability Home Services and Service Ninja, discusses the secrets to building a business that runs without you. With his vast experience in the home services industry and as a coach and consultant, Rob offers valuable tips on effective processes, automation, and training teams. Don't miss out on this opportunity to break free from the daily grind and take control of your business.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Robert-Matheny-Implement-These-Key-Strategies-to-Build-a-Thriving-Business-That-Runs-Without-You

In today's episode, Chris Crew of Blue Collar Success Group offers strategies for maintaining a successful contracting business in a shifting market. Chris emphasizes the importance of having a plan and being resilient in the face of economic challenges. Tune in to learn how to keep your business on top, even in a down market.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Chris-Crew-How-To-Keep-Your-Contracting-Business-On-Top-Even-When-The-Economy-Is-Down

In this episode, Tom shares some of the struggles that a lot of contractors are going through. Listen in to find out how you can simplify your business and make decisions to protect yourself, your well-being, and that of your family, and ultimately propel you to the next step.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Tom-Reber-How-To-Rise-Above-Your-Limiting-Beliefs-and-Achieve-Greater-Success

Are you struggling to retain top-performing technicians and improve customer satisfaction?In this episode, we sit down with Aaron Salow, the CEO and founder of XOi Technologies, to uncover the secrets of supporting your technicians with technology.From tackling the skilled trade shortage to leveraging self-serve diagnostics, Aaron shares his expert insights on how to boost technician productivity and trust, and drive market growth.Don't miss out on these game-changing strategies for your business!For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Aaron-Salow-Overcoming-the-Skilled-Trade-Shortage-and-Building-Technician-Trust

The importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace cannot be understated, and on this episode, we have a guest with a vast wealth of knowledge in this area: Stephanie Howlett, the CEO of DiversityNL.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Stephanie-Howlett-How-to-Attract-and-Retain-a-Diverse-Workforce

Catch Marc Mason of RCL Mechanical in this episode of Beyond the Tools as he discusses a growth mindset and managing employees that get your business to the next level.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Marc-Mason-Secrets-of-Growing-a-10-Million-Home-Service-Company

In this episode, we hear from Trey McWilliams on proactively supporting your technicians and innovating the training process to reduce callbacks and provide a better customer experience.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Trey-McWilliams-How-To-Empower-Your-Technicians-And-Reduce-Callbacks

Today's episode is all about how outsourcing back-office work can significantly help your business. We learned from Charlie Felker of Free2Grow how outsourced solutions are a perfect complement to get your in-house staff to the next level.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Charlie-Felker-Outsource-Your-Admin-To-Focus-On-Your-Zone-Of-Genius

If you struggle with finding and keeping the right team members, this episode is for you. Lawrence Castillo of Brody Pennell Heating & Air Conditioning joins us today and shares his experience and methods in recruiting new talent and what you can do to keep them happy and engaged.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Lawrence-Castillo-Attracting-and-Keeping-Talent-for-Home-Services

Gabriel Pinchev joins us today to discuss how you can leverage technology in your home service business to be more effective and profitable. He highlights the three core systems you can integrate and how FieldPulse is helping small service contractors grow and get paid faster.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Gabriel-Pinchev-Leveraging-Technology-to-Deliver-a-Seamless-Customer-Experience

In this episode, we discuss the benefits of offering extended service agreements and how you can implement them successfully with our guest, Gus Vassilopoulos of Trinity Warranty.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Gus-Vassilopoulos-Boost-Your-Reputation-and-Sales-With-Extended-Warranties

In this episode, Nathalie shares the growth journey of Brooks Heating & Air and her non-profit association, Women in HVACR Canada.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Nathalie-Brooks-Empowering-Women-in-HVACR-Canada

In this episode, Paul navigates the online sales scenario for the HVAC industry and how contractors can prepare and better serve the modern customer.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Paul-Redman-Future-Proof-Your-HVAC-Business-with-Online-Sales

