Multiply You Podcast

Zack Flanagan is the CEO and Co-owner of Hive Marketing, which provides digital marketing and lead generation services to pest control and wildlife removal companies. Zack has years of experience in digital media, communications, branded and social content, and marketing. In addition to his role at Hive Marketing, Zack is also a Marketing Manager at Summit Environmental Solutions, a pest and animal control and home insulation company in Virginia.

When it comes to marketing, many business owners are worried about the budget. However, cheap marketing won’t get you anywhere. The industry isn’t the same as it was 15 years ago — you can’t just throw up a landing page with a few keywords and hope it resonates. If you really want to gain marketing independence, you have to invest in your initiatives. Luckily, expert Zack Flanagan is here to show us the best ways to go about it. 

Like most business endeavors, you get out what you put into your marketing. To make sure that you’re getting the most out of your investment, Zack suggests starting out with three key steps. First, you have to get the basics squared away, like SEO and lead generation strategies. Next, you should set long-term goals around initiatives like branding, local trade shows, and direct advertising. And lastly, you can expand your service areas. As you generate more revenue, you’ll be able to market your business further and gain more clients.

Never want to use a marketing company again? Listen to this episode of the Multiply You Podcast with Austin Clark and guest Zack Flanagan, CEO and Co-owner of Hive Marketing. Zack talks about top marketing strategies to gain independence and common mistakes to avoid. He also goes in-depth about how much you should spend on marketing, content creation and social media tips, and why top-notch marketing is not a quick fix.

Eric Bassett is the Owner and Vice President of Natura Pest Control and host of the Bug Bux Podcast. He’s also ACE-certified and enjoys helping people grow both personally and professionally. Before joining Natura as the Director of Sales and Marketing, Eric worked in sales at Rentokil Steritech North America and Gemtek Pest Control.

With a 15-year career in the pest control industry and additional experience in call centers, training, and consulting, Eric Bassett knows a thing or two about what it takes to lead a team.

Eric says that as a trainer or leader, you must identify behaviors driving lag measures. You can’t simply tell someone to do better, be better, or book more sales — you have to evaluate the situation, understand the underlying behaviors, and help your employees in a way that’s productive for their unique needs. Another great tip for leaders? Let go in order to grow your business.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Eric Bassett, the Owner and Vice President of Natura Pest Control, to talk about his journey in pest control and consulting. Eric shares how he used his pest control and call center experience to help companies thrive, his tips for training employees and catering to individual needs, and why it’s key for business owners to let go.

Andre Davis is the President of Swan’s Pest Control, which he established in 2017. He has over 15 years of experience in pest control operations, strategic planning, business administration, innovation, and product development. Andre is passionate about thinking outside of the box, driving solutions, and extracting creative thinking from his team. He’s also dedicated to the highest standards of accuracy, efficiency, and accountability, which is one of the reasons why Swan’s Pest Control thrives. 

Whether you’re one year into starting your business or have been around for decades, one thing is certain: being a business owner is tough. How do you work through the challenges and help your company grow?

Andre Davis says that no matter what, you have to stay motivated and encouraged by setting goals for yourself every day. Some days you’ll achieve them, and some days you won’t, but the important thing is that you wake up ready to tackle them anyway. Moreover, it’s crucial that you have a support system of friends, family, and mentors to uplift you during difficult times.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark talks with Andre Davis, President of Swan’s Pest Control, about his strategies for running a business and being an exceptional leader. Andre shares the mistakes he made early on, how he gains customers through Craigslist ads and other marketing initiatives, and what keeps him motivated to overcome challenges.

Chase Goodeill is the CEO of Pest Control Consultants, a company serving Northern Illinois, Eastern Iowa, and Central Wisconsin. In this role, Chase develops talented teams, manages finances, and builds short and long-term growth strategies. 

Chase is also the Owner of Crown Exterminators and the President of Goodeill Holdings, which owns, manages, and purchases pest control companies in Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin. One of Chase’s goals is to be bigger today than he was yesterday and bigger tomorrow than he is today.

