Built Local

Clay
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship

The Built Local Podcast interviews local business owners and community leaders to share specific strategies they’ve used to grow, market, and operate successfully. Each episode focuses on actionable insights listeners can apply to build stronger, more resilient local businesses.

  1. 1d ago

    How 200+ New Google Reviews Exploded This Tree Service Business

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 How did one tree service business grow from around 40 Google reviews to nearly 300 in less than a year? In this episode, Jeff from Adam's Apple Tree Service shares how buying an established tree company, improving customer experience, leveraging Google reviews, and using smart systems helped them dominate local search. Learn practical tips for growing a home service business, avoiding costly mistakes, improving customer satisfaction, and generating more referrals. What This Video Covers 🌳 How Jeff successfully took over and grew an existing tree service business ⭐ How 200+ new Google reviews boosted local SEO and Google rankings 📈 Proven strategies for generating referrals and repeat customers 🪵 Common tree care mistakes homeowners should avoid 💰 Lessons on pricing jobs correctly and avoiding costly underbids 📅 Managing seasonality in a home service business 🤝 Building a customer experience that creates five-star reviews 📲 Using automation and Jobber CRM to streamline operations Timestamps 00:00 Biggest challenges of growing a tree service business 00:23 Meet Jeff from Adam's Apple Tree Service 00:38 Buying an existing tree service company 02:36 First business improvements after the acquisition 04:29 Advice for buying a home service business 05:35 Biggest mistakes homeowners make with tree care 07:26 How Review Harvest helps businesses get more Google reviews 07:42 What happens when trees are pruned incorrectly 08:23 Signs your trees need professional attention 09:17 How to consistently deliver five-star customer service 10:48 Growing through Google reviews, SEO, and referrals 12:14 The biggest challenge: seasonality in tree service 14:46 Adam's Apple Tree Service customer journey walkthrough 18:16 Costly estimating mistakes every contractor should avoid 20:34 Future plans for expanding tree care services 22:01 Results after using Review Harvest for nearly a year 25:11 Jeff's best business growth advice for home service owners 26:15 Final thoughts and closing Hashtags #TreeService #Arborist #GoogleReviews #ReviewHarvest #LocalSEO #HomeServiceBusiness #SmallBusiness #GoogleBusinessProfile #CustomerReviews #BusinessGrowth #LeadGeneration #Jobber #LocalMarketing #TreeCare #Entrepreneurship

    27 min

  2. 4d ago

    0-75 Poop Scooping Clients with a Full Time Job!

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 How do you grow a poop scooping business to 75 recurring customers while still working a full-time job? In this interview, Justin Brock of Pet Waste Pros shares exactly how he built his business using SEO, Google Business Profile optimization, customer communication, and consistent execution instead of chasing shortcuts. Learn his biggest mistakes, how he landed commercial clients, why Google reviews changed his business, and the mindset that helped him grow steadily while balancing a career in insurance. What This Video Covers 🚀 How Justin grew to 75 recurring poop scooping clients while working full-time 🌐 Using SEO & Google Business Profile instead of relying on Facebook ads 📞 Why getting prospects on the phone dramatically increased close rates 💼 Landing commercial accounts and building credibility with property managers ⭐ How Google reviews accelerated business growth with Review Harvest 👥 Hiring lessons, customer retention strategies, and communication tips 📈 Common mistakes new home service businesses should avoid 🐢 The "Tortoise Method" for building a sustainable business over time Timestamps 00:00 Intro & Justin's journey into the poop scooping business 00:01:30 Discovering the business through UpFlip & getting started 00:03:45 Landing the first customer & building a website from scratch 00:04:40 Getting recurring customers through SEO & Google 00:05:50 Growing to 75 recurring clients 00:06:26 Review Harvest sponsor segment 00:07:24 Why Google outperformed Facebook Ads 00:08:56 Biggest business mistakes & bookkeeping lessons 00:10:15 Hiring challenges & why part-time help didn't work 00:11:44 Customer retention strategies & communication tips 00:13:54 Funny and unusual poop scooping stories 00:15:41 Growth goals for the next year 00:17:04 How Justin landed commercial accounts 00:18:36 Free School Community sponsor segment 00:19:37 Why Google reviews help close commercial deals 00:21:22 Commercial outreach strategy & networking 00:23:55 Following up until prospects say no 00:26:07 Why Review Harvest has been worth every dollar 00:28:40 Advice for new poop scooping & home service business owners 00:30:54 Final thoughts & outro #PoopScooping #PooperScooper #PetWasteRemoval #HomeServiceBusiness #SmallBusiness #LocalBusiness #SEO #GoogleBusinessProfile #GoogleReviews #ReviewHarvest #CommercialCleaning #LeadGeneration #Entrepreneur #ServiceBusiness #CustomerRetention

