Contractor Growth Network

Everybody says they do "high end." Almost nobody looks the part. In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Devin Vought of Vought Construction — JobTread's 2025 Builder of the Year and a luxury home builder in the Bay Area whose clients are routinely worth hundreds of millions, sometimes billions. Devin breaks down what branding actually means when your prospects can buy anything they want. It's not the logo or the tagline. It's the client journey he's engineered behind the scenes — the demo-day party, the handmade pastries waiting for a client flying in from London, the white-collar warranty guy he sends over to hang a light fixture months before a contract is ever signed. Logan ties it back to the book Selling the Invisible: in a service business, the brand is the product before you can deliver it, so every touchpoint has to prove you'll handle what the client can't see behind the drywall. They get into uniforms and the "broken windows" theory on job sites, why trash cans everywhere beats nagging your subs, removing decision fatigue for busy clients, the real ROI of a website, and why Devin is now working to make Vought Construction stand on its own — without Devin. If you've ever felt like you're doing great work but can't get clients to pay what it's worth — or you want to move upmarket but don't look like a company that belongs there — this episode shows you the small, accumulating moves that actually raise your average job size. 🎯 00:00 — Targeting billion-dollar homeowners: what this episode is about 00:34 — Devin's back, now 2025 Builder of the Year 01:04 — The Remodelers Advantage peer group that sparked this conversation 02:10 — Who Devin's clients really are (and why "high end" is watered down) 04:42 — What branding actually means — beyond the logo 05:51 — The proprietary "client journey" most clients never see 09:25 — The London client, the pastries, and the tears 11:40 — Why most contractors want to do this but never find the time 12:24 — Getting into the client's world through dinners and events 15:28 — Why hiring a customer-success role pays for itself 18:34 — Uniforms and the broken-windows theory on a job site 21:14 — Defining the "Vought way": clean, organized, respectful 22:55 — Trash cans everywhere — shaping behavior instead of nagging 26:50 — Removing friction: pods, white-glove moves, decision fatigue 31:13 — Selling the Invisible: third-party proof vs. first-party experience 34:00 — Photos that show a lived-in home, not a realtor's empty room 36:16 — Honey-do touch-ups during pre-construction as a marketing move 39:33 — The real ROI of a good logo and website 46:44 — Consistency, the Starbucks standard, and core values that ring hollow 50:13 — The pushback: "it's just price and time" 56:22 — Living into your future identity before you've earned it 59:08 — The next three years: building a company bigger than the founder 01:02:16 — How brand drives job stability and pulls talent from competitors

What's the one thing in your business you wish could be automated? In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan sits down with Eric Fortenberry — founder and CEO of JobTread — to dig into how AI is reshaping the way contractors run their businesses, and where the real risks are hiding underneath the hype. JobTread just rolled out a feature that lets contractors connect their own AI model directly into their JobTread account, and within two weeks over 1,500 users had spun up Claude and wired it in. Eric walks through what's working, what's blowing up in people's faces (one client accidentally exposed every customer's contact info, another leaked their Google Places API key and started racking up charges), and how to think about AI as a 65–75% tool rather than an easy button. The conversation hits estimating, hiring, customer service, MCP integrations, the future of search, and why $100/month for Claude is the most underpriced employee you'll ever hire. If you've been watching AI from the sidelines wondering whether to dive in — or you're already deep and worried you're moving too fast — this episode will help you figure out where to push the gas and where to tap the brakes. 🎯 Timestamps 00:00 — What's the one thing you'd automate in your business? 00:40 — Pros and cons of AI from a software founder's chair 02:24 — How AI compares to the internet's adoption curve 05:28 — The "vibe coder" trap — when speaking into AI breaks more than it fixes 08:22 — The client who accidentally exposed every customer's data 10:30 — And the one who leaked their Google Places API key 12:33 — The Waze problem: faster isn't always worth it 14:52 — Where AI actually saves contractors time today 17:34 — Turning a 12-hour scope of work into something AI assists in minutes 19:32 — Why "trust and verify" beats trusting AI's first draft 23:15 — Feeding examples — the unlock most people miss 26:50 — Why people using AI will displace people who don't 28:27 — How JobTread hires (and why they still want a 2-minute intro video) 32:55 — Why an AI answering service kills a $100K remodel pitch 38:54 — Putting AI into the interview process 45:19 — Plod, MCP servers, and stringing tools into a real workflow 50:25 — Real screenshots vs. AI-fluff blog posts — why authenticity wins 53:52 — Google's data moat and what it means for search 59:17 — The math behind $20 Claude (Anthropic spends $18 for every $1 you pay)

Logan and Aaron unpack one of the most powerful but underused sales strategies in remodeling: assignment selling. Originally coined by Marcus Sheridan, this method bridges the gap between marketing and sales—by arming prospects with the right information before they ever get on a call. You'll learn how to apply this approach in your own sales process—whether it's sending project walkthroughs before a meeting, using content to pre-qualify leads, or walking clients through your website in real-time. If you've been creating great content but aren't sure how to use it to actually close deals, this episode will show you how. What You'll Learn What assignment selling is (and isn't) Why content belongs in your sales process, not just your marketing How to reduce unqualified leads and shorten the sales cycle What kinds of content work best at different sales stages How to personalize resources based on each prospect The difference between automations vs one-on-one communication How to ask clients to consume content—without sounding pushy Key Timestamps 00:00 – What is assignment selling (and why does it matter)? 03:00 – Mapping your sales process to identify content gaps 06:30 – The difference between marketing automation and sales enablement 12:30 – Why production quality matters in sales content 18:00 – Examples of content that actually move the sale forward 25:00 – What happens when a prospect doesn't do their assignment 32:00 – Using your website like a live sales deck 37:00 – Emotional buy-in vs logical overload 43:00 – How to map your process and assign content that supports it 48:00 – How CGN uses this strategy in their own sales calls

