How Contractors Build Community By Networking At CCN Conferences

26:28

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Cilio Technologies CEO & President Rick Olejnik. Rick defines workflow management and identifies inefficiencies he sees among most contractors in this area. You’ll learn how poor workflow management directly impacts your bottom line, customer satisfaction, and your company’s reputation, and the steps you can take to avoid these issues. This episode is ideal for contractors that are looking to scale their businesses but need to improve workflow processes in order to achieve their growth goals profitably.…

Contractors Toolbox

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How to Become the Most Known & Trusted Brand in Your Market | Marcus Sheridan 46:06

6 weeks ago46:06

46:06

Marcus Sheridan, author of “They Ask, You Answer” and “Endless Customers” joins CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto for this information-rich episode of the Contractors Toolbox Podcast. Marcus will be the keynote speaker at CCN’s Spring Conference in Miami from April 24-27, 2025 in Miami. As a world-renowned communication expert, author, and keynote speaker, Marcus helps brands, sales teams, and leaders build deeper human connections and establish more trust with their audiences. With over 13 years of experience in the speaking industry and 23 years as an entrepreneur, Marcus has honed his craft as a master communicator, helping individuals and organizations transform the way they connect, engage, and influence. His expertise has been tactfully applied across a diverse range of subjects including Sales, Leadership, Marketing, AI, personal development, and trust. In this episode, you’ll learn why companies are struggling with acquiring new customers and what they can do about it, why contractors should talk openly—and be transparent—about pricing, take a deep dive into Marcus’ four pillars of trust, and much, much more. This is an episode you can’t miss!…

Contractors Toolbox

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How Contractors Can Build Call Centers from Zero to 10+ Reps Using AI | Nate Joens 27:27

7 weeks ago27:27

27:27

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Structurely Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer Nate Joens. This is Nate’s second time on the program. Nate shares whether AI can be used to build a call center for a company of your size, when the time is right to begin building a call center, the best balance between human call center reps and AI reps, how your call center should be handling aggregator or new form leads and old or rehashed leads, and much more. This episode is ideal for contractors that are ready to grow their call centers, but don’t know the best approach for where they are right now. Get answers by listening to this episode of the Contractors Toolbox Podcast!…

Contractors Toolbox

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What Makes Website Retargeting & Targeted Direct Mail Work Wonders for Contractor Lead Generation Efforts? | David Michaelson 24:38

8 weeks ago24:38

24:38

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with Celebration Marketing Founder & Owner David Michaelson. David has been in the direct mail advertising industry for more than 30 years and has extensive experience helping home improvement companies generate leads and close more sales. You’ll learn about the benefits of several personalized targeted direct mail programs, including neighborhood proximity mailings and new mover mailers. Plus, you’ll find out ways in which contractors are using website visitor retargeting to create killer marketing campaigns that generate low-cost, high-quality leads. This episode is ideal for contractors that are looking for new lead sources or seeking step-by-step directions on implementing direct mail campaigns that help you dominate your local market.…

Contractors Toolbox

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How to Effectively Deploy AI in Home Improvement & Home Services Businesses | Daniel DeMatteo 20:52

9 weeks ago20:52

20:52

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with Revin AI Head of Revenue Daniel DeMatteo. Daniel shares his insights on how home improvement and home services companies can best deploy AI in their businesses and what it could look like over the next 24 months. You’ll learn about the increasing role of AI in call centers and which elements of a call center should be left to humans, the top ways to communicate with today’s customers, and receive an update on the TCPA one-to-one consents laws. This episode is ideal for contractors who are on the fence about trusting AI-based technologies and for those who want to learn more about how AI can help you efficiently scale your business.…

Contractors Toolbox

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How to Add 10 to 20 Percent in Revenue Without Paying More for Leads | Alan Michael 28:56

13 weeks ago28:56

28:56

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with the creator of Ultimate Rainmaker Lead Generation Services & Rehash Program, Alan Michael. Alan has been in the home improvement industry for 40-plus years and has helped contractors accumulate more than $150 million in additional sales. You’ll learn how contractors can add 10-20% in revenue without paying more for leads, best practices and keys to making rehash programs successful, and mistakes to avoid when implementing rehash into your home improvement business. This episode is ideal for contractors who want to close more sales with leads they’ve already paid for in a market filled with uncertainty.…

Contractors Toolbox

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How Contractors Can Buy Back Their Time by Outsourcing Client Communications | Chris Diroll 22:28

15 weeks ago22:28

22:28

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with SMA Support Services Director of Ideas & Revenue Chris Diroll. Chris reveals some of the biggest challenges contractors face when it comes to communicating effectively and efficiently with clients. You’ll learn how to improve workflows and discover the key metrics contractors should track to ensure their customer experience is delivering 5-star results. This episode is ideal for small to medium sized home improvement contractors that have considered outsourcing client communication tasks but don’t know where to get started and how beneficial it can be to your bottom line and productivity.…

