Strategic Marketing Insights from Ellen Rohr for Trades Leaders
Release Date: 03/04/2025
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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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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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
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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 Ellen Rohr, the owner and founder of Zoom Drain Franchising, and a brand ambassador for ServiceTitan. Ellen shares her unique journey from founding a franchise to becoming a pivotal part of ServiceTitan's ambassador program. The conversation highlights the importance of effective marketing strategies and explores Ellen's natural marketing acumen, even though she is best known for her expertise in finance and simplifying business operations.
Ellen discusses how marketing played a crucial role in her success, despite not being her primary focus. She shares insights into how community engagement and leveraging local events can be powerful marketing tools. Ellen emphasizes the significance of visibility, mentioning how she used creative methods to market her business in a small town by actively participating in community events and turning them into marketing opportunities.
The episode also delves into two time-tested marketing strategies that Ellen believes will always work if executed properly. She discusses how creating genuine community connections and leveraging personal customer stories can drive business growth. Ellen shares anecdotes from her own experiences in the trades industry, illustrating the impact of personalized marketing on brand reputation and customer trust.
As the conversation unfolds, Ellen reveals her latest endeavor, World of Titans, an initiative by ServiceTitan aimed at supporting tradespeople globally, starting with an event in Australia. She highlights the importance of collaboration and community in expanding business reach. Throughout the episode, Jen and Ellen explore how different facets of marketing intertwine, offering a treasure trove of insights for listeners looking to elevate their marketing game.
00:00 Ellen's Surprising Marketing Impact
03:43 Yellow Pages Nostalgia and Marketing Insights
06:30 Reinventing Relevance at ServiceTitan
11:49 Effective Low-Cost Marketing Strategies
13:54 Focus Areas for Business Maturity
16:28 Community Appreciation Through Social Good
20:09 Marketing Visibility and Authenticity Insight
22:34 Networking Beyond Social Media
25:41 Creative Customer Engagement Idea
29:07 Low-Budget Solutions for Success
33:39 Collaborative Marketing Partnership Brilliance
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!
👉 Join Ellen at ServiceTitan’s Australia Edition! She will be leading the Budgeting & Planning Workshop alongside Tom Howard. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/WorldofTitansAU
Connect with Jen on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.hartman.73/ or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-mckee-72114824/
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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/