Hello from MD!

goodlife
goodlife Posts: 1 ✭
in New Pro Hub

Hey everyone, and hello from the state of Maryland! 👋

We’re The Good Life Company, a small, family-owned home improvement company specializing in outdoor living projects like decks, patios, fences, roofing, and more.

We got started with a pretty simple goal which was to build a company that homeowners could feel comfortable working with and one where "our family could help bring yours together". We wanted to bring a more personal, honest approach to the contractor industry and show that communication matters just as much as the finished project. So far, we’re incredibly grateful for every homeowner who has trusted us with their home.

As a small business, we’re always learning and looking for ways to grow while still keeping that personal, family-business feel.

Our question for the Community: What is one thing you’ve done that has made the biggest difference in growing your small business without losing the personal touch that helped you get started?

We’d love to hear what has worked for you!

Comments

  • DustiO
    DustiO Administrator, Moderator Posts: 2,626 admin

    Welcome to the Community, @goodlife—we are so happy to have you here. I love your story and your mission to build a family owned company that helps bring your community together! I grew up working in a dry cleaners that my great grandmother had started over 50 years earlier and I have the fondest memories of working with my family and getting to know the folks in my city.

    I'm tagging in some of our Thumbtack Pro Advisors who may have some great tips for growing a business while keeping that personal touch. @ShaquealThomas @AR2i @Bretdouglas67@Bretdouglas @busyb @amccarthy @MaidThis_SLC @Chuva @ClayRiser @CodyRisner @AntilleanRestoration @callargo @Jack_Marquardt @Juliano_50 @Nick_Bennett @PhilZDPDX @Bkhomeservice @Cliff @TechExpert @SheilaHarris @Frederick_Haywood @JWC @Jonathan_Stickland @kdiddy01 @AR2i @DreamClean @MarlonC @Shanez_Padgett

  • Juliano_50
    Juliano_50 PAB Member Posts: 19 ✭✭✭

    The people we work with are a big part of what makes our company what it is. Even though there’s a lot of turnover because of the seasons, our core guys have been with us anywhere from 10 to 25 years. They understand what we stand for and make sure that anyone who joins the team is on the same page. We’re very selective about who we hire, even when it comes to seasonal workers. That helps ensure that our customers get the same experience every time they hire us. For us, it’s really about growing the right way—not growing fast.

  • Nick_Bennett
    Nick_Bennett PAB Member Posts: 3 ✭

    We've tried a lot of AI agents taking calls or handling after hours texts. That did not go over well with any of our client base. We tried using Virtual Assistants and ran into the same issues. Since then we've avoided anything related to automating/outsourcing direct client communication and handle that in house with a small team. Maintaining that personal touch always leads to a better client experience. We do use a lot of tech for daily internal tasks. Keeping a notebook nearby and making note of small tasks that can be automated has done a lot to free up some of my day.

  • AR2i
    AR2i PPC Member Posts: 29 ✭✭✭

    Welcome to the Community @goodlife! 👋

    I love this question — and especially what you said about communication mattering just as much as the finished project.

    One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that growth doesn't necessarily mean getting more and more clients. For me, it's been much more about finding the right clients and taking really good care of them.

    When you find those clients, something pretty amazing happens — they start marketing your business for you. They tell their friends, family, coworkers, other business owners, post on social media... basically anyone who will listen. 😊 Some of my best clients have come from other clients who just wouldn't stop talking about me!

    Another thing I've learned is to stay authentically YOU at every stage of the process. As your business grows, there may be more systems, more automation and more people helping behind the scenes, but your clients should still feel you in their experience. Let your personality come through in your messages, your conversations and the way you take care of them. After all, that's part of what made them want to work with you in the first place.

    It sounds like you're already building The Good Life Company with that mindset. 😊

    Congratulations & Welcome!

  • busyb
    busyb PAB Member Posts: 80 ✭✭✭

    Welcome @goodlife !!! As someone who learned to hustle hard on Thumbtack from the very beginning (6 years ago) I know that a lot of it had to with how I "showed up" from the very first point of contact. I take great pride in how genuine and authentic my communication is and never try to "sell". It's always about how can I help them, not how can they feed my bank account. As a member of the Pro Advisory Board, I'm happy to jump on a Zoom call and give you whatever recommendations you may need re: Thumbtack. Feel free to text 720-637-2492 to coordinate a time.

    Beth @ It's Just Stuff

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