The Digital Tradie Podcast

In this episode of The Digital Tradie, I sit down with Scott Bywater from Copywriting That Sells, and trust me, this bloke knows his words! 🖋️

We get into the real magic of copywriting, and why it's not about putting words on a page but crafting salesmanship in print. From leaving "open loops" to keeping people hooked, Scott breaks down why tradies shouldn't overlook storytelling and sharp messaging.

Plus he shares some ripper email marketing tips, including a killer email trick that could land you new jobs in minutes!

If you're a tradie looking to lift your business game, or just curious how a few words can make a huge difference, this one's packed with practical tips.

🔧 Key Topics:
👉 The art of copywriting, it's more than just words
👉 Why every tradie should be emailing their clients regularly
👉 The power of storytelling and how it can boost your brand
👉 A simple email trick that could get you instant work!

🤩 Featured Guest
🧑 Scott Bywater
✏️ Copywriting That Sells
🚀 Free resource: 101 Headline Hacks

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode of The Digital Tradie, I sit down with Drew Mountney from Melfire, who's been in the fire game for over 21 years! 🔥

We talk the highs, the lows and everything in between, from starting out as a young bloke in Tassie to running his own fire maintenance business. Drew's got some cracking stories about the world of fire safety, and he tells it like it is. We get into how he's kept his business cruising while dodging the usual headaches, and why he reckons education is the key to staying ahead.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to build a trade business that lasts, Drew spills on how to keep things simple, profitable and drama-free. Plus a yarn about sprinklers, regs, and all the stuff you probably never knew about fire safety!

🔧 Key Topics:
👉 Drew's journey from locksmithing to fire safety legend
👉 How he's kept it simple for max profit and minimum stress
👉 Fire safety 101, the truth about sprinklers and regs
👉 Top tips for staying in business for the long haul

🤩 Featured Guests
👷 Drew Mountney (a ghost online 👻)
🔥 Melfire, melfire.com.au

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode of The Digital Tradie, I have the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Jim Penman, the legendary founder of Jim's Group 🌳

Known for turning a small lawn mowing business into one of Australia's largest franchise networks, Jim's story is anything but conventional. We get into his journey from academic life to building a billion-dollar enterprise, driven by an obsession with customer service and innovation.

Jim opens up about how his radical ideas in academia led him into franchising, and how his business grew beyond his wildest expectations. We also chat about his passion for research, epigenetics, and his ongoing quest to understand human character and society.

Whether you're a tradie looking to grow or just curious about what makes Jim tick, this is a deep dive into the mind of one of Australia's most successful entrepreneurs.

🔧 Key Topics:
👉 Jim's unexpected shift from academia to business
👉 The growth of Jim's Group from lawn mowing to over 5,400 franchises
👉 Jim's groundbreaking computer system and its impact on customer service
👉 Epigenetics, society, and Jim's mission to reverse societal decline

🤩 Featured Guests
🧔‍♂️ Jim Penman
🌳 Jim's Group

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode of The Digital Tradie, I sit down with two absolute legends, Tamarah Vos and Dan Allen from TradeMutt, to chat about their wild journey from the job site to building a social enterprise that's shaking up the tradie world.

Tamarah shares her story of stepping into the trades and building a social media presence, while Dan opens up about the personal tragedy that inspired him to start TradeMutt and spark a mental health movement.

We get into how TradeMutt's eye-catching workwear is doing more than turning heads, it's starting conversations about mental health on job sites all over Australia. Whether you're a tradie keen to make a difference or just love a good yarn, this one's full of heart, hustle and plenty of laughs.

🔧 Key Topics:
👉 Tamarah's journey from sparky to social media advocate
👉 Dan's powerful story of turning tragedy into a mental health movement
👉 How TradeMutt's colourful workwear breaks the stigma
👉 The power of social enterprise and giving back to the tradie community

🤩 Featured Guests
Tamarah Vos, @sparkyvos
Dan Allen, LinkedIn
🐶 TradeMutt

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode of The Digital Tradie, I chat with the legend himself, John Dwyer from the Institute of WOW, about how to make your trade business stand out like a stubby in a sea of schooners. John's got some wild stories, from working with Michael Jordan and Jerry Seinfeld to helping tradies turn customers into raving fans.

We get into the magic of the "wow factor" and how a simple Happy Meal toy approach can leave your competition scratching their heads. John also spills on some epic marketing moves, like doubling a business with a cheeky holiday giveaway. Whether you're a sparky, chippy, or just love a good yarn, this one's loaded with gold.

