Shows
The Build With ICF PodcastBuild With ICF Podcast Episode 48 Marketing for ICF with Beth PopNiklovJoin Trevor and Heather along with their expert guest, Venveo CEO, Beth PopNiklov, as they delve into the world of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF) and marketing strategies. With over two decades of experience, they unpack the nuances of leveraging AI in social media, the emerging potential of Reddit for ICF discussions, and the importance of integrating digital and in-person marketing efforts. Whether you're an ICF veteran or new to the concept, this episode offers insights on building a resilient brand and navigating the challenges of a niche market. Tune in for a conversation that bridges practical experience with innovative...
2025-04-081h 00The Build With ICF PodcastBuild with ICF Podcast Episode 46 IBS and Dealer Conference ReCapJoin hosts Trevor Brown and Heather Hering-Brown on an exciting episode of the Build with ICF podcast. With over 20 years of combined expertise in insulated concrete forms (ICF), this dynamic duo shares their experiences from recent industry events, including the Builder Show in Vegas and the Superform Dealer Conference in Canada.
In this episode, they discuss the impact of tariffs on Canadian-sourced materials, offer practical advice on dealing with inspections, and highlight innovations in the ICF industry, such as structural fiberglass rebar. Trevor and Heather also delve into the importance of educating inspectors and engineers and share...
2025-03-1935 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingIBS 2024: Takeaways and Follow-Up Strategies2024’s International Builders’ Show (IBS) was the biggest show in 15 years. The Venveo team is back from Vegas and here to share their takeaways, top booths and biggest trends from this year’s event! We also dive into key ways to make a lasting impression at trade shows and how to embrace experiential marketing and tailored follow-up strategies to elevate your brand and drive meaningful connections with your trade show leads.
2024-03-0823 minSmarter Building Materials Marketing2023's Top Podcast Episodes: Key Insights for Building Materials IndustryIn this exciting wrap-up of 2023, Venveo’s Steve Coffey and Deanna Murphy dive deep into the most influential podcasts that have reshaped marketing strategies in the building materials industry. They discuss pivotal trends, resilience in the face of economic uncertainties and the integrative innovation pushing the industry forward.
2024-01-0917 minSmarter Building Materials MarketingFeatures vs. Benefits: Why Building Materials Manufacturers Need to Know the DifferenceCan you articulate the difference between a feature and a benefit? If not, you’re probably using them wrong in your sales copy. This week we talk about the difference between features and benefits and how to use them for the most impact. Deanna Murphy, Venveo’s Director of Strategy, is back this week to talk with Zach about features and benefits messaging, market fit, how to win your customer and more.
2023-08-1414 minSmarter Building Materials MarketingAttract More Talent By Creating a Culture of LeadershipIt can be hard to find high-quality employees in today’s job environment. However, it’s not impossible. This week's guest talks about how they’ve managed to grow their team by 20 percent year over year while decreasing turnover through their culture of leadership.Josh Hendrickson is vice president of sales and marketing at Wilson Lumber, a third-generation owned lumber dealer operating outside of Huntsville, Alabama. He talks with Deanna Murphy, director of strategy at Venveo, and Zach about Wilson Lumber’s unique leadership structure.
2023-07-1717 minSmarter Building Materials Marketing3 Best Ways Building Materials Manufacturers Can Converge Marketing & SalesWe break down the three best ways marketing and sales teams can converge to see the greatest ROI, plus key insights from AIA 2023. This week, Steve Coffey, Venveo’s Director of Growth, is co-hosting with Zach.
2023-06-1917 minSmarter Building Materials MarketingSocial Media Changes: What Manufacturers Need to Know Right NowSocial media platforms today can feel like the wild west with algorithms and strategies changing every few days. This week, Beth brings back Venveo’s very own social media expert, Ashley Stevenson, to talk about social media platform changes: what’s happening right now and what may be changing in the future.
2023-05-0120 minSmarter Building Materials MarketingWhat the Building Materials Industry Needs to Know About ChatGPTChatGPT is the latest buzzword in the marketing world, and many building materials manufacturers are unsure of what it means for them. In this episode, we give an overview of what ChatGPT is and what it means for the building materials industry. Beth, Zach and Steve Coffey, Venveo's Director of Growth, talk about ChatGPT. Zach gives an overview of what ChatGPT is, and then Steve performs a rapid-fire round of questions about how ChatGPT may affect the industry.
2023-01-3020 min
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget276 :: Beth PopNikolov, CEO of VenveoIn episode 276, Bradley is joined by Beth PopNikolov, CEO of Venveo. Beth describes her first 90 days as CEO of Venveo and how important it was to maintain the company's culture. She also gives advice on how to improve communication between sales and marketing This episode is brought to you by Capital One Trade Credit *** If you enjoyed this podcast, we'd sincerely appreciate it if you left a review on Apple Podcasts. The feedback helps improve the show and helps with our visibility as well. The more people listen to the podcast, the more we...
2022-09-0844 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Building Materials Companies Can Leverage LinkedIn + Strategies for OutreachLinkedIn has over 800 million users in more than 200 countries today. It’s a powerful community where marketing and sales professionals in the building materials space can share content and support their business growth, all on one platform. And many of us could be using it more effectively. There’s a way to reach out to potential customers on LinkedIn, and there’s a way not to. Venveo’s Ashley Stevenson and Zach Williams talk about the platform and strategies for outreach so that you can make authentic connections and build your building materials business.