Contractors Toolbox

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How Contractors Build Community by Networking at CCN Conferences | Gary Cohen 19:30

24 weeks ago19:30

19:30

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by CCN VP Gary Cohen for a discussion on the importance of building a community or network of peers in the home improvement industry. Being a business owner can feel like a lonely existence. Gary and Drew talk about ways in which Certified Contractors Network fosters community and collaboration among business owners who are experiencing many of the same issues and obstacles. Gary highlights CCN’s three annual conferences as steppingstones to business success and growing one’s network. Drew concludes the episode with a special offer for guest contractors to attend the CCN INNOVATE 2025 Winter Conference from January 9-12, 2025.…

Contractors Toolbox

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How to Grow Your Business the Right Way: Tips from a $50 Million Roofer Who Retired at Age 47 | Ken Kelly 26:15

29 weeks ago26:15

26:15

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Ken Kelly. Ken took over his family business—Kelly Roofing—in 1993 and grew it to $50 million in annual revenue and 300+ employees. He sold the business in 2020 and retired at the age of 47. Ken shares his expert insight on how to properly grow a contracting business, including tips on what businesses at different revenue levels need to focus on most, five rules for growth he learned from Elon Musk, the importance of discipline, five keys to growing your people, and much more. This episode features takeaways for home improvement contractors with revenue at $1 million, $5 million, $10 million, or $20+ million.…

Contractors Toolbox

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What Contractors Need to Know About New Lead Gen Laws Before 2025 and How AI Can Help | Nate Joens 23:05

32 weeks ago23:05

23:05

As of January 2025, new FCC lead generation laws will require contractors to have explicit 1:1 consent to call or text leads, impacting how companies can engage with their potential customers. Home improvement companies have until the end of 2024 to freely contact existing leads, making it crucial to ramp up outreach efforts before the laws take effect and then to comply with the rules after that. In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Structurely Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer Nate Joens. Nate has led Structurely to 10x growth in conversations processed and has developed a proprietary conversational AI that users perceive as human. He offers expert insight on how contractors can best prepare for these new laws, how the lead gen landscape may change in 2025, and how AI can help companies navigate these changes.…

Contractors Toolbox

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Chicagoland Siding, Window, and Door Contractor Talks Marketing Success & Growing Tech Stack | Tara Dawn 29:16

35 weeks ago29:16

29:16

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Opal Enterprises Co-Owner and long-time CCN member Tara Dawn. Tara shares how she’s doing more with what she has and how she uses a mix of traditional and modern marketing vehicles with an ever-growing tech stack to improve sales processes and increase lead flow. Drew and Tara discuss what’s working today and which types of offers and promotions are making the phones ring at a higher rate. This episode is a must-listen for any home improvement contractor looking for marketing and technology takeaways that they can implement immediately.…

Contractors Toolbox

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The Benefits of Adding Low-Ticket, High-Margin Home Improvement Products to a Contractor's Portfolio | Karen Sager 20:55

36 weeks ago20:55

20:55

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with MicroMeshGutterGuards.com (MMGG) President & CEO Karen Sager. Karen unveils the benefits of adding low-ticket, high-margin product lines that can be installed quickly to inject consistent cash into any contractor’s business. You’ll learn details of her fast-to-cash concept and how to take advantage of this approach, indications of positive cash flow that you can track, how to become more efficient with labor costs as a percentage of your business, and much more. This episode is ideal for home improvement contractors—especially roofing companies—that have considered adding new product lines to their business but have been afraid to take the leap.…

Contractors Toolbox

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How Contractors Can Create Effective Lead-Nurturing Email Campaigns | Jenni McMorran 20:54

43 weeks ago20:54

20:54

In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with Renoworks Contractor Channel Partner Manager Jenni McMorran. The discussion is centered around employing effective email campaigns that result in booking more appointments and closing more sales. You will learn best practices for capturing email addresses, creating unique email messages for leads at different stages of the buying cycle, which types of emails are most likely to generate responses from homeowners, and how busy contractors can automate their email marketing process to ensure it gets done regularly. This episode is perfect for contractors who are looking for ways to generate low-cost leads. Contact Renoworks here!…

Contractors Toolbox

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A Discussion About New Initiatives at Certified Contractors Network | Drew Barto 39:31

44 weeks ago39:31

39:31

In this episode, Gary talks with CCN’s new Director of Member and Partner Experience. The discussion will address many of the new initiatives at CCN, including some changes to our Contractors Toolbox podcast. Other topics will be strategic partnerships, The new L&D branding of CCN University, and changes coming to our financing program, all of which will continuously improve our member experience at CCN. This episode is perfect for members of CCN as well as contractors who would like to learn more about all that CCN has to offer.…

Contractors Toolbox

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The Ins and Outs of Offering Financing Options In Your Business | Neal Christensen 47:21

1 year ago47:21