Contractor Growth Network

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Aaron Horner breaks down why most contractors get “About Us” pages and testimonials totally wrong. Aaron explains the difference between real storytelling and a random list of facts, how to make your client the hero of the narrative, and how strategic storytelling can attract high-end clients, justify premium pricing, and set you apart from every “average contractor” in your market.

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser sits down with Peter Rainey, co-founder and managing partner of Ranney Blair Weidman, to unpack their unique and refined pre-construction process. Peter walks through how his team shifted from traditional estimates and disjointed design experiences to a highly structured, 100-page client journey that establishes trust, transparency, and efficiency. By controlling the design narrative, focusing on true client advocacy, and emphasizing clear expectations, Ranney Blair Weidman now delivers high-end remodels with alignment and clarity from start to finish. Key Takeaways: The Shift from Outsourced Design to Full Ownership Early in their journey, Peter’s team relied on external designers, often leading to miscommunication, delays, and poor client outcomes. The transition to a fully integrated design-build approach allowed them to control timelines, eliminate misalignment, and focus on client experience. Start the Sales Process in the Living Room, Not the Kitchen Instead of jumping straight into measurements, Peter initiates consultations in the living room to foster creativity and uncover the client's real problems. This sets the tone for trust, collaboration, and bigger-picture thinking beyond surface-level design requests. The Power of the Project Summary Letter After the in-home consultation, Peter presents a formal, typed letter on letterhead recapping client frustrations and goals. This old-school touch confirms the client feels heard, sets expectations, and serves as the north star for all design decisions moving forward. 100-Page Process Document Builds Trust Through Transparency At the showroom, clients are walked through a highly visual and interactive document showing past projects, pricing structure, punchlists, and processes. This immersive experience shifts the conversation from price anxiety to partnership and problem-solving. Design to Solve, Not to Budget Ranney Blair Weidman focuses first on solving problems through creative design, not fitting within arbitrary budgets. Pricing is presented by area with modular options, giving clients control over scope while preserving the integrity of the design. Memorable Quotes: “We’re not designing to a budget. We’re designing to solve your problem.” “If they don’t want to follow our approach, we are not the right fit for them.” “Quit trying to save the client money. That’s not our job. Our job is to present options.” Actionable Advice: Control the Narrative Avoid being just another bidder. Guide clients through a structured process that builds trust and reinforces your authority as the expert. Start with a Conversation, Not a Tape Measure Begin in a neutral space like the living room to hear their story before inspecting the space. This approach unlocks deeper insights and establishes rapport early. Document What You Hear Use a project summary letter to confirm and reflect back what clients said during your visit. This builds confidence and becomes the foundation of your design strategy. Provide Options, Not Ultimatums Break pricing into modular packages or room-by-room breakdowns. Allow clients to see the value and make decisions collaboratively without feeling boxed in.

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Sean Holleran and SEO expert Patrick dive into how AI is reshaping search—and what that means for contractors relying on SEO. They break down the shift from traditional keyword ranking to AI-powered answer engines like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overview, and explain how to structure your content to still get found. Whether you’re wondering if Google is dead (it’s not) or how to optimize for tools like Perplexity and Bing, this episode will help you stay ahead of the curve. Key Takeaways AI Search Is Changing the Game Google and ChatGPT are rewriting how people search: * AI now scans for concise answers, not full-page rankings. * Questions and paragraph snippets matter more than ever. * It’s no longer just about clicks—being the answer is the goal. Concise Answers Beat Long-Form Hooks Content must lead with the answer: * Gone are the days of slow storytelling intros. * Start with the clear, factual response—then build context. * This helps tools like Google AI and ChatGPT surface your content. Google Isn’t Dead, It’s Adapting Despite the hype, traditional SEO still matters: * Google still dominates local and service-based searches. * Schema, page speed, links, and on-page SEO are still relevant. * Now it’s about blending classic SEO with AI-readiness. Search Everywhere Optimization It’s no longer about ranking on one platform: * Get reviews on Bing, Angi, Houzz, and Facebook—not just Google. * Claim and optimize your Bing Places listing. * YouTube videos (with transcripts) are also being surfaced in AI answers. AI Loves Structure and Fresh Data Make your content AI-scannable: * Use schema markup to define FAQs, videos, and pages. * Replace large paragraphs with bullet points or tables. * Update outdated blog posts for relevance and accuracy. Memorable Quotes “If you’re not found everywhere, you’re not really found at all.” “The best answer wins now—not the biggest website.” “Google isn’t dead. It’s just changing the rules—and fast.” Actionable Advice * Rewrite for Answers: Lead with a concise answer before diving into storytelling. * Use Schema Markup: Help AI interpret your FAQs, videos, and images. * Diversify Reviews: Get client reviews across Google, Bing, Angi, and Houzz. * Update Your Old Content: Refresh data, fix broken links, and add question-style headings. * Test It Yourself: Search on ChatGPT, Google AI, and Perplexity as if you're a client. Meta Description: SEO is changing fast. Learn how AI tools like ChatGPT and Google SGE are shifting search—and how to adapt your content to keep showing up and driving leads.

