Why Direct Mail Still Dominates Home Service Marketing (Dan Harlacher)

Why Direct Mail Still Dominates Home Service Marketing (Dan Harlacher)

Author: Tommy Mello: $200 Million Founder|Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur Columnist March 23, 2026 Duration: 59:03

Interested in a complimentary market scan or ads workshop from Valpak? Click here: http://asktommypodcast.com/Valpak

In this episode of The Home Service Expert, Tommy sits down with Dan Harlacher from Valpak, a marketing expert with over 30 years of experience helping local businesses generate leads and grow through targeted direct mail and data-driven marketing strategies. While many marketers focus only on digital advertising, direct mail continues to be one of the most powerful and underutilized lead generation tools, especially for home service businesses. Valpak has evolved from the iconic blue envelope into a sophisticated omnichannel marketing platform combining direct mail, digital advertising, and advanced audience targeting. Dan breaks down how businesses can use data, targeting, and integrated marketing campaigns to drive measurable ROI and consistently generate new customers.

You'll learn why direct mail still works in the digital age and the biggest marketing mistakes local businesses make. You'll also learn how to target the right homeowners for home services, strategies to increase response rates and conversions, and why omnichannel marketing is the future for local businesses. If you're a home service business owner, entrepreneur, or marketer looking to generate more leads, this episode is packed with practical insights you can implement immediately.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 Cold Open
00:00:11 Title Sequence VO
00:00:30 Show Notes VO
00:01:16 Intro Into Interview
00:58:24 Outro

For anyone running a home service business-be it plumbing, HVAC, or a dozen other trades-the daily grind can feel isolating. You’re solving problems for customers while wrestling with your own, from hiring the right technicians to figuring out which marketing actually works. That’s where The Home Service Expert Podcast comes in. Host Tommy Mello isn’t just another commentator; he’s a founder who has built his own companies to a staggering $200 million in revenue, and he shares his hard-won perspective as a columnist for major publications like Forbes, Inc., and Entrepreneur. Each episode feels like a direct conversation with the sharpest minds in the field. Tommy brings on leading entrepreneurs and specialists, not only from home services but from adjacent industries, to unpack the precise tactics that drive real growth. You’ll hear practical discussions that skip the theory and dive into applied knowledge, covering everything from leveraging new digital tools to executing scaling strategies that protect your company’s culture. The dialogue is built on a foundation of genuine experience, offering a sense of camaraderie and actionable advice for owners who are serious about building a legacy, not just a job. This podcast serves as a vital resource for turning operational challenges into your biggest opportunities.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Home Service Expert Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Achieving 500% Productivity Through Flow States [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:08:05
Steven Kotler is the Executive Director of the Flow Research Collective and a leading expert in peak performance. He is an 11-time national bestselling author, known for successful books such as "The Art of Impossible,"…
Q&A With Tommy - Elevating Your Workforce in 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
Tommy Mello is the author of Home Service Millionaire and Elevate, and the founder of A1 Garage Doors, a $200 million-plus home service business with over 700 employees in 22 states. Through HomeServiceMillionaire.com an…
Don't Go Broke Trying to Get Rich with Ryan Pineda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:10
Ryan Pineda is a successful real estate investor, entrepreneur, and author of The Wealthy Way, with over $100 million in investments and multiple thriving businesses. In this episode, we talked about wealth-life balance,…
Mastering the Art of Negotiation with Chris Voss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:34
Chris Voss is the world's #1 Negotiation Coach and CEO at The Black Swan Group, a negotiation consultancy serving Fortune 500 companies globally. He represented the U.S. in international conferences and served as the FBI…
Breaking Down the Science of Virality with Brendan Kane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:54
Brendan Kane is a Managing Partner at Hook Point. He is a digital marketing expert who has been helping top brands and celebrities create viral content since 2005. Overseeing $300 million in marketing spend, he has worke…
Role-Playing Sales Objections: Pro Sales Tactics That Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:07
Brian Burton is the General Manager of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Phoenix and the host of the Waste No Day Podcast. He previously served as VP of Sales for One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning of Southeast PA and was an…
Keep Them Coming Back with Proven Client Retention Strategies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:13
Ismael Valdez is the Owner and CEO of Nexgen Air Conditioning Heating and Plumbing, a $100 million Southern California company that highlights superior customer service, data efficiency, and a highly-trained staff of tec…