Service Business Mastery for Skilled Trades: HVAC, Plumbing & Electrical Home Service

Scaling a home service business is not just about running more ads or getting more leads. It is about building a real company with the right marketing strategy, the right people, and a presence that customers trust.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett sits down with Jen McKee, founder of Kee Hart Marketing, to break down what it really takes to grow and scale in today's market.
Jen shares why video is now one of the most overlooked opportunities in home services, how Google is indexing videos across platforms, and why contractors must stop treating social media like an afterthought.
They also dive into what makes a business scalable long-term, including profitability, building an asset (not a job), and why the right rooms and relationships are often the fastest path to growth.
If you are serious about scaling your business, this episode will give you both the mindset and the marketing strategy you need.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• Why video is one of the biggest marketing advantages in home services right now
• How Google is indexing videos from Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube
• The simple checklist that helps your videos show up in search
• Why your social media bio must clearly say what you do and where you do it
• How to scale with profits, not just revenue
• Why every owner should be building a business asset, not just a job
• The real value of conferences, networking, and being vulnerable in the right rooms
• Why you should seek advice from contractors who have actually done the thing
• How to build your presence as a leader, brand, and business in your market
Timestamps
00:00 Google is indexing all your videos now
03:10 Who Jen McKee is and what Kee Hart Marketing does
04:03 The Growth Experience conference (profits, people, presence)
10:55 Why great conferences avoid sales pitches
15:53 Why contractors should learn marketing from contractors
24:05 The mindset of continuous growth and not settling
25:17 Build an asset, not a job
26:34 The real value of conferences is your network
30:36 Stop having imposter syndrome (everyone has value)
36:16 Should contractors use AI for content?
43:18 How to get your videos indexed by Google right now
48:22 The Growth Experience details and how to get tickets
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Jen McKee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-mckee-72114824/
Kee Hart Marketing: https://keehartmarketing.com/
Kee to Growth Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@KeetoGrowthPodcast 
Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte
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This episode is kindly powered by:
UpFrog: upfrog.com
MarketStorm: https://marketstorm.ai/
CallRail: https://www.callrail.com/
CompanyCam: https://companycam.com/

AI is transforming home services. It is changing dispatching, marketing, scheduling, follow-ups, and even customer communication.
But there is one thing AI still cannot do.
Build a real team.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, Tersh Blissett and Joshua Crouch sit down with Scott Stolze, from GrwX Labs, to break down the human side of leadership and communication. These are the skills that separate average service businesses from elite ones.
You'll learn why authenticity is becoming the new competitive advantage, why leaders must create psychological safety, why quiet technicians need "energetic permission" to speak up, and why asking better questions builds trust faster than any script or automation.
If you are using AI in your business, this conversation will help you use it the right way, without losing the human connection that actually builds culture.
What You Will Learn in This Episode
• Why communication is becoming more important as AI grows
• What AI still can't replicate in leadership and team culture
• How to get quiet techs and staff to speak up in meetings
• The leadership framework Scott calls "energetic permission"
• How better questions improve trust, learning, and likability
• Why people crave authenticity in a world of AI-generated content
• How prompting AI correctly makes you a better communicator (and delegator)
• What GrowX Labs does and how they help businesses solve bottlenecks

Timestamps
00:00 Communication that AI can't replace
03:33 Why authenticity matters more than ever
08:39 The "3 wins" of asking better questions
11:14 Better questions that build real connection
13:38 Why people stay silent in groups (and how to fix it)
16:26 How asking "stupid questions" accelerates learning
19:58 Energetic permission: the leadership skill that builds teams
25:38 AI is training you to be a better communicator
32:00 What GrowX Labs is and who it helps
37:03 How to connect with Scott
38:45 Final lesson: help people succeed through connection
Follow the Host and Guest
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Scott Stolze: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-stolze/ 
Connect with Us
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
Sponsors
This episode is kindly sponsored by:
UpFrog
MarketStorm
CallRail
CompanyCam
Learn how to automate tasks, save time, and increase your profit. No coding required!
👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!
👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
Subscribe now to stay updated with Service Business Mastery on YouTube!

