In this episode of Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing, Amanda and Devon dive into the growing world of contractor coaching and one of the hardest questions for business owners to answer: how do you actually choose the right coaching program? With options ranging from affordable communities and self-guided programs to high-level masterminds costing thousands of dollars per month, finding the right fit comes down to much more than who has the best website or biggest name.

Amanda and Devon break down several contractor coaching programs they have researched, worked alongside, or heard about through their clients. They discuss who each program may be best suited for, the types of business problems they help solve, and the level of implementation and owner involvement required to actually get value from coaching. A major theme throughout the episode is that joining a program is only the beginning. Just like a gym membership, coaching only works if you are prepared to show up, do the homework, implement what you learn, and hold yourself accountable.

Key Takeaways:

The best contractor coach is not necessarily the biggest name. Start by identifying the problems you are trying to solve, the stage your company is in, and how much capacity you actually have to implement what you learn.

Coaching is not an easy button. Access to thousands of videos, SOPs, templates, and resources means very little if you and your team do not have time set aside to use them.

Accountability matters. Amanda and Devon share their own experience with business coaching and why having someone consistently checking on implementation can make a major difference.

Some programs serve contractors across multiple trades, while others are highly specialized for industries such as roofing, landscaping, junk removal, or construction.

Know what you are buying. Community, one-on-one coaching, group coaching, systems, implementation support, and high-level strategic planning can provide very different kinds of value.

The core principle: choose the coaching program that matches where your business is today and where you are trying to go, then be prepared to put in the work.

Contractor Coaching Programs Mentioned in This Episode:

Breakthrough Academy (BTA) — Contractor business coaching focused on systems, leadership, financials, operations, hiring, planning, and helping owners build businesses that can operate with less dependence on them.

https://www.btacademy.com/

LeanScaper — Founded by Mark Bradley and built specifically for landscaping businesses. Their Accelerator program combines coaching, systems, leadership development, and technology to help landscapers build more scalable businesses.

https://leanscaper.com/

Highspire — Co-founded by Paul Atherton, Barrett Johnston, Jordan Milne, and Dave Stephens. Highspire is designed for construction company owners looking to optimize their businesses, strengthen leadership and operations, and ultimately explore real estate development and investment opportunities.

https://www.highspire.com/

Bolt Accelerator — Junk removal business coaching led by Barry Hartman, co-founder and CEO of 505-Junk. The program focuses on marketing, sales, operations, finance, leadership, systems, and scaling a junk removal company.

https://www.boltaccelerator.com/

The Roofing Academy — Founded by Randy Brothers and designed specifically for roofing contractors. The program provides roofing-focused coaching, systems, training, leadership development, hiring, sales, production, operations, and resources for companies at different stages of growth.

https://www.theroofingacademy.com/

Contractor Coach PRO — Contractor business coaching with Jim Johnson and Nathan Tebedo, covering areas including leadership, culture, systems, hiring, sales, pricing, processes, technology, and business growth.

https://contractorcoachpro.com/

The Wealthy Contractor — Success Society — A coaching and peer environment discussed for more established home improvement and contracting companies looking beyond the fundamentals toward continued growth, profitability, wealth, and owner freedom.

https://thewealthycontractor.com/

4 Level Coach — Founded by Randy Stanbury, with progressive levels of coaching designed to meet contractors at different stages of their business journey.

https://4levelcoach.com/

The Contractor Fight — Founded by Tom Reber and mentioned as an honorable mention in the episode. The Contractor Fight focuses heavily on contractor profitability, leadership, business fundamentals, and the mindset required to build a business that serves the owner rather than consuming them.

https://thecontractorfight.com/

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 [email protected] to talk!

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

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 a major Google Business Profile change that has roofing contractors across the country asking why their call volume suddenly dropped. Amanda and Devon explain what changed in Google’s local three-pack, including the removal of the direct call button from roofing contractor results, and why that extra click could be making a much bigger difference than it seems. At the same time, Local Services Ads and paid search placements are still making it easy for homeowners to call, creating what feels like an even stronger shift toward pay-to-play visibility.

Amanda and Devon also walk through what contractors can actually control while Google continues changing the search experience. They cover the growing importance of consistent reviews, keeping your Google Business Profile active with fresh photos and posts, making sure your GBP services match your website, and avoiding generic AI-generated website content that adds no original value. The big takeaway is that contractors cannot control every Google update, but they can continue strengthening the signals that show Google and potential customers that they are active, credible, and worth choosing.

Key Takeaways:

Google removed the direct call button from the initial local three-pack for roofing contractor searches, adding another step before a homeowner can call the business.

Paid placements such as Local Services Ads still prominently feature call buttons, making it even more important for contractors to understand how Google is changing the local search experience.

Review velocity matters. A steady flow of new reviews can be more valuable than having a large review count that has gone stagnant.

Treat your Google Business Profile like a mini website. Add fresh photos, publish posts consistently, and keep your services aligned with what is listed on your website.

Real job-site content matters. Crew photos, branded shirts, wrapped trucks, and authentic project photos help show both Google and potential customers that your business is active and legitimate.

Do not rely on mass-produced AI website content. Add real expertise, project photos, local knowledge, quotes, opinions, and information that is genuinely unique to your company.