2022-06-2725 min
Specified: Building Materials & Construction Growth PodcastLearning From Your Audience (With Beth PopNikolov)Beth PopNikolov is the CEO at Venveo.In this episode of Specified Growth Podcast, Beth talks about her career journey and what she’s brought from past jobs into her current role at Venveo. She also discusses her passion for technical writing, the importance of knowing your audience and industry, and how to approach researching trends and gathering data. Don’t miss this episode of Specified Growth Podcast!Please reach out if you have any feedback or questions. Enjoy! Twitter: @TatsuyaNakagawaInsta...
2022-06-0626 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingTikTok Star Tony Piloseno on Being Fired To Building a BrandHe went from being fired for making TikTok videos to being the paint industry’s most viral story to date. This week, we welcome Tony Piloseno to the show to get the inside scoop on how he used social media to share his passion for paint — and find brand success. Tony Piloseno is a huge name in the Venveo office and on TikTok. Now the full-time owner and CEO of Tonester Paints, we brought in Tony to hear the whole story and what he’s learned while creating the hottest #paint content online today.
2022-06-0625 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingExhibiting at AIA: 5 Strategies to Help Brands Prep for Trade ShowsTrade shows have started up again with gusto, and we’re looking forward to the AIA Conference on Architecture coming up at the end of June. This week, we talk about what building materials brands can prepare when it comes to a solid trade show strategy and came up with five ways sales and marketing teams can plan ahead. Steve Coffey is Venveo’s Director of Growth, and he’s also our resident expert on trade shows. We brought him on again to talk about the best strategies for manufacturing brands that want to make a splash at the...
2022-05-3029 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Building Materials Companies Can Reach Hispanic ContractorsOne of the most common questions Venveo gets from manufacturers is “Should we translate our website into Spanish?" The answer is always a resounding, “Yes!” But for some manufacturers that might feel like a daunting task, so we break down this process more with an expert in this week’s episode. It’s important to do the work to make your building materials website more accessible to Spanish-speaking audiences. Kevin Kilpatrick is the Chief Marketing Officer of Blue Lake Lumber, and he walked us through the most effective ways to truly connect with this ever-growing audience in the constru...
2022-02-2122 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingWhat Builders Thought of IBS 2022We haven’t covered one of the construction industry’s biggest events in a couple of years, so we were thrilled to report live from this year’s NAHB International Builders’ Show. Beth and Steve attended IBS 2022 in Orlando, and we checked in with them on what’s buzzworthy at this year’s event. Part of our passion at Venveo is to report on trends and concerns in the building industry, and we’re so excited to share what happened at IBS 2022 in Orlando. It gives us an opportunity to connect with others in the industry and get the latest updates...
2022-02-1419 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingWhat Pros Want in 2022: Insights From a Building Materials Industry PanelEvery year, Venveo partners with The Farnsworth Group to survey pros, builders, architects and DIYers on how they research, specify and purchase building materials products. This week, we’re sharing insights from the pro panel we held during the 2022 Building Products Customer Guide event. Anytime we get to talk with other building materials industry pros and experts, it’s a fun time. Here are a few key clips, along with some of the best insights straight from the pros.
2022-01-3118 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingTikTok Strategies for Building Materials ManufacturersOne of the most talked about social media platforms today is TikTok. It’s where a ton of online trends start, and in this episode, we bring back Venveo’s own Ashley Stevenson to help us understand which building materials brands should be on the platform and how they can be successful. In a recent episode of the show, we talked about the ROI of social media in building materials, and it quickly became the most commented-on podcast we've done to date. So this time, we’re taking a deep dive into the wildly popular platform of TikTok
2021-11-2921 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingGrowing With the Industry: Leadership Changes at VenveoIf you didn’t already know, the Smarter Building Materials Marketing podcast is produced by Venveo, the digital marketing agency that our host Zach Williams founded almost 15 years ago. This week’s episode is about changes at Venveo and in the industry, and our excitement about what’s ahead. Venveo has worked with building materials manufacturers and suppliers for more than a decade, and during this time, the industry has undergone huge changes. Beth and Zach talk about how Venveo is preparing for the growth ahead, with a few exciting updates.
2021-11-2311 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingThe Top 5 Types of Content Building Materials Manufacturers Need in 2022Content is a hot topic here at Venveo, but this week’s show gets specific about five types of content you need to put on the calendar next year. If you stick around until the end you’ll get a bonus tip from Beth. The content building materials manufacturers create can make a big impact on their brand in 2022. Are you ready to level up your marketing?
2021-10-2523 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingSocial Media ROI: How Building Materials Companies Can Determine SuccessThe question we get asked most often is about social media and its ROI. So this week’s episode is all about the strategies and tactics we use to help building materials manufacturers succeed in the digital world. If you’re trying to level up your social media presence, stay tuned. Zach and Beth talk with Venveo’s own social media expert Ashley Stevenson to get into the nitty-gritty of the ROI of social media.
2021-08-2326 min
The Short Term Rental Profits Show66: When Supply Chain Disruptions Might End with Venveo's Zach & BethThere's a shortage of everything going on in the world today. And even when some things are available, another part of the supply chain is clogged and we can't get the parts we need. Nowhere is this truer than the construction industry. Jason Hartman is joined by Venveo's Zach and Beth to discuss what's actually happening with the supply chain and how long we can expect this to continue. The 3 discuss the 4 L's of construction, a shift in attitude toward manufacturing houses, how the pandemic has impacted the way people are buying, and more. Key...
