Stop Losing Leads: Talk Of The Trades Ep 006
In the fast-paced world of home services, it’s not just about getting leads — it’s about what you do after they come in. In this episode of Talk Of The Trades, Aaron Watters and Dennis Ayotte tackle a critical question: Why are contractors still losing money on bad follow-up systems — and how do you fix that?
Whether you’re using ServiceTitan, HouseCall Pro, Hatch or a patchwork of tools, this episode breaks down what it takes to build a CRM strategy that actually converts.
Aaron and Dennis dig deep into the mechanics of CRM follow-up systems. Drawing from their work with 100+ contractors, they explore what separates successful shops from those leaving millions on the table. From better intake processes to using data for targeted drip campaigns, the conversation is packed with actionable tips.
"We win in the setup. If your CRM isn’t structured right, you’re going to keep losing revenue — even with great marketing."
Aaron Watters – CEO, Leadhub
They also explore:
- The real difference between CRMs and FSMs
- How missed Google Local Service leads bleed money
- Why documenting follow-ups is essential for accountability (and refunds!)
- How ServiceTitan, HouseCall Pro, and Hatch compare across business sizes
Beyond CRM tips, the episode also dives into current industry news — including Air Pros’ bankruptcy, Google's March core update and myths around geo-tagging reviews for SEO.
"A $3M revenue bump from a drip campaign isn’t magic. It’s just following up with people who already showed interest."
Dennis Ayotte – Director of Operations, Leadhub
Key Takeaways
- Most contractors don’t track leads well enough to optimize follow-ups.
- 11–15% of additional revenue is common for shops that follow up consistently.
- Geo-tagging images won’t boost SEO — but customer photos still matter.
- Tools like ServiceTitan and Hatch need solid intake and data hygiene to work best.
- Tracking AI bot visits (like ChatGPT) is possible — but not always useful yet.
Want The Full Story?
Watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify to hear it all straight from the experts!
Explore More:
- All Podcast Episodes
- Leadhub — Full service marketing for contractors
- ServiceTitan
- HouseCall Pro
- Hatch