    32 min

  3. Jun 4

    How This Junk Removal Company Went from 80 - 200 reviews in 7 months

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 Austin Davis shares how his junk removal company, Firefighter Junk Removal, scaled to over 200 Google reviews in just eight months using Review Harvest. He explains how consistent review generation completely changed their visibility, helping them move from around 80 reviews to 200+ and significantly improving their local search presence. Clay from Review Harvest joins the conversation to break down how the system works behind the scenes and why it’s been such a game-changer for home service businesses. The system automates review requests right after jobs are completed, follows up with customers who don’t respond, and even repurposes reviews into social media content automatically. Austin also explains how this level of consistency would have taken him years to build manually, but now becomes a repeatable process that drives stronger Google reviews, better Google Maps ranking, and more inbound leads for local businesses. What This Episode Covers • How Firefighter Junk Removal reached 200+ Google reviews in 8 months • Why Google reviews directly impact local service business leads • How Review Harvest automates review requests and follow-ups • Turning customer reviews into social media content automatically • Why most businesses fail to stay consistent with reviews • How faster review growth improves Google Maps ranking and visibility • Real results from using a structured review system Timestamps 00:00 Intro and review milestone 00:16 Firefighter Junk Removal results 00:32 Why reviews matter for local businesses 00:48 First contact with Review Harvest 01:11 Early results and growth 01:41 How the system works 02:40 Automated CRM integration 03:24 Text message and photo strategy 04:16 Importance of visuals in messaging 06:03 Social media automation from reviews 07:11 Full review workflow explained 08:44 How reviews improve SEO and leads 09:46 Ranking impact and results 11:13 Pricing discussion 13:03 ROI of review growth 15:03 Final thoughts and results Hashtags #GoogleReviews #LocalSEO #HomeServiceMarketing #JunkRemovalBusiness #GoogleMapsRanking #ReviewHarvest #LocalBusinessGrowth #InboundLeads #ReputationMarketing #ServiceBusinessGrowth

    16 min

  4. Jun 2

    From General Contracting to THRIVING Concrete Services: Lessons From a 30-Year Business

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 An experienced operator in the concrete leveling and resurfacing industry breaks down how a family business that started in 1988 evolved into a modern, multi-service home improvement company. Stephen Ogburn shares how Ogburn Concrete Leveling and Resurfacing expanded from traditional general contracting into specialized concrete repair, drainage, and waterproofing, eventually growing significantly after adding new service lines. He also explains how shifting from small-scale marketing to a more structured digital strategy helped improve visibility, while early mistakes in scaling too quickly nearly put the business at risk. A major theme of the conversation is how operational discipline and financial clarity drive long-term stability. Stephen highlights how improving accounting systems, tracking job profitability, and managing growth through structured decision-making helped stabilize the business. He also discusses how Google reviews directly impact organic leads and why building a strong online reputation has become essential for local business marketing. As new services like crawl space repair and rubber resurfacing are added, the focus remains on protecting margins, improving efficiency, and generating consistent inbound leads through better systems and Google Maps ranking. What This Episode Covers • How a family construction business evolved into a modern service company • Why scaling too fast can damage profitability • Transitioning from general contracting to specialized concrete services • How Google reviews directly impact inbound leads •Building a structured marketing system for local business growth • The importance of accounting, job costing, and financial clarity • Adding new service lines like waterproofing and resurfacing • Using systems and communication to improve team performance Timestamps 00:00 Scaling too fast and profit risk 00:21 Role at Ogburn Concrete Leveling 01:04 Family business background 03:24 Transition into concrete repair 04:30 Early marketing and lead generation 05:29 Reviews and reputation building 06:59 Review Harvest and lead impact 08:21 Marketing strategy and content 10:07 Educating customers 12:12 Concrete leveling process 14:02 Communication and customer experience 16:08 Reviews driving leads 19:15 New services and expansion 23:33 Scaling mistakes and lessons 26:05 Accounting and business systems 28:58 Closing and contact info #ConcreteRepair #LocalBusinessMarketing #GoogleReviews #GoogleMapsRanking #HomeServices #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #ServiceBusiness #InboundLeads #SmallBusinessStrategy