2021-07-3027 min
Creating Wealth Real Estate Investing with Jason Hartman1718: REAL Construction Costs & Supply Chain Disruptions with Venveo's Zach & BethThere's a shortage of everything going on in the world today. And even when some things are available, another part of the supply chain is clogged and we can't get the parts we need. Nowhere is this truer than the construction industry. Jason Hartman is joined by Venveo's Zach and Beth to discuss what's actually happening with the supply chain and how long we can expect this to continue. The 3 discuss the 4 L's of construction, a shift in attitude toward manufacturing houses, how the pandemic has impacted the way people are buying, and more. Key...
2021-07-2838 min
Accredited Income Property Investment Specialist (AIPIS)378: Changing Habits of Home Builders & Buyers with Venveo's Zach & BethThere's a shortage of everything going on in the world today. And even when some things are available, another part of the supply chain is clogged and we can't get the parts we need. Nowhere is this truer than the construction industry. Jason Hartman is joined by Venveo's Zach and Beth to discuss what's actually happening with the supply chain and how long we can expect this to continue. The 3 discuss the 4 L's of construction, a shift in attitude toward manufacturing houses, how the pandemic has impacted the way people are buying, and more. Key...
2021-07-1627 min
Coffee Break - Loc-Doc SecurityEP 107 | How To Get Results on LinkedIn | Guest: Zach WilliamsChad Lingafelt chats with Zach Williams CEO & Founder of Venveo a Digital Marketing Expert Group on today’s episode. We talk about how to get results on LinkedIn and actionable steps to take to improve your profile. We also touch on what not to post and why having a direct message makes money!
Follow Zach:
Website: venveo.com
Instagram: @venveo
Twitter: @venveo
Facebook: @venveo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zwilliams/
2021-01-1932 min
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under BudgetEp. 170 :: Bradley joins the Smarter Building Materials Marketing Podcast with Zach Williams and Beth Pop-NikolovIn episode 170, you'll hear Hartmann's guest appearance on one of his favorite podcasts: Smarter Building Materials Marketing with Zach Williams and Beth Pop-Nikolov. If you are not already a subscriber to Smarter Building Materials Marketing, click the link below to resolve that immediately: www.venveo.com/podcast Zach Williams, founder of Venveo which specializes in building materials marketing, was a guest on The Behind Your Back Podcast episode 127 talking about "unessential business" with TJ Shaheen of Builders General (NJ) and The Lumberjack Brett Thorne of Thorne Lumber (MO). ...
2020-12-2331 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingThe Most Important Changes to Make to Your Building Materials WebsitePeople are spending more time than ever online, and key players in the building materials industry are no expectation. Let’s look at some common mistakes and quick fixes that you can make to your website today to continue to drive awareness, leads and sales. In this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Mitch Harris, Venveo’s Design Team Architect, about the most important changes building material manufacturers should be making to their websites in 2021.
2020-11-3026 min
Build Perspectives PodcastBuilding Materials in a Nutshell, with VenveoIs the construction industry the most passionate industry? Join us as we talk to veteran building materials marketing gurus Zach Williams and Beth Popnikolov of Venveo. We talk about the business of building materials, highlights of their podcast, and great advice for anyone working in this industry. www.buildperspectives.com
2020-10-2742 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHighlights and Takeaways from Our First 100 EpisodesIt’s finally here … Our 100th episode! We started this podcast in April of 2018, and two years later, we are still going strong. We’ve learned a lot about podcasting, our industry and marketing in those two years, and we’re so proud to have shared those learnings with all of you. On this week’s episode, SBMM has been taken over. Steve and Deanna, two Venveo team members, are hosting this week to talk about their favorite episodes, their biggest takeaways and the best strategies that they’ve learned over the last two years.
2020-09-2142 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingBuilding Materials E-commerce Strategies that Improve In-Store ResultsIn this episode, Zach talks to Gus Houghtaling, Director of Sales at Renin, whose e-commerce strategy is largely tied to learning what new products perform well that they can then bring to actual brick and mortar stores E-commerce is typically seen as a way to grow sales and get closer to the customer. But there's actually a key benefit to selling online that most people don't think about and it applies to in-store sales as well.
2020-08-2421 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Market to Interior DesignersIn this episode, Zach talks to Nicole Panko, Director of Marketing & Design at Vetter Stone Company, who has undergone a massive digital revamp to help improve their presence so they can be front and center with interior designers to help them grow their sales. Interior designers are constantly changing in their design techniques and methods. As a building material manufacturer, you've got to stay ahead and stay alongside of those shifts to make sure that you can help and be a part of the specification when it comes time to the sale.
2020-08-1717 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingSurging Demand for Building MaterialsIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to guest TJ Shaheen, Executive Vice President at Builders’ General Supply, who shares some hard truths about the frustrations and pain points he and his customers are feeling as we all struggle to deal with COVID, and how manufacturers can make business run more easily. We’ve talked a lot about how manufacturers and dealers have successfully pivoted their business during COVID, but the truth is that not everyone is achieving success. If your business is feeling the pinch, there’s one key strategy you may be missing.
2020-08-1024 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Sell Heavy Building Products OnlineCOVID has changed everything, from the way we live, socialize, and shop, the way building materials manufacturers and distributors are reaching their customers. Whereas e-commerce used to be a “nice to have” feature, now it’s expected. But does it work for every part of the building materials sector?On this week’s episode, Zach talks to Carson Combs, Founder at Zenbuild, about how, if he can incorporate e-commerce into selling some of the heaviest building products out there, you can work it into your sales strategy too.
