Contractor Growth Network

Growing up as the son of a successful contractor, Logan experienced firsthand the benefits of a healthy contracting business: less stress, more money, and more time for family. Now Logan runs Contractor Growth Network to help guide you on your journey to create a strong and reliable contracting business for your family. Interested in learning more? Visit contractorgrowthnetwork.com or join our Facebook group, Common Sense Contracting, today.

#466 Your Remodeling Business' Marketing Strategy—One Step at a Time 08/13/2025

#465 How to Market Your Finished Jobs 07/30/2025

#464 How to Use Storytelling as a Sales Tool (ft. Aaron Horner) 07/16/2025

#463 The Pre-Construction Process That Closes $300K+ Remodeling Projects (ft. Peter Ranney) 07/02/2025

#463 The Pre-Construction Process That Closes $300K+ Remodeling Projects (ft. Peter Ranney) In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser sits down with Peter Rainey, co-founder and managing partner of Ranney Blair Weidman, to unpack their unique and refined pre-construction process. Peter walks through how his team shifted from traditional estimates and disjointed design experiences to a highly structured, 100-page client journey that establishes trust, transparency, and efficiency. By controlling the design narrative, focusing on true client advocacy, and emphasizing clear expectations, Ranney Blair Weidman now delivers high-end remodels with alignment and clarity from start to finish. Key Takeaways: The Shift from Outsourced Design to Full Ownership Early in their journey, Peter’s team relied on external designers, often leading to miscommunication, delays, and poor client outcomes. The transition to a fully integrated design-build approach allowed them to control timelines, eliminate misalignment, and focus on client experience. Start the Sales Process in the Living Room, Not the Kitchen Instead of jumping straight into measurements, Peter initiates consultations in the living room to foster creativity and uncover the client's real problems. This sets the tone for trust, collaboration, and bigger-picture thinking beyond surface-level design requests. The Power of the Project Summary Letter After the in-home consultation, Peter presents a formal, typed letter on letterhead recapping client frustrations and goals. This old-school touch confirms the client feels heard, sets expectations, and serves as the north star for all design decisions moving forward. 100-Page Process Document Builds Trust Through Transparency At the showroom, clients are walked through a highly visual and interactive document showing past projects, pricing structure, punchlists, and processes. This immersive experience shifts the conversation from price anxiety to partnership and problem-solving. Design to Solve, Not to Budget Ranney Blair Weidman focuses first on solving problems through creative design, not fitting within arbitrary budgets. Pricing is presented by area with modular options, giving clients control over scope while preserving the integrity of the design. Memorable Quotes: “We’re not designing to a budget. We’re designing to solve your problem.” “If they don’t want to follow our approach, we are not the right fit for them.” “Quit trying to save the client money. That’s not our job. Our job is to present options.” Actionable Advice: Control the Narrative Avoid being just another bidder. Guide clients through a structured process that builds trust and reinforces your authority as the expert. Start with a Conversation, Not a Tape Measure Begin in a neutral space like the living room to hear their story before inspecting the space. This approach unlocks deeper insights and establishes rapport early. Document What You Hear Use a project summary letter to confirm and reflect back what clients said during your visit. This builds confidence and becomes the foundation of your design strategy. Provide Options, Not Ultimatums Break pricing into modular packages or room-by-room breakdowns. Allow clients to see the value and make decisions collaboratively without feeling boxed in. /episode/index/show/contractormarketingtips/id/37252955

#462 AI and SEO: How We're Adapting to Google's Search Shift (ft. Patrick Scully) 06/18/2025

