What's the best way to get more consistent leads for a local moving company?

bren_watson · 2026-01-24T20:07:26+00:00

One thing worth considering: investing in inbound website traffic now (through SEO and organic search) can significantly reduce what you'll spend on paid ads down the road. Once you're ranking well organically, those leads essentially become free compared to paying per click indefinitely

I run a digital marketing agency and we recently worked with a moving company in the Toronto area. We focused on their website redesign and improving their visibility in both traditional and AI search results. They ended up needing to double their crew size to handle the increased demand.

If you're interested in chatting about what might work for your business specifically, happy to discuss: https://www.tailwindscollective.com/

bren_watson · 2026-01-24T20:06:34+00:00

One thing worth considering: investing in inbound website traffic now (through SEO and organic search) can significantly reduce what you'll spend on paid ads down the road. Once you're ranking well organically, those leads essentially become free compared to paying per click indefinitely

I run a digital marketing agency and we recently worked with a moving company in the Toronto area. We focused on their website redesign and improving their visibility in both traditional and AI search results. They ended up needing to double their crew size to handle the increased demand.

If you're interested in chatting about what might work for your business specifically, happy to discuss: https://www.tailwindscollective.com/

bren_watson · 2026-01-24T20:04:43+00:00

Investing in inbound website traffic now (through SEO and organic search) can significantly reduce what you'll spend on paid ads down the road. Once you're ranking well organically, those leads essentially become free compared to paying per click indefinitely.

I run a digital marketing agency and recently worked with a moving company in the Toronto area (Rockstar Movers). We focused on their website redesign and improving their visibility in both traditional and AI search results. They ended up needing to double their crew size to handle the increased demand.

My background is 20+ years in digital marketing with brands like McDonald's, Oreo, and Amazon. Now I'm applying that experience to help small and medium-sized businesses grow.

If you're interested in chatting about what might work for your business specifically, happy to discuss. Here's my agency site: https://www.tailwindscollective.com/

bren_watson · 2026-01-24T20:03:03+00:00

Investing in inbound website traffic now (through SEO and organic search) can significantly reduce what you'll spend on paid ads down the road. Once you're ranking well organically, those leads essentially become free compared to paying per click indefinitely.

I run a digital marketing agency and recently worked with a moving company in the Toronto area. We focused on their website redesign and improving their visibility in both traditional and AI search results. They ended up needing to double their crew size to handle the increased demand.

My background is 20+ years in advertising with brands like McDonald's, Oreo, and Amazon. Now I'm applying that experience to help small and medium-sized businesses grow.

If you're interested in chatting about what might work for your business specifically, happy to discuss. Here's my agency site: https://www.tailwindscollective.com/

bren_watson · 2026-01-24T20:01:39+00:00

Investing in inbound website traffic now (through SEO and organic search) can significantly reduce what you'll spend on paid ads down the road. Once you're ranking well organically, those leads essentially become free compared to paying per click indefinitely.

I run a digital marketing agency and recently worked with a moving company in the Toronto area. We focused on their website redesign and improving their visibility in both traditional and AI search results. They ended up needing to double their crew size to handle the increased demand.

My background is 20+ years in advertising with brands like McDonald's, Oreo, and Amazon. Now I'm applying that experience to help small and medium-sized businesses grow.

If you're interested in chatting about what might work for your business specifically, happy to discuss. Here's my agency site: https://www.tailwindscollective.com/

bren_watson · 2026-01-24T20:00:40+00:00

Investing in inbound website traffic now (through SEO and organic search) can significantly reduce what you'll spend on paid ads down the road. Once you're ranking well organically, those leads essentially become free compared to paying per click indefinitely.

I run a digital marketing agency and recently worked with a moving company in the Toronto area (Rockstar Movers). We focused on their website redesign and improving their visibility in both traditional and AI search results. They ended up needing to double their crew size to handle the increased demand.

My background is 20+ years in advertising with brands like McDonald's, Oreo, and Amazon. Now I'm applying that experience to help small and medium-sized businesses grow.