Tune in to the latest episode of Beyond the Tools and learn how to grow your business consistently from Josh Kelly of Clover Marketing and Consulting. He shares the three secrets to marketing and how to use them to your advantage.For the full show notes, head on over to: https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Josh-Kelly-Build-Up-Your-Business-With-Ease

In this episode, we sat down with Dan Antonelli of KickCharge Creative on the importance of branding and its impact on the growth of your home service business.For the full show notes, head on over to https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Branding-Your-Business-to-Stand-Out-with-Dan-Antonelli

In this new episode of Beyond the Tools, learn and be inspired by Drew Cameron's story of surviving a heart attack, and how he considers it as a wake-up call to change his work ethic.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Drew-Cameron-Todays-Changing-Workforce-and-How-to-Create-a-Business-by-Design

Catch Steven Knight of Mosaic Home Services Ltd. in this episode of Beyond the Tools as he discusses the things you should know about sustainable scaling.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Steven-Knight-Using-the-Franchise-Model-to-Scale

Learn how to balance your relationships and business life with Angie Snow, Director of Marketing at Western Heating & Air and Principal Industry Advisor at ServiceTitan.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Angie-Snow-Finding-Balance-When-Running-a-Business-With-Your-Spouse

Having a difficult time recruiting the right applicants for your job openings? Perhaps it's time to take advantage of social media.Join Krystal Hobbs in this new episode of Beyond the Tools, as she discusses the advantages of using social media in advertising jobs online. She shares her knowledge on social recruiting platforms and some tips and tricks for creating compelling job advertisements on social media that will help increase the number of qualified job applicants.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Get-More-Job-Applicants-with-Social-Media

Listen to this episode of Beyond the Tools to learn from Tony Fraser-Jones, a trades business coach from Profitable Tradie, about the winning mindset of successful business owners and how to apply it in your own endeavors.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Tony-Fraser-Jones-What-Sets-Winners-Apart-From-the-Rest

Ellen Rohr, The Business Makeover Expert, extensively shares how she turned a sinking business into a profitable one by knowing the practical pieces beyond understanding financial reports. For the full show notes, head on over to: https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Ellen-Rohr-Why-Its-Time-to-Think-About-Raising-Your-Prices

Don Gulevich talks about how he started Coastal Heat Pumps, family values as a factor in business growth, and how they changed lives in a remote community.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Don-Gulevich-How-To-Build-a-Family-Value-Driven-Company

Jason Brady shows us the importance of being numbers-driven in business, how to keep employees happy, and fighting labor shortages in the trades industry.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Jason-Brady-A-Data-Driven-Approach-to-Business-Growth

In this episode, Jennifer Reynolds shares how she incorporates personal branding along with infusing fun and energy into her business. She shares her journey in working in the trades from owning her own business, the big changes and challenges her business faced, and more!For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Jennifer-Reynolds-Energize-Your-Business-With-Personal-Branding

Listen to this episode of Beyond The Tools with today's guest Denise Goodyear, to discover all about what it takes to find the target audience for your home service and residential construction business. You'll also learn all about how to start better marketing practices, tools on how to figure out who your target audience is, how networking impacts your business, and more!For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Denise-Goodyear-Why-Identifying-Your-Target-Audience-is-Key-for-Effective-Marketing

In this episode, Krystal shows us why text messaging is such an underrated tool that businesses should take more advantage of. She explains how texting can create more opportunities to communicate with clients and provide better client satisfaction. She also goes over testimonies on how texting as a follow-up campaign helped her clients see an increase in client response rate.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Krystal-Hobbs-Reach-More-People-With-Text-Message-Marketing

Arin Darcan sits down with us to talk about the process of successful lead follow-ups, what an ideal appointment setter is, how to make better calls with your clients, and more!For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Arin-Darcan-Building-Better-Bridges-Between-Clients-and-Leads

