(301) 889-9782

info@phlashconsulting.com
January 30, 2025

8 Myths Keeping Home Service Businesses STUCK

info@phlashconsulting.com
Resources

8 Myths Keeping Home Service Businesses STUCK

Many home service business owners believe that pouring money into Google Ads or hiring a marketing director will automatically skyrocket their growth. But is that really the case? The truth is, there are multiple ways to scale your business beyond just paid ads. In this blog, we’ll break down eight common marketing myths and how to overcome them.

Myth #1: Google Ads Are the Only Way to Grow

Back in 2018, I worked with a $3 million home service business that only had 36 Google reviews and was spending $2,000 per month on Google Ads. But here’s the kicker – that’s not how they built their business. Instead, they focused on referral partnerships and word-of-mouth marketing.

Google Ads are just one of many ways to grow your business. Other strategies include:

  • Organic content marketing
  • Local SEO optimization
  • Building a strong brand
  • Cold calling and door-to-door sales
  • Networking and strategic partnerships

Additionally, many business owners run ads without properly tracking their return on ad spend (ROAS). If you’re not tracking where your revenue is coming from, you might just be throwing money away.

Myth #2: More Leads Will Automatically Grow My Business

This is false. According to Mike Michalowicz’s book, Clockwork, a business needs four core functions:

  1. Attraction (bringing in leads)
  2. Conversion (turning leads into customers)
  3. Delivery (completing the service)
  4. Collection (getting paid)

Most businesses don’t actually have a lead problem – they have a lead management problem. Leads come in, but they aren’t followed up with consistently. Simply improving follow-up processes with automated texts, emails, and nurture sequences can significantly increase revenue without generating new leads.

Myth #3: Hiring a Marketing Director Will Solve Everything

We often see companies between $3M-$10M try to hire a full-time marketing director. But marketing is too broad for one person to handle effectively. A single employee is unlikely to be an expert in:

  • SEO
  • Website development
  • Email marketing
  • CRM management
  • Social media content

Instead, successful companies hire an internal marketing coordinator to assist an external agency. This allows them to leverage specialized expertise without having to train one person to do it all.

Myth #4: The Business Owner Should Handle Everything

Many owners believe they must be the best marketer, salesperson, operations manager, and finance guru. But as Tommy Mello says:

“Up to $1M, you have to be a hustler. At $1M, the hustler must die, and the leader must be born.”

Scaling from $1M to $10M requires shifting from doing everything yourself to building a leadership team. That includes:

  • A fractional CFO (not just a bookkeeper)
  • A fractional marketing expert (not just cookie-cutter SEO)
  • A fractional HR consultant

At $10M+, these fractional roles can become full-time positions.

Myth #5: Email Marketing Is Dead

Wrong! One of our clients generated $263,000 from sending 12 emails last year. Email marketing is still a top-performing channel when done correctly. Here’s a 7-part framework for effective email marketing:

  1. Use a subject line tester to increase open rates.
  2. Add a call-to-action (CTA) button right below your logo.
  3. Write a blog post answering common customer questions.
  4. Include FAQs and social media snippets.
  5. Add a CTA to book a service.
  6. Feature a customer testimonial.
  7. Repeat the CTA at the bottom.

Email marketing isn’t dead – most businesses just aren’t using it effectively.

Myth #6: More Website Traffic = More Sales

Website traffic means nothing if it doesn’t convert into leads. One client we worked with had high traffic but only 14 leads per month. By optimizing their site with better CTAs, a chat widget, and an estimate calculator, we helped them generate 140 leads per month.

Your website should convert at least 10% of visitors into leads. Instead of focusing on traffic numbers, prioritize conversions.

Myth #7: Marketing Automation Feels Impersonal

Automation doesn’t mean robotic interactions. In fact, it can enhance customer service by ensuring prompt responses. Here’s an example:

  • When a lead fills out a form, send an automated text & email confirming receipt.
  • Include a personalized question to start a conversation.
  • Have your team follow up from there.

Customers appreciate quick responses, and automation ensures no lead is left behind.

Myth #8: Running Google Ads Will Automatically Grow My Business

Google Ads can be a black hole for money if you don’t track performance properly. A successful ad campaign should include:

  • A dedicated landing page (not just your homepage)
  • A tracking phone number and tracking form
  • A spreadsheet or CRM integration to measure return on ad spend

Just because you’re running ads doesn’t mean you’ll see business growth. You need a system to measure results and optimize for better performance.

It’s a Trap!

If any of these myths sound familiar, you’re not alone. Many business owners fall into these traps, but the key to growth is strategy, tracking, and execution.

Looking for guidance? We debunk these myths in-depth in our latest video, where we break down how one company scaled to $3M in just 12 months. Check it out now!