Owned and Operated - A Plumbing, Electrical, and HVAC Business Growth Podcast

#191 How AI Is Transforming Lead Generation and Market Expansion

17 snips

May 1, 2025

James Zaner, a lead generation expert from Modernize, shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing the home service industry. He discusses innovative strategies for harnessing AI, like ChatGPT and CRM systems, to enhance lead generation and automate operations. Zaner emphasizes the importance of customer segmentation for growth and shares practical applications of AI tools to improve business efficiency. The conversation also highlights modern marketing techniques, such as QR codes, to engage customers effectively and the need for traditional trades to adapt to the evolving market landscape.

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ADVICE

Treat AI Like Remote Employee

Treat AI like a remote employee needing clear instructions and context.
Use AI conversationally with detailed context to dramatically boost research and output efficiency.

INSIGHT

Google My Business as Lead Engine

Google My Business profiles act like the new SEO, with higher engagement than ever.
Optimized Local Service Ads and GMBs have become a top organic lead channel generating hundreds of thousands per week.

INSIGHT

Choose Easy vs Big Markets

Market expansion choices revolve around picking easier or bigger markets.
Smaller, less sophisticated markets cap growth but are easier to dominate; larger markets offer bigger opportunities but more competition.

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Want to grow your HVAC, plumbing, or roofing business using AI, lead generation, and marketing automation? In this episode of Owned and Operated, we dive into how artificial intelligence is transforming the home service industry. Host John Wilson sits down with James Zaner from Modernize to explore cutting-edge strategies for using AI-powered tools to generate high-quality leads, automate operations, and expand into new markets. Whether you're a contractor, service business owner, or operator looking to scale, this episode is your playbook for growth through AI integration, customer segmentation, and smart marketing systems.

Discover how top-performing service businesses are leveraging AI for business growth, customer acquisition, and operational efficiency. James shares how Modernize uses tools like ChatGPT, CRM systems, and AI automation to improve sales productivity, nurture long-term customer value, and drive sustainable expansion. From optimizing lead generation funnels to implementing AI agents and marketing tech stacks, you’ll learn exactly how to modernize your service business and stay ahead in a competitive market.

🚨 In This Episode, We Cover:

🔹 How Modernize uses AI to scale lead generation and improve ROI

🔹 Real-world applications of ChatGPT and automation in business operations

🔹 The importance of customer segmentation and CRM in growth

🔹 Why modernizing traditional trades is crucial for future-proofing

🔹 How to align marketing strategy with long-term customer value

🔹 Market expansion tactics driven by smart data and AI

💼 Special Thanks to Service Scalers!

We’ve been partnering with Service Scalers to maximize our Local Service Ads (LSAs) and optimize our Google My Business profiles, and the results have been incredible. With hundreds of thousands in sales and 900+ calls in a single week, GMBs are now our top-performing organic lead channel.

Want to learn how Service Scalers can do the same for you?

🔗 Check them out here:

💼 Shoutout to Avoca AI!

Looking to train your call center and improve technician performance? Avoca AI helps teams identify issues, improve call quality, and drive results from start to finish.

🔗 Schedule a demo

🎙️ Episode Host:

🗣️ John Wilson

🎙️ Episode Guest:

🗣️ James Zayner

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John Wilson, CEO of Wilson Companies
Jack Carr, CEO of Rapid HVAC

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