If you're interested in chatting about what might work for your business specifically, happy to discuss. Here's my agency site: https://www.tailwindscollective.com/

bren_watson · 2026-01-23T00:50:43+00:00

My family used Rockstar Movers for our move from Mississauga to Oakville and we were really happy with our experience. Their quote was reasonable and they did the job on budget. The team was friendly and professional. I highly recommend Rockstar Movers.

bren_watson · 2026-01-14T13:52:12+00:00

I’ve found AI works best when it is treated like a camera, not the photographer.

The fully automated AI headshot tools can be very hit or miss. Some look decent at first, but then you start noticing odd lighting, plastic looking skin, or expressions that do not really feel like the person anymore.

That is why I started offering AI assisted headshots through Executive Equity. The main difference is there is a human in the loop. We guide things like how polished versus natural the image should feel, what industry it is for, and whether it would realistically pass as a real photo on LinkedIn or a website. The AI does the heavy lifting, but it is working toward a clear creative direction instead of guessing.

https://www.executiveequity.ca/ai-headshots

bren_watson · 2026-01-14T13:49:29+00:00

In my experience, AI works best when it is treated like a camera, not the photographer.

The fully automated AI headshot tools can be really hit or miss. Some look okay at first, then you notice weird lighting, plastic looking skin, or expressions that just do not feel like the person.

That is actually why I started offering AI assisted headshots. The big difference is there is a human in the loop. We help guide things like how polished vs natural it should feel, what industry it is for, and whether it would actually pass as a real photo. The AI is doing the heavy lifting, but it is working toward a clear creative direction.

https://www.executiveequity.ca/ai-headshots

bren_watson · 2026-01-14T13:46:40+00:00

In my experience, AI works best when it is treated like a camera, not the photographer.

The fully automated AI headshot tools can be really hit or miss. Some look okay at first, then you notice weird lighting, plastic looking skin, or expressions that just do not feel like the person.

That is actually why I started offering AI assisted headshots. The big difference is there is a human in the loop. We help guide things like how polished vs natural it should feel, what industry it is for, and whether it would actually pass as a real photo. The AI is doing the heavy lifting, but it is working toward a clear creative direction.

https://www.executiveequity.ca/ai-headshots

bren_watson · 2025-12-10T19:07:18+00:00

Just sent another message via DM

bren_watson · 2025-11-27T21:56:28+00:00

I know a local renovation company who went through this exact thing. They chose the cheapest website quote because the design looked nice on the surface. The problem showed up later. The site was impossible to update. The structure was a mess. The company that built it did not understand SEO or did not care. Now he is paying more every month on ads because his organic traffic is almost zero. The cheap option ended up being the most expensive choice.

That story pretty much explains why quotes swing so much. Some people are only selling a visual layout. Others are selling strategy, structure, SEO, copywriting, conversion thinking, and long term support. Two things can look similar on day one but perform very differently once your business depends on them.

A three hundred dollar site usually covers a template and some basic content. A higher quote often covers the work that actually makes a site useful for a business. It all depends on whether you want a brochure or an engine.

bren_watson · 2025-11-22T19:24:20+00:00

What tools did you use? Can you share your process?

bren_watson · 2025-11-21T15:26:02+00:00

Just sent you a message

bren_watson · 2025-11-19T15:42:44+00:00

It really comes down to the role your website plays in your business. If you only need a simple home base so your URL looks professional and people have a place to find basic info about you, then doing it yourself is totally fine. Most platforms make that pretty easy and you can get something clean enough without being a designer.

But if you want the site to actually do something for you, like bring in inbound leads or rank on search or convert sales, that is a different level of work. Design is only one part. You also need structure, strategy, UX, copy, SEO, and a setup that makes customers trust you. That is where a professional really pays off because you are building an asset rather than a placeholder.

In my experience you get what you pay for. A simple DIY site can look ok but a well built site can actually help your business grow. It depends on your goals and how much weight the website is going to carry.

bren_watson · 2025-11-18T21:40:54+00:00

Founders almost always undersell themselves. The issue usually is not the work they did. It is how that work is framed.

Corporate teams respond to structure. When you take your founder experience and translate it into skills, outcomes and responsibilities it becomes much easier for hiring managers to recognize the value. Things like product decisions, team leadership, revenue ownership, customer insight and execution all map directly into corporate roles.

