In this episode of Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing, we break down one of the biggest reasons contractors lose jobs—even when their marketing is working: slow speed-to-lead.

Amanda and Devon discuss why speed-to-lead is critical for converting marketing leads into booked estimates and real jobs. They walk through common scenarios contractors face—calls that go unanswered, form submissions sitting in an inbox, or callbacks happening 30–45 minutes later. In many cases, the homeowner has already contacted other contractors and scheduled an inspection.

Ultimately, this episode highlights a simple principle: speed-to-lead can make or break your marketing results.

Key Takeaways:

Respond to new leads within minutes whenever possible.
Homeowners often contact multiple contractors at the same time.
Slow workflows like shared inboxes or delayed callbacks can cause hot leads to go cold.

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics here:
https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business:
https://elevmarketing.com

Read about the latest in the field:
https://elevmarketing.com/blog

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEO)

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

In this episode of Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing, we break down the question contractors ask constantly: where do I even start with paid media, especially if you have tried ads before and felt like they didn’t work. We walk through the major channels contractors get pitched, and explain why you do not need to spend everywhere at all times to win with paid.

Amanda shares the decision framework they use to choose the right platform for a specific contractor, and why the first step is almost always understanding the business, the goal, and any historical results before spending another dollar. A major theme is avoiding order takers in paid media, using proper landing pages instead of driving expensive clicks to a homepage, and recognizing how recent AI improvements in platforms like Meta and Google Ads are changing what is possible when campaigns are set up and optimized correctly.

Key Takeaways:

• Start with the question: where should my 2026 budget go and do not assume a platform is dead just because a past test failed.
• The channel list is huge, so simplify to the most common ones first (examples mentioned include Angi, Meta, LSA, display, and YouTube).
• Do not hire an order taker for paid media. A real partner audits what you have done, studies the data, and then recommends what to run and why.
• Landing pages are a lever. One of the biggest mistakes they see is sending expensive service keywords to a homepage instead of a focused landing page, which can dramatically improve results.
• The core principle: match the platform to the objective. Optimize for the outcome you actually want (example mentioned: booked estimates, not just lead forms).

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts found here:

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades here: https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Read about the latest in the field: https://elevmarketing.com/blog/

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (S

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

In this episode of Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing, we break down the real question behind all the buzzwords: where should a contractor actually start to get found online in search and in AI-driven results. We cut through the noise around constantly evolving acronyms like AEO and explain how these tactics connect back to the same fundamentals, then map out a practical way to decide what you need based on your business type and your buyer’s journey.

Instead of telling you to “buy SEO,” we explain why your first lever is brand clarity and consistency across the web, then a real assessment before you spend. Learn how trust signals (especially reviews and consistent business info) influence whether humans and algorithms believe you, and why local visibility strategies look very different for a trades business with urgent, transactional searches versus a GC or custom builder with a longer consideration cycle.

Key Takeaways:

• Google’s Trust Framework EEAT (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, trust) is the lens for what you should fix first.
• Do a brand audit on yourself: if your name, address, phone, website, logo, or old URLs are inconsistent across platforms, fix that before buying “a package.”

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts found here:

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades here: https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Read about the latest in the field: https://elevmarketing.com/blog/

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Content Marketing, and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). With a niche focus on Contractor Marketing and working for the Trades, we've been able to make a significant impact on our home services clients. We are more than an agency, we're your marketing partner. Elevating you elevates us. Email us at experts@elevmarketing.com to talk!

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

In this episode, we sit down with Stephen Spallo, now the Chief Operating Officer at Stag Homes Design Build. Before stepping into that role, Stephen played a key part in growing a residential contracting company from $2 million to $7 million in just two years. He shares the lessons, leadership mindset, and systems that made it possible.

A major turning point in his journey was reading Traction: Get A Grip On Your Business by Gino Wickman, which he credits throughout the episode as a game-changer for how he runs operations. Stephen breaks down how business owners can apply these concepts in real life without getting overwhelmed.

Whether you're in construction, operations, or just trying to scale your business the right way, this conversation delivers sharp and practical insights from someone who’s lived it.

Key Takeaways:

• Traction by Gino Wickman shaped his entire business philosophy
• Systems are the secret weapon for scaling service-based companies
• Good people and employees are hard to find - make the most out of them
• Be 1% better than you were yesterday, and you will see success

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts found here:

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades here: https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Read about the latest in the field: https://elevmarketing.com/blog/

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Content Marketing, and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). With a niche focus on Contractor Marketing and working for the Trades, we've been able to make a significant impact on our home services clients. We are more than an agency, we're your marketing partner. Elevating you elevates us. Email us at experts@elevmarketing.com to talk!

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

In this reflective episode of Trades Secrets, Amanda and Devon review everything that 2025 taught us about marketing, research, agency life, and more. What worked? What didn’t work? And most importantly, why.

This is not just a look back. It’s a look forward - through the lens of curiosity, intentionality, and growth. The hosts also outline how they’re thinking about 2026: where to double down, what to release, and how to create work that aligns with your values.

