In this episode of Marketing Without Rules, Lewis Vandervalk of Blue Crocus Solutions welcomes back PJ for part two of their conversation about unconventional marketing strategies.
Having built his junk removal business from sleeping in U-Haul trucks to becoming a central figure in his community, PJ shares how he's transformed traditional business relationships into powerful marketing opportunities.
PJ details his company's innovative approaches, from restaurant takeovers that reimagine Chamber of Commerce mixers to community-nominated giveaways that build lasting relationships. He reveals how these strategies helped reduce his dependence on Google advertising from 95% to less than 50% of leads - all while maintaining the same Google performance. Through compelling examples, including a current initiative to give away a refurbished car to someone in need, PJ demonstrates how businesses can create meaningful community impact while gaining authentic publicity.
The conversation explores practical steps for implementing community-focused marketing, detailed explanations of press release strategies, and insights into managing a consistent social media presence. Despite requiring significant time investment (20+ hours weekly), PJ backs each approach with real-world results, showing how authentic community engagement can transform both a business's growth trajectory and its market position.