#462 AI and SEO: How We're Adapting to Google's Search Shift (ft. Patrick Scully) In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Sean Holleran and SEO expert Patrick dive into how AI is reshaping search—and what that means for contractors relying on SEO. They break down the shift from traditional keyword ranking to AI-powered answer engines like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overview, and explain how to structure your content to still get found. Whether you’re wondering if Google is dead (it’s not) or how to optimize for tools like Perplexity and Bing, this episode will help you stay ahead of the curve. Key Takeaways AI Search Is Changing the Game Google and ChatGPT are rewriting how people search: AI now scans for concise answers, not full-page rankings. Questions and paragraph snippets matter more than ever. It’s no longer just about clicks—being the answer is the goal. Concise Answers Beat Long-Form Hooks Content must lead with the answer: Gone are the days of slow storytelling intros. Start with the clear, factual response—then build context. This helps tools like Google AI and ChatGPT surface your content. Google Isn’t Dead, It’s Adapting Despite the hype, traditional SEO still matters: Google still dominates local and service-based searches. Schema, page speed, links, and on-page SEO are still relevant. Now it’s about blending classic SEO with AI-readiness. Search Everywhere Optimization It’s no longer about ranking on one platform: Get reviews on Bing, Angi, Houzz, and Facebook—not just Google. Claim and optimize your Bing Places listing. YouTube videos (with transcripts) are also being surfaced in AI answers. AI Loves Structure and Fresh Data Make your content AI-scannable: Use schema markup to define FAQs, videos, and pages. Replace large paragraphs with bullet points or tables. Update outdated blog posts for relevance and accuracy. Memorable Quotes “If you’re not found everywhere, you’re not really found at all.” “The best answer wins now—not the biggest website.” “Google isn’t dead. It’s just changing the rules—and fast.” Actionable Advice Rewrite for Answers: Lead with a concise answer before diving into storytelling. Use Schema Markup: Help AI interpret your FAQs, videos, and images. Diversify Reviews: Get client reviews across Google, Bing, Angi, and Houzz. Update Your Old Content: Refresh data, fix broken links, and add question-style headings. Test It Yourself: Search on ChatGPT, Google AI, and Perplexity as if you're a client. Meta Description: SEO is changing fast. Learn how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google SGE are shifting search—and how to adapt your content to keep showing up and driving leads. /episode/index/show/contractormarketingtips/id/37047050

#461 How to Measure SEO Performance & ROI for Contractors (ft. Patrick Scully) 06/04/2025

#460 How to Drive Technology Adoption in Your Construction Business (ft. Dr. Anna Hunter) 05/21/2025

#460 How to Drive Technology Adoption in Your Construction Business (ft. Dr. Anna Hunter) In this episode,Logan Shinholser interviews Dr. Anna Hunter, Director of Learning & Development at JobTread, to unpack how human behavior directly impacts digital adoption in construction companies. Anna explains why technology is only as effective as its implementation, how to create true team buy-in, and how contractors can avoid wasting thousands on unused tools. The conversation dives into key behavioral strategies like building software champions, structuring healthy incentives, and identifying root problems before investing in tech. With practical analogies and tactical steps, this episode bridges the gap between strategy and psychology in software rollout. Key Takeaways: Clarity Comes Before Software Before adopting software, companies need to clearly define their core operational problems. Jumping into tech without this clarity often leads to frustration and failure. The Champion Model Works Successful tech rollouts often rely on "champions" — team members who believe in the software and lead by example. Identifying the right personality types for this role (not just the loudest volunteer) is crucial. Start with the Team, Not the Tool The most effective companies get their teams involved in diagnosing problems and shaping processes before software ever enters the picture. Top-down mandates often backfire. Incentives Should Match the Culture Incentivizing new habits (like filling out daily logs) can work, but it must be tied to accountability. Small, visible rewards can spark pride and momentum, especially when tied to public progress tracking. Staged Rollout vs. All-In: Choose Wisely Rolling out software can happen gradually or all at once, but both approaches require preparation, peer support, and leadership alignment. Owner’s Role: Understand and Translate Leaders don't need to be tech experts, but they do need to understand the software well enough to explain its value to their team — and to calm fears about being replaced. Memorable Quotes: “Software is only as good as how much you use it.” “Jumping into tech without clarity just means you're scaling chaos.” “You're not rushing adoption—you’re building belief.” Actionable Advice: Define the Real Problems First: Use tools like whiteboards or flowcharts to uncover root causes before selecting a solution. Nominate the Right Champion: Identify someone who is both tech-comfortable and respected by the team—not just the loudest person in the room. Use Live Incentives: Create transparent incentive systems that track progress publicly and build pride over time. Start Small or Go All-In — But Plan Either Way: Whether you're doing a phased rollout or flipping the switch company-wide, preparation is key to success. Learn more about JobTread : https://www.jobtread.com/ /episode/index/show/contractormarketingtips/id/36631445

#459 Google Business Profile Optimization Best Practices for Ranking on Google Maps 05/07/2025

#458 The 6 Biggest Remodeling Business Struggles & How to Fix Them (ft. Kyle Hunt) 04/23/2025