There’s no magic formula to sales. You’ll get a ton of yeses (and a ton of nos), but the key is persistence. At 16, Chase Goodeill learned this lesson from working in sales for his father. Since then, he’s started his own business and gained 2,500 customers just in the last year. How did he do it?

Chase developed an outstanding internal sales team. He ensures that sales reps ask the right questions, explain the value of the business, are incentivized to hit high numbers, and educate potential customers. On top of this, Chase’s sales representatives are trained to offer same-day services and convince the customer that year-round pest control is the right way to go. Tune in to hear other insights Chase has to offer!  

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark dives deep into the sales space with guest Chase Goodeill, CEO of Pest Control Consultants and President of Goodeill Holdings. Chase talks about how to create a strong sales team, Pest Control Consultants’ advertising and marketing initiatives, and the importance of following up with your clients. He also shares specific strategies for sales success and advice for young entrepreneurs in the service industry. 

Jeff Rea is the Owner of 1st Response Pest Control based out of California. He has been involved in the pest space for nearly two decades, working at Terminix and Clark Pest Control before founding his company. At 1st Response Pest Control, Jeff and his team are dedicated to serving client needs with care and customized treatment plans.  

When the pandemic hit, life turned upside down for everyone. Even businesses deemed essential, like those in the pest control industry, found it difficult to continue operating normally. With many establishments shut down and customers moving around the country, pest control owners and operators had to pivot, seek growth opportunities, and find new ways to deliver top-tier service. 

Despite supply chain issues, fewer customers, and changes in pandemic protocol, Jeff Rea found a way to keep his business afloat — and growing. He decided to make the most of the situation, using increased technological capabilities to interact with customers, ID pest issues, and tighten up the route. However, Jeff didn’t stop once the pandemic’s regulations let up. Pandemic or not, he continues to provide customized service and aims to always improve operations.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark is joined by Jeff Rea, the Owner of 1st Response Pest Control, to talk about working through difficult challenges. Jeff talks about his background and how he got into pest control, his strategies for pivoting during the pandemic, and what he’s looking forward to in the next few years.

Jordan Killpack is the Owner of Owyhee Environmental, which provides pest control solutions to residential and commercial properties in Southern Idaho. Jordan created the company as an alternative to oversized, expensive pest control corporations. Built on Idaho values, middle-class upbringings, and a strong work ethic, Owyhee is helping protect families and businesses from intrusive pests.

Just a few years ago, Jordan Killpack started his pest control company, Owyhee Environmental. Since then, the company was named “Best of Idaho and The Treasure Valley” in 2022 by Idaho’s Best Business Awards. On top of that, Owyhee has earned hundreds of five-star reviews for its outstanding service. How did Jordan and his team do it? 

The answer lies in teamwork and culture. In order to obtain top talent and achieve five-star service, you have to create a positive, uplifting work environment. You want your team to be excited to go out into the field and deliver the best service to customers. For Jordan, this is one of the most important aspects of growing the business. So he makes sure that all employees live by the company’s values, are motivated to work hard, and have fun on the job.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark interviews Jordan Killpack, the Owner of Owyhee Environmental, about how he created a successful business. Jordan shares how he went from CPA to pest control company owner, employee incentives for working hard and earning five-star reviews, and why company culture is crucial to your success.

Jason Baacke is the Founder and COO of Versa-Tech Pest Management, Inc. Jason is an experienced leader with a background in pest management services, sales, operations, and client relations. He has developed and implemented pest management programs for 11 large retail centers in Southern California and is all-in with every client he serves.

When it comes to business operations, Jason believes that a rising tide lifts all boats. He is dedicated to both staff and clients and is always in search of new ways to evolve and provide the best service possible.

Running a business is no easy task. You have to take risks, manage employees, ensure you’re making a profit, and deliver outstanding customer service. How do you balance it all?

As someone who’s steadily growing his company, Jason Baacke has some brilliant ideas to share. In his experience, balancing capacity with cash flow was a difficult challenge. However, he managed to find the sweet spot by getting the right people in place and building up loyal customers first. As the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race. Don’t try to take on a ton of customers at once. In time, your business and customer base will develop, and your company will flourish.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark chats with Jason Baacke, the Founder and COO of Versa-Tech Pest Management, Inc., about building up a business. Jason shares how he got his start in the industry, the challenges he faced early on, and how he worked through them. He also delves into his strategies for taking care of employees and servicing customers in the pest management space.