In this episode, Krystal teaches us about the five common pitfalls that business owners fall into. These include excessive self-effort, the lack of streamlined processes, failing the sniff test, clients not being nurtured, and not diversifying lead sources. Listen to her discuss about these struggles in detail, along with personalized tips on how to overcome each one.For the full show notes, head on over to: https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/5-Common-Pitfalls-for-Contractors-Looking-to-Grow

In this episode, we have a guest who is passionate about inspiring kids to pursue skilled trades. Megan Bedford shares her modern approach to inspiring kids in pursuing a career in the skilled trades. Listen to her discuss this along with other topics, such as why she thinks workspace flexibility can improve the lives of employees and employers alike.For the full show notes, head on over to: https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Megan-Bedford-A-Contemporary-Approach-to-Sustaining-Skilled-Trade-Careers

In this episode, Mike explains how specializing in one niche, having personal branding as a top priority, inspecting past solutions, and more can revamp businesses!For the full show notes, head on over to: https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/How-to-Master-Your-Craft-and-Become-Unstoppable-With-Mike-Claudio

In this episode, Crystal talks about her different marketing strategies, the importance of branding across all channels of your business, finding your position in the market, and more!https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Crystal-Williams-Why-Contractors-Should-Care-About-Marketing

Listen to this episode of Beyond the Tools to hear a rundown on how to use Google to optimize your business with Mandeep Bhalla, the CEO of Grow Nearby. This episode tackles common mistakes you might make while setting up Google Ads for the first time and how to get the phone to ring with said ads. Curious to learn more? Tune in!For the full show notes, head over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Mandeep-Bhalla-How-To-Boost-Awareness-Leads-and-Sales-With-Google

In this episode, we hear from Aaron as he talks about how being resilient helped him reinvent himself after bankruptcy, the growth of his new business in the past fifteen years, his tips on helping managers grow and evolve, and so much more!https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Aaron-Gaynor-From-Bankruptcy-to-30-Million

In this episode, we hear from Jim who talks about his journey into the HVAC business, the hurdles he's currently facing during the pandemic, the future growth of his company, and so much more!https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Jim-Piccione-Starting-an-HVAC-Business-Mid-Pandemic

Three years ago, Greg expanded the business into a second geographic market and couldn't be happier with his decision. In this episode of Beyond The Tools, Greg shares with us how he was able to expand, how his team approached this decision, the challenges that came with it, and all of the amazing things that came out of it for Karwood.As Greg says: “Businesses can only do one of two things: build or shrink. In order for us not to shrink, we had to find a new market.”If you've ever thought about “what's next?” for your business, you'll want to be sure to tune into this episode!For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Greg-Hussey-Is-Your-Business-Growing-or-Shrinking

In this episode, we hear from Chad who talks about the specifics of how they attract and retain employees. Tune in to listen to his controversial take that the labor shortage doesn't actually matter and if you think it matters, it's probably going to be your downfall when it comes to your company's success.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Chad-Peterman-Is-There-Really-A-Labor-Shortage

In this episode, we hear from Jessica Bannister (HVAC Jess) who talks about building an online community for women in trade. She challenges the stereotype of women being in trade by showing young women that it is possible to work in any space they want.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/HVAC-Jess-Growing-an-Instagram-Community-in-the-Trade-Industry

In this episode, we hear from Lesa Lacey who talks about the industry's labour shortage and giving back to the community. She also talks about how the culture of 'families working for families' helps attract and retain talent, and so much more.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Lesa-Lacey-Build-Your-Community-Build-Your-Team-Build-Your-Business

In this episode, we hear from Bob Deeks who talks about sustainability in the building industry, the risk of relying on referrals, and how he attracts more customers to his business, RDC Fine Homes.For the full show notes, head on over to:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/Bob-Deeks-Building-a-Sustainable-Future-for-Your-Business