Contractors who do not own their customer list will lose.
As AI, search, and digital platforms continue to change, relying on Google, ads, or third party platforms puts your business at risk.
In this episode of Service Business Mastery, we break down why owning your customer list is no longer optional for contractors and service business owners who want to survive and scale in the next decade.
Joshua Crouch and Tersh Blissett sit down with Peter Murphy Lewis, founder of Strategic Pete, to explain how contractors can protect their business by building direct relationships with their audience, increasing client loyalty, and using AI driven systems without giving control to platforms they do not own.
Search is changing. Ads are getting more expensive. Algorithms decide who wins and who disappears.
If you do not own your audience, you are renting your business.
This conversation explains exactly why owning your list matters more than ever and how contractors can start taking control now.
What you will learn in this episode
• Why contractors who rely only on ads and search are at risk
• How AI is accelerating changes in customer acquisition
• Why owning your customer list creates long term stability
• How client loyalty protects your business during market shifts
• The difference between renting attention and owning relationships
• How to use content and systems to stay in front of your audience
• Practical ways contractors can start building their list today
This episode is for contractors and service business owners who want predictable growth, lower marketing risk, and long term control over their business.
Timestamps
00:00 Why owning your customer list matters now
02:10 How AI is changing search and digital marketing
05:30 Why contractors lose when they rent attention
09:40 Client loyalty and long term business survival
14:30 Fractional leadership and strategic marketing explained
19:45 Why content builds ownership not dependence
25:20 Using systems to stay in front of your audience
31:40 How contractors can start owning their list
38:00 LinkedIn, partnerships, and direct relationships
43:10 Final lessons for contractors
Follow the Host and Guest:
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Peter Murphy Lewis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermurphylewis/
Strategic Pete: https://www.linkedin.com/company/strategic-pete/ 
 Connect with us on:
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
This episode is kindly sponsored by:
UpFrog

CallRail

CompanyCam Visit CompanyCam and use code SBM for a free 2-week trial, 1:1 training and account setup, and 50% off your first two months!

MarketStorm

priceguide

 
Learn how to automate tasks, save time, and increase your profit. No coding required!
👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!
👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
Subscribe now to stay updated with Service Business Mastery on YouTube!

In this episode of the Service Business Mastery Podcast, host Tersh Blissett sits down with Ari Meisel, Founder of Less Doing and creator of the Optimize, Automate, Outsource framework. Ari is a globally recognized expert in business automation, productivity systems, and operational efficiency, with deep hands-on experience in the construction and skilled trades.

Ari shares how extreme burnout and a Crohn's disease diagnosis forced him to redesign how he worked, leading to a system that allowed him to reclaim time, reduce stress, and build a business that runs without constant owner involvement. This conversation dives deep into automation for service businesses, decision-making systems, and what it really means to become a replaceable founder.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How to identify automation opportunities in your service business

Why automating decisions is more powerful than automating tasks

The "Replaceable Founder" mindset every business owner needs

How automation reduces stress and increases scalability

Real-world systems for reclaiming time without sacrificing growth

If you're an HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or home service business owner feeling stuck in daily operations, this episode breaks down practical automation strategies, how to identify repetitive work, and how small system changes compound into massive time freedom.

