In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam tackles one of the biggest questions he hears from friends, clients, and even other business owners. Why is marketing so expensive? Instead of giving a fluffy answer, he breaks it down with real numbers, labor hours, and a transparent look at what it actually takes to run high quality marketing for a home service business.

Adam walks listeners through the hidden workload behind Google Business Profile optimization, social media content creation, email marketing, and full website builds. He breaks down exactly how many hours go into each task, why cheap agencies can charge $500 a month, and the huge difference between template swapping and true custom work done by real professionals.

This episode also includes a first look at the Marketing Clerics new 2026 model. Adam explains how the next evolution of the agency is moving away from rigid packages and toward a flexible base plan with modular add ons that contractors can scale up or down with the seasons. Instead of locking clients into bloated retainers, the new model focuses on transparency, choice, and a build-your-own-marketing-stack approach that adapts as the business grows.

Along the way Adam gets real about the pressure small agencies face when competing with overseas labor, how margins work in a service business, and why fair wages and honest work matter. If you’ve ever wondered what you’re truly paying for in a marketing retainer, or if you’ve been burned by low cost “set it and forget it” agencies, this episode gives you clarity on the real cost of doing it right and a preview of what smarter marketing will look like in 2026.

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam tackles one of the ugliest truths in the industry: most marketers stretch the truth far beyond what actually happened. From inflated case studies to “unicorn” ROI claims, Adam breaks down how agencies twist numbers, take credit for results they didn’t cause, and hide behind shiny headlines that fall apart under real scrutiny.

He shares personal stories from both marketing and IT consulting, including situations where results were legitimate but lacked the hard tracking data needed to back them up. Adam also walks through the generator installation example, showing why raw lead counts don’t tell the full story and why honesty about qualified leads, close rates, and real revenue matters far more than splashy metrics.

The conversation shifts into a practical guide for home service contractors on how to evaluate marketing partners. Adam highlights what questions to ask, what red flags to watch for, and why you should care more about consistency, communication, and long-term support than a handful of impressive screenshots.

At its core, this episode is about integrity — the kind that prefers truth over hype and genuine partnership over high profit margins. If you’re tired of marketing companies overselling their magic, this honest breakdown will help you see through the noise and choose a partner who shows up, sticks around, and tells the truth.

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam walks through one of the most important tools in business: the customer journey map. He breaks down what makes someone actually buy from you, call you, or choose your service over another. From defining your top customer profiles to understanding their challenges, motivations, and pain points, Adam explains how to see your business through your customers’ eyes.

He walks through each stage of the journey — awareness, consideration, conversion, retention, and referral — and shows how electricians and other home service pros can use this framework to shape their messaging, ads, website, and overall strategy. Using real examples like standby generators and storm season frustrations, Adam connects the dots between customer behavior and smart marketing.

You’ll learn how to identify what your customer is thinking, what they’re feeling, where they interact with your brand, and how to move them from “never heard of you” to “lifelong client who tells everyone.” If you want clearer messaging, stronger connection, and more consistent growth, this episode gives you a simple but powerful roadmap to get there.

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam takes listeners on a deep dive into the world of automation — starting with a fun nod to the “gadget machine” from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He breaks down how The Marketing Clerics is using tools like Make, Zapier, and AI to simplify repetitive tasks, save time, and bring order to the chaos of client management. From automating Google Doc creation to photo tagging, lead notifications, and even Google Review sentiment analysis, Adam walks through real examples any home service business can apply.

You will learn:

• How to decide what’s worth automating and what’s better left manual

• The difference between no-code and low-code tools like Make, Zapier, and Power Automate

• How The Marketing Clerics built automations that save hours every week

• Practical automations for service businesses, including CRM updates and review management

• How AI can analyze and categorize job photos, flag bad reviews, and celebrate 5-star employees

Whether you’re an electrician, contractor, or agency owner, this episode will help you stop overcomplicating systems and start building automations that actually make your life easier — no Rube Goldberg machine required.

Very raw episode, full description coming soon!

In this solo episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam walks listeners through the EOS Vision Traction Organizer (V/TO) — a powerful framework from Gino Wickman’s Traction that helps business owners create alignment, clarity, and focus. Adam breaks down how The Marketing Clerics uses the V/TO to set goals, define core values, and plan quarterly priorities — even when the company was under $100K in revenue.

He explains each section in detail, from defining your core values and focus to building a 10-year target, marketing strategy, and 3-year picture that keeps your team unified and motivated. Adam also shares how The Marketing Clerics’ DISCIPLE core values guide every decision they make and how home service businesses can apply these same principles for long-term success.

You will learn:

• How to build and use the EOS Vision Traction Organizer

• Why defining your core values and focus early creates lasting clarity

• How to connect your 10-year goals to actionable quarterly “rocks”

• How to identify and prioritize key business issues for steady progress

• Real examples of how faith, structure, and stewardship shape business growth

It’s a masterclass in getting your business organized — grounded in practical steps and faith-driven leadership.

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in business: the difference between marketing and advertising. They start with a quick chat about government oversight and economics, then dive straight into a practical breakdown of how these two strategies work together — and when to focus on each.

They explain how marketing builds trust and brand presence over time, while advertising drives immediate, measurable action. Using real examples from Coca-Cola to local home service companies, they share what works, what doesn’t, and how to get results without wasting money.

You will learn:

• The core difference between marketing and advertising — and why it matters

• How to know when to invest in each

• Simple analogies to understand long-term brand building vs. short-term lead generation

• How to budget realistically for both

• Why consistent brand visibility is the key to sustainable growth

Packed with real numbers, relatable analogies, and practical takeaways, this episode helps business owners stop guessing and start marketing with intention.

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian start off with some lighthearted football banter before diving into a deep and honest conversation about value-based pricing — what it means, how agencies use it, and how it impacts both clients and profitability.

They break down the real costs behind digital marketing services, why “cheap” packages often deliver minimal results, and how holistic marketing creates better long-term growth than single-focus approaches like SEO-only campaigns. Through personal stories, real client examples, and transparent math, they explore the tension between fair pricing, sustainability, and integrity in the marketing industry.

You will learn:

• What value-based pricing actually means for marketing agencies and clients

• The difference between cheap marketing and strategic, holistic growth

• Why agencies struggle to balance profitability with purpose

• How to identify “smoke and mirrors” in agency pitches

• What to look for in a long-term, trustworthy marketing partner

It’s an unfiltered look at the real economics of marketing — packed with insights for business owners who want honest results, not empty promises.