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan and Aaron break down how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way homeowners search for remodelers—and what you need to do to keep getting found. With tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google's AI Overviews shifting how search results are delivered, contractors who rely on organic leads can't afford to sit this out. From local SEO to AI-friendly website structure, Logan shares what's working right now (October 2025) and how remodelers can prepare for a future where search engines are smarter—and less likely to send users to your site by default. If you've heard phrases like "zero-click search" or "retrieval augmented generation" and don't know how they affect your marketing, this is the episode to listen to. Free Webinar Link: Logan is hosting a free live webinar on November 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM EST to go even deeper on this topic—with tactical examples and live Q&A. 👉 [Register here] https://www.contractorgrowthnetwork.com/google-ai-remodeler/ Can't make it live? Use the same link to access the replay after the event. 🔑 Key Takeaways The Game Is Changing—But Not Gone → Google still dominates local search (AI Overviews only show in ~6% of local searches). → Organic SEO is still king—but AI is adding new rules to the playbook. AI Search Works Differently Than Google Search → Tools like Gemini and ChatGPT don't just scan top search results—they combine multiple searches and synthesize answers. → If you're not in the top 10 organic results, you may be invisible in AI search. SEO Fundamentals Still Matter → Clear website structure, fast load times, keyword strategy, and quality content are still foundational. → Blogs and project pages should be conversational and answer real homeowner questions. Citations and Consistency Are More Important Than Ever → The more places your business info appears (and matches), the more credible you seem to AI and Google. → Directory listings, Houzz profiles, YouTube videos, and local backlinks all help. Get Found Where the AI Is Looking → It's not just about your website anymore—YouTube, Google Business, Instagram, and even Houzz or Angie listings can all feed AI. → Quality, relevance, and proof-based content wins in every search format. 🧠 Memorable Quotes "If you're not in the top 10 organic search results, you're not getting found by AI search tools." "Google wants to keep people on Google. So if your site doesn't offer a better experience, they won't send users to you." "AI search isn't about clever hacks—it's about clarity, credibility, and being everywhere your ideal client is." ✅ Action Steps Check your Google Business Profile for accuracy and reviews Reformat your blogs to include question-based headers (AI scans better this way) Get listed on trusted directories like Houzz, Yelp, and local chambers Structure your site to make important pages 1–2 clicks from the homepage Continue investing in SEO—the top 10 spots matter more than ever

Taking a short break from our ongoing "Full marketing strategy" series, this week's episode features Aaron's live presentation from Remodelers Summit 2025, "Why Should they Pick You? (How to Showcase Your Unique Value on Your Website)." In this presentation Aaron lays out some of the insights he's learned as a traveling videographer and speaking to remodeling clients all across the country. You've Worked Hard on Your Client Experience. Don't Let It Get Lost in a Sea of Sameness. Your website should do more than list your services, it should instantly show homeowners why you are the right choice. In this session, we'll walk you through how to clearly define your Ideal Client Avatar and Unique Selling Proposition, then translate them into a website that truly sets you apart. You'll discover how to: Use storytelling and education to connect with the right clients. Build Featured Project Pages that showcase your craftsmanship and process. Elevate your brand with professional photography that builds trust at first glance.

In this episode of the Contractor Growth Network podcast, Logan Shinholser and Aaron Horner take you back to the foundation of all successful marketing: understanding your ideal client and crafting a unique selling proposition. Building on the six-step framework from episode #466, they explain why these first two steps matter most—and how getting them wrong can make every marketing dollar less effective. Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Why Ideal Client & USP Come First Why every strategy starts with clarity on who you serve and what you uniquely offer. 06:13 – Balancing Aspirational vs. Current Clients Why you can't skip straight to high-end dream projects, and how small wins build your reputation and portfolio 15:42 – The Questions You Should Ask What to ask clients (and your team) to uncover patterns, motivations, and pain points. 27:11 – Bright Spots and Proof Points How to capture what clients loved most and turn that into marketable proof. 46:28 – Turning Fears into Marketing Messages Translating client concerns about design, budget, or timeline into trust-building content.

So you've wrapped up an incredible project… now what? In this special on-the-road episode, Aaron and Sean dive deep into what happens after the content is created. Most contractors understand the value of video and photos, but they often don't know how to use that content to actually grow their business. Whether you're trying to get more leads, boost traffic, or just build awareness—this episode gives you the full roadmap. What You'll Learn: Why waiting until the end of a job to ask for a testimonial is too late How to ask clients for testimonials without it feeling awkward Strategies to re-engage happy past clients—even years later The 4 best ways to utilize your content: On your website (including Featured Project Pages) On social media (the right way) In paid ads (and how to test what works) BONUS: In physical mailers for neighborhood targeting OUR QUESTIONS WE ASK IN INTERVIEWS: ACT 1- Their Problem 1. Would you please tell me your name and where you live? 2. What problem were you trying to fix? 3. Can you tell me why you wanted it fixed? What did it feel like in your old space? 4. Why did you decide to move forward now? ACT 2- Taking Action 5. How did you find us? 6. (I know we aren't the cheapest option, so)Why did you trust us with your project? 7. What was the experience like working with us? ACT 3- Resolution to The Problem 8. How are you enjoying your space now? How is it different from before? 9. What's your favorite part of the project we completed together? 10. Would you recommend "company name" to friends and family members? Learn more about Contractor Growth Network.