In this episode of 'Marketing Without Rules,' host Lewis Vandervalk is joined by Adam Hummel of Grade A Haul-Away. Adam shares how he successfully grew his junk removal business using organic social media engagement and creative community involvement.

The discussion delves into Adam's unique marketing strategies, including frequently posting humorous content, leveraging local Facebook groups, and hosting charitable yard sales. He emphasizes the importance of being authentic and proactively reaching out to potential customers. Adam also recounts his journey from door-to-door sales for Comcast to becoming a well-known personality in his community.

Throughout the episode, Adam provides practical tips for new business owners on how to build a strong local presence without a hefty advertising budget.

00:00 Introduction to Marketing Without Rules

00:21 Meet Adam Hummel: Organic Growth Expert

01:28 Adam's Journey: From Florida to Pennsylvania

02:56 Founding Grade A Holloway

03:44 The Hunter Mindset in Social Media

05:54 Creative Community Engagement

10:15 Leveraging Facebook Groups for Business

23:15 Building Local Connections

26:47 Unveiling the Truth: Cleaning House Deception

27:27 Community Support: GoFundMe and Local Help

28:26 The Realtor Connection: Building Valuable Relationships

32:15 Yard Sales for Charity: A Win-Win Approach

36:28 Unexpected Finds: Treasures in Junk Removal

39:49 Marketing Strategies: Leveraging Social Media

44:24 Lessons Learned: Reflecting on Business Growth

50:44 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Visit BlueCrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

In this episode of 'Marketing Without Rules,' host Lewis Vandervalk sits down with Taylor Chastain, founder of Up, Up and Away Hauling, to explore the journey of building a successful junk removal business.

From the amusing origin story involving a toilet to achieving nearly one million dollars in revenue, Taylor shares the invaluable lessons learned along the way. Key discussions include the significance of building a strong team and brand, the importance of community engagement, and strategies for securing and maintaining commercial relationships.

Taylor also emphasizes the power of organic growth through networking and smart marketing tactics, all while maintaining a company culture that values empowerment and teamwork. Join us for this insightful conversation filled with practical tips and inspiring stories.

00:00 Introduction to Marketing Without Rules

01:13 Taylor Chastain's Journey Begins with a Toilet

02:32 Building a Strong Team

06:25 Leadership and Delegation

13:57 Community Engagement and Branding

23:23 Introduction to Commercial Accounts

23:42 Insights from Barry Hartman

24:26 Differentiating in a Saturated Market

26:01 Bidding Against Competitors

31:37 Networking and Finding Clients

34:17 Building Long-Term Relationships

Visit BlueCrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

In this episode of the 'Marketing Without Rules' podcast, host Lewis Vandervalk and guest Blake Snodgrass delve into the nuances of effective marketing strategies for businesses. They emphasize the importance of thinking outside the box and taking control of your lead generation rather than relying solely on lead providers.

Blake, a seasoned agency consultant with over a decade of experience in digital marketing, shares his journey from ministry to entrepreneurship and highlights best practices for choosing a reliable marketing agency, as well as common pitfalls to avoid. They discuss the long-term benefits of SEO versus the immediate results of PPC, using an ROI calculator to illustrate cost efficiency over time.

Additionally, the conversation takes an insightful turn into the psychology of consumer behavior, storytelling in marketing, and the societal shift towards buying for status. Practical advice for home service companies on leveraging local SEO, Google Ads, and building a personal brand within the community is covered extensively. The episode concludes with a motivational call to action for businesses to create and share their stories, becoming the digital mayors of their towns.

00:00 Introduction to the Marketing Without Rules Podcast

01:29 Blake Snodgrass: From Ministry to Marketing

03:58 The Importance of Controlling Lead Flow

05:40 Effective Marketing Strategies for Home Service Companies

11:03 Choosing the Right Digital Marketing Agency

17:46 SEO vs. PPC: Long-Term vs. Short-Term Strategies

25:36 Hunters vs. Gatherers: The Quick Wins vs. Long-Term Investments

26:59 Screen Sharing and Business Concepts

27:33 The Wheel of Pain and Pleasure

28:21 Delayed Gratification in Business

30:37 Historical Perspective on Consumerism

38:15 The Power of Storytelling in Marketing

48:38 Building Community Connections

50:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Visit BlueCrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

In this episode of the 'Marketing Without Rules' podcast, host Louis welcomes guest Colin Dahan, a successful entrepreneur with over 15 million in sales across various home service industries.

Colin, who has been in business for eight years, shares his expertise in guerrilla marketing, emphasizing the importance of standing out and being proactive rather than relying on agencies alone.

The episode covers a wide range of marketing strategies, including leveraging personal contacts, Facebook messaging, strategic use of direct mail, and door-to-door canvassing.

Colin also delves into the importance of team involvement in marketing efforts and outlines a comprehensive approach to capturing leads and generating referrals.

The conversation touches upon the ethical considerations in the industry, actionable marketing tips, and the psychology behind customer interactions.

