The Site Shed is a podcast designed to assist and educate trade based business owners around the globe with business related topics and current affairs. The podcast is targeted to tradespeople and contractors like plumbers, builders, electricians, tilers, roofers, locksmiths, landscape gardeners & horticulturalists, printers, chefs, hairdressers, however it is a small business podcast so it also suits anyone that is in business. Facilitated by former plumber Matt Jones, this podcast addresses topics related to the trades, such as; apprenticeships, technology, business tools, web, digital, cloud, content creation, SEO, marketing, as well as regular guest appearances from co-host specialists, successful case studies, good and bad experiences and lot's of do's and don't that have been learned through the school of hard knocks. Matt's unique approach to communicating relevant topics is both refreshing and enjoyable. His experience as a plumber of 12 years, combined with his knowledge of the digital and business space as the owner of Tradie Web Guys, a company that helps tradespeople and contractors grow their online presence, you're sure to transform your earbuds, into a university.
Matt Jones - Trade based business enthusiast
Listeners of The Site Shed that love the show mention: great episodes, trades, matt, great interviews, business, knowledge, keep up the great, listen, guests, show, new.
Can You Deliver What You Sold? | ft. Nathan Owen | Ep. 516
You're the CEO of Your Health (Most Men Find Out Too Late) | ft. Dr. Stephen Sanders | Ep. 512
Think your follow-up game is solid? Data from 450 million text messages says you're probably quitting too early.In this 497th episode of the Site Shed, Ryan Fenn, founder of Chirp and a man who's analysed 450 million text messages, breaks down why "fortune is in the follow-up" isn't just a cliché. It's a math problem most tradies are solving wrong.If you're tired of ghosted estimates, wasted lead spend, and watching jobs slip through the cracks, this episode is your blueprint for fixing the single biggest revenue leak in your tradie business.KEY CHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro00:47 — The Follow-Up Failure Most Tradies Don't Know They Have06:17 — What 450 Million Text Messages Actually Reveal16:32 — The "Mom Test" For Writing Messages That Get Replies25:47 — Pattern Interrupts: How Unexpected Messages Break Through34:36 — Why 70% of Conversions Happen After 8 Touchpoints45:47 — The Anti-Follow-Up Strategy: Value Before The Ask58:45 — The Day 10 Trap: Why Reps Quit Right Before Deals Close
Are your quotes accidentally pushing good clients away?In this 477th episode of The Site Shed, Matt sits down with sales and leadership expert Drew Norton to break down the real reasons tradies lose work and how a few simple mindset and process shifts can help you win better clients without relying on low prices.Drew gives useful tips for making the discovery process better, leading with confidence, making sure people understand their options, and building a sales system that really works.If you want to charge what you're worth and stop clients from ghosting after the quote… this one's for you.
In episode 473, host Matt Jones sits down with Sean Samson, dialing in from Cleveland, Ohio, for the third and final part of their enlightening series. Today, they're diving deep into the powerful world of service agreements—why they matter, how you can sell them effectively, and the massive opportunity they represent for electricians, plumbers, and other reactive-service businesses looking to build recurring revenue.Matt and Sean break down the nuts and bolts of what a service agreement actually is, outlining the differences between commercial, industrial, and residential sectors, and sharing real-world tactics for turning a standard job into a long-term client relationship. From the importance of having a solid sales process, to insightful tips on targeting the right demographics, and how technology plays a key role in making service agreements work, this conversation is packed with actionable advice for business owners wanting to grow sustainably.Timestamps: 00:00 "How to Sell Service Agreements"06:12 NFPA Standards for Service Agreements09:36 Residential Maintenance Membership Benefits11:45 Selling Through Fear of Loss15:01 Seasonal Maintenance Tips16:53 Targeting High-Value Service Customers22:14 "Technology Needed for Service Agreements"24:45 Sean's Show Notes and Episodes Don't let your business fall behind—explore the power of AI with Tradie Hub. Visit tradiehub.net to see the innovative AI tools crafted just for tradies. Discover how you can stay ahead and transform your business with cutting-edge technology!
In this episode, host Matt Jones is once again joined by Sean Samson for the second part of their insightful series. If you missed the first installment where Sean shared the ten reasons your service and maintenance business will never grow, be sure to catch up, because today's conversation builds on those foundational ideas.Timestamps 00:00 Service Sales Process Benefits04:34 "Scaling Requires Systems"08:30 "Tracking Sales Process Metrics"13:10 Sales Systems Enable Scalable Growth14:09 Onboarding Requires Role Transition20:09 "Discovery: Key to Problem-Solving"23:44 "Process Guides Safe Problem Solving"26:42 Job Walk and Verification Process28:11 Outdated Residential Business Model32:43 "Service Agreements & Recurring Revenue" Don't let your business fall behind—explore the power of AI with Tradie Hub. Visit tradiehub.net to see the innovative AI tools crafted just for tradies. Discover how you can stay ahead and transform your business with cutting-edge technology!
In Episode 471, host Matt Jones chats with Sean Samson, founder of Sean Samson Training to dig deep into the world of service and maintenance agreements for contractors. Sean shares his journey from an electrical service agreement sales rookie to training contractors around the globe, helping them transform transactional businesses into predictable, recurring revenue powerhouses.⏱️Timestamps:00:00 "Maximizing Lifetime Value in Marketing"06:31 "Five Reasons People Don't Buy"07:16 "Optimizing Sales & Service Processes"11:36 "Scaling Business Growth Strategically"16:18 B2B to Residential Transition Challenges19:39 "Improving Service Through Proactive Leadership"21:40 "Undervaluing Service Expertise Hurts Business"25:07 Clients vs. Customers in Contracting28:48 "Trust Built on Intimacy"32:20 "Transactional Revenue Lacks Excitement"35:36 "Contractors as Sales Organizations"41:22 Compounding Revenue Drives Business Success43:02 "Importance of Trained Salespeople"45:45 "Tech Selling vs Doing"50:00 "Contracting Growth Challenges Unveiled" Don't let your business fall behind—explore the power of AI with Tradie Hub. Visit tradiehub.net to see the innovative AI tools crafted just for tradies. Discover how you can stay ahead and transform your business with cutting-edge technology!