🔧 Key Topics:
👉 Why every tradie needs a "wow factor"
👉 The sneaky power of giveaways to boost your business
👉 Hilarious and inspiring stories from the marketing trenches
👉 How to get Jerry Seinfeld to give your business a thumbs up

🤩 Featured Guest
John Dwyer
The Institute of WOW, theinstituteofwow.com
Fun Escapes, funescapes.com.au
WOW Manifesto, wowmanifesto.com.au/free

📽️ Watch on YouTube
youtu.be/7zYVif4KQa4

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode of The Digital Tradie, I sit down with Matt Shovelton from MWS Inspections to dive into the world of electrical inspections.

Matt shares his journey from sparky to inspector, the challenges of the job, and some hilarious on-site stories. We also chat about why marketing matters for tradies, why keeping in touch with existing clients is key, and how we get the next generation onto the tools.

Whether you're in the trade or just curious, this one's packed with insights and a few laughs. Don't miss it!

🔧 Key Topics:
👉 The reality of being an electrical inspector
👉 Marketing tips for tradies
👉 The importance of maintaining client relationships
👉 Encouraging young people into the trades

🤩 Featured Guests
Matthew Shovelton
MWS Inspections, mwsinspections.com.au
LinkedIn, Matthew Shovelton

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode of The Digital Tradie, I chat with Warren Bradford, the innovative owner of Deacam Electrical and the mastermind behind Fermecraft, an automation system shaking up the craft beverage industry.

Warren shares his journey from a mental breakdown after a business failure to building successful ventures in both electrical and craft brewing. We get into how his passion and resilience led to an internationally recognised automation system, plus honest advice on overcoming business challenges and looking after your mental health.

If you're a tradie or business owner after some inspiration and practical advice for the tough times, this one's a must-listen.

🤩 Featured Guests
Warren Bradford
Deacam, deacam.com.au
Fermecraft, fermecraft.com

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode of The Digital Tradie I chat with Joel Kleber, Chief Marketing Officer for Jim's Group.

Discover how Joel's social media strategies have doubled the number of franchisees in just five years. Hear the founder story behind Jim's Group and grab marketing insights tailored for trade businesses. If you're looking to grow your online presence and your trade business, this one's a must-listen.

🤩 Featured Guests
Joel Kleber

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode I break down the difference between hard and soft selling, with five real-world examples of when you might want to use a hard sell in your trade business. Whether it's a trade show, a busy period, an upsell, a new service, or limited stock, I've got you covered.

I also share a few personal stories, including recent family adventures in Thailand and Ballarat, that had me rethinking my own business. Plus a look at how I run my digital marketing and automation agency and the software behind it, Trade Magnet.

If you're looking to boost your sales and know when to go all in, this one's for you.

🧰 Tech Tool of the Week
Damn it! I forgot, sorry legend 😕

🤩 Featured Guests
Just me this week

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻

In this episode I chat with Pat Southwell, a solar industry legend and former inspector at True Value Solar during its meteoric rise and dramatic fall. We dive into the wild world of solar sales, from government rebates to the craziest defects Pat has seen. He shares insider tips on choosing the right solar installer and the truth about industry standards. Don't miss this one, plenty of insights and a few good laughs!

🧰 Tech Tool of the Week
Sun Seeker, Tracker & Compass App

🤩 Featured Guests
Pat Southwell, Southwell Solar Inspections

================================

💰 SPONSOR
Brought to you by Trade Magnet, the CRM that gives a S#!T about tradies. Check it out at trademagnet.com.au

🗞️ NEWSLETTER
Trade news, marketing tips and exclusive offers, straight to your inbox 👇
Sign up to The Digital Tradie newsletter

🎙️ MORE EPISODES
Catch every episode at trademagnet.com.au/resources/podcast

📍 ABOUT THE SHOW
The Digital Tradie is the podcast for tradespeople who want to harness digital marketing and automation. We dig into SEO, paid ads, storytelling and plenty more, with practical tips, honest chats with industry legends, and real stories to help you win more work and grow your business online.

📺 WATCH ON YOUTUBE
⚡ Electrician Reacts: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_electricianreacts
🔩 Component Breakdowns: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_componentbreakdown
🛠️ What I Do At Work: bit.ly/thinklist_playlists_workit

🤳 FOLLOW ME
⚪ TikTok: @davidlist.me
🟠 Instagram: @davidlist.me
🔵 LinkedIn: David List
🟣 Facebook: davidlist.me
🟡 X: @davidlist_me

🔗 Some links may be affiliate links. Click one and I might earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support the show. Cheers 🍻