The core principle: focus on what you can control. Keep your GBP active, continue earning reviews, and make sure your website reflects the real expertise and personality of your business.

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 [email protected] to talk!

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

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors 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, Amanda and Devon unpack Google's latest review policy updates and explain why earning and managing Google reviews has started to feel like dealing with an "unhinged ex." From new AI detection patterns to stricter enforcement against review manipulation, contractors need to understand what's changed—and what they should (and shouldn't) be doing to protect one of their most valuable marketing assets.

The conversation breaks down Google's newest review quality signals, including review surges, review clustering, templated language, and repetitive patterns that Google's AI may interpret as inauthentic behavior. While these updates are designed to stop fake reviews and spam, they can also impact legitimate businesses if review requests aren't handled naturally. Amanda and Devon explain how contractors can continue building authentic customer feedback without accidentally triggering Google's filters.

You'll also learn why customer storytelling has become even more valuable than simple five-star ratings, why asking every customer for a review matters more than cherry-picking happy customers, and why authentic photos and user-generated content continue to strengthen your Google Business Profile. The episode also addresses one of the biggest myths circulating online—that mentioning employees by name automatically hurts your reviews—and explains what Google is actually looking for.

Amanda and Devon share real client examples of legitimate reviews disappearing during Google's automated review cleanups, discuss the importance of backing up your reviews regularly, and explain the potential consequences of violating Google's review policies—including removed reviews, disabled review functionality, and public trust warnings on your Business Profile.

The episode finishes with practical advice for building a sustainable review strategy that works with Google's evolving algorithms instead of against them. Rather than chasing shortcuts or gaming the system, contractors will learn how consistency, authenticity, and a steady review process create long-term visibility in Google Search, Google Maps, AI-powered search experiences, and the Local 3-Pack.

Key Takeaways

• Learn what Google's newest review policy update actually changed.
• Understand review surges, review clusters, and why Google monitors review patterns.
• Find out why authentic storytelling beats templated five-star reviews.
• Discover how employee names in reviews can help—or hurt—depending on the pattern.
• Learn why every customer should have the opportunity to leave a review.
• Build a review strategy that improves long-term local SEO and AI visibility.

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 (Search Engine Optimization), Google Ads, Google Local Services Ads (LSAs), Google Display Ads, Social Media Advertising, Search Engine Marketing (SEM), and digital marketing strategies designed specifically for contractors and home service businesses.

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is the podcast for contractors and home service professionals looking for practical, easy-to-understand marketing advice. Every episode breaks down today's digital marketing trends, Google updates, SEO strategies, paid advertising, and business growth tactics into actionable insights you can apply to grow your contracting business with confidence.

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 tackle one of the most confusing challenges contractors face when evaluating marketing agencies and services: understanding what they're actually buying. Are you investing in results, rankings, software, a marketing strategy, or simply a better sales pitch? Based on a real-world contractor scenario, Amanda and Devon break down the marketing jargon, guarantees, and promises that often make it difficult to compare agencies apples-to-apples. 

The discussion explores how contractors are constantly approached by agencies offering "Google Maps dominance," guaranteed rankings, proprietary systems, and other attractive-sounding solutions. But when you look under the hood, many of these offerings may be repackaged versions of services you are already receiving—or solutions that only address one small piece of a much larger marketing puzzle. 

Amanda and Devon explain why contractors should be cautious of the "easy button" mentality in marketing. Today's buyers move across multiple platforms, from AI-powered search results and Google Maps to reviews, websites, social media, and referrals before making a decision. A strategy focused on a single channel may improve visibility in one area while leaving significant gaps elsewhere. 

The episode also dives into how to evaluate agency contracts, what questions to ask before signing, and how to identify the difference between rankings, leads, appointments, revenue, and profit. They discuss the importance of understanding whether an agency is providing strategy, implementation, software, reporting, or a combination of all four. Listeners will also learn why guarantees should be examined carefully and why contractor participation—such as review generation, answering the phone, and local community involvement—often plays a major role in marketing success. 

One of the most valuable sections of the conversation focuses on the difference between Google Maps rankings, the Local 3-Pack, and organic search results. Amanda and Devon explain why these are not the same thing, how each operates differently, and why contractors should fully understand what an agency is promising before signing a long-term agreement. 

Ultimately, this episode emphasizes that successful contractor marketing rarely comes from a single tactic or channel. Instead, it comes from a clear strategy, honest communication, strong tracking, consistent execution, and a marketing partner that understands how all the pieces work together. 

Key Takeaways:

•  Rankings, leads, appointments, revenue, and profit are not the same thing—know what you're actually buying. 
•  Ask whether an agency is providing strategy, implementation, software, reporting, or a combination of services. 
•  Be cautious of one-channel marketing solutions that promise to solve every business problem. 
•  Understand the difference between Google Maps, the Local 3-Pack, and organic search results. 
•  Read guarantees carefully and understand what responsibilities fall on you as the contractor. 
•  Strong marketing partnerships focus on long-term strategy, not just short-term promises. 

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 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), and digital marketing strategies built specifically for contractors and home service businesses.

Trades Secrets: Contractor Marketing is for home services contractors 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 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 (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 [email protected] 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: 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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/ 

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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 [email protected] 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.