PowerTips Unscripted

For many remodelers, digital marketing is the “voodoo” magic. With so many options, where do you begin? Well, Spencer Powell has the answer. In this episode, Spencer dives into his book, The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint. He talks about everything that you need to know about being found online, successfully. Spencer is the CEO of Builder Funnel and […] The post The Remodeler Marketing Blueprint with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The thought of showing your financials to your employees may be unsettling. We've known remodelers who are so leery of sharing their numbers, their field crews don't even know their project budgets. But it doesn't have to be that way, says Ken Kirsch, a proponent and practitioner of Open Book Management. In this episode, Ken […] The post Open Book Management with Ken Kirsch – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The latest statistics on fraud should be a wake-up call for every small business owner. According to a survey by HISCOX, a specialty insurance company, 80 percent of embezzlements occurred at small businesses and 30 percent involved a loss of more than $500,000. With more work is being done remotely, including paying vendors and processing […] The post Are Your Employees Stealing From You? With Vicki Suiter – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In a low-unemployment economy, recruiting and retaining the best talent is a continuous effort. You need a powerful competitive advantage — one that's nearly impossible for anyone else to copy.  It's your company culture. In this episode, Steve Anderson tells Victoria and Mark why that is, and how you can develop a successful culture — […] The post The Most Powerful Competitive Advantage with Steve Anderson – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

We are all so busy running our businesses that we often don't realize that there are other potential revenue-generating investments that align with our present and future business needs. Chris Landis thinks you should consider helping businesses that lease their office space as an added revenue stream. In this episode, Victoria, Mark and Chris talk […] The post Discovering New Revenue Streams With Chris Landis – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

While Cost Plus Remodeling isn't for everyone, it can be an enjoyable and profitable way of doing business.  If it is done well, it can be very rewarding and reduce the uncertainty of a market. Guest David Crane joins this episode to share why cost plus remodeling has proven to be successful for his business […] The post Making Money in Cost Plus Remodeling with David Crane – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

“The high cost of replacing employees means it's important to find ways to retain the best performers, and studies show that transparency from the top can be a solution, boosting employee engagement and motivation. One way to achieve that transparency is to show employees the company's numbers and teach them the business. Why not get […] The post Creating Rapid Financial Results and Lasting Cultural Change with Steve Baker – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode, guest Alan Hanbury of Hanbury Builders Inc. discusses three common areas where remodeling contractors are underperforming because they believe their gut rather than facts. Alan also talks about referral marketing, the effects of job costing done half-heartedly, and hiring when taking net profitability into account. Alan is president of House of Hanbury Builders Inc., […] The post Common Remodeler Mistakes that are Hitting Your Bottom Line with Alan Hanbury – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Online reviews can be the “Lifeblood” of any remodeling company's business and marketing strategy and in Episode 9, Victoria and Mark speak with Bryan Sebring a very successful remodeler who has mastered the art of collecting online reviews from his satisfied clients. Bryan is the Owner of Sebring Design Build in Naperville, IL and has quickly become […] The post Seven Steps to Earning Positive Online Reviews with Bryan Sebring – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

To many remodelers, a project works like a relay race, depending on good handoffs of the baton. The sales-to production-handoff is critical, and if you drop the baton, the race is over. But there are ways to make it less of a hard handoff and more of a continuum, says Bruce Case. Bruce joins Victoria […] The post The Sales-to-Production Handoff with Bruce Case – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Marketing is getting more complicated, and search engine optimization can seem like voodoo or black magic. The SEO landscape is always changing, as Google adjusts its algorithms every day. The goal remains the same, though — growing your organic traffic online to rank higher in the search listings, so you get found by the people... The post The Evolution of SEO with Spencer Powell – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Most work requires more than one person to get it done. Effective communication is essential to the enterprise. Everyone has to learn the skills to communicate effectively. One key is concentrating on what brings you success — in work, with your spouse or partner, and in the rest of your life. Build on that. In... The post The Art of Effective Communication with Paul Winans -[Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

We have covered the dangers of stress and anxiety for you and your business a few times; most recently on Episode 108, where we touch on ways to battle and reduce it, including mindful meditation. To explore this topic further, Victoria and Mark welcome Peter Feinmann, President of Feinmann, Inc, a design build company in Lexington, MA, just... The post Using Mindful Meditation to Deal with Clients and Employees with Peter Feinmann – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Adaptability and leadership in times of crisis—whether personal or business-related—are essential skills for any business owner. In 2018, Jef and Monica Forward were coming off their best year yet and gearing up for an even stronger 2019. Everything was on track—until life threw them an unimaginable challenge. Two key team members were diagnosed with cancer,... The post Adapting and Leading Through a Health Crisis with Jef and Monica Forward – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

