Strategy Library
74 battle-tested strategies for running a home service business. From the field, not a textbook.
Yard Signs That Actually Get Calls
Most contractor yard signs are a waste of money -- cluttered logos, a list of services, and a tiny phone number nobody can read from a car. The fix is dead simple: one problem, one CTA, huge text. Signs that answer 'what problem do you solve?' and show a phone number are the only signs worth planting.
Stack Multiple Google Maps Listings
One Google Business Profile means you show up in one area. Smart contractors create legitimate separate profiles for different service areas -- each with a physical presence, unique phone number, and distinct address. Done right, you can dominate multiple cities without a single extra dollar in ads.
Stop Chasing Jobs That Don't Pay
Analyze completed jobs to find patterns in time, profit, and customer friction. Identify which jobs are actually profitable and repeatable. Stop chasing low-margin work, even if it seems 'easy.' Redirect capacity to best jobs.
Deposits Kill Tire-Kickers
Require upfront deposit (25-50%) before starting work. This filters out non-serious customers and improves cash flow. Serious customers pay deposits gladly; tire-kickers disappear.
Sell the Life, Not the Service
Don't just say 'we clear brush.' Show the emotional outcome: 'Give your land back to your family.' Appeal to the feeling, not the service. This drives much higher engagement and higher willingness to pay.
Study Competitors. Be Their Opposite.
Study what competitors are doing poorly (slow response, weak content, low prices) and position as the opposite. Make this central to your marketing. Customers notice and reward the inverse of competitor weaknesses.
Quiz Your Leads Before You Meet Them
Generic Facebook lead forms collect names and emails -- then you spend 20 minutes on the phone figuring out if they're even a real prospect. A quiz funnel does the qualifying for you. By the time they book an appointment, you already know their property size, timeline, budget range, and whether they're serious.
Your Customer List Beats Any Ad Budget
You're spending $3K/month on ads to find new customers while past customers sit in a spreadsheet. Past customers already know your name and trusted you enough to pay. Email them instead.
Text Estimates. Stop Emailing.
Email open rates are around 20%. Text open rates are 98%. If you're sending estimates via email and wondering why clients go quiet, there's your answer. Send the estimate link via text and your response rate will jump overnight.
10 New Reviews Beats 500 Old Ones
Google cares more about when reviews were written than how many you have. A competitor with 80 reviews and 5 new ones this week will outrank you if you have 400 reviews but haven't gotten one in 6 months. Review velocity -- consistent new reviews week over week -- is the metric that actually moves your rankings.
Fix the Funnel Before Feeding It
Stop spending money on marketing if your internal sales process is broken. Many companies waste thousands on ads while failing to answer phones, follow up on leads, or send quotes on time.
Get an Accountant Who Makes You Money
Bad accountants just file taxes. Good accountants help you structure and increase profit. One accountant can literally pay for itself by optimizing business structure and identifying inefficiencies.
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