2020-08-0323 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Sell Building Materials Directly to the End User Without Creating Channel ConflictOn this week’s episode, Zach talks to Jennifer Williams, Director National Strategic Accounts at Royal Manufacturing about how they’re growing direct sales while remaining a trusted partner in the channel. For building materials manufacturers, growth often means getting closer to the customer. But selling direct can create conflict with your channel partners. Today we’re talking to one manufacturer about how they’re managing their channel and growing customer relationships at the same time.
2020-07-2724 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingMaking the Change from Print to Digital in Building Materials MarketingIn this episode, Zach talks to Amy Post, who is the National Marketing Manager for the Pro Division at ODL about digital transformation and how to make that leap to build an incredible online experience. Undertaking a digital transformation can be a daunting task. Maybe you've been in print, with a lot of traditional marketing materials in place, but you want to make that shift to online and bring the business into the 21st century. It can feel overwhelming, but it’s the way more and more companies do business.
2020-07-2023 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Launch a Building Materials Product During COVIDIn uncertain economic conditions, it’s hard to know how to make a big business move. Many companies are navigating new ways to sell during, since tried and true face-to-face approaches aren’t available. Now imagine the challenge of launching a new product during a pandemic. In this episode, Zach and Beth to Ryan Galick, Marketing Director at Fuzion Flooring, who is doing exactly that. They’re charting new territory, finding new ways to get in front of clients, and launch products in the COVID era.
2020-07-1323 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingCreating a COVID-Proof Building Materials BrandIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Sebastian DeGregorio, Business Strategy Manager at Allura, about what they're doing to market and sell during and post-COVID and how they're supporting the channel. Even during COVID, manufacturers want to know how to get closer to their customers and learn the real problems that they need help solving. The opportunities to meet face-to-face are less frequent, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be present as a trusted partner.
2020-07-0625 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingThe Value of Your Building Materials BrandingIn this episode, Zach talks to Rich Pond, Chief Marketing Officer at Prescient, about how they’re driving business by focusing on the value proposition and how they communicate it in a way that actually moves the needle for sales. Your brand is becoming more and more important in today's marketplace. There are so many different ways to find products, so creating a brand that's not only memorable, but speaks to your audience's pain points is critical.
2020-06-2920 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingCreating Sticky Customers With Building Materials TechnologyOne of the ways that you can get closer to your customer, is by using technology that helps them do their job more effectively. A lot of manufacturers find that to be a daunting process and don't know where to get started. In this episode, Zach talks to Jay Shilstone, product owner for COMMANDqc at Command Alkon, about how they’re not only educating and helping their audience, but how their technology helps drive demand for their customer’s products.
2020-06-2221 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingNavigating a Building Materials Marketing Digital TransformationIn this episode, Zach talks to Steve Booz, VP of Marketing at Royal Building Products about how to get started with your digital journey, what does it take to get off the ground, and what does success look like. Digital transformation isn’t an overnight process, it’s a journey. Here’s one manufacturer who is ready to share insights on what's worked, what hasn't, things to think about and what to avoid when you're going down this path, as well as some of their success.
2020-06-1517 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingDrive Local Demand for Building Products Using Social MediaIn this episode, Zach talks to Justin Dewey, Sales Center Manager at American Olean and Marazzi Tile about how to structure your social media accounts on a local standpoint, the content you should be creating and how to get your reps involved to actually close a loop and grow your sales. Everyone talks about how we need to be “doing” social media as part of their marketing, but if your social media strategy isn’t integrated with the rest of your marketing tactics and your sales funnel, you're cutting the process short.
2020-06-0818 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingPros and Cons of White-Labeled Building Products as a Marketing & Sales StrategyIn this episode, Zach talks to TJ Norris, who is the Director of Sales and Marketing for PCI Construction Products about how they are white labeling their product and selling at mass quantities to dealers and helping them be more effective in the business that they're trying to grow. The Amazon Effect is oftentimes thought about as a need to sell direct to the customer. How do we get as close to them as possible? When we say “end customer”, we think about the contractor, the builder, the owner, but many people miss out on thinking about how...
2020-06-0123 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingBuilding Your Building Materials Brand on Social MediaIn this episode, Zach talks to Ryan Chandley, VP of Sales for Thomas Concrete, about how they’re using social media to not only drive brand awareness but also separate themselves from the competition. Social media can be an incredible tool to build awareness. It drives business. It helps you reach out to new prospects, grow company culture or even can help you in recruiting. Here’s how one manufacturer’s organic social media efforts have done all three.
2020-05-2520 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingSelling to Contractors in a Post-COVID Building Materials MarketplaceIn this episode, Zach talks to Jim Edgeworth, Director of Sales and Marketing at Bilco about their tactics and strategies, as well as what messaging actually works to cut through the noise to reach the contractor. To avoid racing to the bottom on price, you want to sell your brand, not your product. But what happens when your brand is so well-established that your company name becomes synonymous with similar products, even from the competition? We talk to one manufacturer on how they keep selling to contractors, even as the market around them evolves.
2020-05-1822 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow One Manufacturer Is Increasing Sales With Lean & Agile MarketingIn this episode, Zach talks to Kristina Damschen Spina, VP of Marketing at Indow, about how her marketing team has been built around data and efficiency to create autonomy and achieve their KPIs. In marketing, we want strategies that will bring results quickly. We care about the tools and techniques that are winning today, but we miss focusing on the best way to work with a team to drive results in an efficient and productive way.