How do you create a winning mindset for your business, particularly around your marketing? Are you bringing the right mindset into your relationship with your marketing firm?Mindset may seem like an esoteric concept in the context of marketing your business, but it's really a vital tool when working with a marketing firm.In today's episode, Krystal uses the example of a newly on-boarded client to outline three keys for creating a winning mindset and ensuring you get the most out of your investment.You'll learn why the attitude you bring to the marketing process - as well as the understanding that it IS a process - is vital to ensuring success.Find the full show notes at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/15-3-keys-to-a-winning-mindset/

As a contractor, how do you stand out in your local marketplace?In a crowded industry, competing on price or quality of work will only go so far. The real key to staying ahead of your competition is to provide value for your customers by staying ahead of new technologies and standards.In today's episode of Beyond the Tools, Krystal chats with Curtis Mercer, President and CEO of K&P Contracting Ltd., President of Heat Seal Ltd. and owner of LRM Consulting Solutions. He began his wide-ranging career as the youngest ever Town Manager in Newfoundland, eventually moving on to work for the federal government until he joined K&P Contracting.You'll learn how K&P has established itself as a leader in energy efficiency for the past 45 years, building the first R2000 and Net Zero Ready houses in Newfoundland in 1981 and 2014 respectively.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/curtis-mercer-standing-out-for-the-right-reasons/

What does your online presence say about your business?The impression you give to prospective customers on social media is just as important as the ones you give in real life. However, many small business owners fail to maintain a consistent and professional presence online and it can hurt their companies.In today's episode, Krystal brings some "tough love" in the form of tips for ensuring your social media highlights the best your business has to offer and speaks to potential customers in a way that makes them want to work with you.Through the lens of local residential construction businesses, Krystal shares the story of a "rusty van" and the insights it gave her into the importance of creating a positive impression in ALL areas of your business.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/13-the-rusty-van-effect-why-a-positive-online-impression-is-vital/

On today's show, we interview Jess Chapman of ethree Consulting who shares with us her distilled wisdom on hiring and retaining the right people within the construction industry during a labour shortage. Particularly, you will learn how to protect your company culture even as you scale your business to the next level.As an experienced consultant, Jess has observed up close the difficulties that organizations face as they attempt to build dream teams.And as someone who started off as a solo entrepreneur, our host, Krystal has personally experienced the practical difficulties that small businesses, and particularly service businesses, face as they enter the growth phase.You will learn how to balance the importance of business growth and differentiating your business in the marketplace without breaking the bank – so that you can attract the right people who will get the job done.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/episode-12/

Worried about attrition and the ripple effect that losing a key team member can have on your small business? Losing a key team member is always difficult. But it need not be stressful. Krystal is recording this show just after her trusted Facebook ads specialist informed her about her decision to quit.Seven years back, when Krystal had started her business, losing a key team member would send her stress levels shooting through the roof. But NOT today. Krystal has learned that planning and preparation are so important as they allow her to remain calm and focused.On today's show, you will learn the critical things that you need to do so that your business can easily transition to a new hire and not get stuck losing momentum.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/11-managing-the-unexpected-losing-a-team-member/

How can home contractors leverage social media to scale and grow their business?In today's show, Krystal talks to Krista Pippy, Part Owner and Director of Sales and Designs, Dream Kitchens and Renovations. Krista gives us a peek into her social media strategy as she discusses her “Kitchen Talk” video series and new book, Beyond Design: Complete Kitchens, now available on Amazon.Posting great content on social media is something that most business owners struggle with. On today's show, you will learn how to build a great following and generate business through social media by keeping it down-to-earth and real.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/10-krista-pippy-attract-local-leads-with-compelling-social-media-content/

Are you doing all your lead follow-up manually? Manually following up on leads is exhausting. But for your business to thrive, you must be available to your current clients, your team and to new leads coming in. It's exciting to have leads coming in once your paid ads are up and running. But, do you have systems in place to manage all your leads?In today's show, Krystal shares how using marketing automation for lead follow-up can help reduce stress and overwhelm.Email marketing is one of the most obvious yet under-utilized tools. Listeners will learn how the latest CRMs can allow them to build and nurture relationships with leads in a totally hands-off and automated manner.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/9-how-to-supercharge-your-marketing-efforts-using-automated-lead-follow-up/

