A lot of contractors don’t spend much time thinking about how their personal branding may reflect on their business. But as Eric Thomas">Eric Thomas, President of Rival Digital">Rival Digital and Host of the Smart HVAC Marketing">Smart HVAC Marketing podcast, reminds us in this episode, people buy from people.

Everything you say or do in digital channels, especially social media, impacts your reputation for better or worse. And if you don’t take control of your narrative, then others will eventually define it for you.

Eric breaks down personal branding in the trades while reminding contractors who the real heroes of their stories are.

Join us as we discuss:

- (6:42) Multiplying your networking reach through podcasting

- (13:22) Why contractors need to stop trying to be the heroes

- (20:06) Mastering your digital footprint in personal channels

- (25:08) How Red Robin became a part of Eric’s online persona

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Facebook  

- Rival Digital">Rival Digital

- Smart HVAC Marketing">Smart HVAC Marketing

- ServiceTitan Referrals">ServiceTitan Referrals

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Mike Rudolf">Mike Rudolf, COO at Sila Services">Sila Services, and his colleagues knew they needed to form valuable partnerships if they were going to fulfill their vision for growth. So they teamed up with ServiceTitan and private equity to step up their expansion efforts.

Join us as we discuss:

- (6:17) Sila Services’ partnerships and rapid two-year growth

- (9:54) Identifying the need for the Center of Excellence

- (18:07) Maintaining the CoE and measuring practical benefits

- (25:07) A business-in-a-business structure for subject matter experts

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Mike Rudolf">Mike Rudolf

- Sila Services">Sila Services

- Pantheon 2023">Pantheon 2023

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Jason Rich">Jason Rich joined the family business as a wrench-turner like his father, but the GM of Paradise Plumbing & Air Conditioning">Paradise Plumbing & Air Conditioning in Broward County, Florida, steadily morphed into an operations guru.

After spending his early years wearing many different hats, Jason realized they needed to fuel their operational and marketing efforts if they wanted to kick their growth up a notch.

Jason shares how a private equity partnership and a renewed focus on technology and brand awareness are securing their family business for generations to come.   

Join us as we discuss:

- (8:59) Ensuring legacy through a private equity partnership

- (16:41) Boosting online presence and operational tech

- (21:07) Why the call center is the heartbeat of operations

- (25:18) Promoting short-form videos on social media

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Jason Rich">Jason Rich

- Paradise Plumbing & Air Conditioning">Paradise Plumbing & Air Conditioning

- Legacy Service Partners">Legacy Service Partners

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan?  Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Alyssa Rogers">Alyssa Rogers, Vice President at Rogers Heating & Cooling">Rogers Heating & Cooling, is the ultimate hype woman for her team.

Alyssa first dipped her toe into the trades by using her sales and marketing background to help her husband give their small-town family business a much-needed facelift. Now, she’s pushing people to “grow out of their seats” by giving leadership opportunities to anyone who wants to achieve bigger personal goals.

Alyssa tells us how they grew their South Boston, Virginia business tenfold through branding, mentorship, and speaking business objectives into existence.

Join us as we discuss:

- (5:52) Branding and finding leaders in a small town

- (14:40) Why personal goal-setting matters for your team

- (20:10) How networking opens up new opportunities

- (30:40) Podcasting as a local recruiting tool

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Alyssa Rogers">Alyssa Rogers

- Rogers Heating & Cooling">Rogers Heating & Cooling

- Rogers Radio podcast">Rogers Radio podcast

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How many hours do you spend monthly, or even weekly, on mundane tasks like creating SOPs or typing emails? ChatGPT and other AI tools are revolutionizing industries by taking the busy work off professionals’ plates, and the trades are no exception.

The technology has made believers of Brianna Skiffington">Brianna Skiffington, Chief Product Officer of Ad Leverage">Ad Leverage, and Amanda Triolo">Amanda Triolo, CEO of Grasshopper Heating & Cooling">Grasshopper Heating & Cooling. They’re using ChatGPT to take their time back so they can focus on productivity and profitability.

Brianna and Amanda talk about their marketing match made in heaven and how AI is impacting their respective fields for the better.