    30 min

  5. May 28

    5 Numbers to EXPLODE Profit For Your Service Businesses

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 Bruce from Ascend Wise joins the local podcast to break down how service based businesses can become more profitable and scalable through better systems, not just more leads. Drawing from his experience in high growth service companies and his own pet waste removal business, Doozy, he shares how they reached six figures within about six months while building a strong team and operational foundation. In his consulting work, he’s helped home service companies achieve major shifts in net profit, including 20 to 22 percent improvements, by fixing hidden operational issues that most owners overlook. Instead of chasing more leads Bruce focuses on a scoreboard built from five revenue drivers leads conversion rate retention purchase frequency and average ticket paired with gross profit analysis from the PNL His team uses data to diagnose inefficiencies like pricing gaps poor routing and weak leadership then applies tools like reverse brainstorming to uncover profit leaks Conversation highlights systems like Review Harvest help improve Google reviews and Google Maps ranking driving stronger online reputation and inbound leads for local businesses looking to grow sustainably. What This Episode Covers • How service businesses increase profitability using data-driven systems • The five revenue drivers every business owner should track • Why most businesses do not actually have a lead problem • How gross profit issues quietly limit growth • Building leadership and team accountability in service companies • How Doozy scaled to six figures in six months • Using reviews to improve trust and inbound leads Timestamps 00:00:03 to 00:00:17 Introduction and Bruce background 00:00:17 to 00:02:37 Ascend Wise and starting Doozy 00:02:37 to 00:05:01 Common blind spots in service businesses 00:05:01 to 00:06:23 How Review Harvest fits into review systems 00:06:23 to 00:08:20 Data-centered decision-making framework 00:08:20 to 00:11:26 The five revenue drivers explained 00:11:26 to 00:12:10 Using drivers to build a roadmap 00:12:10 to 00:15:31 Gross profit and pricing strategy 00:15:31 to 00:17:02 Gross profit definition and breakdown 00:17:02 to 00:20:42 Case study and operational improvements 00:20:42 to 00:22:41 Building Doozy and team culture 00:22:41 to 00:24:14 Review Harvest results and closing Hashtags #LocalBusinessMarketing #GoogleReviews #GoogleMapsRanking #ServiceBusinessGrowth #BusinessSystems #Profitability #Entrepreneurship #HomeServices #CustomerReviews #InboundLeads

    24 min

  6. May 26

    From 0 - 100+ Clients in 15 Months Scooping Dog Poop?!?

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 In this episode of the Local Podcast, we sit down with Candido, founder of a South Jersey pet waste removal business. He shares how he went from launching in 2024 with no customers to scaling to hundreds of clients in just over a year using consistency, Facebook ads, Google reviews, and disciplined execution. We break down how he built his brand, acquired customers, and why service quality and reliability have been the backbone of his rapid growth. Candido is a United States Marine veteran and the founder of a dog waste removal business based in South Jersey. He started the company in 2024 with a focus on low overhead, consistency, and strong local visibility through social media and community engagement. Within a short period, he scaled to over 100 recurring customers and several hundred total clients. What This Episode Covers • How Candido transitioned from the military to starting a service business • Why he chose pet waste removal as a low overhead opportunity • How he landed his first 10 to 20 customers • The exact Facebook group strategy he used for local leads • Why consistency in posting beats complexity in marketing • How Facebook ads became his primary paid acquisition channel • Why Google reviews are driving most of his customer trust and conversions • The importance of speed, reliability, and showing up consistently • How he manages customer retention in a seasonal business • Lessons learned from running operations solo in the beginning • His plans for trademarking and future franchising Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and guest background 00:00:20 How Candido started the business 00:01:35 First year growth and early mindset 00:02:20 Getting first customers through Facebook groups 00:03:59 Expanding marketing with paid ads 00:04:20 Google reviews and customer trust impact 00:05:55 Facebook ad strategy and simple creatives 00:07:49 Scaling to 100+ recurring customers 00:08:16 Seasonal challenges and retention strategies 00:09:30 Customer service and reliability philosophy 00:10:52 Unexpected job story in the field 00:11:37 Military background and business discipline 00:12:21 Future plans and franchising goals 00:13:29 Experience with Review Harvest 00:15:12 Advice for new service business owners 00:16:49 How to contact the business

    17 min

  7. May 21

    From Law Enforcement to 150 Recurring Clients (Scooping Dog Poop Side Hustle?)

