195. Tersh Blissett’s Automation Pro Tips - Tersh Blissett
Jan 15, 2025
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Tersh Blissett, an AI and automation expert for the trades, shares insights from his experience as the owner of two HVAC companies and host of the Service Business Mastery Podcast. He outlines five essential automations every contractor needs to optimize workflow. Tersh also reveals clever ways to leverage AI, from streamlining lead management to enhancing customer service. He emphasizes the importance of minimizing repetitive tasks and highlights tools like Calendly and social media automations that can transform business operations.
Contractors benefit from a strategic plan that outlines goals and priorities, ensuring team alignment and focus on growth objectives.
Automation can drastically reduce repetitive tasks for contractors, reclaiming time for strategic planning and boosting overall operational efficiency.
AI tools provide innovative solutions for contractors, enhancing decision-making and enabling comprehensive research to stay competitive in the market.
Deep dives
Importance of Strategic Planning for Contractors
Business contractors need a clear and actionable strategic plan to succeed in the competitive landscape. This plan should outline key goals and implementation items, helping to maintain focus on priorities while avoiding distractions from less important tasks. A single-page format for this plan can facilitate sharing it with the team, ensuring everyone is aligned and working towards common objectives. This structured approach is not only beneficial for organizing operations but also essential for long-term growth.
Understanding Automation and Its Necessity
Automation refers to any process that operates automatically, triggered by certain actions or data inputs, which can significantly reduce the burden of repetitive tasks. Contractors often find themselves overwhelmed by monotonous duties, which can lead to inefficiencies and frustration. By learning to automate these tasks, such as data extraction and processing, contractors can reclaim valuable hours that can be redirected towards strategic planning and growth. This makes understanding and implementing automation techniques crucial for operational efficiency.
Building a Remote and Efficient Business Structure
Establishing a remote service business offers several advantages, including flexibility and broader access to talent. With the right technology stack, contractors can manage operations without a physical office while maintaining a strong company culture. Cloud-based tools facilitate seamless communication and collaboration, ensuring that team members remain connected even from afar. Successfully managing a remote business demonstrates that traditional geographical constraints can be overcome, opening up new avenues for growth and innovation.
Five Key Automations Every Contractor Should Implement
To improve efficiency, contractors should focus on five vital areas of automation: appointment scheduling, customer support, lead management, social media management, and client onboarding. For instance, tools like Calendly can automate scheduling and reminders, reducing missed appointments that can be costly. Customer inquiries can be streamlined by integrating website forms with platforms like Slack for rapid response. By automating these processes, businesses can enhance their customer experience while freeing up staff to focus on more value-adding tasks.
Leveraging AI for Enhanced Business Operations
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are becoming increasingly essential in the contracting space, providing innovative solutions that aid in decision-making and operational efficiency. For example, using AI for content creation can automate social media posts based on previous successes while also analyzing customer interactions for better service. Tools like perplexity give contractors the ability to perform research quickly and comprehensively, offering valuable insights without significant time investment. By integrating AI into their workflows, contractors can stay competitive and responsive to market needs.
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How are you using AI and automation in your business? Maybe you use ChatGPT for idea generation or have some automated reminders going out through your bookkeeping software or CRM.
If so, that’s great. But the reality is there is a lot more you could be doing. And it doesn't all require in-depth programming knowledge or tech skills.
Today’s conversation is with Tersh Blissett. He’s an AI and automations expert for trades and construction, Host of the Service Business Mastery Podcast, owner of two HVAC companies, and founder of Trade Automation Pros.
We discuss the five types of automations all contractors need and three of the most clever ways he’s seeing AI deployed in the trades today.
If you’re tired of monotonous and repetitive tasks but aren’t sure where to start with automations, this episode is a must-listen.
Episode Highlights:
Get intel from Tersh Blissett, AI and automations expert for trades and construction, Host of the Service Business Mastery Podcast, owner of two HVAC companies, and founder of Trade Automation Pros.
Learn the five types of automations every contractor needs to optimize their operations.
Get tips on how to get started with AI and automations, including three of Tersh’s favorite AI use cases in the contracting space.
00:00-Intro 01:16-Defining automations 02:04-Background on Tersh's passion for AI and automation 06:42-About Tersh 11:55-Five automations every contractor needs 12:23-Automated appointment scheduling and reminders 19:36-Streamlined customer support ticket handling 24:10-Automated lead management 25:23-Social media content curation and posting 30:54-Automated onboarding for new clients 40:49-Three clever ways contractors can use AI in their business 54:10-Advice for the not so tech-savvy contractor 56:52-Connect with Tersh