Join us as we discuss:

- (4:05) Leveraging marketing agencies to help grow your business

- (9:04) How ChatGPT is impacting the trades industry

- (16:52) Using AI and automation tools to streamline mundane work

- (27:04) Empowering female leadership in the trades

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Brianna Skiffington">Brianna Skiffington

- Ad Leverage">Ad Leverage

- Amanda Triolo">Amanda Triolo

- Grasshopper Heating & Cooling">Grasshopper Heating & Cooling

- Open.ai">Open.ai

- CXC.ai">CXC.ai

- Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead">Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

- https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals">https://www.servicetitan.com/referrals

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Angie Snow">Angie Snow, our Principle Industry Advisor here at ServiceTitan, is one of our industry’s top experts on CSRs and call center culture. Leaning on 15 years of experience at Western Heating & Air Conditioning">Western Heating & Air Conditioning in Orem, Utah, Angie has trained many companies on customer call etiquette and sales tactics. So, of course, she was the top choice to answer your burning questions on the subject in this episode of our Toolbox on Call series.

Tune in to hear answers to your burning questions about upselling memberships, customer reviews, booking rates, and more!

Join us as we discuss:

- (3:47) Justifying your value proposition in customer memberships

- (9:01) Why customer reviews are essential to continued growth

- (17:34) Qualifying customers by asking the right questions

- (28:18) Basing CSR incentives on your desired outcomes

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Call 818-600-7185 to have your questions answered on a future Toolbox on Call episode! 

- Western Heating & Air Conditioning">Western Heating & Air Conditioning

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The water treatment industry is booming in the home services market. Just like with HVAC or plumbing, the competition can be fierce. So how do Jonathan Brewster">Jonathan Brewster, VP of Business Development at Aqua Clear Water Systems">Aqua Clear Water Systems, and his family stay ahead of the pack?

Jonathan spills the secret sauce on his water treatment company’s dynamic marketing tactics and how they build client relationships for life.

Join us as we discuss:

- (4:08) Being part of a father-son tag team in the trades

- (8:45) Standing out with the Nightingale Principle

- (14:19) Breaking down a dynamic sales presentation

- (18:56) A golden opportunity for plumbing businesses

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Jonathan Brewster">Jonathan Brewster

- Aqua Clear Water Systems">Aqua Clear Water Systems

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When a client approached Stephanie Postell">Stephanie Postell with a job offer in HVAC marketing during her time as a personal trainer, she had no idea where this journey would take her. Today, about ten years later, she and her husband own and operate Anchor Heating and Air">Anchor Heating and Air in Charleston, South Carolina.

The road to get there wasn’t easy, but the former kindergarten teacher stuck to a principle that she’s paying forward to other prospective business owners — be stubborn.

Stephanie shares how she planned for Anchor’s success from day one by creating foundational procedures, pricing appropriately, and keeping a teaching mentality.

Join us as we discuss:

- (6:26) Pivoting a teaching background into technician training 

- (15:20) Pricing, appearance, and leaving a lasting impression

- (22:48) Why you need to plan for success from day one

- (28:29) Owning mistakes and empowering a teambuilding culture

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- Stephanie Postell">Stephanie Postell

- Anchor Heating and Air">Anchor Heating and Air

- Nexstar Network">Nexstar Network

- Torch Network">Torch Network

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When are lessons learned and reputations made? When we get hit with the tough stuff.

We celebrate our Season 8 kickoff with the return of Ellen Rohr">Ellen Rohr, President of Zoom Drain">Zoom Drain in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Since we last spoke with Ellen, Zoom Drain has expanded from 15 to 40 locations coast to coast. And they’ve done it by leaning into the problem and doing right by everyone.

Ellen spills the secret sauce on how the folks at Zoom Drain plan, execute, and measure results as they power their brand forward through 2023 and beyond.

Join us as we discuss:

- (13:21) Building strategic relationships through referral marketing

- (21:48) ServiceTitan’s upcoming Pantheon 2023 trades conference

- (32:02) Connecting back to your “why” during big changes

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- ServiceTitan Pantheon 2023">ServiceTitan Pantheon 2023

- Zoom Drain">Zoom Drain

- Ellen Rohr">Ellen Rohr

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!">Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

A few days later, he was crowned the ServiceTitan HVAC Championship winner.

Mack shares his experience in the competition and gives his boots-on-the-ground perspective on apprenticeships and employee retainment.

Join us as we discuss:

- (3:02) The ServiceTitan HVAC Championship 2022 experience

- (15:14) Hiring customer-focused technicians and training

- (19:19) Best and worst boss experiences

- (25:18) Technician salaries and good retention practices

Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:

- ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship 2022">ServiceTitan HVAC National Championship 2022

- HomeServe, USA">HomeServe, USA

- HVAC Technician Salaries in 2022 Comment end  ">HVAC Technician Salaries in 2022

You can find this interview and many more by subscribing to Toolbox of the Trades on Apple Podcasts">Apple Podcasts, on Spotify">Spotify, or here">here.

Know a business that could use a bit of muscle from ServiceTitan? Refer them here!

Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Toolbox of the Trades in your favorite podcast player.

Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.