In episode 470, host Matt Jones is joined by Ben Hansen from Profit Doctor for a straight-shooting conversation about what truly drives profitability in trade businesses. Broadcasting from Austin, Texas, Ben brings a wealth of experience working with business owners across the globe, breaking down how revenue and profit don't always go hand-in-hand, and why so many businesses look healthy on paper but struggle to see any real financial reward.⏱️Timestamps:00:00 "Marketing Budget Essential for Growth"04:07 "Misaligned Resource Allocation in Business"09:02 Revenue Focus vs. Profitability Awareness13:43 Profit Focus for Business Success16:00 "Financial Clarity for Tradespeople"19:51 Streamlining Cost Analysis23:49 Profit-Focused Service Shift26:46 Lacking Practical Financial Guidance28:30 Misaligned Business Growth Strategies32:54 "Unprofitable Clients Hinder Growth"35:10 Cut Losses to Boost Success39:02 Streamline Focus for Better Conversion43:02 "Focus on Customer Lifetime Value"45:51 Optimize for Ideal Clients47:58 Targeting Diverse Customer Needs53:32 Focus on Core Strengths55:22 Self-Taught Financial Empowerment Don't let your business fall behind—explore the power of AI with Tradie Hub. Visit tradiehub.net to see the innovative AI tools crafted just for tradies. Discover how you can stay ahead and transform your business with cutting-edge technology!
With years of experience helping businesses in the trades sector, Jason shares how CEO Warrior guides business owners, from technicians just starting out, to established pros, through the often-daunting world of financial clarity and pricing. Matt and Jason unpack practical strategies for setting realistic budgets, analyzing your P&L, overcoming marketing and conversion obstacles, and planning for growth without losing your footing.⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 CEO Warrior's 10-Year Milestone06:05 Profitability Mindset in Business08:56 Budget as Road Map Strategy12:10 Breaking Down Big Goals13:00 Improving Conversion Without More Ads17:05 "Engagement Beyond the Initial Service"20:37 Chart of Accounts: Four Key Buckets25:00 "P&L and Balance Sheet Setup"28:28 Accounting for Loan Payments Insight29:30 "Profit First Methodology Insights"32:18 "Annual Budget Tracking Process"38:28 Seasonal HVAC and Service Strategy39:59 Seasonal HVAC Offer Strategies42:19 Overlooked Opportunities in Business Growth45:33 Open CEO Warrior Event Invitation Don't let your business fall behind—explore the power of AI with Tradie Hub. Visit tradiehub.net to see the innovative AI tools crafted just for tradies. Discover how you can stay ahead and transform your business with cutting-edge technology!
In episode 468, Matt Jones is joined by Matt Pohl, an entrepreneur hailing from just north of Denver, Colorado, with a wealth of real-world experience in transforming small businesses. Together, they dive into the incredible journey of taking a welding company from $900k to $4 million in just two years. Pohl shares his unique background, working alongside his wife, acquiring businesses rather than starting them from scratch, and applying a proven methodology to triple business value and achieve a 10x increase before selling.⏱️Timestamps:00:00 Business Transformation and Organizational Rewilding06:02 "Retirement Sparks Welding Business Sale"10:01 Overestimated Workforce Challenges Trades13:25 Rebranding to Commercial Welding LLC16:20 Denver Welding Market Overview19:44 Employee Numbers Drive Business Complexity21:24 "Building Business Resilience and Structure"26:55 Evolving Strategies for Business Growth28:33 "Lighten Your Burden"31:13 Navigating Growth Challenges35:35 Determine Business Stage with FTEs39:28 "Awareness of Personal Growth Potential"41:25 From Process to Profit Focus46:08 Adaptability in Business Leadership49:52 Guiding Success Through Adaptation51:32 Transitioning from Owner to Enterprise Focus Don't let your business fall behind—explore the power of AI with Tradie Hub. Visit tradiehub.net to see the innovative AI tools crafted just for tradies. Discover how you can stay ahead and transform your business with cutting-edge technology!
Welcome back to The Site Shed! In this episode, Matt Jones sits down with marketing maverick John Dwyer for a lively and insightful conversation that dives deep into the world of direct response marketing, particularly for tradies and small business owners.John, whose career spans decades of helping businesses stand out, breaks down the crucial differences between traditional brand-focused marketing and the results-driven approach of direct response. The two discuss why most tradies excel at their craft but often struggle with the skills to actually grow their business, juggling everything from vanity metrics on social media to the challenges of generating real, qualified leads.⏱️Timestamps:00:00 Balancing Brand Building and Profit03:51 "Tradies' Marketing Challenges"07:46 "McDonald's, Parenting, and Incentives"12:55 "Bali Trip: Nightly Fee Only"15:09 Lead Conversion Challenges19:05 Excessive Leads Hinder Marketing Efforts23:15 "Matt Fences' Facebook Ad Insight"26:44 Exclusive Coaching Requirements Revealed Don't let your business fall behind—explore the power of AI with Tradie Hub. Visit tradiehub.net to see the innovative AI tools crafted just for tradies. Discover how you can stay ahead and transform your business with cutting-edge technology!
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