Blue Collar CEO Podcast

Ryan Redding is the Host of the Blue Collar CEO Podcast and the founder and CEO of Levergy (formerly DP Marketing.Services). Ryan Redding specializes in marketing designed for home-service businesses. Ryan has helped a number of businesses, large and small, solve complicated challenges and exceed goals. He has developed a proven process that has helped dozens of HVAC and plumbing contractors 8x their revenue. Another cool fact, Ryan is also the author of The Book on Digital Marketing for Plumbing and HVAC Contractors❕ We hope that as the listener of this podcast- you learn something new, take on more information, create connections, and develop strategies to build a bigger, better, more kick-ass home service company. If you haven't yet, make sure you subscribe to Blue Collar CEO on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts❕❕⠀ 🔨💡🔧🎙 #bluecollarceo #homeservice #podcast #podcastersofinstagram #bluecollar #plumbing #hvac #bluecollarbusiness #business #host

NEW EPISODE❕❕ Your customers aren’t plumbers, so don’t treat them like one. They’re not likely to understand the technicalities of a job or the standard price of a garbage disposal; you have to bring it down to their level. However, this doesn’t mean you can insult their intelligence by overpricing an installation. Instead, explain the value of the job and work with their budgets to ensure they receive the service they need. Join us in this episode as we welcome John Ellis. Here’s what we talk about: 🔷 The difference between working for wages and working for profit 🔷 How to price your services correctly 🔷 Putting the customer first by listening to understand 🔷 The catch-22 of pricing in the home service industry For more on how to be responsible with your customers’ money, visit https://lnkd.in/gNTiWtQc to tune in. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ It’s no secret that home service professionals aren’t the best marketers, so it’s difficult for them to determine what’s converting their customers, let alone use traditional reporting tools like Google Analytics to figure it out. With SearchLight Digital, you don’t need to interpret vague software reports or dissect social media ad analytics to determine the source of your customers. The platform integrates into your CRM, chat features, and scheduling tools to develop a comprehensive and accessible report. In this week’s episode, we welcome Kevin LeSage. Here are some key insights: 🔷 How SearchLight Digital connects marketing channels to customer revenue 🔷 The importance of understanding your data 🔷 Reconciling gaps in data interpretations 🔷 What even is a conversion? 🔷 Kevin’s proudest moments in his journey marketing for the automotive and home service industries If you want to understand your marketing data once and for all, go to https://lnkd.in/gdtdkDWW to listen to the episode. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ Businesses often use low-cost incentives like employee-of-the-month parking spots or “#1 sales leader” hats to recognize their staff. But to retain your people long-term, you have to align financial incentives like equity and profit-sharing with personal and company growth. While it’s not always realistic to restructure your business to offer traditional equity, Reins offers custom phantom equity plans that give top employees a sizeable stake in the business. Customizable options ensure you can achieve your business goals while your key people plan their financial futures. In this episode, we hear from Chris Buttenham. Here’s what’s covered: 🔷 How Reins is changing the game for employee retention 🔷 Phantom equity and profit-sharing plans explained 🔷 Customizing incentive plans for employees 🔷 How to fund equity incentive plans If you’re interested in customizing incentive plans for your staff, visit https://lnkd.in/gBu_mdp3 to listen to the episode and learn more about Reins. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ Many business owners are afraid to empower their people to make decisions because they don’t want to bear the burden of the consequences. But you’ll never have leaders if you don’t empower your technicians to take action, so allow them to make calculated decisions based on company and customer interests. Even if their decisions cause your business to take a hit, your technicians will feel confident enough to take responsibility. In this week’s episode, Ryan chats with Darren Yarbrough. Here are the insights you’ll gain: 🔷 Why Darren founded a family business 🔷 How Darren grew the business in revenue and people 🔷 Darren’s empowering leadership and delegation strategies 🔷 The culture at Yarbrough & Sons 🔷 How Yarbrough & Sons gives back to disadvantaged youth For more leadership nuggets, visit https://lnkd.in/gu-56Uci to tune in. