Episodios

  • How Contractors Can Build Call Centers from Zero to 10+ Reps Using AI | Nate Joens
    Apr 1 2025

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Structurely Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer Nate Joens.

    This is Nate’s second time on the program. Nate shares whether AI can be used to build a call center for a company of your size, when the time is right to begin building a call center, the best balance between human call center reps and AI reps, how your call center should be handling aggregator or new form leads and old or rehashed leads, and much more.

    This episode is ideal for contractors that are ready to grow their call centers, but don’t know the best approach for where they are right now. Get answers by listening to this episode of the Contractors Toolbox Podcast!

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    27 m
  • What Makes Website Retargeting & Targeted Direct Mail Work Wonders for Contractor Lead Generation Efforts? | David Michaelson
    Mar 25 2025

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with Celebration Marketing Founder & Owner David Michaelson.

    David has been in the direct mail advertising industry for more than 30 years and has extensive experience helping home improvement companies generate leads and close more sales. You’ll learn about the benefits of several personalized targeted direct mail programs, including neighborhood proximity mailings and new mover mailers. Plus, you’ll find out ways in which contractors are using website visitor retargeting to create killer marketing campaigns that generate low-cost, high-quality leads.

    This episode is ideal for contractors that are looking for new lead sources or seeking step-by-step directions on implementing direct mail campaigns that help you dominate your local market.

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    25 m
  • How to Effectively Deploy AI in Home Improvement & Home Services Businesses | Daniel DeMatteo
    Mar 18 2025

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with Revin AI Head of Revenue Daniel DeMatteo.

    Daniel shares his insights on how home improvement and home services companies can best deploy AI in their businesses and what it could look like over the next 24 months. You’ll learn about the increasing role of AI in call centers and which elements of a call center should be left to humans, the top ways to communicate with today’s customers, and receive an update on the TCPA one-to-one consents laws.

    This episode is ideal for contractors who are on the fence about trusting AI-based technologies and for those who want to learn more about how AI can help you efficiently scale your business.

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    21 m
  • How to Add 10 to 20 Percent in Revenue Without Paying More for Leads | Alan Michael
    Feb 18 2025

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with the creator of Ultimate Rainmaker Lead Generation Services & Rehash Program, Alan Michael.

    Alan has been in the home improvement industry for 40-plus years and has helped contractors accumulate more than $150 million in additional sales. You’ll learn how contractors can add 10-20% in revenue without paying more for leads, best practices and keys to making rehash programs successful, and mistakes to avoid when implementing rehash into your home improvement business.

    This episode is ideal for contractors who want to close more sales with leads they’ve already paid for in a market filled with uncertainty.

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    29 m
  • How Contractors Can Buy Back Their Time by Outsourcing Client Communications | Chris Diroll
    Feb 4 2025

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto talks with SMA Support Services Director of Ideas & Revenue Chris Diroll.

    Chris reveals some of the biggest challenges contractors face when it comes to communicating effectively and efficiently with clients. You’ll learn how to improve workflows and discover the key metrics contractors should track to ensure their customer experience is delivering 5-star results.

    This episode is ideal for small to medium sized home improvement contractors that have considered outsourcing client communication tasks but don’t know where to get started and how beneficial it can be to your bottom line and productivity.

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    22 m
  • How Contractors Build Community by Networking at CCN Conferences | Gary Cohen
    Nov 30 2024

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by CCN VP Gary Cohen for a discussion on the importance of building a community or network of peers in the home improvement industry.

    Being a business owner can feel like a lonely existence. Gary and Drew talk about ways in which Certified Contractors Network fosters community and collaboration among business owners who are experiencing many of the same issues and obstacles.

    Gary highlights CCN’s three annual conferences as steppingstones to business success and growing one’s network. Drew concludes the episode with a special offer for guest contractors to attend the CCN INNOVATE 2025 Winter Conference from January 9-12, 2025.

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    20 m
  • How to Grow Your Business the Right Way: Tips from a $50 Million Roofer Who Retired at Age 47 | Ken Kelly
    Oct 29 2024

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Ken Kelly.

    Ken took over his family business—Kelly Roofing—in 1993 and grew it to $50 million in annual revenue and 300+ employees. He sold the business in 2020 and retired at the age of 47.

    Ken shares his expert insight on how to properly grow a contracting business, including tips on what businesses at different revenue levels need to focus on most, five rules for growth he learned from Elon Musk, the importance of discipline, five keys to growing your people, and much more.

    This episode features takeaways for home improvement contractors with revenue at $1 million, $5 million, $10 million, or $20+ million.

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    26 m
  • What Contractors Need to Know About New Lead Gen Laws Before 2025 and How AI Can Help | Nate Joens
    Oct 8 2024

    As of January 2025, new FCC lead generation laws will require contractors to have explicit 1:1 consent to call or text leads, impacting how companies can engage with their potential customers.

    Home improvement companies have until the end of 2024 to freely contact existing leads, making it crucial to ramp up outreach efforts before the laws take effect and then to comply with the rules after that.

    In this episode, CCN Director of Member & Partner Experience Drew Barto is joined by Structurely Co-Founder & Chief Innovation Officer Nate Joens. Nate has led Structurely to 10x growth in conversations processed and has developed a proprietary conversational AI that users perceive as human.

    He offers expert insight on how contractors can best prepare for these new laws, how the lead gen landscape may change in 2025, and how AI can help companies navigate these changes.

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    23 m