Timestamps ⏰
[00:00] "Ari's Impact on Email Automation"
[06:15] "Masonry, Hardship, and Health Struggles"
[07:25] "Optimize, Automate, Outsource Strategies"
[12:32] Building Sustainable Generational Businesses
[15:45] "Optimize, Automate, Outsource Effectively"
[19:43] "Prioritizing Revenue in Business"
[22:24] "Automation Enhances the Human Element"
[25:52] "Asynchronous Communication Explained"
[29:20] "Benefits of Solo Voice Recording"
[30:46] "Creativity Comes with Movement"
[36:38] Flexible Work Beyond Boundaries
[39:12] iPhone Screenshot Automation Exploration
[41:32] "Apps I've Used for Years"
[46:54] Building Apps and Voice AI
[47:38] "Switching to MEM AI Tools"
[52:05] "Retirement via Automation Skills"
[54:53] "Connect with Ari for Insights"
Follow the Host and Guest:
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Ari Meisel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/productivity-coach-entrepreneur/ 
 Connect with us on:
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
This episode is kindly sponsored by:
UpFrog

CallRail

CompanyCam Visit CompanyCam and use code SBM for a free 2-week trial, 1:1 training and account setup, and 50% off your first two months!

MarketStorm

priceguide

Learn how to automate tasks, save time, and increase your profit. No coding required!
👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!
👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod
Subscribe now to stay updated with Service Business Mastery on YouTube!

If you're in the skilled trades like HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or any service where the phone rings with "Hey, my system isn't working," this episode of SBM, "What Homeowners Actually Want" with Zachary Dearing, co-founder of Mantel, breaks down real homeowner insights pulled directly from Mantel's survey data. The conversation translates the findings of the Mantel's survey "Homeowner Shopping Attitudes Report 2025" (https://www.usemantel.com/survey) into practical takeaways, making it a cheat sheet into how homeowners think, choose, and spend.
Here's why you should listen, especially if you:
Want to make more from every visit (yes, without feeling like a pushy home comfort advisor).

Are stuck trying to grow your business, because you keep hearing "You're too expensive" or "Let me think about it."

Need clarity on what ACTUALLY matters to modern homeowners. Spoiler: it's not just the dollar amount.

Are tired of home comfort "gurus" who can't back up their advice with hard data.

If you want real, actionable ways to improve your process before, during, and after the visit grab the report the team discusses at usemantel.com/survey. It's built on actual fieldwork, not fantasy.
Timestamps ⏰

[00:00] "Service Business Growth Strategies"
[04:52] "Self-Discovery in Decision-Making"
[08:57] "Persistence and Overcoming Dyslexia"
[10:48] "Overcoming Fears Through Automation"
[16:22] "Customer Obsession and User Focus"
[18:52] "Research-Driven Innovation and Giving Back"
[24:00] "Homeowner Priorities vs. Contractors"
[27:24] "Homeowners' HVAC Knowledge Gap"
[30:18] "Call Tracking for Smarter Marketing"
[31:30] "How Homeowners Find Contractors"
[36:00] "Trust and Reviews Drive Choices"
[40:52] "Home Recording Insights & Sales"
[43:26] "Homeowners Struggle to Find Clarity"
[47:46] "AI, Trends, and Future Insights"
[49:52] "Empowering Contractors to Boost Sales"
[51:55] Empowering Homeowners Through Visibility
[57:29] "Embrace Change and Adaptation"
[58:30] "Service Business Mastery Insights"
Tersh Blissett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tershblissett/
Josh Crouch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-crouch/
Zac Dearing: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-dearing-b761b825/ 
Connect with us on:
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/service-business-mastery
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@servicebusinessmastery
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/servicebusinessmasterypodcast
• Mantel Website - www.usemantel.com

Homeowner Shopping Attitudes Report 2025:
• Full Survey - https://www.usemantel.com/survey
This episode is kindly sponsored by:
UpFrog

CallRail

CompanyCam Visit CompanyCam and use code SBM for a free 2-week trial, 1:1 training and account setup, and 50% off your first two months!

MarketStorm

priceguide

Learn how to automate tasks, save time, and increase your profit. No coding required!

👉 Enroll Today - https://bit.ly/3CZTDte
Get Your 14-Day Free Trial with CallRail!
👉 Visit: https://www.callrail.com/sbmpod Subscribe now to stay updated with Service Business Mastery on YouTube!