In this episode of Marketing Without Rules, host Lewis Vandervalk interviews Zac Garside, President of Prolific Brand Design. They dive deep into the hunter mindset, creative marketing strategies and the biggest mistakes contractors make when trying to stand out.

Zac shares actionable insights on boosting email deliverability, crafting captivating campaigns that actually get replies, and building long-term relationships with your list. They also discuss how CSRs can make or break your marketing ROI and introduce the concept of emblematic touchpoints… the small, memorable “WOW” moments that define your brand.

This episode goes beyond tactics, challenging business owners to stop copying “best practices” and start creating marketing that’s personal, bold, and unforgettable.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview

02:58 The Importance of CSRs in Home Services

05:45 Creating a Wow Experience

13:45 Effective Email Marketing Strategies

18:16 The Pitfalls of Cold Emailing

33:50 The Flexibility of Email Marketing

34:49 Optimal Email Frequency

35:09 The Importance of Consistency and Quality

39:57 Emblematic Touchpoints in Marketing

49:54 The Value of Personal Touch in Business

52:18 The Role of AI in Marketing

01:04:10 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Visit BlueCrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

In this episode of Marketing Without Rules, host Lewis Vandervalk welcomes Chris Scoville, founder and CEO of Improvifi, to break down what they’d do to launch a home service business from scratch.

Using a fictional brand called “Generator King”, Lewis and Chris brainstorm creative marketing strategies, branding tactics and referral-based growth plans that any local service business owner can use.

They discuss the importance of standing out in a saturated market, the power of partnerships and physical branding, and how to build a referral flywheel that attracts long-term customers.

From custom-wrapped porta-potties to co-branded trucks and authentic relationship-building, this episode delivers real-world advice with a creative twist, perfect for any trades-based entrepreneur looking to grow smarter and faster.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome

00:35 Chris Scoville’s Background and Business Growth

02:59 Building a Team with Purpose

04:52 Scaling and Overcoming Challenges

08:26 Creating the “Generator King” Blueprint

28:02 Referral Strategies and Networking

31:13 Colorful Dumpsters and Porta-Potties

32:20 Branding and Partnerships in Dumpster Rentals

34:21 The Importance of Differentiation in Marketing

37:12 How to Build a Brand That Gets Noticed

49:11 Final Thoughts and Where to Find Us

Visit BlueCrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!

What if every job you completed quietly brought in 3, 4, even 5 more without running ads or chasing cold leads?

In this free training, Marketing Without Rules host Lewis Vandervalk reveals the exact local marketing strategy that service pros are using to multiply their jobs using trust, visibility, and smart systems.

This week's episode is a special encore replay episode of a workshop Lewis hosted in June of 2025.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

How to get happy customers to post about you in community Facebook groups (without being pushy)

Why signs, short videos, and reviews on multiple platforms still outperform fancy digital strategies

How to revive your old customer list with one simple text

A step-by-step formula to turn every job site into a local referral machine

This isn't marketing theory. It's what smart home service businesses are doing right now to 5X their leads without extra spend or a marketing team.

Whether you're a contractor, home service pro, or local business owner, this training gives you a real-world system to grow fast using the jobs you're already doing.

Visit BlueCrocus.ca if you have marketing questions you need help with!