Mission Control

Podcast

Expert content coach Jonathan Cater interviews Mike Stearns about his journey in the contracting industry and the development of Ascend Digital Agency. They discuss cold-calling strategies, sales psychology, SEO tools, handling negative reviews, and the standards contractors should expect when working with digital agencies. Mike shares insights on building converting ads, creating content, establishing trust in the roofing industry, and growing businesses with and without marketing companies.

Mike interviews Mark Dominguez of Dominguez Marketing, who has been in the marketing industry since 2009. They discuss the current state of marketing, red flags to watch for when choosing marketing companies, SEO strategies, and actionable marketing tips businesses can implement independently.

Mike breaks down how investing in quality services and products benefits businesses more than short-term cost-cutting measures. He explains how cheaping out on business expenses actually costs companies more money in the long run.

Mike interviews Dr. Jessica Stahl, an Industrial Organizational Psychologist who recently signed a nationwide speaking agreement with GAF. Dr. Stahl, who comes from a family of contractors, discusses implementing effective workplace practices, hiring quality sales representatives, and developing strong leadership in the roofing industry. They explore recruiting strategies, retention solutions, and the importance of core values in contractor businesses.

In this episode of The Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Jon Cater from The Creators Den to dive deep into the world of TikTok. With the platform making headlines recently after a short-lived government ban, Mike and Jon explore the controversy surrounding TikTok’s future. They break down the role of government intervention, debate whether such actions were justified, discuss TikTok’s unique business model, and share insights into how creators are leveraging the platform to make money.

Mike sits down with Stephen Spence, who runs Project Map It, an interactive map tool that showcases previous work and lets customers search by area, project category, or product type. The platform helps businesses enhance their web presence with SEO and show prospective customers their company’s presence in their neighborhood. Stephen shares his entrepreneurial journey and the struggles he faced building his technology-focused business.

Host Mike is joined by Eric Richardson of Roofing Specialists for an enlightening conversation on website optimization, SEO strategies, and leveraging blog posts for business growth. They dive deep into digital marketing and branding, discussing the importance of outsourcing work, effective rebranding tricks, and the power of AB testing to maximize results. The episode also covers unique challenges of sales in the roofing industry and offers valuable insights into achieving work-life balance.

Cody Warren and Michael Stearns discuss SEO fundamentals and the importance of consistency in implementing SEO campaigns. They explore whether SEO is difficult and emphasize that both link building and content creation are essential for success. The conversation covers the critical role of accountability when working with external SEO agencies.

Mike explores key strategies to outrank competitors on Google search results. He covers thorough keyword research, content optimization, building high-quality backlinks, and enhancing user experience. The episode includes actionable steps to improve website visibility and authority, plus the importance of tracking performance metrics and making data-driven adjustments.

Mike sits down with Kasey Luft, founder of Clientric CRM Consulting, to explore how customized software solutions can help reduce business chaos. They discuss finding the perfect CRM for your business, identifying the ideal implementation time, and navigating the overwhelming number of market options. Kasey shares insights on how AI advancements are transforming CRM capabilities and breaks down expected costs for building tailored CRM solutions.

In this role-reversal episode, Nick Capobianco from Roofr interviews Mike about marketing strategies for roofing contractors. Nick, whose family owns a roofing business, asks the questions every contractor wants to know about effective marketing. They discuss industry insights, roofing leaders, and actionable marketing tactics for roofing businesses.

In this episode of the Mission Control Podcast, Mike sits down with Kyle Weber, co-owner of Hometown Roofing Services, to discuss the business’s rapid rise since its launch in October 2022. Kyle details his transition from a repair technician to a business owner, highlighting how a reputation for being customer-facing and maintaining personal relationships fueled his initial lead flow. The duo explores the significant competitive edge gained by performing attic inspections, a practice that builds homeowner trust and uncovers hidden issues like code violations or misrouted water lines before a project starts.