SwarmCast Ep. 33: Stop Murder-Hoboing Bees with Taylor Thoenes from Aculeo

SwarmCast Ep. 33: Stop Murder-Hoboing Bees with Taylor Thoenes from Aculeo

Are you still murder-hoboing bees? 🐝 Today on SwarmCast, Wyatt Chambers sits down with Taylor Thoenes, CEO of Aculeo, to discuss why the usual spray and pray method is killing your profit margins as much as the pollinators. Taylor speaks on the science of behavior-based technology, moving from hammers to scalpels to solve the industry’s most panicked calls. We delve into the Buzz Box and Scout Stop systems that helped a major national coffee chain eliminate bee issues at the drive-thru and how you can use that same tech to land massive commercial contracts. We're breaking down: The Octopamine System: Using a bee’s own biology to turn the volume up to 11 and push them away from pools and patios. The Recurring Revenue Model: How to turn a one time $1,500 removal into a long term Bee Insurance subscription. The History of the 'Killer Bee': Taylor’s family legacy, from the USDA to PhD-level entomology. Commercial Dominance: How to walk into a gas station or restaurant and become their exclusive bee expert. Stop competing on price and start leading with innovation. 🔗 Connect with Taylor & Aculeo: * Main Site: https://aculeo.co/ [https://aculeo.co/] * Partner with Aculeo (Reseller): https://aculeo.co/reseller [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://aculeo.co/reseller] * Taylor Thoenes (LinkedIn): https://linkedin.com/in/taylor-thoenes-483504117/ [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://linkedin.com/in/taylor-thoenes-483504117/] * Aculeo Technologies (LinkedIn): https://linkedin.com/company/aculeo-technologies-llc [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://linkedin.com/company/aculeo-technologies-llc] * Aculeo Technologies (Facebook): https://facebook.com/people/Aculeo-Technologies-LLC/ [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://facebook.com/people/Aculeo-Technologies-LLC/] 💡 Connect with Wyatt Chambers: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyattchambers/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyattchambers/] * Learn more about SWARM: https://www.swarmpestcontrolmarketing.com/ [https://www.swarmpestcontrolmarketing.com/]

SwarmCast Ep. 32: Pest Control Call Analytics

In this episode of The SwarmCast, we sit down with Raymond Kidwell from Voice for Pest to break down one of the most overlooked revenue killers in pest control and home services: missed phone calls. If your phone rings and no one answers, you are not just missing a call. You are losing leads, customers, and thousands of dollars in recurring revenue. We cover why 30–40% of pest control leads never make it into the CRM, how poor call handling destroys marketing ROI, and why voice communication is still the backbone of pest, turf, and home service businesses. Raymond shares deep insights into the X-ray AI platform, AI-powered phone systems, and how modern companies are using AI agents to schedule services, take payments, and follow up on unsold leads automatically. We also dive into why 75% of AI voice tools fail, how to avoid frustrating customers with dead-end bots, and how to properly integrate AI with CRMs like PestPac and FieldRoutes. In this episode, we discuss: • Why missed calls cost pest control companies thousands in lost revenue • How AI call handling works in real-world pest and turf businesses • The difference between isolated bots and fully integrated AI • Call tracking, attribution, and identifying true marketing ROI • CRM-integrated voice, SMS, and AI scheduling • How to reduce call center overload without replacing human employees • Why large phone providers often fail small and mid-sized operators Whether you are a one-truck startup or a multi-location enterprise, this conversation will change how you think about your phone system and customer experience. Subscribe to The SwarmCast for weekly conversations on pest control growth, marketing, AI, and operations. 🔗 Connect with Raymond Kidwell: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raymond-kidwell-51a5b1a 🌐 https://www.voiceforpest.com/ 💡 Connect with Wyatt Chambers: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wyattchambers 🌐 swarmpestcontrolmarketing.com