As companies experience growth, there are tipping points where changes need to be made. One of those points is when you realize you need additional management for the organization. Many remodelers are considering adding a General Manager, but are unsure how it will work in practice. The Cleary Company of Columbus, OH, reached this tipping point... The post How and When To Hire a General Manager with Aaron Enfinger – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today we are jumping back in time to the beginnings of the PowerTips Podcast.  For the past 20 years, Tim has worked with remodeling companies, large and small, to help improve profits by creating smooth, efficient production systems. As a Senior Consultant and “Master of Production” for Remodelers Advantage, Tim's field and business ownership experience... The post Zero Punch List Production with Tim Faller – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, host Victoria Downing chats with Jessica Lipson, Vice President of People and Culture at JBL Consulting, about building strong leadership within your remodeling business. Jessica, who brings over 20 years of HR experience, shares her insights on identifying high-potential leaders, developing effective mentorship programs, and fostering non-toxic, inclusive company... The post Developing Your Company's Future Leaders with Jessica Lipson – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E6 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, host Victoria Downing interviews Robert Gurinowitsch who shares insights on incorporating state-funded projects into a remodeler's revenue stream. Robert explains how these opportunities can be lucrative but require navigating government regulations and compliance. Robert Gurinowitsch is the regional program manager for Best Bath. Best Bath has been providing over... The post Adding State Funded Work to Your Revenue Stream with Robert Gurinowitsch – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E5 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Most remodelers start as the sole salesperson for their companies. Stepping out of that role is arguably one of the hardest things you can do — but you have to if you're going to grow your company. Hiring, training, and managing a sales team is a challenge. Normandy Design Build Remodeling has a sales staff of... The post Building a Remodeling Sales Team with Andy Wells – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

There are five stages of company growth, according to Judith Miller, one of our consultants and facilitators. Transitioning from Stage 3 to Stage 4 is one of the more complex. It takes a substantial shift in the owner's responsibilities and skill sets. It can result in a much higher job satisfaction level, financial return, and... The post Growing a Company from Stage 3 to Stage 4 with Jef Forward – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

So, you've been thinking of starting a podcast for your business. While it is one of the best reasons to gain notoriety and establish value for your community of clients, starting a podcast doesn't mean it will bring success all on its own. Guest John Corcoran is here to share his tips and tricks for... The post How to Make Podcasts Your Most Valuable Marketing Tactic with John Corcoran – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

As a remodeling business owner, you have likely heard of demographics and you have probably looked at it solely in the context of marketing and lead generation. But, the power of demographics lies much deeper than that, and in this episode, Ken Gronbach will share the subtle yet profound effect of shifting demography in the... The post Demography is Destiny with Kenneth Gronbach – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Are you concerned that college tuition fees will deplete your savings? In today's episode of PowerTips Unscripted, we have Brad Baldridge on the show to assist business owners in planning for their children's college education without sacrificing their retirement funds. Brad discusses how owning a business can impact college finances and whether there are any... The post How Business Owners Can Tame the High Cost of College with Brad Baldridge – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The remodeling industry is highly competitive and some may be tempted to break the rules. Although some may do it intentionally, others may start with good intentions, but over time the line between right and wrong becomes blurred. Thomas Croessmann will be joining the show to discuss the consequences of breaking the rules, which in... The post The Fine Line: The Legal Consequences to Questionable Business Practices with Thomas Croessmann – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Accurately estimating a project is critical to profit,  and one of the most challenging components of that estimate is labor.  Can you estimate labor simply and accurately? Are you spending too much time estimating labor for each job?  Guest Chad Vincent thinks so.  Tune into this episode to hear all about his new method towards... The post A Secret Shortcut to Estimating Labor with Chad Vincent – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

