Clerics of Marketing

Ep 17 - Trade Show Escapades

This episode of The Clerics of Marketing starts with chaos — cat chaos. Adam and Brian share a hilarious (and slightly tragic) story about rehoming a cat, toilet training gone wrong, and what it’s like raising a five-year-old who’s just a little too hands-on with pets. But what begins with litter box talk quickly turns into an insightful and practical episode about trade shows, networking, and making the most of live events.
 
You will learn:
How to prepare for trade shows and networking expos the smart way
Why keeping your booth simple often works better than going all-out
How to attract attention with interactive displays and storytelling
When to leave your booth to make meaningful connections
Why the goal isn’t selling on the spot — it’s building relationships that convert later
 
With humor, honesty, and a dash of real-life chaos, this off-the-cuff episode proves that even when there’s no script, there’s always something to learn about business, branding, and the power of showing up.

Ep 16 - The Evolution of Trends

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian kick things off with a hilarious story about the mysterious “6-7” chant taking over school buses — and turn it into a masterclass on how trends actually spread. What starts as classroom chaos turns into a smart breakdown of how ideas move, stick, and influence entire communities — and how home service businesses can use the same principles to spark neighborhood-level growth.
 
You will learn:
How to spot, seed, and spread local marketing trends
Why “older kids” (your local influencers) are key to building momentum
The three stages of every trend: seed, spread, and stick
Practical ways to create your own “6-7” moment — something catchy, repeatable, and brand-driven
How to track your marketing’s neighborhood adoption curve and review velocity
Why over-discounting kills trust, and how to build loyalty with speed and convenience instead
 
Packed with humor, practical playbooks, and a 60-day marketing challenge, this episode will help you turn local buzz into booked-out calendars — without chasing every shiny trend.

Ep 15 - I'm Busy Enough Without Online Marketing

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian tackle one of the most common questions they hear from busy electricians, plumbers, and home service pros: “Do I really need a website when I’m already booked out?” They share practical insights on why consistent marketing matters even when business is booming — and how failing to plan during peak season can lead to painful slow months later.
 
You will learn:
Why your online presence is your insurance policy against slow seasons
How to keep your website, Google Business Profile, and social media working for you year-round
Simple habits that help you maintain visibility during your busiest times
How to build a marketing rhythm that keeps your best techs busy all year
The 90-day challenge to strengthen your local brand and avoid the seasonal slump
 
From vomit-on-the-bus mornings to real talk about momentum, marketing, and stewardship, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for every contractor who wants steady growth — not just seasonal survival.

Ep 14 - Pricing Strategy Real Talk for Marketers

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian pull back the curtain on how real marketing agencies price their services — and why many race-to-the-bottom agencies give the industry a bad name. They dig into the true costs behind quality work, from fair wages to strategy, design, and the time it takes to deliver results that actually move the needle.
 
You will learn:
Why pricing based on integrity and results matters more than undercutting competitors
The hidden costs behind cheap marketing packages
How The Marketing Clerics handle content creation, ownership, and ongoing strategy
What sets faith-driven agencies apart from cookie-cutter firms
How transparency and trust lead to better long-term client partnerships
 
It’s an honest conversation about value, integrity, and why doing things the right way — even when it costs more — always pays off in the end.

Ep 13 - Staying True to Your Brand

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian get real about what makes a business truly stand out in a crowded industry. From the roots of their brand and faith to their love for Dungeons & Dragons and nerd culture, they unpack how authenticity became their “purple cow.” The conversation explores what it means to own your unique identity instead of blending in, how storytelling connects deeper than buzzwords, and why faith and creativity don’t have to live in separate worlds.
 
You will learn:
How to define what makes your brand truly different
Why storytelling is still the most powerful marketing tool
How to balance professionalism with personality
Why authenticity attracts the right clients
How The Marketing Clerics are leaning fully into their faith-driven, fantasy-inspired brand
 
It’s part testimony, part marketing strategy, and all about being bold enough to show up as who you really are — even when everyone else looks the same.

Ep 12 - How to Set Your Billable Labor Rate (and Actually Make a Profit)

In this episode of Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian tackle one of the most misunderstood (and most important) parts of running a home service business: how to calculate your true billable labor rate.
 
Too many contractors pull a number out of thin air — $75/hr, $100/hr — without realizing what it really costs to put a technician in a truck. From payroll burden and non-billable time to trucks, tools, and overhead, this episode breaks down every component that goes into building a profitable rate — one that fuels growth instead of draining your margins.
 
