Ep. 24 | Service Business Marketing: SEO, AI Search & Converting the Leads You Already Have | Part 2

In Part 2 of our conversation with CJ Kortes of Outlaunch Marketing, we dive deeper into the tactics behind effective home service business marketing — from what your website needs to do once someone lands on it, to how AI search is rewriting the rules for who gets found online. If you missed Part 1, CJ covered why most marketing fails and how to identify what’s actually driving leads and revenue. This episode picks up right where that left off. Key Takeaways • Your website is a sales tool, not a brochure. It should build trust and convert visitors the same way a great salesperson would. • Website visitors go through three phases: exploring, evaluating, and acting — your content needs to serve all three. • Old-school SEO keyword tricks are dead; relevance, user experience, and content depth are what drive rankings now. • AI search is already changing how customers find home service businesses — the time to build visibility is now. • Outlaunch has shifted from “SEO” to “AI Search Visibility” because the two are inseparable. • Social media can work — but only with real, consistent, authentic content (not outsourced fluff). • Word of mouth is a foundation, not a growth strategy — if you want to scale, you need marketing to amplify it. • CJ’s biggest advice after 20 years: surround yourself with mentors and successful peers earlier than you think you need to. Topics Covered • Why your website needs to act as a sales rep before your technician shows up • The explore → evaluate → act framework and what it means for your calls to action • How SEO evolved from keyword stuffing to relevance-first content strategy • Why AI search changes how you write website content (and why you can’t ignore it) • Outlaunch’s new service: AI Search Visibility • Hit or miss: social media, lead conversion, and word of mouth • CJ’s one piece of advice for every home service business owner • How to connect with CJ and get a free instant marketing score Connect With CJ Kortes and Outlaunch Marketing 🌐 Website: https://www.outlaunch.marketing/ 📺 YouTube Channel: @outlaunch 🎵 TikTok: @outlaunch 📸 Instagram: @outlaunch_mktg 📘 Facebook: @outlaunch 📊 Get your free Instant Marketing Score at outlaunch.marketing Home Service Headquarters 📺 YouTube Channel: @HomeServiceHeadquarters 🎵 TikTok: @homeserviceheadquarters 📸 Instagram: @homeserviceheadquarters 📘 Facebook: @HomeServiceHeadquarters 🌐 Website: https://homeserviceheadquarters.com/ 🎤 Home Service Headquarters brings you real conversations with home services pros and business owners. Learn how they built their businesses, overcame challenges, and found success — one job at a time. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe and turn on notifications to catch our monthly episodes! Sponsored by Project 2 Payment, the best home services estimate and invoice software on the market. Add customers, create project estimates, send invoices, and collect payments with ease. https://project2payment.com/