Key Takeaways:

• AI is here to stay; however, the correct implementation and guardrails are the keys to success with AI in your business
• Brand Awareness is critical - make sure all of your branding is cohesive and easy for Google to understand what you do and where you do it
• Reviews are still king and will continue to be in 2026

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts found here:

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades here: https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Read about the latest in the field: https://elevmarketing.com/blog/

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Content Marketing, and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). With a niche focus on Contractor Marketing and working for the Trades, we've been able to make a significant impact on our home services clients. We are more than an agency, we're your marketing partner. Elevating you elevates us. Email us at experts@elevmarketing.com to talk!

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

In this mind-bending episode, Amanda and Devon dive headfirst into the weird and wild world of AI hallucinations. What does it really mean when artificial intelligence "hallucinates"? Why do these systems sometimes get facts completely wrong with absolute confidence? And what can you do to stop it?

Check out the Truth Protocol below to help your AI assistant stop hallucinating and start helping!

The Truth Protocol: (Give this to your favorite chatbot)

1. Frame the claim. Specify the question/claim, audience, geography, and timeframe.

2. Sources & freshness (3–5). Prefer primary/official or first-party data; record title • publisher • date; prefer recent sources and note any “last major update.”

3. Reconcile & rank evidence. Resolve conflicts: primary > secondary; newer > older; consensus > outlier. Note disagreements.

4. Objectivity guard. Remove bias. If interpretation/opinion is requested, label it and tie it to cited evidence.

5. Show your work. For numbers: show calculations/assumptions. For qualitative claims: summarize the reasoning chain.

6. Cite transparently. Inline-cite every non-obvious claim (source name + date). No fabricated or AI-generated citations.

7. Uncertainty & final gate. State confidence (High/Med/Low) + known gaps. If key facts can’t be verified, say “I cannot confirm this” and don’t assert. Before posting, ask: “Are all claims verifiable, current, bias-free, and cited?” If not, revise. Add “Last checked: YYYY-MM-DD.”

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts found here:

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades here: https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Content Marketing, and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). With a niche focus on Contractor Marketing and working for the Trades, we've been able to make a significant impact on our home services clients. Email us at experts@elevmarketing.com to talk!

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

Everyone feels like a fraud sometimes. But what if that feeling isn’t a weakness, but a sign that you are growing into something bigger? In this episode of Trades Secrets, Devon and Amanda dive deep into imposter syndrome and reveal how it can actually become one of your greatest tools in business and marketing.

Whether you’re a contractor building a business or a marketer trying to prove your value, this episode will help you rethink your self-doubt and turn it into fuel.

Episode Highlights:

• What is Imposter Syndrome?
• How to use Imposter Syndrome to your advantage

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts found here:

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades here: https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Read about the latest in the field: https://elevmarketing.com/blog/

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Content Marketing, and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). With a niche focus on Contractor Marketing and working for the Trades, we've been able to make a significant impact on our home services clients. We are more than an agency, we're your marketing partner. Elevating you elevates us. Email us at experts@elevmarketing.com to talk!

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.

In this episode of Trades Secrets, we are finally together in person for a special retreat edition of Trades Secrets. We share three simple and effective ways for contractors to attract more leads in 2026. Whether you are just getting started or running a large, established company, these lead generation strategies will help you bring in more business and grow consistently.

We break down how to get a steady stream of Google reviews, how to use Google Local Service Ads (GLSA) to drive quality leads, and why adding interactive tools like instant roof quotes or siding visualizers to your website can build trust and engagement.

We also explain how to nurture those new leads through smart follow-up strategies that keep your business top of mind when it is time for customers to make a decision.

Episode Highlights:

• Reviews Matter: Build credibility with consistent reviews, respond quickly, and get your whole team involved.
• Use Google Local Service Ads: These ads can outperform traditional Google Ads and deliver better results when managed correctly.
• Add Interactive Website Tools: Instant roof quotes, siding visualizers, and other engagement tools help customers take the first step toward contacting you.

Missed an episode? Catch up with our full playlist of Trades Secrets podcasts found here:

• https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-v2ElYWOqX8jZlaKuHz1krepsTZVY1As

Plus, explore MORE actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades here: https://tradessecretpodcast.com

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Read about the latest in the field: https://elevmarketing.com/blog/

Connect with us on social media:

• Facebook
• X
• Instagram (Elevation Digital Marketing)
• Instagram (Trades Secrets)
• LinkedIn

At Elevation Marketing™, we have a tight team of experts in SEO or Search Engine Optimization, Google Ads, Google Local Service Ads, Google Display, Social Media Ads, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Content Marketing, and Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO). With a niche focus on Contractor Marketing and working for the Trades, we've been able to make a significant impact on our home services clients. We are more than an agency, we're your marketing partner. Elevating you elevates us. Email us at experts@elevmarketing.com to talk!

Find out how we can help you grow your business: https://elevmarketing.com/

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors and who are looking for easy to implement marketing tips and strategies. This podcast is for you if you're looking for actionable marketing tactics that are not over your head, and apply to ALL trades. We'll keep you apprised of what's new, and what should be on your radar for all things digital marketing.