From Word-of-Mouth to a Waiting List: How Maine Outdoor Spaces Built a Scalable Contracting Business
Most contractors start the same way: doing great work, building a reputation, and letting word-of-mouth do the rest. For a while, that approach works — until it doesn’t.
Eventually, you hit a limit. You’re booked enough to stay busy, but not enough to grow. You spend your days hustling instead of building systems.
Nick Conley
December 18, 2025
That’s exactly where Rick and Ricky from Maine Outdoor Spaces found themselves before partnering with Tekton Growth. They went from running a word-of-mouth business to being booked into next summer with a steady flow of quality leads — all while overhauling how their company operates behind the scenes.
This post explores their transformation: why marketing and operations have to grow together, and how investing in both paved the way for long-term success. If you only focus on Google, you’re missing huge visibility—and leaving trust and leads on the table.
The Hidden Problem With Relying Only on Word-of-Mouth
Rick had been running his landscape and hardscape company for more than 20 years. His team was talented, their projects were beautiful, and referrals kept the jobs coming. For a long time, that was enough.
But he was also stuck on what he called “the hamster wheel.” Every job ran through him — sales, design, materials, coordination. The business grew, but every new project meant more stress.
“I probably spent 20 years hustling. If I’d marketed earlier, I’d have had a lot more work. But I wasn’t ready to handle it at the time.”
That insight is key for contractors: marketing can expose weaknesses in your operations. A flood of leads doesn’t help if your systems are shaky. The better move is to strengthen both — marketing and operations — before scaling up.
That’s where the Maine Outdoor Spaces story gets interesting.
How a Rebrand Positioned the Business for Serious Growth
After two decades in business, Rick realized his old brand no longer matched the quality or size of projects his team delivered. In 2021, he made a pivotal decision: rename and rebrand the company as Maine Outdoor Spaces, focusing exclusively on high-end hardscapes, patios, and outdoor living designs.
This rebrand wasn’t just about a new logo. It was about positioning — and it marked the point where he decided to invest in professional marketing for the first time.
When Tekton Growth stepped in, the priorities were clear:
• Build a modern, mobile-friendly website that reflected their craftsmanship and process
• Optimize their site for local SEO, so homeowners searching for patios, retaining walls, or outdoor kitchens in Maine could actually find them
• Set up Google Ads and lead tracking to start filling the pipeline with high-intent inquiries
The results were almost immediate. Rick started receiving consistent website leads and phone calls — the kind that didn’t require cold networking or chasing builders for overflow work.
“We’ve got a lot of good leads coming in that I don’t even have to work for. We’re already booked through winter and into next spring, even before our builder referrals start.”
With their visibility growing, Rick faced a new kind of challenge — handling the increase in business without burning out.
The Turning Point: Ricky Returns and Brings Structure
Enter Ricky, Rick’s son, a former Army Ranger who rejoined the business as Operations Manager. His background brought a fresh, process-oriented mindset — and that changed everything.
Ricky’s biggest focus? Planning and systems.
He introduced tools like JobTread for project management and daily logs, helping crews record progress, materials, and obstacles in real time. That simple daily check-in created a feedback loop that eliminated many of the costly “Where’s that shipment?” or “We’re out of sand!” moments that delay jobs.
“Before, we’d plan a project and just take things as they came. Now, we phase everything — design, estimate, plan — and we don’t start until the plan is solid. That one change made the biggest difference.”
Here are a few systems they’ve implemented that any contractor can learn from:
• Pre-construction planning
• Daily logs
• Job packs with supplier details, drawings, and materials
• Delegation structure between sales and operations
The outcome? Fewer fires, less stress, and happier crews — not to mention an owner who can finally focus on growth instead of daily chaos.
The Real Lesson: Grow by Strengthening Your Weak Spots
Every business owner has strengths. Rick is a classic visionary — great with design, ideas, and client relationships — but not wired for detailed planning. Ricky saw that clearly:
“Our systems were working because something always happens every day. But nothing was written down. I learned that once you make a plan, don’t be afraid to delegate. With the right plan and trust in your people, you can step back.”
If you’re a contractor reading this, here’s the practical takeaway:
• Be honest about your weaknesses
• Start simple with systems
• Invest early if you want to scale
• Train your team deliberately
When Marketing and Operations Work Together, Growth Accelerates
Even the best systems won’t help if you’re running out of work. And great marketing is wasted if you can’t deliver what you sell. The real secret is alignment between marketing, sales, and operations.
As Maine Outdoor Spaces improved its backend systems, their marketing began paying off exponentially. Tekton Growth helped them rank higher across key local searches, and each quarter, their service area visibility expanded.
“We look at our SEO maps in meetings, and we’ve gone from showing up seventh or eighth to now being top three across most of our core towns. The increase in work requests is real — even in the off-season.”
With consistent leads flowing, Rick no longer needs to “hustle” for work. Instead, he can sell more profitably, plan better, and focus on leadership.
What Rick and Ricky Would Tell Their Younger Selves
When asked what they’d tell themselves five years ago, their advice was simple but powerful:
• Rick: Commit to building systems early. Get a website up and start being seen. Even basic things like vehicle lettering and job signs matter.
• Ricky: Make a plan, then delegate. Trust your people and give them clear processes.
Both agree that growth is not about doing more. It is about doing things intentionally.
The Takeaway: Build Strong Foundations Before You Scale
If you’re like most contractors, you’re already great at your craft. But growth demands two things:
• Operational systems that free you from daily chaos
• A digital presence that attracts consistent, qualified leads
Tekton Growth helps contractors build both. We create high-performance websites, manage local SEO, and develop marketing strategies aligned with your real capacity and goals.
Ready to trade the hamster wheel for a business that grows smoothly and consistently? Reach out to Tekton Growth and let’s build your next level.
Built by contractors, for contractors, Tekton Growth delivers honest marketing that drives real leads without the fluff. Based in Willits, CA, we help tradespeople nationwide grow with clear strategies, proven SEO, and no-BS results.