The biggest mistake that marketers make is that they give up too early. In today's show, Krystal shares how patience and persistence helped her set up a profitable Facebook campaign that allowed her to expand her business beyond her local market.Krystal is a digital marketer and Facebook ads expert with a significant client base in her hometown. Last November, she started running an ads campaign to build a nationwide presence. Specifically, she is targeting the home services space.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/8-patience-in-advertising/

If you have primarily relied on word-of-mouth marketing and have shied away from running paid ads till now, you are missing a massive opportunity to take your business to the next level.Paid advertising is the only truly dependable source of new potential customers.On today's show, Krystal not only dives deeper into running traffic but also reveals the pros and cons of the two most popular advertising engines – Google and Facebook.While advertising on Google will get you leads that are lower down the funnel, Facebook allows you to be in front of people who might buy six months or a year down the line. You will discover what to expect in terms of lead flow and conversions when you advertise on these two platforms.This show will be especially useful to those who have yet to jump on the advertising bandwagon.So if you have been sitting on the sidelines, not sure of which platform to use to drive traffic, this episode is for you.What You Will Learn In This ShowHow running paid ads can allow you to take your business to the next levelWhat should businesses and marketers know before they start advertising on Google and Facebook?How advertising on Facebook can allow you to get in front of leads who exhibit buying intentAnd so much more…Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/7-google-vs-facebook-which-is-the-best-advertising-platform-for-your-business/

Are you sick of competing on price? Do you feel like you're only attracting tire kickers? It can be frustrating to keep having to drop your price to get the job, and oftentimes you feel like you're getting further and further away from your goals.In today's show, Krystal shares how you can leverage Facebook ads to position yourself as a leader in your local market and attract the right kind of leads. You can elevate your brand so that you can overcome the most common objection: pricing. Consequently, you can set yourself up for long-term growth and generate the profit you deserve.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/episode-6/

In today's short but powerful solo, you will get some great tips on how to scale up your business to another level.Drawing from her recent interview with Ryan Peyton, Krystal shares how many businesses fail to establish the systems and processes that are necessary for delegating out your non-core tasks.She shares her own experience with her ad agency and reveals how she has moved away from building out ad campaigns to focus solely on sales, marketing, and high-level strategic thinking. Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/episode-5/

In today's show, Krystal interviews Ryan Peyton, owner of Property Projects Limited. Property Projects provides complete turnkey renovation projects in Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ryan provides a value-packed interview on how renovators can stand out and grow their customer base.Ryan Peyton has had a lifelong career in sales, which has really helped him to be successful in his own business. Eight years ago, he left his job to start a renovation business. Ryan jokes that he had to resort to “shameless self-promotion” to kickstart his business in the early days. In this segment of the show, he also talks about the many losses and hits he had to take when he first started his business.Next, Ryan gives us a peek into his sales playbook and shares why a business needs to figure out its unique selling point (USP) and build a loyal customer base. Here, Ryan shares how figuring out his customer's biggest pain points helped him generate sales.Ryan also shares his different project experiences and reveals how his team has managed to add significant value to projects for homeowners. Topics discussed here include the importance of staying true to your word and building in-house teams (complete with a professional interior designer) to provide end-to-end solutions.Ryan also shares how he is leveraging Instagram to acquire clients for his business. Instagram is a visual social media platform that is particularly fitting for home renovation businesses like Property Projects. Ryan gives some actionable tips on how they use the channel to attract and nurture potential customers.Other topics discussed in this show include the impact of COVID-19 on the construction industry, some common mistakes that contractors often make, tips for ensuring seamless customer experience, and why contractors need to stop doing free estimates.Find the full show notes for this episode at:https://reflectivemarketing.com/podcast/episode-4/