SwarmCast Ep:31: Storytelling Scales Your Brand

How do you turn short “day-in-the-life” clips into real business momentum? In the final SwarmCast episode of the year, Wyatt Chambers sits down with Alex Brooks, founder of Local Service Legends, to discuss the shift from traditional "sell-sell-sell" advertising to documentary-style storytelling. Alex shares how he’s helping trade professionals move from "unsung heroes" to household names by pulling back the curtain on the essential work they do every day. 👤 About Our Guest: Alex Brooks is a marketing and automation veteran who has helped generate over $80M in revenue for clients across various industries. Today, he uses that high-level expertise to elevate the trades, helping pest control owners and contractors build trust through authentic media and smart distribution. 🎙️ In this episode, we cover: ✅ The Trust Factor: Why a "skeptical" new generation of homeowners demands raw, behind-the-scenes content over polished ads. ✅ "Microdoses" of Content: How 15–30 second shorts drive massive interest for your long-form brand story. ✅ The About Page Goldmine: Why your website’s "About" page is your second-most visited asset—and how to fix your "weak" owner bio with video. ✅ Your Competitive Edge: Why your personal story is the only thing a competitor (or AI) can’t copy. ✅ Community Distribution: Leveraging Chambers of Commerce and local associations to become the designated "Legend" in your area. ✅ The 2026 Outlook: What’s next for the trades and how to stay ahead of the curve as costs-per-click continue to rise.  🔗 Connect with Alex Brooks:  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alex-brooks-ds 🌐 Local Service Legends: localservicelegendz.com 💡 Connect with Wyatt Chambers: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/wyattchambers 🌐 swarmpestcontrolmarketing.com 👉 If you got value from this episode, Subscribe for more pest control marketing strategies, growth tips, and real-world trade stories.

SwarmCast Ep:30: AI: Make Money, Save Time

Pest control business owners — stop feeling overwhelmed by AI! In this episode of The Swarm Cast, Wyatt Chambers sits down with Jonathan Mast, an AI Coach, Mentor, and International Speaker, to give you a practical roadmap for integrating AI into your business today.AI is changing faster than ever (literally every three days!), and this episode will show you how to focus on the right tools to save time, make more money, and leap ahead of your competition.🔥 Key Takeaways:Overcome Overwhelm: How to master one AI tool (like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Co-Pilot) instead of chasing every “shiny object.”Massive Time Savings: Let AI handle repetitive, low-value tasks so you can focus on growth.Emotional Email Writing: Craft professional, sensitive client messages with AI support.Smart Data Analysis: Use AI to analyze reports and employee time cards.Legal & Contracts: See how AI can draft agreements and save you thousands (with attorney oversight).Next-Level Productivity: Learn about agentic AI and tools like the Limitless pendant that help you stay accountable.Custom GPTs for Efficiency: Automate research, analysis, and communication to save hours every week.Connect with Jonathan at WhiteBeardStrategies.com for more AI business resources.🔗 Connect with Jonathan Mast for more AI business resources:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanjmast/🌐 WhiteBeardStrategies.com💡 Connect with Wyatt Chambers:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyattchambers/🌐 https://www.swarmpestcontrolmarketing.com/#PestControlMarketing #PestControlBusiness #PestControlOwner #AIBusiness #AIForePestControl #JonathanMast #SwarmCast #BusinessAutomation #SmallBusinessAI #ChatGPTForBusiness #TimeManagementTips #GrowYourBusiness

SwarmCast Ep 29: Contrarian Pest Control Sales with Steve Heroux

In this episode of SwarmCast, we sit down with Steve Heroux — sales trainer, author of The Sales Contrarian, and creator of the Contrarian Selling course. Steve went from being unable to speak for 17 years to becoming the #1 Cutco sales rep in the nation, and now he's on a mission to end the abuse of salespeople everywhere. What You’ll Learn: •Why each bad sales hire costs your company $1.2M+ in lost revenue •The “Will to Sell” framework that predicts sales success with scary accuracy •How Sales DNA assessments eliminate costly hiring mistakes •The 2-letter objection-handling technique that closes deals instantly •Why motivating salespeople means you hired the wrong people •How one pest control company scaled from $150M to $400M using these principles Steve pulls no punches calling out the “grifters and felons” selling outdated tactics online — and shows why authenticity, empathy, and humility are the real keys to sales success in 2025. Perfect for pest control owners, sales managers, and anyone tired of pushy, robotic salespeople that give the industry a bad name. 💡Connect with Steve Heroux: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveheroux1/ 🔗 Learn more about The Sales Collective: https://thesalescollective.com/ 💡 Connect with Wyatt Chambers:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyattchambers/ 🔗Learn more about SWARM: https://www.swarmpestcontrolmarketing.com #PestControlInnovation #PestIndustry #PestControl #SalesTraining #Hiring #BusinessGrowth #Swarmcast