#458 The 6 Biggest Remodeling Business Struggles & How to Fix Them (ft. Kyle Hunt) In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser sits down with Kyle Hunt, remodeling business coach and founder of Remodelers on the Rise. Kyle breaks down his signature "Remodelers Roadmap"—a six-system framework designed to simplify and strengthen every core aspect of a remodeling business. From financials and marketing to people and operations, Kyle shares actionable advice and mindset shifts that help remodelers move from chaos to clarity in their business strategy. Key Takeaways: Start with Strong Financials Kyle emphasizes that a healthy remodeling business begins with financial clarity: Understand job costing, gross vs. net profit, and pricing strategy. Establish a solid financial foundation to support sustainable growth. Avoid burnout by making your business serve your life—not the other way around. Marketing Isn’t Optional—It’s the Engine Kyle shares how too many remodelers treat marketing like a side task instead of a strategic priority: Every business owner must be a student of marketing—even if they’re not executing it directly. Build a clear marketing plan and pair it with a defined budget. Track lead sources consistently to make data-backed decisions. Sales Requires a Repeatable Process A wishy-washy sales approach leaves clients confused and kills conversion: Define your “This is how we work” process in 3–5 clear steps. Display your sales process on your website and reinforce it in person. Charging for design becomes easier when clients understand the value and flow. Production Is About More Than the Build Kyle urges remodelers to elevate the client experience from day one on the job site: Pre-construction meetings are essential to set expectations and avoid surprises. A systematic “final 5%” process ensures projects end as strong as they start. Communication, cleanliness, and consistency are critical soft skills on the job. Your People System Drives Your Success The quality of your remodeling business is directly tied to the quality of your team: Empower team members with 1-on-1s, leadership development, and capacity checks. Great leaders create space for others to lead—inside and outside their roles. “Your people are more important than your profit margin.” Operations Aren’t Just Software—They’re Structure Behind-the-scenes systems create forward momentum: Use software to track jobs, log daily updates, and align estimating with accounting. Establish a meeting cadence with clear agendas, action steps, and timekeeping. Effective meetings are a business unlock—and a leadership responsibility. Memorable Quotes: “If you’re wondering why your remodeling business feels so hard—it’s because it is hard.” “Don’t try to implement five things halfway. Pick one thing and really implement it.” “The quality of your remodeling business will never outpace the quality of your people.” Actionable Advice: Identify Your Starting Line: Before tackling all six systems, get clear on time management, pricing, and financial health. Document Your Sales Process: Put it in writing, share it online, and walk clients through it every time. Run Better Meetings: Prepare agendas, assign timekeepers, and prioritize action over updates. Track Marketing Sources: Don’t just “feel” like something works—measure it. Choose the Next Right Thing: Focus on one area, implement fully, and move forward with momentum. /episode/index/show/contractormarketingtips/id/36102940

#457 How Pre-Construction Systems Create Control & Profit (ft. Todd Dawalt) 04/09/2025

#457 How Pre-Construction Systems Create Control & Profit (ft. Todd Dawalt) In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser talks with Todd Dawalt, founder of Construction Leading Edge and host of The Construction Leading Edge Podcast. Together, they dive into the dangerous trap many contractors fall into, doing “just enough to start” (JETS)—and why that mentality holds businesses back from sustainable growth. Todd shares how building robust pre-construction systems, documenting processes, and creating real clarity in communication can make the difference between chaos and control on a jobsite. Drawing from his years of coaching and consulting with construction companies, Todd walks through tactical strategies for increasing profitability and how simple documentation can solve major business problems. Whether you’re a one-man band or running a team of 100, this episode is packed with insights that will help you stop winging it and start winning. Key Takeaways The JETS Mentality is Holding You Back Doing “just enough to start” creates costly mistakes and jobsite chaos. Companies need to operate with a mindset of clarity, not improvisation. Documented Systems Drive Profitability Contractors often mistake “it’s in my head” for a system. Writing things down can solve 80% of common construction business problems. Pre-Construction is Where the Money Is Made Profits are built (or lost) before the job even begins. Pre-construction systems reduce change orders, stress, and delays. Turn Chaos into Predictability Without structure, your team will make up their own rules. Checklists, job books, and templates create consistent results. Leadership Isn’t About Hustle—It’s About Systems Business owners need to graduate from “doer” to “leader.” Building systems empowers your team and removes dependency on you. Memorable Quotes “Chaos is expensive—clarity is profitable.” “You don't rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.” “Documenting your process is the cheapest, fastest way to fix most of your problems.” Actionable Advice Start with one system. Pick one process you repeat often and document it. Replace tribal knowledge. Get everything out of your head and onto paper. Build a job book. Give your team a standard package of information for every job. Focus on pre-construction. Nail the planning phase before picking up a hammer. Lead with clarity. Create systems that enable your team to win without you. /episode/index/show/contractormarketingtips/id/36037325