The TradeMarke

You Have to Set the Hook

On this episode, Eric thanks all of our season 2 podcast guests, gives a great analogy for business, and teases season 3 which starts next Wednesday, July 6th!
(You won't want to miss it!)

The Importance of Call by Call Management

On this episode we are joined by Kirsten Weeks from Go Time Success Group. Kirsten grew up in the industry and swore she would never return, but alas she is back! We think her story is super cool--Kirsten is also a certified Service Titan Coach. She discusses with Eric call by call management and how Service Titan can provide the tools necessary to manage and improve your business.

Ways to Avoid Wasting Ad Spend This Summer

Welcome back for another segment of Marketing Real Talk. This week's episode talks about how to make your money stretch and go further on ad spend.
Eric talks about the importance of tracking numbers, (PPC, LSA, FB ads) and how you cannot improve things that are not being measured. 
Eric talks about the importance of having Google Analytics set up on your website. Some tips he gives about improving numbers and allowing your ad spend to reach further are:
1. Making sure your CSR's are properly trained to convert calls into jobs.
2. Tracking numbers for your phones.
3. Adding Google Analytics and pixels on your website.
Other tips Eric shares:
Start broad, obsess over the first 30 clicks and then narrow, incorporating negative keywords.
 

Continuing to Train Your Technicians in the Summer

On this episode we are joined by TJ Hartnett of Service Rocket
TJ has been in the trade since '94. (sorry to date you!) He believes that he was put on this planet to serve others. TJ and Eric discuss the importance of having a commitment to training. TJ touches upon some steps to implement training. Some of them include:
1. Manufacturer and distributer relationships--both have training resources.
2. Internal training at company level.
3. Technical skills 
TJ also puts emphasis on the importance of the best way to learn something and to gain a new skill is to teach it to others.

Maximizing Your In-House & Outsourced Marketing Efforts

On this episode, we are again joined by Matt Tyner from MAX Service Group. Eric and Matt touch upon the importance of progress, not perfection and how to best serve the industry.  Matt also discusses how to manage marketing whether it be in house or a hired agency.
 
We are so happy to bring him back on the show! He was one of our first guests.
 

Simple Ways to Improve Technician Recruitment

On this installment of Marketing Real Talk, Eric breaks down recruitment. Eric says that recruitment is essentially people marketing. He discusses what you should have on your website to spark interest in future employees.
Some of his tips include an about page, sharing your team on both social media and your site and to always be recruiting no matter what season it is.

Questions To Ask When Hiring a Marketing Agency

On this episode, we bring you another edition of Marketing Real Talk. Eric discusses the right and wrong questions to ask when you're hiring a marketing agency.
Some of the questions include:
1. Where is the website being hosted?
2. What CMS is this being built on?
3. Will I own the content/website?
4. Who is writing copy?
5. How are edits going to he handled and what is your management fee?
Here at Rival Digital, we want to make sure you're prepared!

Growing Your HVAC Business Through Acquisitions

Live Oak bank was founded in 2008 in Wilmington, NC. They focused on supplying loans to Veterinary practices when they first got their start. 
Jordan touches upon how acquisitions and working capital can help grow your business. The founder of Live Oak wanted to provide financing to the HVAC and plumbing space because he understood the need for HVAC and plumbing businesses and their vital role they play in keeping communities comfortable.
What makes Live Oak different is the fact that they give loans based on cash flow of the business and not the collateral.
Live Oak is dedicated to the doers. They say "small business is the backbone of our country. It drives jobs, creates prosperity and boosts local economies. We’re proud to contribute to that growth by investing in America’s small business owners. When you bank with Live Oak, you can be proud too."
 

How to Build a Thriving HVAC Business in 2022

On this episode we are joined by Tom Peregrino of Service Nation.
In this episode Eric and Tom touch upon the importance of being a better leader and how leadership directly influences the organization. Tom puts emphasis on leadership by saying, "The better the leader, the better the organization. In order to build a thriving HVAC business, you must work from the ground up. A business can only be as good as the leader allows it to be. Tom and Eric also discuss the importance and influence that culture has on whether or not your contractors stay for decades or leave after a few months. 
About Service Nation:
Service Nation Inc was founded in July 2002 as The Service Roundtable. We started with 200 members which, for year one, we considered quite the achievement. It was and remains a revolutionary organization founded by a collaboration of leading contractors to share information and help other contractors improve their sales, marketing, operations and profitability.
 

The Importance of Knowing Your Numbers

On this episode, we are joined by John Michel from BDR
BDR is a company focused on coaching and training exclusively in the HVAC space.
BDR’s business coaching services help you increase your business profitability, cash flow, and personal wealth. They help business owners build a strong, self-sustaining company where employees are well paid and morale is high.
We discuss the importance of making sure you have a marketing strategy centered around your maintenance program, giving your staff the tools to sell, and being upfront about costs on your website.