2020-05-1125 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Building Materials Can Use Social Media to Drive SalesIn this episode, Zach talks to Josh Neuberger, Director of Marketing at Uzin Utz North America, about social media and how you can actually create one-to-one connections to help you drive sales and grow awareness. Whether you’re a small business or an international manufacturer, you hear a lot about social media and how to get customers to follow you, like your content and engage with what you’re sharing. But greater value may come when we go after very specific, unique people that meet your ideal customer profile. Here’s how one manufacturer does just that.
2020-05-0423 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingBuilding Materials Communication Shifts Needed During COVID-19In this episode, Zach talks to Mike Antonelli, business partner at Nickel City Hardwood, about how they pivoted their business to communicate with potential customers more effectively using technology, even during COVID-19, and how they're leveraging digital to keep their pipeline full.
2020-04-2714 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingBuilding Materials Visualizers & Virtual Reality StrategiesIn this episode, Zach and talk to Tim Sandlund, Digital Marketing Manager at Derby Building Products and Founder of StartBuildingSomething.com, about his experience launching AR and VR tools in building materials, where he thinks the best channels for success are and how to measure that success to determine what’s working. With the rise of visualizers, configurators and other online tools, should building materials manufacturers be considering augmented reality and virtual reality apps as part of their sales and marketing strategy? We talk to one manufacturer who thinks they should and how to make them successful.
2020-04-2026 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow COVID Is Impacting the Real Estate MarketIn this episode, Zach talks to John Burns, CEO at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, about how COVID has changed the outlook for homebuilders in America and what building materials manufacturers can do to pivot their sales and marketing strategies and thrive in uncertain times.
2020-04-1323 min
New Home Insights PodcastEpisode 32: Successful Online Marketing Strategies During the COVID-19 CrisisDean Wehrli interviews Zach Williams from the digital marketing agency Venveo to learn what strategies are working best today during the COVID-19 crisis.
2020-04-0839 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow One Building Products Manufacturing Is Pivoting Their Marketing During COVIDHow do your message and sales strategy need to change right now to take advantage of the current market we're in? This is a critical question every company in the building product space is asking as we navigate how to do business during COVID-19.
2020-04-0622 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingThe Winning Marketing Pivot for Building Materials Companies in the Midst of COVID-19In this episode, Zach talks about the winning pivot for building materials manufacturers in the midst of COVID. We’ll be sharing with you some things that we're seeing in the marketplace today, and how you can be using the data available now to continue to navigate today's situation and help your organization grow in the future.
2020-04-0215 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Building Materials Companies Can Navigate Change During the Coronavirus CrisisThis week, Zach speaks directly to the listeners about how we can get through the current economic and personal challenges together. It’s not business as usual, so we felt it was important to take a pause from our usual programming. Whether you usually listen to us at work, in the car, or on the jobsite, your working conditions are probably very different this week. We felt it was important to acknowledge how suddenly times have changed, and what building materials companies can do to navigate the uncertain road ahead.
2020-03-2616 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Create Building Materials Pull-Through With Social MediaIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Nathan McCarley, Director of Pro Dealer Sales at Empire Molding and Millwork, about how to actually grow your brand and create demand without doing things the way that they've always been done. Relationship building with dealers and distributors is critical in the building materials space, but digital marketing — and especially social media — has changed how manufacturers sell their products. Here’s how one manufacturer has used social media to create pull-through demand and generate huge growth.
2020-03-1619 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingGeneric to Luxury Building Product: How One Company Made the LeapIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Armen Alajian, partner at ARTO, about how building products brands can evolve, and why your brand’s biggest superpower may be hiding in plain sight. Companies spend too much time thinking about their product when what they really need to be focusing on is their brand. Here’s how one entrepreneur stumbled onto his brand’s hidden superpower.
2020-03-0928 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Sell To Architects … According to an ArchitectIn this episode, Zach talks to Gregg Lewis, Executive Vice President of Promotion Strategy and Communications for the National Ready Mix Concrete Association, about the best way to sell to architects, and why it’s both easier and harder than you think. What if you could get an inside look at how architects want to learn about your product? Today’s episode does exactly that. Hear about how one architect is working with building materials manufacturers to develop architect-focused education that ultimately drives sales and increases product adoption.
2020-03-0219 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Get Architects to Demand Your ProductIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Michael Sather, Director of New Market Development at Solatube, about how manufacturers sales teams and distributors to create fervent demand for their product with architects. How to get your foot in the door with architects is one of the questions we hear over and over again. To get architects to not only try your product, but to demand it for every specification, you need something they can not only see and try, but a product they truly believe will bring value to every design.
2020-02-2426 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHome Depot vs. Lowe’s vs. Amazon: Where You Should Sell Your Building Materials OnlineIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Lisa Prestifilippo, National Accounts Manager at Metal Sales Manufacturing Corporation, about the different types of people that buy on online platforms and what you can get from these sites to drive innovation and product development. The audience that buys on Amazon is different than the audience that buys on HomeDepot.com and is different than the audience at Lowes.com. What most manufacturers don't know is that they need to have a strategy for each online distributor or retailer.
2020-02-1726 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingPeople Over Profits: A Building Materials Success StoryIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Josh Hendrickson, Director of Sales at Wilson Lumber Company, about how actually living the values your company espouses can be the very best sales pitch you’ll ever have. “People over profits” is a phrase we hear more and more from many areas of business. But when you really put your money behind your team and your values, it can be a huge point of differentiation and a great way to drive long-last relationships.
