Strategies for Maintaining Business During Slow Seasons with Josh Roberts
Release Date: 01/21/2025
From Startup to Acquisition: Mehdi Khachani’s Playbook for Sustainable Business Growth
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of The Kee to Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Mehdi Khachani, CEO and founder of Sunny Bliss, to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to scale in the home services industry. The episode kicks off with Mehdi’s story of spinning a plumbing division out of his residential remodeling company and boldly rebranding and expanding the business in under a year. Jen and Mehdi dig into the messy middle between vision and execution, challenging the notion that growth requires waiting for the "perfect" moment. Instead, Mehdi shares how embracing rapid, calculated...
info_outline
How Chuck Worley Grew His Business from $300k to $17 Million
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Chuck Worley for an inspiring, no-nonsense conversation about building a business rooted in personal branding, community, and character. Chuck shares his remarkable journey from growing up in a military town and struggling with school challenges, to breaking through industry stereotypes and scaling Whirley’s from a small, struggling company into a $17 million local leader in home services. Chuck and Jen dive deep into the “messy middle”—the real-life detours of entrepreneurship that don’t get talked...
info_outline
Why Mindset Matters Most for Growth: Marketing Wisdom with Jennifer Bagley
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Jennifer Bagley, CEO of CI Web Group, for a fascinating deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of digital marketing, AI-enabled websites, and the ongoing digital transformation in the home services trades industry. Jennifer shares her journey from a background in global supply chain and enterprise systems to becoming a pioneering voice in digital marketing for home services. Her approach reflects a unique blend of data-driven strategy, relentless education, and an entrepreneurial spirit focused on learning and...
info_outline
The Power of Relationships: Lawrence DeHart’s Secrets to Scaling a Service Company
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Lawrence DeHart, founder and owner of De Hart Plumbing, Heating, and Cooling in Manhattan, Kansas. Lawrence shares his journey of building a thriving home services business from the ground up against all odds, starting with nothing but determination, a $20 box of business cards, and a focus on relationship building. The conversation unfolds with raw honesty, covering the realities of entrepreneurship and how the messiest beginnings often lay the strongest foundations. Lawrence reveals that authentic growth is less...
info_outline
Preparing for Exit: Marketing, Operations, and Mistakes to Avoid in Home Services
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Gregg Schonhorn of SF&P Advisors for a refreshingly candid conversation about marketing, branding, and what truly drives the value of a home services business. Gregg, who brings decades of Wall Street experience and a current role matching sellers and buyers in the trades, shares firsthand insights into what makes some companies stand out during a sale—and how marketing plays a much larger role than most owners realize. Forget the “overnight success” talk. Gregg and Jen break down what actually moves the...
info_outline
The Power of Mindset: Fueling Your Brand and Business Growth with Sandy Papavero
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of The Kee To Growth Podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Sandy Papavero, Director of Sales and Marketing at CEO Warrior, to unpack the often-overlooked connection between mindset and marketing success for business owners in the trades. The conversation starts with Sandy’s unique journey flipping houses alongside her dad, navigating both blue-collar grit and white-collar strategy—a story that ultimately led her to roles in finance, entrepreneurship, and even coaching at Tony Robbins. Sandy shares how her immersion in mindset work, from timeline therapy to neuro-linguistic...
info_outline
From Leads to Jobs: The Ryan Fenn Way with Automation
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, sits down with Ryan Fenn, CEO and founder of Chiirp, an automation tool built to help home service businesses convert more leads into booked jobs. Ryan shares the origin story behind Chiirp, which began with his own windshield repair business and a realization about the power of immediate text follow-ups to convert online leads. This episode explores how automation tools like Chiirp transform the home service industry by closing the critical gap between lead generation and actual job bookings. Jen and...
info_outline
Building a Standout Brand in HVAC: Social Strategy Lessons from Ashley Lynds
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, sits down with Ashley Lynds, the creative mind behind HVAC Ash and current Director of Education and Brand Management at Viper (Refrigeration Technologies). Together, they dive deep into the intersection of B2B marketing, personal branding, and influencer strategies within the trades, specifically looking at what's driving growth for brands in the HVAC industry. Ashley shares her journey from navigating sales during COVID-19 to building an authentic and impactful social media presence, revealing how...