Colin’s unique approach and insights are aimed at helping entrepreneurs expand their business reach and maximize their marketing efforts effectively.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:10 Colin's Business Journey and Achievements

00:54 Core Message: No Rules to Marketing

02:14 Challenges and Misconceptions in Business

03:20 Importance of Revenue and Business Involvement

07:09 Effective Free Marketing Strategies

14:40 Paid Marketing and Agency Experiences

17:39 Guerrilla Marketing Tactics

29:34 Customer Assurance and Background Checks

30:17 The Importance of Trust in Sales

31:02 Engaging Customers and Building Confidence

32:37 The Power of Referrals and Community Involvement

34:39 Poker Game Networking

37:00 Quitting Alcohol and Personal Growth

47:54 SEO and Business Growth Strategies

50:07 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Visit bluecrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

In this episode of 'Marketing Without Rules,' hosts engage in an insightful discussion with Adam McChesney, a successful entrepreneur and expert in personal branding.

Adam shares his journey from medical device sales to building multiple businesses around effective branding strategies. Key points include the importance of personal branding for business growth, especially for digital marketing agencies and home service businesses.

Adam emphasizes the value of consistency, whether through social media posting, SEO, or Google Business Profile management.

He also shares practical steps for small business owners to build their brands and highlights how personal branding can offer resilience in times of change.

This episode is packed with actionable advice for any business owner looking to differentiate themselves in a crowded market.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:44 Adam's Background and Journey

01:56 Building a Personal Brand

05:14 Success Through Consistency

14:03 Personal Branding for Home Services

22:00 The 90-Day Rule

25:19 Managing the Business Ecosystem

25:47 The Autoglass Company Journey

27:34 Challenges and Lessons Learned

34:21 SEO Strategies for Local Businesses

40:11 The Power of Personal Branding

44:20 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Visit bluecrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

In this engaging episode of 'Marketing Without Rules,' host Lewis welcomes radio marketing expert Jim Klauck, also known as Check-a-Pro Joe, to the show.

They dive into the value and efficacy of direct response radio marketing, specifically for home service professionals. Jim shares his vast experience in the radio industry, explaining how it can generate immediate business leads and credibility for companies.

He emphasizes the importance of long-form radio ads, which serve as disguised infomercials, providing detailed insights and enticing offers to listeners.

The conversation covers the traditional and contemporary uses of radio marketing, the type of businesses that benefit the most, and the incredible potential for customer engagement.

Jim also discusses transposing this methodology to digital platforms, creating content-rich podcasts and videos that answer frequently asked customer questions, thus enhancing SEO, authority, and brand presence.

Listeners are encouraged to think outside the box, adopting innovative marketing strategies to stand out in their respective markets.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:31 Jim's Background in Radio

01:19 The Value of Radio for Home Services

02:11 Lewis' Experience with Radio Marketing

03:47 Understanding Direct Response Radio

04:51 The Mechanics of Direct Response Radio

10:04 Target Audience and Market Strategy

16:27 Case Studies and Success Stories

19:48 Getting Started with Direct Response Radio

21:24 Tommy's Billion Dollar Garage Door Company

22:27 The Enduring Power of Radio

23:35 Government and Radio Regulations

24:10 Radio's Loyal Audience

30:25 Digital Marketing Strategies

32:15 Podcasting for Home Service Professionals

35:27 SEO and Social Media Integration

38:36 The Power of Direct Response Radio

41:00 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Visit BlueCrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

In this episode of the Marketing Without Rules podcast, Lewis is joined by Matt Thibeau of Savant Marketing Agency (https://www.savantmarketingagency.com/) to discuss the effectiveness of ads, with a particular focus on Facebook ads.

The conversation delves into key factors that contribute to successful ad campaigns, including the importance of having the right budget, diversity in ad creatives, clear messaging, proper targeting, and effective call to actions.

Matt emphasizes the necessity of quick follow-ups with leads and shares insights into pipeline management and lead nurturing. He also offers strategies for addressing common problems like bad-quality leads and the impact of rising ad costs.

This episode is packed with actionable tips for both DIY advertisers and those considering hiring an agency.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:47 The Reality of Running an Agency

01:23 Do Ads Work for Businesses?

01:47 Why Focus on Facebook Ads?

06:20 Effective Facebook Ad Strategies

08:47 Common Mistakes in Facebook Ads

17:18 Targeting and Call to Action

26:00 Lead Form Follow-Up

26:07 Google Ads Horror Stories

26:20 Click Fraud and Protection

28:49 Display Ads Mismanagement

30:22 Lead Form Issues and Solutions

34:02 Speed to Lead Importance

38:53 Pipeline Management Strategies

39:22 Reactivation Campaigns

43:04 Effective CRM Usage

46:50 Genuine Connection in Ads

50:49 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode of Marketing Without Rules, Lewis Vandervalk of Blue Crocus Solutions welcomes back PJ for part two of their conversation about unconventional marketing strategies.

Having built his junk removal business from sleeping in U-Haul trucks to becoming a central figure in his community, PJ shares how he's transformed traditional business relationships into powerful marketing opportunities.

PJ details his company's innovative approaches, from restaurant takeovers that reimagine Chamber of Commerce mixers to community-nominated giveaways that build lasting relationships. He reveals how these strategies helped reduce his dependence on Google advertising from 95% to less than 50% of leads - all while maintaining the same Google performance. Through compelling examples, including a current initiative to give away a refurbished car to someone in need, PJ demonstrates how businesses can create meaningful community impact while gaining authentic publicity.

The conversation explores practical steps for implementing community-focused marketing, detailed explanations of press release strategies, and insights into managing a consistent social media presence. Despite requiring significant time investment (20+ hours weekly), PJ backs each approach with real-world results, showing how authentic community engagement can transform both a business's growth trajectory and its market position.