2020-02-1023 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Building Materials Can Embrace Failure to Drive ChangeIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Regis Verliefde, CEO at Warmup, about how his company’s mantra of “fail often and fast” has driven incredible growth and success. As business owners, and even as human beings, we love to celebrate our successes, but today’s guest is here to talk about why failing is just as important — and maybe even more so — when it comes to driving growth.
2020-02-0330 min
Smarter Building Materials Marketing2020 Housing Market ProjectionsIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Todd Tomalak, Senior Vice President at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, about why he’s optimistic for the future of home construction, the one thing he wishes home builders would do more of, and why the next big construction hot spot may not be where you think.
2020-01-2732 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingMaking the Path to Purchase Easier for Building MaterialsIn this episode, Zach and Beth talk to Jim Perrault from Pella of Colorado, who shares great insight into understanding every player in the channel's problems, frustrations and friction points, and how you can help make your customer experience even better. Making it easy to do business with you is crucial, but it’s often difficult to make happen. Find out how one company is working hard to make business easy.
2020-01-2022 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingThe Business of People in Building ProductsIn this episode, we talk to Hugh Hornsby, a self-described turnaround artist who brings a very personal touch to getting companies back on their feet and growing at incredible rates. If your company values talk about your people, then this is an episode you don’t want to miss. We’re looking at why the key to turning any company around starts with people, as well as the number one way to get them to perform for you.
2020-01-1330 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow One Manufacturer Is Driving Demand Through ContentIn this episode, we bring on a manufacturer who has built and scaled their business all by using content and creating valuable pieces of information that his audiences are looking for and finding online. This is an excellent testimonial on how you can use content and digital marketing to drive more demand for your business. Listen to hear great insights, great data and great tips on how you can use content to grow your building materials business.
2020-01-0632 minCoffee Break - Loc-Doc SecurityEP 50 | How To Effectively Communicate With Your Customers | Guest: Zach WilliamsHow do you communicate with your customers? Simple question, but let's dig deeper. If you are communicating, are you being effective?
On today's podcast, Chad Lingafelt chats with Zach Williams, digital marketing guru and founder of Venveo, about how you can grow your sales, connect with your customers, and proven tactics to grow your brand online! We also talk about Amazons influence in the market and how you can model your business by offering Convenience, Speed, and Transparency.
Learn more about Zach Williams and how he can help you at venveo.com
...
2019-12-1737 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Unique Experiences in Building Materials Can Create a Full PipelineCreating exceptional experiences for your customers can turn first-time buyers into lifelong fans. Listen as we talk with one manufacturer who’s creating unique experiences both online and offline to win customers for life.
2019-12-1623 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingOwning the End Consumer by Manufacturing and DistributingIf you’ve ever considered both manufacturing and distributing your own products, this is the episode for you. Plus, if you’ve been trying to crack the code on how to target the end consumer without losing touch with your pro channel audience, we’re talking to a manufacturer who’s winning more business by being a great partner on multiple fronts: from manufacturing to distributing to customer service and incredible transparency.
2019-12-0920 min
Smarter Building Materials Marketing3 Marketing Metrics That Matter in 2020You've put a ton of effort into developing the perfect marketing plan for 2020, but how will you measure its success? On this week's episode, we're talking about three of the most important metrics building materials companies should be monitoring to help you gauge customer relationships, fuel growth and measure your marketing plan's success.
2019-12-0222 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow the Largest Building Materials Companies Stay Nimble & Drive GrowthThis week, we’re talking about how even the biggest manufacturers need to stay nimble to keep on top of the changing market landscape, and how digital marketing does more than get your name out there. In this episode, Zach and Beth talks to Daniel Gills, Vice President of Business Development at Yale Locks and Hardware, about how big manufacturers are using digital marketing not just as a way to reach new customers, but also as a driver for product innovation.
2019-11-1927 min
Smarter Building Materials Marketing5 Steps to Drive Demand for Local Partners to Increase Your SalesThe key to growing your manufacturing business is helping your local dealers and pros grow their businesses. When your local partners are selling more successfully to their end customers, they’ll purchase more from you. This week, we discuss 5 steps manufacturers can take to help their local partners drive more demand, increasing sales for both them and you.
2019-11-0421 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingChina, Tariffs, and Impacts on Building MaterialsHave you wondered how China, trade wars and tariffs all affect the building materials industry? This week's guest specializes in manufacturing in China. We talk to him about what it all means for manufacturers, especially if you import or work with China in any capacity, and how it all translates to building products.
2019-10-2823 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingBuilding Materials Pricing & Value StrategiesDo you know what the main motivator and value communicator is for building products? It's the price of your product. In this episode, we tackle this topic head-on and discuss mistakes manufacturers are making with their pricing strategies along with manufacturers who are doing it right.
2019-10-2128 min
Smarter Building Materials Marketing7 Digital Trends in 2020 That Can Make or Break Building Materials SalesWe are less than 100 days from 2020, and in this episode Beth and Zach break down strategies and trends that will help you in preparing for upcoming planning. Marketing is always changing so it's critical to use these changes to your advantage. These shifts present some great opportunities for building materials opportunities to grow sales and improve your online presence.
2019-10-1526 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingThe Future of Sustainability & How It Helps ProfitabilityThe building materials industry isn't known for rapid change or innovation, but that won't always be the case. With the growing trend of sustainable materials, the industry is looking for ways to increase sustainability in a way that will also increase profitability. This week, we bring on two guests to talk about the future of sustainability in building materials and how it may not be as expensive or difficult as you currently think.