Joe Mishak is a Home Inspector at Aardvark Home Inspectors Inc. and a Pest Control Technician at Aardvark Pest Control Inc. The Aardvark teams pride themselves on rapid response times, innovative treatments, and friendly customer service. With over 23 years in the industry, Joe upholds these values and knows what it takes to deliver the best experience possible for customers.

On top of his roles at the Aardvark companies, Joe routinely teaches continuing education classes to real estate agents and inspectors. He’s also spoken at national home inspection conferences. Joe is a proud father of three and enjoys traveling and spending time at the lake.

No matter their industry, life has changed for everyone since the pandemic. However, people are returning to the workforce with newfound strength and fervor. Joe Mishak has high hopes for the future and shares his thoughts on generating value (even when times are challenging). 

Just because the world is settling into this new normal doesn’t mean your business will automatically grow. Joe says you should always take care of your customers and employees, talk with other industry leaders who have solved similar problems, and seek out innovative ways to provide more value. Take it from Joe, whose business, despite having fewer clients last year, managed to increase revenue!

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Joe Mishak, Home Inspector at Aardvark Home Inspectors Inc. and Pest Control Technician at Aardvark Pest Control Inc. Together, they talk about the importance of solving customer pain points, strategies for staying educated and innovative, and how pest control companies are adding value regardless of market challenges.

Zachary Ewert is the Owner and President of Ewert Pest Control, which offers eco-friendly pest solutions to the state of Wisconsin. Zachary opened the business in 2015, providing services in residential and commercial markets as well as wildlife trapping and relocation services. Not only does Ewert Pest Control value its clients, but it also values community. Through the Ewert Initiative, Zachary and his team give back and support surrounding communities.

The business down the road might seem like fierce competition, but you don’t have to treat them like your rival. As Zachary Ewert points out, there’s enough business to go around. So why not make friends with those in your community (even if they’re in your industry), lean on them for support, and foster win-win relationships?

When Zachary founded his company in 2015, he realized there was much to learn. Instead of pretending to know it all, Zachary found support in Facebook communities and mentors who have been in the industry for years. Even today, he continues to lean on peers in his mastermind group to reach his yearly goals and grow the business!

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark chats with Zachary Ewert, the Owner and President of Ewert Pest Control, about how he grows his business and stays educated in the industry. Zachary discusses the importance of reaching out and asking questions, how peer groups have helped him maintain a work-life balance, and why your “competition” might actually be a great place to seek support.

Tom Algeo is the Director of Sales in Pest Management, East at Target Specialty Products. The company delivers value-added solutions to pest management, turf and ornamental, and vector control professionals through innovation, products, supplies, application, education, and training. Tom has 30 years of experience in pest control and distribution, previously working for companies including Orkin and Control Solutions. 

Jim Hearity is the Northeast Regional Manager for Target Specialty Products. He’s been with the company for over 10 years but has been in the pest control space for more than two decades. Throughout Jim’s career, he’s been a field technician, inspector, supervisor, salesperson, and manager. Now, on the product distribution side, he enjoys helping pest management professionals solve problems and grow their businesses.

You can’t control the rising cost of gas, labor, or goods; however, you can control your business model and ensure that you’re making the most of what’s available to you. 

To gain profitability and combat inflation, it’s crucial that pest management professionals tighten up their routes, utilize technology, keep an eye on their wage percentages, and seek educational resources to grow. Additionally, the experts say it’s necessary to analyze data from previous years, take advantage of monthly product deals, and plan ahead to thrive in the coming year.

In this episode of the Multiply You Podcast, Austin Clark sits down with Tom Algeo and Jim Hearity, Director of Sales in Pest Management, East and Northeast Regional Manager at Target Specialty Products, respectively. Together, they discuss how they’re helping companies grow strategically, what pest control leaders can do to increase profitability and save money, and the importance of planning ahead.