Harnessing Social Media: Effective Content Strategies from Medley and Vandenberg
Release Date: 02/04/2025
From Startup to Acquisition: Mehdi Khachani’s Playbook for Sustainable Business Growth
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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...
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How Chuck Worley Grew His Business from $300k to $17 Million
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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...
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Why Mindset Matters Most for Growth: Marketing Wisdom with Jennifer Bagley
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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...
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The Power of Relationships: Lawrence DeHart’s Secrets to Scaling a Service Company
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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...
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Preparing for Exit: Marketing, Operations, and Mistakes to Avoid in Home Services
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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...
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The Power of Mindset: Fueling Your Brand and Business Growth with Sandy Papavero
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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...
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From Leads to Jobs: The Ryan Fenn Way with Automation
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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...
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Building a Standout Brand in HVAC: Social Strategy Lessons from Ashley Lynds
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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...
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Key Strategies for Building Audience and Brand Visibility with Tim Brown
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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...
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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 engaging episode of the Kee to Growth podcast, host Jen McKee welcomes guests Texas Medley and Ryan Vandenberg to explore the dynamic world of marketing and business strategy. This episode offers a deep dive into the shift from traditional high production value content to more casual, smartphone-recorded videos for social media. Ryan Vandenberg shares insights on how producing content with immediate value to viewers, without elaborate scripts or setups, has proven to be a better return on investment. As the team continues to test various formats, they are looking forward to releasing new content upon concluding their current "medley hunt" campaign.
Texas Medley shares his authentic and personal approach to business and marketing, emphasizing transparency and the importance of fostering a brand that clients can truly connect with. Although not focused on becoming an influencer, Medley's vision is supported by his company's culture and alignment, indirectly benefiting the business. The episode further explores the contrasting yet complementary dynamics between Medley’s creative spontaneity and Vandenberg's strategic methodology.
Together, they discuss strategies like focusing on high-end production for TV spots and landing pages, which help differentiate their brand. This approach not only elevates perceived quality but also serves long-term growth objectives, with the goal being steady progress rather than rapid expansion to a $50 million business by 2025. The conversation touches on the importance of content that is both shareable and memorable and how intentionality plays a crucial role in their content creation.
One notable example is the effective use of a simple concept video about a $39 service, as opposed to ineffective methods like stock footage and photos. Meanwhile, Ryan highlights their pivot towards niche marketing strategies, particularly focusing on engaging specific communities like disc golf to build brand loyalty. The hosts close the episode by reflecting on the authenticity required in marketing and how essential it is to offer genuine value rather than chasing superficial trends or quick wins.
Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction to the Kee to Growth podcast and guests Texas Medley and Ryan Vandenberg
02:20 Discussing the shift from high production value content to casual social media videos
06:45 Texas Medley’s approach to transparency and personal branding
12:30 Strategies for releasing content post "medley hunt" campaign
15:50 The complementary dynamics between Medley's creativity and Vandenberg's strategy
20:10 Importance of high-end production for TV and landing page differentiation
24:00 Creating memorable and shareable content with intentionality
28:40 Effective use of simple concept videos over stock footage
32:50 Niche marketing strategies and exploring community engagement
36:15 The role of authenticity in successful marketing strategies
40:00 Closing remarks with insights on future marketing plans
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/
Learn more about our guests:
Texas Medley & Medley Heating & Air Conditioning
Website: www.callmedley.com
Find them on social media: Medley Heating And Air Conditioning Plumbing Rive Media
Website: www.rivemedia.com
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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/