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ Most customers view AI voice assistants with disdain, screaming “representative” into the phone when the assistant can’t answer their questions. Charlie experienced high turnover after switching from human CSRs to AI when his home service clients feared their customers would churn. With rigorous training, AI assistants can follow custom scripts, integrate with your CRM, and even dispatch technicians based on the information the customers provide. In this episode, we hear from Charlie Felker. Here’s what you’ll learn: 🔷 How Charlie capitalized on a market need and founded Free2Grow 🔷 Why Free2Grow revolutionizes traditional CSR voice automation 🔷 Examples of Free2Grow in action 🔷 The doubts home service business owners have about AI voice assistants 🔷 How Free2Grow integrates with leading CRM software 🔷 Can AI display empathy to customers? For more on how Free2Grow is changing the game for AI voice assistants, go to https://lnkd.in/gqrkwxag to listen to the episode. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ When searching for a home service company, most people use basic search terms like “plumber near me.” These terms are expensive for companies to bid on — especially when investing in unbranded searches — since the competition is fierce. Branded searches incentivize customers to search specifically for your business, making it cheaper to acquire your ideal client. Aligning your mascot or slogan with exceptional customer experiences creates the brand your customers want to search for. In the latest episode, Ryan hosts Robert Keefer. Here are some key insights: 🔷 Why Robert recommends conveying your brand story to women homeowners 🔷 Robert’s background in graphic design and branding 🔷 The mental barriers to going all-in on branding 🔷 Branded versus unbranded search 🔷 What most companies get wrong with branding If you’re ready to uplevel your company’s brand, make sure to visit https://lnkd.in/gTcQjfqh to listen to the episode. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ Marketing and branding are the latest buzzwords in the home service industry, but what do they actually mean? Marketing involves connecting your customers' needs with a product or service, whereas branding is a storytelling mechanism that invokes a specific response. But these strategies aren’t one-time efforts; you can’t create a catchy slogan once and expect to capture your customers’ attention for life. You must provide consistently exceptional experiences to keep your clients invested in your brand. In today’s episode, we chat with branding wizard Ryan Chute. Here are his insights: 🔷 Decoding buzzwords, from advertising and marketing to branding 🔷 The difference between a truck wrap and a strong brand 🔷 Ryan’s AIDA formula for branding 🔷 Why Ruth’s Chris Steak House has the secret sauce for marketing and branding If your brand needs some peppering up, go to https://lnkd.in/dn6HcuQ2 to listen to the episode. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ If you ever feel discouraged about your company’s growth rate or are spinning in circles trying to turn a profit, always remember that industry giants like ServiceTitan have been in your shoes. If you want to climb to their level, you must seize every opportunity and network with prominent figures in the industry. If you’re serious about your goals, people will want to work with you, even if you’re little more than a few million. Building rapport and industry relationships has long-term benefits beyond reaching your revenue objectives. Join Ryan in the latest episode as he interviews Aaron Gaynor, an emerging industry giant. Here’s what they talk about: 🔷 The early days of Aaron’s career in the trades — and how he lost everything 🔷 Scaling from three to five to $10 million 🔷 Aaron’s biggest milestones and setbacks to date 🔷 How hiring for culture fit backfired on Aaron 🔷 Will Aaron reach his $100 million revenue goal next year? For more growth insights from someone who’s been through it all, head to https://lnkd.in/dNAhJMzF to listen. 🔨💡🔧🎙

NEW EPISODE❕❕ Most business owners invest so much time in their technicians that they don’t even notice their customer service reps are underperforming and getting sloppy seconds on the leftover bagels. If your CSRs don’t feel valued, they’re more likely to put every customer requesting a price range in the abandoned call list rather than nurturing the leads. Through specialized training programs, you can retain your CSRs and boost their performance levels. In today’s episode, Ryan talks with Brigham Dickinson. Here’s what you’ll learn: 🔷 The eight principles of outstanding customer service 🔷 How to turn abandoned calls into profitable leads 🔷 Investing in your CSRs for long-term retention 🔷 AI’s role in CSR training For more on why you should give your CSRs the same energy you give technicians, visit https://lnkd.in/g8CJvBJ8 🔨💡🔧🎙