When it comes to the employees who are responsible for onboarding and managing your clients, providing consistent coaching and training to your team is crucial for achieving success. One of the most effective techniques for training your team is through the ‘ride along' or shadowing method. Although this process can be time-consuming, Jef Forward has... The post Improve Team Performance with Virtual Ride-Alongs with Jef Forward – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Worried about a steady flow of leads? If referrals are your main source of business, a structured, reliable process for generating them is essential! Many companies claim their top leads come from referrals, yet few have a formal strategy in place. In today's episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Doug Howard shares a proven method for building... The post The Steady Referral System with Doug Howard – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E4 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today on PowerTips Unscripted, we're excited to welcome Bjorn Johnson to the show! As General Manager at TraVek Remodeling and Roofing, Bjorn shares insights into the company's journey as one of Arizona's most trusted leaders in remodeling and roofing. Tune in to hear about TraVek's dedication to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, which has cemented... The post How to Build a Reputation That Stands the Test of Time with Bjorn Johnson – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E3 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Successful organizations rely on accurate financial information to make informed decisions. But what sets great organizations apart is having a formal month-end close process in place. This ensures that financials are completed, reviewed, corrected, and ready for leaders and managers to use confidently in decision-making. In this episode of PowerTips Unscripted, Doug Howard joins us... The post A Month-End Close You Can Actually Make Business Decisions From with Doug Howard – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E2 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

We're big believers in the power of blogging to generate interest and business. Today we're talking to someone in the trenches who's also a believer, because it's helped him in growing his business, gaining credibility, elevating customer loyalty, and  — most importantly — generating cost-effective, exclusive leads. In this episode, Mike Foti discusses his business... The post How to Capture Cost-Effective, Exclusive Leads by Blogging with Mike Foti – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Season 6 of PowerTips is here! Every business owner knows that the road to growth is filled with challenges—some of which can feel overwhelming. But in this episode, we're talking to an entrepreneur who's not only faced those obstacles but has led his business to remarkable success. Join hosts Victoria and Mark as they sit... The post Live From Summit with Greg Harth – [PowerTips Unscripted] S6 E1 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Victoria and Mark are just back from their own peer group meeting, and were inspired by what they learned. In particular, they were excited by something they heard from another member, Wayne Rivers. Wayne has a video blog, and we're picking up one of his episodes about leadership. He says leaders tolerate bad behaviors in... The post A Leader's Inactions Are Just as Important as Actions with Wayne Rivers – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Small business owners spend a lifetime building a company and have one shot at getting their exit right. Yet waiting to pounce on this unsuspecting group is a legion of financial mercenaries, private equity predators and corporate giants set up to prey on owner's lack of experience when it comes to mergers and acquisitions. These... The post How to Build, Accelerate and Harvest the Value of a Company with John Warrillow – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Toyota pioneered the LEAN manufacturing system, and we know — houses aren't cars. But neither are people, and the LEAN concept of continuous improvement is used by hospitals too.  So even if remodeling isn't brain surgery, we can learn a lot from how LEAN has been applied in healthcare. You can get some of the best help... The post What Healthcare Can Teach Remodeling about LEAN with Liz Moisan – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The concept behind developing a customer persona is pretty simple – get to know your audience better so that you can build a more meaningful relationship with them, both as a client and a prospect. The output of that analysis is inevitable company growth and client retention. So how do firms, of all sizes, build... The post Building Meaningful Customer Personas with Aimee Pagano – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

For many, determining the compensation for an employee is nothing more than doing a quick Google search, or in our members case, maybe asking their peers what they pay for a particular position.  But Tom Miller doesn't really agree with that methodology.  Instead, his company helps businesses apply the best compensation strategies that help recruit... The post Creating Great Compensation Programs that Help Grow Your Company with Tom Miller – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode, Jeff Talmadge discusses how he and his team created a point system for his design staff to spread their workload.  Each designer is assigned a predetermined number of points, weighted by criteria such as permitting, scope, and complexity of the job.  The team tracks points weekly and has found that designers are less... The post Gauging Your Designers' Workload Effectively With Jeff Talmadge – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

The Cost-Plus Pricing model seems to go completely against common sense, but it's a concept that we're getting more questions about from our membership. One contributing factor is that consumers increasingly demand transparency when purchasing products and services — and homeowners are coming to expect it when undertaking a remodeling project. But so many remodelers... The post How to Successfully Use Cost-Plus Pricing with Josh Baker – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode, we take a closer look at the sales process. We are always looking for fresh ideas and concepts that apply specifically to remodelers and those in the building community. Our guest Jan Neiges is adamant that you should be selling to design, NOT designing to sell, and she shares how you can... The post Selling to Design, Not Designing to Sell with Jan Neiges – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