Are you paying for SEO but not seeing results? Patrick, CGN’s in-house SEO specialist, joins us to expose the truth behind SEO strategies that don’t work—and how to tell if your current SEO investment is really paying off. We break down how to measure SEO performance the right way, what bad SEO looks like, and the key tools every contractor should have access to. Key Takeaways: - The 3 (actually 4) pillars of SEO: Technical, Content, Off-Page, and Local SEO - What SEO ROI really means and how to calculate it - How to set SEO goals that align with business growth - Red flags that your SEO company is doing nothing - Why page 2 on Google might as well be invisible - The tools you must own: Google Analytics, Google Search Console, Google Business Profile - Why thin content and doorway pages waste your money - How to track keyword rankings and spot real improvement - The danger of relying on impressions and clicks alone Own your data. Know your rankings. And stop paying for SEO that doesn’t work.  Visit ContractorGrowthNetwork.com to get an audit or speak with an expert. 💻 Ready to grow your contracting business?  Visit https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com for expert resources and support! Connect With Us: 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contractorgrowthnetwork1/ 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/contractorgrowthnetwork/ ✨ View Recent Projects: https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com/featured-projects/ 🎙️ Listen to Our Podcast: https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com/podcast/

In this episode,Logan Shinholser interviews Dr. Anna Hunter, Director of Learning & Development at JobTread, to unpack how human behavior directly impacts digital adoption in construction companies. Anna explains why technology is only as effective as its implementation, how to create true team buy-in, and how contractors can avoid wasting thousands on unused tools. The conversation dives into key behavioral strategies like building software champions, structuring healthy incentives, and identifying root problems before investing in tech. With practical analogies and tactical steps, this episode bridges the gap between strategy and psychology in software rollout. Key Takeaways: Clarity Comes Before Software Before adopting software, companies need to clearly define their core operational problems. Jumping into tech without this clarity often leads to frustration and failure. The Champion Model Works Successful tech rollouts often rely on "champions" — team members who believe in the software and lead by example. Identifying the right personality types for this role (not just the loudest volunteer) is crucial. Start with the Team, Not the Tool The most effective companies get their teams involved in diagnosing problems and shaping processes before software ever enters the picture. Top-down mandates often backfire. Incentives Should Match the Culture Incentivizing new habits (like filling out daily logs) can work, but it must be tied to accountability. Small, visible rewards can spark pride and momentum, especially when tied to public progress tracking. Staged Rollout vs. All-In: Choose Wisely Rolling out software can happen gradually or all at once, but both approaches require preparation, peer support, and leadership alignment. Owner’s Role: Understand and Translate Leaders don't need to be tech experts, but they do need to understand the software well enough to explain its value to their team — and to calm fears about being replaced. Memorable Quotes: “Software is only as good as how much you use it.” “Jumping into tech without clarity just means you're scaling chaos.” “You're not rushing adoption—you’re building belief.” Actionable Advice: * Define the Real Problems First: Use tools like whiteboards or flowcharts to uncover root causes before selecting a solution. * Nominate the Right Champion: Identify someone who is both tech-comfortable and respected by the team—not just the loudest person in the room. * Use Live Incentives: Create transparent incentive systems that track progress publicly and build pride over time. * Start Small or Go All-In — But Plan Either Way: Whether you're doing a phased rollout or flipping the switch company-wide, preparation is key to success. Learn more about JobTread : https://www.jobtread.com/