In this episode of the Building and Branding podcast, Amanda Stichter interviews Cora Alexander, known as the Drying Diva, about her journey in the restoration and home services industry. They discuss personal branding, the challenges and advantages of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, and the importance of mentorship. Cora shares her experience working with pioneers in the industry and the impact they had on her career. They also touch on the excitement and readiness of industry professionals to help in times of disasters, such as hurricanes. In this conversation, Amanda and Cora discuss the importance of being proactive and prepared in the restoration industry, particularly in the face of natural disasters like hurricanes. They emphasize the need for companies to have a solid emergency response plan and strategic alliances in place. They also highlight the significance of empathy and treating clients' homes or businesses as their own.

The Building and Branding podcast is a rebrand of the Digital Dialogues podcast, with a focus on discussing the importance of branding in the home services and restoration industry. The host, Amanda Stichter, shares her passion for branding and how it goes beyond just logos and color palettes. The podcast aims to explore the stories and experiences of industry experts who have successfully built and branded their businesses. The conversations will cover topics such as mission statements, brand principles, and the emotional aspect of starting a business. The goal is to inspire listeners and reignite their passion for building a lasting brand.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background
03:09 The Foundation of Branding
04:58 Standing Out in a Commoditized Industry
06:35 Positioning Yourself as a Brand
10:10 Building a Brand to Last

Keywords

building, branding, podcast, rebrand, home services, restoration industry, branding strategy, logo, color palette, commoditized industry, business, brand principles, mission statement, emotional aspect, industry experts, inspire, passion

Takeaways

Branding goes beyond logos and color palettes and plays a foundational role in building successful businesses.
In a commoditized industry, branding is essential for standing out and differentiating from competitors.
The emotional aspect of starting a business is an important factor in the branding process.
The podcast aims to provide valuable insights and wisdom from industry experts to inspire listeners in building their own brands.

Summary
Greg Marthaler Jr shares his entrepreneurial journey, starting from cutting grass to building and selling a roofing company, and then venturing into the restoration industry with SFY. He discusses the origin of the 'rubber chicken' tradition and the importance of valuing people as assets in business growth and scaling. The conversation also delves into coaching, mentoring, and holding individuals accountable in an organization. In this conversation, Greg Marthaler Jr shares insights on leadership, accountability, and decision-making in business. He emphasizes the importance of coaching, holding people accountable, and making tough decisions to drive organizational growth. He also discusses the significance of seeking help, building a strong company culture, and the value of systems and processes in scaling a business.

Keywords
entrepreneurship, business growth, scaling, company culture, coaching, mentoring, accountability, valuing people, rubber chicken tradition, restoration industry, leadership, accountability, decision-making, coaching, organizational growth, tough decisions, seeking help, company culture, systems and processes, business insights

Takeaways

- Entrepreneurial journey from grass cutting to building and selling a roofing company.
- The significance of valuing people as assets in business growth and scaling.
- The origin and impact of the 'rubber chicken' tradition in business networking and relationship-building.
- The importance of coaching, mentoring, and holding individuals accountable in an organization. Leaders must coach and hold people accountable to drive organizational growth.
- Tough decisions, such as letting go of employees, are necessary for the success and culture of the company.
- Seeking help and building a strong company culture are essential for scaling a business.
- Systems and processes play a crucial role in the growth and development of an organization.

Alex Duta, founder of a restoration company and software company Albi, shares his journey and insights in the restoration industry. He discusses his background growing up in Romania and the entrepreneurial spirit instilled in him by his parents. Alex talks about the inspiration behind his book, Restoration Millionaire, and the importance of building a scalable business instead of relying solely on hustle. He emphasizes the need to delegate tasks and build systems to free up time for higher-value activities. Alex also discusses the founding of Albi and its mission to propel the restoration industry forward. Alex Duta discusses the need for innovative software in the restoration industry and the importance of diversity and alignment in fostering innovation. He emphasizes the importance of challenging self-limiting beliefs and believing in one's worthiness. Alex also highlights the significance of perspective and not getting caught up in small setbacks, but instead focusing on the bigger picture. He encourages continuous learning and recommends reading books that address specific challenges or interests.

LINKS
📖 Restoration Millionnaire by Alex Duta: https://a.co/d/cSSImur

Keywords
restoration industry, entrepreneurship, software company, book, scalability, delegation, systems, Albi, Albiware, restoration industry, software, innovation, diversity, alignment, self-limiting beliefs, worthiness, perspective, continuous learning

Takeaways

- The importance of building a scalable business instead of relying solely on hustle
- Delegating tasks and building systems to free up time for higher-value activities
- The need for innovation and tools in the restoration industry
- The impact of Alex's book, Restoration Millionaire, on inspiring other business owners in the industry
- The mission of Albi to propel the restoration industry forward Innovation in the restoration industry requires innovative software
- Diversity and alignment are key to fostering innovation
- Challenge self-limiting beliefs and believe in your worthiness
- Don't get caught up in small setbacks, focus on the bigger picture
- Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth

In this episode of the Digital Dialogue Podcast, Amanda Stichter interviews John Kowalski and Anthony Nelson from Pivot My Biz. They discuss the importance of marketing in the restoration industry and how Pivot My Biz helps companies develop effective marketing systems. They emphasize the need for companies to differentiate themselves in a commodity service business and provide a structured program to help companies evolve and handle growth. They also highlight the challenges of working on the business while being busy with day-to-day operations. The episode concludes with a discussion about the upcoming marketing workshop hosted by Pivot My Biz. Pivot My Biz has seen significant growth in revenue and operating profit, with a structured and simple program that delivers results. They have data and case studies to prove the effectiveness of their program. The marketing workshop they offer is valuable for restoration business owners and business development reps who want to craft a strategy, measure their team, hold them accountable, and improve their sales effectiveness. The workshop provides clarity on messaging and helps businesses get better results from their marketing efforts. The cost of the workshop is $895, which is a low barrier to entry for the value it provides. Serving others and accountability are key principles for success in the restoration industry.

