How to Use Video to Close More Sales and Eliminate Wasted Leads with James Hatfield of LiveSwitch
What if you could qualify leads, show off your past work, and prevent callbacks—all without ever stepping foot in a client’s home?In this episode, Mike Goldstein chats with James Hatfield, Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch, a video communications platform built specifically for service businesses like yours. James shares his journey from running a painting and pressure washing company to helping thousands of contractors scale faster with instant video tools.Whether you're dealing with unqualified leads, no-show appointments, or struggling to collect reviews—this episode will show you exactly how to use video to close more sales, streamline communication, and create a better client experience from start to finish. What You'll Hear in This Episode:Why speed to lead is more important than ever for remodelersHow to qualify prospects with a single text—before wasting gasUsing QR codes to automate job site videos, updates, and documentationCreative ways remodelers are using video to build trust and drive reviewsHow LiveSwitch integrates with tools like Jobber, Housecall Pro, and ZapierWhy contractors are calling this the “virtual walkie-talkie” of sales Resources & Links from the Episode: Free Trial Signup: Try LiveSwitch Now Get 10% Off with coupon code: CWKR10 About James Hatfield James is the Chief Revenue Officer at LiveSwitch, a leading communications platform that helps home service pros use instant video to connect faster with customers, document jobs in real-time, and close more sales. With roots in the trades and over two decades in tech, James bridges the gap between practical field knowledge and smart digital tools.️ Enjoying the show? Rate, review, and share this episode of the Crushing it With Kitchen Remodeling Podcast with a fellow remodeler who needs to simplify their sales process. Subscribe so you never miss an episode packed with tools and strategies to grow your business.
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Google’s Not Ranking You Anymore — It’s Replacing You. Here’s How to Fight Back
If you’re a contractor, remodeler, or home service pro still banking on old-school SEO to bring in leads… this episode is your wake-up call. Google has changed the rules — again. But this time, it’s not just an algorithm tweak. It’s full-blown AI replacing the search experience with answer boxes that cut you right out of the picture.In this episode, Mike Goldstein breaks down the shift to AI Overviews and Google’s new AI Mode — and more importantly, what the actual patents say about how Google decides which businesses show up. Spoiler: it’s not about backlinks anymore. It’s about structured, machine-readable answers, trust signals, and real-world expertise.You’ll learn:Why your homepage and blog might be totally invisible in Google’s AI resultsWhat the newest Google patents reveal about how AI chooses which websites to pull fromHow to rewrite your content for AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)Real examples of businesses who’ve adapted and are now dominating local searchTactical steps you can implement this week to start showing up again This isn’t theory. It’s how Google is working right now — and the businesses that adapt first will win. Read the full blog version of this episode here: https://kitchenremodelingseo.com/googles-ai-just-rewrote-the-rules-and-your-website-didnt-get-the-memo/ Need help getting your business found in AI search? Visit KitchenRemodelingSEO.com to book a strategy session.
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Why Answer Engine Optimization Is the New SEO for Remodelers
In this solo episode, Mike Goldstein shares a no-fluff breakdown of how AEO—Answer Engine Optimization—is replacing traditional SEO and what that means for kitchen and bathroom remodeling businesses. AI search tools like Google SGE, ChatGPT, and Perplexity are changing the rules of how homeowners find local remodelers—and if your content isn’t built to answer specific questions, you’re getting left behind. What You’ll Learn in This Episode:What AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) is—and how it’s already changing local searchWhy keywords matter less and questions matter more in the AI-powered search eraHow tools like ChatGPT, Alexa, and Google SGE are delivering instant answers without sending users to websitesThe 5 key strategies for optimizing your remodeling business for AEO:Build a question-based content strategyCreate and structure FAQ pages that link to blog-level answersAdd schema markup (FAQ, product, article) to signal AI botsOptimize for voice search with conversational headlines and page titlesLeverage chatbots and AI assistants to stay in front of search behavior shiftsThe difference between “ranking” in SEO vs. “being the answer” in AEOHow being featured in zero-click results can boost local leads and brand authority Mentioned in the Episode:Tools: AnswerThePublic, AlsoAsked, Google’s People Also AskSchema resource: https://schema.orgMike’s upcoming AI & marketing book (free download for subscribers—stay tuned) Who This Is For: Kitchen and bath remodeling business owners, cabinet shop owners, and marketers in the home remodeling niche who want to future-proof their lead flow and get found in the next wave of AI-powered search.Watch the full webinar at: https://youtu.be/zN1IsfOX7YI?si=AEP5VWsNhQIyTTa6