2019-09-3042 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Get and Keep the Architect’s AttentionHow do you get architects to pay attention to what you’re saying? Or better yet, how do you educate them effectively on your products? This is the central topic of today’s podcast. We’ve all been a part of those presentations where you're about to fall asleep because the presenter has lost your attention. What’s even worse is if you’re the one presenting and your audience is zoning out, watching the clock, or on their phones, because your message isn't engaging them. On today’s episode, we bring on an expert in the Architectural Education space to shar...
2019-09-2325 min
Smarter Building Materials Marketing5 eCommerce Myths Impacting Building Materials SalesIf you think your product isn't a fit for selling online or you've attempted to sell online in the past but didn't see the results you wanted, today's episode is for you. There are a lot of misconceptions around eCommerce in the building materials industry. Today, we bring on a guest to break down these myths and roadblocks and talk about the reality of making the move to selling direct.
2019-09-1626 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingLinkedIn Strategies for Building MaterialsWe’re seeing incredible results from using LinkedIn in the right way to drive leads and sales, but the key is understanding how to make valuable connections, build trust and start the customer relationship from step one. In today’s episode. we’re breaking down how you can use LinkedIn to grow leads and sales, and why it’s set up to be the leading social media platform for building materials companies for the foreseeable future.
2019-09-0221 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingChanging Influencers in Building ProductsDo you know who is actually making the decision on whether or not your product is selected? There are shifts happening in the building materials industry regarding who is merely an influencer and who is a decision-maker. This week's guest helps us break down who is the real decision-maker, whether your project is residential or commercial.
2019-08-2819 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Building Materials Can Turn Speed Into A Competitive AdvantageIf you want to outpace your competition, you need to embrace the idea of changing at a faster pace than you do now. The combination of change and speed is critical to your ability to grow at a faster pace than your competition. On this week’s episode, we bring on a manufacturer who is embracing speed and inviting change into their organization in order to outpace their competition.
2019-08-2129 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingThe Future of Dealers and Building MaterialsSelling through dealers can be challenging, and the shifts that have happened with eCommerce are impacting how to effectively grow sales through these partners. On today's episode we bring on two experts who work with dealers to help them continue to grow in this changing marketplace. They share how the most successful manufacturers and dealers are continuing to adapt to stay competitive. You'll also learn what specific tacts are opening up opportunities for increased margin on sales.
2019-08-1131 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingProduct Launch Strategies for Building MaterialsGetting people in the channel to try a new product is one of the toughest sales to make. Today, we bring on the Founder and CEO of one of the few startups in the industry to share his strategies on effective product launches. He gives some great details on what to do, what not to do and how he has even been able to land partnerships with some of the most notable names in his category. If you’re looking to launch a product or just want to know how to win more business, this episode is for you.
2019-08-0529 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingTrade Show Strategies That Actually WorkWe have Building Materials Manufacturers ask us all the time if we think trade shows are really worth it. It’s a complex question for sure, and sometimes, that answer is “no.” But today, we’re bringing on someone with an inside perspective on some of the top trade shows in the building materials space. She talks about strategies she’s seeing that continue to drive traffic and interest on the trade show floor.
2019-07-2917 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingCRM Strategies for Building Materials ManufacturersFor a lot of manufacturers, their CRM is not only a pain point, but can be a very expensive mistake. We at Venveo do a ton of work to drive leads and bring the right awareness to our clients, and oftentimes those leads get brought into a CRM and they get lost, and it becomes a very expensive unuseful tool. Which is why we're really excited to bring on a manufacturer today, who launched a CRM unsuccessfully and transitioned to make it a really critical part of their growth from a sales standpoint. They've got a ton of sales people on t...
2019-07-2228 min
Smarter Building Materials Marketing3 Content Types Every Manufacturer Needs to Drive SEO and AwarenessMost building materials manufacturers I talk to say they have the BEST PRODUCT in their category, but nobody tells me they have the BEST AWARENESS in their category. Being found and known is critical to your growth. It will help you stay competitive regardless of your company size, and is arguably just as important as the quality of your product. On this episode we break down the 3 content pieces that will help you be found more easily and drive awareness for your product.
2019-07-1519 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow Manufacturers Can Make Their Audience the HeroIf you’re in the building materials space, and you want to win, then you have to help your audience win. In our industry helping the customer to win is an ever changing problem. So we decided to bring on a guest who has interviewed over 150 pro's, contractors, and influencers in the building construction space to share how the smartest manufacturers are making their audience the hero.
2019-07-0823 min
Smarter Building Materials Marketing7 Copywriting Hacks for Building MaterialsIf your landing pages, emails or website aren’t converting at the rate you want, a lot of time the copy and messaging is to blame. We know how hard it can be to troubleshoot your own copy or even to get started writing when the blank page is staring back at you. To help jumpstart your copywriting efforts, we’re talking through 7 proven copywriting hacks, why they work and how you should incorporate them into your writing efforts.
2019-06-2420 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Get Specified by ArchitectsBeing specified is a top priority for many manufacturers. There are so many layers to what makes or breaks the decision to include materials in the spec, and then there’s the added complexity of value engineering which can put everything in question all over again. On this episode, we bring on a specification expert to talk about what he sees as the main reasons manufacturers are being left out of specs and some great insights on how to avoid the dreaded value engineering phase.