Takeaways

- Differentiating your company in a commodity service business is crucial for success.
- Working on your business is essential for growth, even when busy with day-to-day operations.
- Pivot My Biz offers a structured program to help companies evolve and handle growth.
- The marketing workshop hosted by Pivot My Biz provides valuable insights and turnkey marketing programs.
- The workshop focuses on target marketing plans, brand messaging, sales processes, and goal setting. Pivot My Biz has experienced significant growth in revenue and operating profit with their structured and simple program.
- The marketing workshop offered by Pivot My Biz is valuable for restoration business owners and business development reps.
- The workshop helps businesses craft a strategy, measure their team, hold them accountable, and improve their sales effectiveness.
- Clarity on messaging and a focus on serving others and accountability are key principles for success in the restoration industry.

In this episode, Amanda and Kim discuss the latest trends and updates in digital marketing, specifically in the restoration industry. They highlight the importance of transparency and personalization in marketing, as well as the need for a strong user experience. They also discuss the recent changes in Google AdWords, including the shift from pay-per-click to pay-per-lead. Kim emphasizes the value of casting a wide net in marketing and utilizing both organic and paid strategies. She also shares advice for new industry professionals, such as starting with a Google business profile and focusing on getting reviews and ratings.

Takeaways

- Transparency and personalization are key in digital marketing, as customers want to know who they are working with and support local businesses.
- A strong user experience is crucial in marketing, even in search engine results, to create a connection with potential customers.
- The shift in Google AdWords from pay-per-click to pay-per-lead allows businesses to pay for qualified leads and dispute non-qualified leads.
- Casting a wide net in marketing is important, as it allows for optimization in different areas and reaching different target markets.
- Starting with a Google business profile and focusing on getting reviews and ratings is a great way for new industry professionals to establish their online presence.

In this episode, Amanda is joined by Arianny, the Director of Business Development at Thompson Restoration. They discuss Arianny's background in business development and the importance of relationships in the restoration industry. Arianny shares her experience starting the Just Between Us Girls podcast, which aims to break down the glass ceiling and create an inclusive space for conversation. They also discuss disappointing experiences at a trade show and the need for equal treatment of women in the industry. This conversation explores the challenges and experiences of women in a male-dominated industry and the importance of authenticity, inclusivity, and service. The chapters cover topics such as the lack of inclusivity in women's panels, approaching diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), standing up for oneself, building authentic relationships, navigating the industry as a woman of color, gaining confidence and authenticity, finding one's identity and style, being selective with clients and partnerships, focusing on brand and specialization, the power of saying no, leveraging time and resources for community service, finding your unique value proposition, and the importance of partnerships and community involvement.

Takeaways

- Building strong relationships is crucial in the restoration industry.
- Analyzing what is working and building on it is more effective than starting from scratch.
- The restoration industry is about more than just restoring physical damage; it is about restoring lives.
- The Just Between Us Girls podcast aims to break down the glass ceiling and create an inclusive space for conversation.
- Including men in the conversation is important for achieving gender equality in the industry. Promote inclusivity and diversity in industry events and panels.
- Approach diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) with a positive and inclusive mindset.
- Stand up for yourself and your values in the face of discrimination or disrespect.
- Build authentic relationships based on mutual respect and shared values.
- Be true to yourself and embrace your unique identity and style.
- Focus on building a strong brand and specializing in your area of expertise.
- Learn to say no and be selective with clients and partnerships.
- Use your time and resources to make a positive impact in your community.
- Amplify your voice and online presence to showcase your values and attract like-minded individuals and organizations.

In this episode of the Digital Dialogues Podcast, Amanda Stichter interviews Kristy Cohen, the CEO of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). They discuss the role of the RIA in the restoration industry and its three pillars: education, advocacy, and elevation. Kristi highlights the importance of the RIA Convention for networking and professional development. She also shares success stories and achievements of the RIA, as well as advice for those starting out in the restoration field. The episode concludes with information on how to connect with the RIA and attend the upcoming convention.

✨Takeaways
- The RIA is the oldest and largest nonprofit professional trade association dedicated to the restoration industry.
- The RIA focuses on education, advocacy, and elevation to support restorers and the industry as a whole.
- The RIA advocates for restorers by addressing issues such as independent pricing, third-party administrator requirements, and adjuster challenges.
- The RIA fosters a sense of community and collaboration through networking events, mentorship programs, and volunteer opportunities.
- The RIA Convention is a valuable opportunity for networking, learning, and staying up to date with industry trends.
Restorers should continuously learn and grow to excel in the restoration field.