You’ll learn:
✅ How to calculate your true cost per billable hour — including wages, benefits, and inefficiencies
✅ Why non-billable time and callbacks can kill profitability if not priced right
✅ How to factor in trucks, wraps, tools, and marketing into your hourly rate
✅ What a 25% profit margin target actually looks like in your pricing
✅ The math behind going from $75/hr → $413/hr — and why it’s justified
 
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re busy but not making money, this episode will open your eyes to the hidden costs every contractor faces — and how to fix them.
 
🕒 Perfect for electricians, plumbers, HVAC pros, and home service owners ready to scale smart and profitably.
 
Keywords: contractor pricing, billable labor rate, home service profitability, hourly rate calculator, trades business growth, contractor profit margin, field service management, electrician pricing, plumbing business tips, marketing for contractors

Ep 11 - Do you even need a website?

In today’s episode of Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian tackle one of the most common questions from home service business owners: Do you even need a website in 2025? Spoiler — yes, you do… but not just any website.
 
They break down the essentials of high-performing home service websites — from clear calls-to-action and local SEO to showcasing authentic project photos (not stock images) and building trust that converts. Learn how AI-generated sites are flooding the web, and how your business can stand out by creating a real online presence that reflects your brand, earns higher-paying customers, and scales your reputation.
 
This episode dives into:
✅ The website features every home service business needs (homepage, service pages, about, contact, service areas, and more)
✅ How to make your site “AI-proof” and SEO-friendly
✅ Why tracking calls and form submissions is key to marketing ROI
✅ The secret to charging more — and getting it — through brand authority
 
Whether you’re a one-man electrical shop or managing a fleet of service vans, this episode will help you build a digital foundation that fuels real growth — not just traffic.
 
🕒 Listen now to learn how to make your website your hardest-working employee.
 
Keywords: home service marketing, contractor websites, SEO for contractors, website design tips, digital marketing for trades, AI websites, local SEO, service business growth, marketing podcast, home service business advice

Ep. 10: All About ClickUp Part 2 of 300 AI Brain

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian dive deep into ClickUp’s AI tool called Brain — and how it’s changing the game for productivity, automation, and communication inside a business. They share the funny challenge of tagging “Brian” vs. “Brain,” then break down real-world ways they’re using it at The Marketing Clerics, from automated client reports to AI-generated project plans and team updates.
 
You will learn:
How ClickUp Brain simplifies executive summaries and client reporting
How to turn a statement of work or proposal into a full project plan with tasks and dependencies
How AI can help non-native English speakers or anyone communicate more clearly
How “Agents” and “Deep Search” make it easier to find and automate what matters
Real use cases for automating workflows, time blocking, and even asset tracking
 
It’s a detailed, honest conversation about where AI helps, where it fails, and how to make tools like ClickUp Brain actually work for your business instead of becoming another distraction.

Ep. 9: All About ClickUp Part 1 of 300

In this episode of The Clerics of Marketing, Adam and Brian dive deep into how The Marketing Clerics runs projects, clients, and daily operations inside ClickUp. They break down why they switched from Monday.com, how they use ClickUp for everything from task management to automations, and what makes it a powerful tool for small teams that need to stay organized without losing flexibility.
 
You will learn:
How ClickUp helps track client work, time, and internal communication
How automations save hours and reduce errors — even for non-technical users
Why custom fields, milestones, and dependencies matter for project-based work
How contractors can use ClickUp to manage installs, team schedules, and job progress
The pros, cons, and practical lessons from real-world use
 
It’s a hands-on conversation full of real examples, practical advice, and a few laughs — especially for business owners who want to bring order to the chaos without overcomplicating their systems.

Ep. 8 - Brand Messaging or Stereotyping?

Adam and Brian dive into the art of brand messaging and audience targeting using an unexpected example straight from the shower. From men’s and women’s shampoo to home service marketing, they break down how clear messaging connects when you know exactly who you’re talking to. The conversation explores why generalizing isn’t always bad, how stereotypes become strategy in marketing, and why trying to reach everyone means reaching no one. They relate it all back to contractors, explaining how income level, life stage, and local demographics shape effective messaging. The takeaway — don’t be the burlap sack. Define your audience, speak their language, and serve them with purpose.