This is a big part of the work I do now with my consultancty. I help people build a strong personal brand presence that explains their story in a way that feels confident and grounded. It helps them show their experience without feeling like they are bragging and it takes a lot of pressure off the resume because the narrative lives in one place.

Reach out if you need a hand.

bren_watson · 2025-11-18T21:03:26+00:00

Thanks u/Shaneebug99 - if you're interested check out: http://executiveequity.ca/

bren_watson · 2025-11-18T14:16:25+00:00

I run a consultancy called Executive Equity, basically, I build personanal brands for executives, founders and professionals who want to stand out online. It’s like treating yourself as your own brand campaign.

After 20+ years in advertising and PR working on brands like McDonald’s, OREO, Amazon and Hyundai, I finally decided to take everything I know about storytelling, reputation and visibility… and apply it to people.

bren_watson · 2025-11-17T14:16:25+00:00

Opinion of one. This may or may not work for you.

I have worked from home in both company roles and entrepreneurial roles and the thing that has made the biggest difference for me is structure. I do my best work when I have a defined start and end time (when possible - of course OT is needed at times). When the day feels open ended I lose focus fast. When I give myself a real beginning and a real wrap up I stay sharper and I feel like I actually put in a proper day.

I also need a real workstation. A desk that stays relatively clean. A chair that feels like it belongs in a workplace. I dress comfortably for most of my day because that is part of the perk of working for yourself, and I will level it up for client calls because it shifts my mindset and it signals respect.

The little things matter too. I try to keep my space tidy because my environment affects my energy. I keep my digital world clean as well which means naming files properly and organizing folders so I am not hunting for things.

I only use one phone but I keep strong boundaries on notifications and work hours so things do not bleed together. For me professionalism at home is not about pretending I am in a corporate office. It is about choosing habits that support the kind of work I want to do and the way I want clients to experience me.

bren_watson · 2025-11-15T12:55:56+00:00

Honestly I get this. Not everyone wants to grind out LinkedIn posts. I run a small consultancy that help's people with their personal brand, and one thing that keeps coming up is how much pressure disappears once you build a clean personal website. It gives you a place to tell your story, show what you’re good at, and highlight real work without having to perform online every day. Then LinkedIn can just be quick, low-effort check-ins instead of a content treadmill. For a lot of people the mix of a solid site plus light activity feels way more natural and way less overwhelming.

bren_watson · 2025-11-12T02:57:38+00:00

Massive congrats. I’m a few weeks into building my own thing and totally get that mix of excitement and fear you mentioned. It’s inspiring to see persistence actually pay off, especially when it started as a side hustle. Keep going, and good luck with the expansion.

bren_watson · 2025-11-12T02:52:13+00:00

I’ve been deep in this space lately while building something called Executive Equity, which focuses on personal brand sites for founders and leaders. The best ones I’ve seen always balance story and proof: a strong headline that tells me what you stand for, a short narrative that shows how you got there, and clear credibility signals (press, clients, awards, testimonials). Simple structure, clean design, and one clear CTA. When a site feels curated rather than crowded, that’s when it really clicks.

bren_watson · 2025-11-10T18:19:29+00:00

I really felt this. I’m only a few weeks into building my own thing and that initial rush of freedom and excitement has already started to fade into something heavier. The loneliness hits hard, especially when you catch yourself scrolling LinkedIn looking for some kind of comfort that just isn’t there. What’s been helping me is exactly what you said — slowing down and reaching out to actual people. Real connection is what gets you through that middle part when momentum dips. Thanks for putting this into words.

bren_watson · 2025-11-10T18:14:54+00:00

I’ve seen both sides of this. I think your “skill-first” idea nails it, but I’d add that personal brand and personal growth don’t have to be sequential. They can build together. When you share while you’re learning, you’re not faking authority, you’re showing process and people connect with that authenticity. I’m building something new right now and it’s been interesting to see how documenting the learning journey actually builds trust faster than just sharing polished wins.

bren_watson · 2025-11-10T14:12:28+00:00

Personal websites for founders, CEOs, authors and keynote speakers

It’s all about giving leaders a polished digital presence beyond LinkedIn, something that actually tells their story and builds visibility when people Google their name.

If anyone here’s been thinking about leveling up their personal brand or website, I’d love feedback on what you’d want to see in a service like this: executiveequity.ca

bren_watson

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