2019-06-1823 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Steal Amazon's Insane Strategy to Own the Multifamily MarketOver the past several months, Amazon has been strategically making moves to break into the multifamily construction industry, and there are three key reasons what they’re doing is working so well. On today’s episode, Zach and Beth talk through the driving factors behind Amazon’s success and how manufacturers can take and apply those same methods to their products.
2019-06-1122 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingNew Data Released: What Building Materials Audiences Want From Manufacturers OnlineFinding your audience online is just the first step to a successful digital strategy. Today, we’re joined by one of the leading customer-data researchers in the building materials industry to talk about their latest look at what the channel is doing online, where they’re spending their time and most importantly, what they want from manufacturers. Listen to hear where you can make the biggest impact, reach the largest audience and deliver the most value.
2019-06-0327 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingCommodity to Sought-After Brand: How Building Products Can Make This JumpNo manufacturer wants to be seen as just a commodity. Being lumped in with dozens of other products like yours is a race to the bottom, but building a brand that’s sought after and respected takes a strategic understanding of both your brand and your audience—not to mention perfect execution. Today, we’re talking to a manufacturer who is in one of the most highly commoditized product categories in the industry but has managed to carve out a significant name and reputation for his company. He shares what he’s done to move...
2019-05-2732 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingChanges to Google, Facebook and LinkedIn Impacting Building MaterialsThere are significant changes happening on some of the most used platforms online. Listen to hear about the biggest changes to Google, Facebook and LinkedIn, how you can make those changes work to your advantage and what they mean for the building materials industry and the future of the building materials distribution channel.
2019-05-2029 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Market and Sell to Pros and ContractorsIn order to win in your industry, you need to be able to sell to builders and contractors effectively, in a way that resonates with them. If you try to market to a professional audience the same way you market to distributors or homeowners, you won’t be able to connect with them in a way that drives leads and sales. In this episode, we talk to a builder about how to get pros to switch to a new product or try a new one.
2019-05-1328 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Sell Green Building ProductsHaving a “green” building product doesn’t mean what it once did, but there’s a wave of new demand in this building products category that most companies don’t know about. In this episode, we interview an expert who shares how manufacturers can use the right language and positioning to grow sales with green products.
2019-05-0621 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingOffsite Construction: How To Stay Ahead of This Building Materials ShiftThere is a lot of conversation being had about modular offsite prefab and what this means for building products. Today we bring on a manufacturer who is spearheading this initiative for his business. He shares some insights as to why this happening and how to stay ahead of the shifts in front of us. Learn how you can begin to make this a bigger part of your business, and grow your sales in the process.
2019-04-2925 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingConversation Marketing for Building MaterialsWith digital marketing, it’s easy to get caught up in the metrics - the number of website visitors or number of leads generated. Instead, building material manufacturers need to switch their focus from metrics to relationships. In this week's episode we talk about conversation marketing, what it is, and why manufacturers should utilize this tactic to drive sales.
2019-04-2321 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingWinning Outside Sales Rep Strategies for Building Materials ManufacturersFor most manufacturers, using external sales reps is necessary, but comes with a list of common frustrations. Today, we’re talking to a manufacturer who has implemented some simple strategies to keep their external reps engaged and build their relationship and trust. Having a sales team that’s bought-in to you, your product and your company’s success is crucial … but easier said than done. Listen to hear how they’re winning their sales reps over, what they’ve learned from their sales reps about common mistakes manufacturers make, and how you can start buildi...
2019-04-1529 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingDriving Building Materials Awareness Using Facebook & Instagram AdsWhat if you could showcase your product to your audience in the place they spend the most time online? Facebook and Instagram ads allow you to do exactly that. On this episode, we talk about the untapped potential of Facebook and Instagram ads for the Building Materials industry and give you examples of how to leverage the potential of the ad platform to grow awareness and drive leads.
2019-04-0818 min
Smarter Building Materials MarketingHow to Make Your Building Materials Website Your Best SalespersonYour website should be helping you grow sales even if you’re not selling products directly online. Most building material manufacturers are treating their website like a one time event that they never think of again after it’s live. No matter where you focus in the channel—architects, builders, contractors or end consumers— your audience is starting their purchase journey online. In the first episode of Venveo’s Smarter Building Materials Marketing podcast, CEO Zach Williams and Director of Digital Strategy Beth PopNikolov dive into how you can turn your building materials website into your leading salesperso...
2018-08-1318 min
Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing AgenciesOvercoming Agency Growing Pains: 2 Agency Owners Talk Pipelines, Pricing & Employee Problems with Zach Williams and Todd EarwoodBeing an agency owner can feel isolating and lonely. But it can be a whole lot better when you hear from others in the same boat. So, check out the stories of not one but two super successful agency owners as we cover everything from overcoming their biggest challenges, to increasing prices and growing their teams. In this episode, we'll cover: Overcoming the pipeline problem. 4 tips on increasing prices. What agency role to hire for first. What to do about a weak link on your team. I could not be more excited to share this...
2017-08-1625 min
Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing AgenciesIncrease Agency Revenue 4X in One Year With 2 Strategies with Zach Williams | Ep #152Want to learn how to increase agency revenue four times over? Or are you having trouble finding your agency's nice and the best sales process for you? Don't worry, this week's Smart Agency Master Class has you covered. In this episode, we'll cover: 2 strategies that helped increase agency revenue & client list in one year. How to select your ideal niche to succeed. How to create a sales process that keeps your pipeline full. This week's podcast guest is my client, Zach Williams who is the definition of crushing it. At his agency Venveo...
2016-09-2822 min