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Google Business Profile Secrets: How to Get More Showroom Visits & Remodeling Leads
If your kitchen or bathroom remodeling business has a showroom, but you're not getting enough walk-ins or phone calls, your Google Business Profile (GBP) might be the problem.In today’s episode of Crushing It with Kitchen Remodeling SEO Contractors, we’re diving deep into how to optimize your GBP the right way so more homeowners can find you, visit your showroom, and book appointments. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The #1 mistake remodelers make with their Google Business Profile (and how to fix it fast) How one remodeler increased showroom visits by 40% in just 30 days—without spending money on ads The photo strategy that makes homeowners trust you instantly Why Google ranks active businesses higher (and what to do about it) A simple way to get more 5-star reviews without begging customers Want more remodeling leads?Get expert help optimizing your digital presence by reading the accompanying article on enhancing your Google Business Profile Listen now and start getting more showroom visits, leads, and booked projects today! I
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SEO Secrets Revealed: How to Audit Your Website for Maximum Visibility
n this episode of Crushing It With Kitchen Remodeling, host Mike Goldstein takes a deep dive into the world of SEO. Rather than interviewing a guest this week, Mike walks you through a live SEO audit of a sample business outside the kitchen remodeling industry. He reveals the exact tools, strategies, and processes he uses to analyze a website’s performance in Google search results—and how you can apply these techniques to your own kitchen remodeling business.From examining your Google Business Profile and map rankings to identifying technical SEO issues and content gaps, this episode is packed with actionable tips. Learn about tools like Local Falcon, Screaming Frog, Search Atlas, and Google PageSpeed Insights. Discover why internal linking, structured data, and site speed optimization are critical to dominating your local search results.Tune in to gain insider knowledge and practical steps you can take today to improve your online presence, attract more local leads, and grow your business.Show Notes:1. IntroductionWhy we’re taking a different approach this episodeOverview of SEO audits and why they matter2. Google Business Profile AnalysisUsing Local Falcon to assess map rankingsUnderstanding the importance of customer reviews and competitor analysis3. Technical SEO EssentialsRobots.txt files: What they are and how they impact your siteXML sitemaps: Ensuring Google can find and index your pages404 errors, redirects, and canonical tags: Common pitfalls to avoid4. Content OptimizationCrafting compelling title tags and meta descriptionsThe importance of internal linking for SEO successUtilizing schema markup and authorship for better search visibility5. Off-Page SEO StrategiesThe role of backlinks in SEO performanceIdentifying and disavowing toxic links with tools like SEMrush6. Tools Mentioned in the EpisodeLocal FalconScreaming FrogSearch AtlasGoogle PageSpeed InsightsWP Rocket for WordPress performance7. Key TakeawaysSEO is like building a solid foundation: technical structure, content strategy, and authority all matterSimple improvements in site speed, internal linking, and content clarity can yield significant ranking boostsRegular audits help you stay ahead of competitors and adapt to Google’s evolving algorithmsConnect with Us:Visit our website: kitchenremodelingseo.comCall us at: 339-645-9461Follow us on YouTube to see the live audit walkthroughIf you found this episode helpful, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Let us know if you have any SEO questions or need help optimizing your kitchen remodeling business for more leads and better visibility. See you next week on Crushing It With Kitchen Remodeling! ️
Crushing It With Kitchen Remodeling is a podcast for kitchen remodeling contractors, where you’ll discover how you can start, grow, scale, and market a home remodeling business from top leaders in the industry. The host, Michael Goldstein, is the author of the book \"The Ultimate Guide Internet Marketing For Kitchen Contractors\" and the founder of Kitchen Remodeling SEO, a leading SEO & Internet Marketing Agency for Kitchen & Bath Contractors. Tune in and learn about leading home improvement business owners, product manufacturers, and contracting entrepreneurs as they share their secrets.
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