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 In this episode of The Local Podcast, Clay sits down with Ryan from Coastal Pooper Scooper to talk about building one of the fastest-growing pet waste removal businesses in coastal South Carolina. Ryan shares how he went from working in law enforcement and security jobs to building a recurring revenue home service business with over 150 recurring clients and three trucks on the road daily. We dive into the growth of the pet waste removal industry, the marketing strategies that actually worked, hiring challenges, Facebook Ads, Google Reviews, and what it takes to build a successful service business in a growing market. If you’ve ever thought about starting a home service business or want to learn how niche businesses scale, this episode is packed with practical advice. About Coastal Pooper Scooper Coastal Pooper Scooper provides professional pet waste removal services throughout the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. Website: https://www.coastalpooperscooper.com/ https://www.facebook.com/CoastalPScooper https://www.instagram.com/coastalpooperscooper/ https://www.youtube.com/@coastalpooperscooper What This Episode Covers • Starting a pet waste removal business with almost no money • Growing from a side hustle into a full-time business • Building recurring revenue in home services • Facebook Ads vs Google Ads for local services • Hiring and retaining employees in difficult climates • Scaling routes across large service areas • Growing to 150+ recurring clients • Using Google Reviews to dominate locally • Future expansion plans and adding new locations • The reality of entrepreneurship and long work days Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:34 How Coastal Pooper Scooper Started 02:43 Ryan’s Background Before Business Ownership 04:35 Starting the Business With $100 06:38 Growing to 150 Recurring Clients 07:49 How Ryan Got His First Customers 08:56 Marketing Strategies That Worked 10:13 Facebook Ads and Rapid Growth 11:17 Keeping Customers Happy While Scaling 12:18 The Hardest Part of Growth 13:54 Hiring Employees in the Heat 15:30 Crazy Stories From the Job 17:44 Future Growth Plans 19:27 Marketing Plans to Double the Business 20:35 Experience Using Review Harvest 21:39 Where to Find Coastal Pooper Scooper #PooperScooper #PetWasteRemoval #HomeServiceBusiness #GoogleReviews #ReviewHarvest #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #RecurringRevenue #FacebookAds #LocalBusiness

    23 min

  8. May 19

    How Level 10 Coatings Scaled From 0-7 CREWS!

    ⭐️ Get More Google Reviews On Autopilot — Start Free Today: https://link.reviewharvest.com/yt  🧲 Join our free community for 1-on-1 help getting more customers on Google: https://www.skool.com/10-minute-marketer-6759 Want to know how a concrete coating company scaled from 1 truck to 7 crews while maintaining incredible customer satisfaction and nearly 1,000 Google reviews? In this episode of The Local Podcast, Clay sits down with Finn from Level Ten Coatings to break down how they built one of the fastest growing epoxy floor coating companies in the Midwest. They cover everything from scaling operations, building systems, hiring sales teams, running Facebook ads, improving customer communication, handling seasonality, and using reviews to dominate local markets. If you run a home service business and want to grow faster while keeping customers happy, this episode is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately. About Level Ten Coatings: Level Ten Coatings specializes in premium concrete and epoxy floor coatings for garages, basements, patios, commercial spaces, and more. Serving Northwest Indiana and Indianapolis, their mission is simple: Transform lives by transforming spaces. Website: https://level10coatings.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gbp https://www.facebook.com/Level10Coatings https://www.instagram.com/level10floorcoatings?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== What This Episode Covers • How Level Ten Coatings scaled from 1 truck to 7 crews • The importance of systems and processes in home service businesses • How speed-to-lead impacts sales conversions • Why customer communication is critical for scaling • How they use Meta and Google ads to generate leads • Scaling a sales team without losing quality • The role reviews play in building trust and authority • How Review Harvest helped them approach 1,000 Google reviews • Handling seasonality in the coating industry • Why investing in marketing is necessary for growth • Building a strong company culture and leadership team • Creating a customer journey that homeowners can clearly understand • How referrals increase when your process is consistent • Why quality control matters more as you scale • The difference between selling and actually delivering value Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:24 What Level Ten Coatings Does 00:58 How Finn Got Started 01:27 Early Growth of the Company 02:42 Managing Seasonality 03:03 Keeping Customers Happy While Scaling 05:26 Their Marketing & Sales Funnel 06:51 Customer Communication Systems 07:56 Scaling the Sales Team 09:21 Transforming Customer Spaces 11:35 Typical Coating Projects 13:19 Standing Behind Their Warranty 15:25 Marketing Through Facebook & Google 17:14 Experience Using Review Harvest 19:37 Advice for Growing Home Service Businesses 20:04 Where to Find Level Ten Coatings #HomeServiceBusiness #EpoxyFlooring #ConcreteCoatings #GarageFloorCoating #BusinessGrowth #LocalBusiness #GoogleReviews #ReviewHarvest #Entrepreneurship #MarketingForContractors

    21 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Built Local Podcast interviews local business owners and community leaders to share specific strategies they’ve used to grow, market, and operate successfully. Each episode focuses on actionable insights listeners can apply to build stronger, more resilient local businesses.

Information

  • Creator
    Clay
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Built Local
  • Show Website
    Built Local

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