One of our core principles is that remodeling companies should make a good net profit, after paying the owners an above-average salary. When the economy's booming, you can get away with a lot and still hit those goals, sometimes by accident. But the goal is to get those healthy net profits consistently, year after year,... The post How to Hit Healthy Net Profits in any Economic Climate with Mike Medford Sr. – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

How can designers and production staff improve their success in the remodeling industry?  Guest Jeff Borovitz joins Victoria and Mark to talk about the deadly sins that get in the way of reaching your full potential.   Jeff has worked and trained with many members of the Remodelers Advantage Roundtables community and brings that experience in talking about... The post The Deadly Sins that Designers & Production Teams Commit with Jeff Borovitz – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

As a seasoned business professional, you've probably been on both sides of the equation when it comes to giving and getting help. Get advice, give consultation. Gain a mentor, bestow some wisdom. While in these essential moments, we want to help and be helped, that doesn't always happen.  It helps to know there are differences... The post All Help Is the Same, Isn't it? with Allison Iantosca – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Guest Andy Haste is among one of Remodelers Advantages most successful members, and he attributes that success to consistency and profitability.  But, how does one achieve consistent profits in such an unpredictable, and inconsistent industry such as remodeling?  This episode shares tips, tactics, and techniques to effectively set the goals and budgets to reach, and... The post How to Achieve Consistency in Revenue and Profit with Andy Haste – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Working with just a few Realtors can bring additional jobs to your remodeling company. It's not about appealing to the masses, but about developing relationships with several realtors who appreciate how you work, your quality, attention to detail, and exceptional client experience.  In this episode, Kathi Fleck discusses working with Realtors with Victoria and Mark,... The post Connecting with a Few Good Realtors with Kathi Fleck – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Business processes are absolutely crucial in today's business landscape. It's almost impossible to operate a business without them. Today on PowerTips Unscripted, we're joined by Adi Klevit, Founder of Business Success Consulting, to explore the ROI of implementing systematic processes in your business. Adi has been helping businesses create, document, and implement processes and procedures... The post What is the ROI of systematizing your business? with Adi Klevit – [PowerTips Unscripted] S5 E11 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Our Roundtables members share their financial metrics at every meeting, in what we call the composite report. But there's one field that's almost always reported as zero. It's the proactive outbound sales call metric. It's confusing to many, not just as a field on a spreadsheet, but as an activity. Abe Degnan says this metric is valuable... The post Unraveling the Undervalued “Proactive Outbound Sales Call” Metric with Abe Degnan – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Every remodeling business owner wants to add more money to the bottom line. Reducing slippage is the lowest-hanging fruit to pick in your quest. In this episode, Tim Faller talks to Victoria and Mark about reducing slippage in your remodeling company. Slippage occurs when your estimate is lower than the real costs of the job.... The post Kicking Off Slippage Awareness Month with Tim Faller – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Today on Power Tips Unscripted, Arlin Sorensen, the CEO of Oak Road Consulting joins the show. Understanding the art of creating value within your business is pivotal, especially in the context of planning your exit strategy. It's all about setting clear goals for your personal wealth and translating that into a business value target that... The post Creating Value: A Guide to Maximizing Your Company's Worth with Arlin Sorensen – [PowerTips Unscripted] S5 E10 appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

We talk about the J Curve a lot around here — picture a lower-case J. When you apply change principles to your business — new people, systems, and processes — they can initially send your business on a downward trajectory before soaring with your success. If you want to grow your company, listen carefully! Our... The post Positive Growth in Difficult Situations with Kathy O'Brien – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

Is your company struggling to attract top-tier employees? Joining us today on PowerTips Unscripted is Erin Longmoon, the founder of Zephyr Connect. Erin will share some valuable insights into how to hire people who align with your company's culture. She will discuss the strategies and tactics that have played a pivotal role in Zephyr's 98%... The post Tips For Hiring People Who Fit Your Culture with Erin Longmoon – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.

In this episode, Paul Kowalski shares his experiences in applying LEAN in his business with Victoria and Mark. His company recently implemented the process, and he says the results have already been eye-opening. Paul owns PK Builders in Charlotte, NC, and is a member of our Remodelers Advantage Roundtables group. PK Builders has a team of eight, including Paul,... The post How LEAN Principles Have Improved My Business with Paul Kowalski – [Best of PowerTips Unscripted] appeared first on PowerTips Unscripted.