info_outline
Key Strategies for Building Audience and Brand Visibility with Tim Brown
The Kee To Growth
Welcome to the latest episode of Kee to Growth Podcast with your host, Jen McKee. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of home services marketing with our special guest, Tim Brown, CEO and founder of Hook Agency. With a wealth of experience in marketing for the trades, Tim shares his journey from roofing marketing to expanding into HVAC and plumbing, and the strategic insights he gained along the way. This conversation is packed with valuable tips on leveraging video content, optimizing SEO, and harnessing the power of branding to drive business growth. Tim discusses how video content...
info_outline
How Family Values Drive Success at Abbott Family Insurance
The Kee To Growth
In this episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Matthew Abbott, cofounder of Abbott Family Insurance, to dive into the world of internal marketing in the trades and how offering employee benefits can transform recruitment, retention, and company culture. Matthew shares his unique journey from growing up in a blue-collar, trades family, serving in the military, and rising through the ranks in the home services industry before launching his family-run insurance agency focused on tradespeople. With firsthand experience in both trades operations and benefits brokering,...
info_outlineIn this episode of the "Kee to Growth" podcast, host Jen McKee sits down with Josh Roberts, the owner of an air conditioning and duct cleaning business in Vero Beach, Florida. Together, they delve into intelligent strategies to maintain business momentum during the slow season, emphasizing the importance of early planning. Josh shares the approach of focusing on initiatives like membership contests and advance appointments beginning in May to keep the business steady from November through March. The conversation highlights how converting maintenance visits into service opportunities keeps each interaction financially viable and ensures continuous engagement with clientele.
Josh informs listeners about the power of the "Go High Level" platform to manage and convert leads, even months after initial contact. Drawing from both Jen’s personal experience and Josh’s practice, they emphasize the long-term power of branding and the significance of branded calls, leading to more effortless conversions and higher customer trust and loyalty. Josh recounts how his marketing strategy evolved from Facebook ads to Google Ads, gaining insights from experimentation while emphasizing the critical role of an efficient lead follow-up process. This strategy involved improving booking rates by dedicating personnel to handle incoming leads, and apparently, prioritizing calling over texting led to a significant jump in booking percentages.
In detailing his marketing journey, Josh underscores the importance of data-driven strategies, utilizing tools like Searchlight, and tracking numbers for efficiency. He shares his insights and initial skepticism about radio marketing, describing the decision to cancel but then restart campaigns due to a noticeable drop in Google My Business (GMB) traffic. His interest in the distinct Wizard of Ads approaches speaks to the potential for enhancing said marketing strategies. Jen shares an intriguing take on Wizard of Ads, whose personalized campaigns can work magic for clients and foster memorable engagement.
Another focal point of the episode is the dynamic approach to community engagement through home shows, monthly charity events, and strategic giveaways, which create substantial traction and support in the local community. Josh explains his evolving strategies, from shifting focus to social media channels due to a decline in Google performance to participating less in community events by prioritizing the most beneficial ones. Apart from these, the duo discusses the importance of hiring specialized marketing professionals, emphasizing how open communication with agencies across different channels optimizes marketing efforts.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Consistency in Advertising Fuels Business Growth
04:37 Deciding the Right Time for Investment
07:18 Refining Event Participation Strategy
11:08 Strategizing for Slow Season Success
12:55 "Marketing Strategies: Immediate and Long-Term Focus"
15:47 Dedicated Team Boosts Lead Conversion Rates Significantly
19:11 Oracle's Influence on GMV: Unexpected Insights
22:10 Targeted Middle-Tier Ad Strategy on Social Media
Meet Your Host: Jen McKee
Jen McKee is the founder of Kee Hart Marketing & Events, specializing in award-winning social media strategies for trade services. With expertise in content creation and personal branding, she helps businesses forge authentic connections with their audiences. As the host of the "Kee to Growth" podcast, Jen simplifies marketing strategies and empowers businesses to thrive. Tune in for actionable insights and inspiring stories to elevate your brand! Connect with Jen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.hartman.73/ or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-mckee-72114824/
Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Kee to Growth in your favorite podcast player.
The Kee to Growth Podcast is Powered by:
- Kee Hart Marketing, the social media company for the trades. Learn more at www.keehartmarketing.com
This episode was produced and brought to you by the Skilled Trades Syndicate @ServiceBusinessMasteryPodcast https://www.servicebusinessmastery.com/