Everything between getting found and getting paid.
Your website, your search presence, your CRM, and the follow-up that connects them. Built by one person, run by the same one. No handoffs, no account managers, no junior doing the actual work.
Free 30-minute call. No pitch, just a clear plan for your business.
Local businesses we proudly build for
- AB CAM Services
- Alpha Steam Services
- Seamless Gutter Solutions
- NPS Handyman
- High Country Portable Toilets
- St. Croix HVAC
- Superior Carpet Cleaning
- Nordic Shine
- Bodywerks
- Concrete and Foundation Solutions
- Perfect Concrete Construction
- Community Builders Roofing
- Designs by Dennis
- Hartley Hardwood
- Schneider Genealogy
- New Horizons Boutique Financial Services
- Andrew the Mortgage Guy
- Genius Network Solutions
- Sol-I.S. Technology Solutions
- Enhance Physical Therapy
- Revive and Restore
- Lost Creek Barns
- Larrabee Lake Retreat
- St. Paul Barber School
- Lunch and Learn Networking Group
- Alma Flor Ada Spanish Immersion Early Learning Academy
- Twin Citizen
- Uff-Da
Disconnected Marketing Is Costing You Growth.
You have a website over here, a CRM over there, and ad campaigns running somewhere else. When your systems do not talk to each other, you lose leads, waste money, and burn time.
Leads fall through the cracks
Inquiries get lost in your inbox instead of entering a proper follow-up sequence.
Ad spend with no clear ROI
Paying for clicks without knowing exactly how many turned into paying customers.
Tools that do not talk
Manually copying data between your website, calendar, and customer database.
Website sits and does nothing
A digital brochure that looks nice but fails to capture leads or drive phone calls.
Our approach
Built to Work Together.
We do not just build websites or run ads in isolation. We build connected systems that capture attention, convert leads, and close deals.
It is the thinking behind our Growth Rings framework: build the Foundation, connect the systems, and let results compound. Each part feeds the others, so leads get captured, nurtured, and closed instead of falling through the cracks.
Explore our servicesWebsites
The site that has to do the selling when you are on a job.
- Design and rebuilds
- Hosting and management
- Custom web apps
SEO, GEO, and AEO
Getting found on Google, on the map, and inside the AI answers.
- Local and organic search
- Google Business Profile
- AI answer engines
CRM & Automation
The follow-up that happens whether you remember it or not.
- GoHighLevel CRM builds
- Speed to lead and missed-call text back
- Review generation
Digital Advertising
Paid traffic managed against booked jobs, not clicks.
- Google Search
- Local Services Ads
- Meta
Brand & Copy
The look and the words, so the whole thing sounds like you.
- Logos and brand identity
- Brand refreshes
- Site copy, blogs, and proposals
Built for Local Service Businesses That Take Growth Seriously.
Family-owned in Woodbury, MN. Full-stack marketing systems for local service businesses across the East Metro, St. Croix Valley, and Western Wisconsin.
How This Works
You Work With Me. Every Call, Every Build, Every Month.
One person is the model, not a limitation I am apologizing for. Here is exactly what that means, including the part that is not convenient for you.
The same person, start to finish
The person on your first call is the person writing the code, building the CRM, and reading the ad reports. Nothing gets translated through an account manager who has never seen your business.
You get a phone number, not a ticket queue
Small changes usually happen the same day, because there is no queue between you and the work. You will not open a portal to ask for a new photo on your services page.
I will tell you no
If your project needs a ten person team, or an industry I genuinely do not know, I will say that on the first call instead of taking the work and figuring it out on your budget.
You own everything, including the exits
Your domain, your site, your CRM, your Google Ads account, your Business Profile. All of it stays in your name. If we ever part ways, I hand over the logins and you keep the whole system running.
A Process That Works.
No guessing. No endless revisions. Just a structured approach to building systems that generate revenue.
Discover
We audit your current setup, identify the leaks, and map out a connected strategy.
Design
We design the user experience, automation workflows, and ad creative.
Build
We develop the website, configure the CRM, and wire up the integrations.
Grow
We launch campaigns, monitor performance, and optimize for continuous lead flow.
Industries We Serve.
Every industry has its own rules. Here is how we help the six types of businesses we work with most, and why our work matters for each.
Professional and Home Services
For the HVAC, plumbing, electrical, cleaning, handyman, and specialty trades businesses that keep the region running.
The Reality
Every missed call is a lost job. Home service buyers call three businesses in ten minutes and hire the one that answers first and looks most credible. Reviews drive or kill acquisition. Recurring customers fall through the cracks without systematic follow-up.
How We Help
- Conversion-focused websites built for emergency-intent mobile traffic
- Google Local Services Ads setup and Google Screened verification support
- Google Business Profile optimization and review generation automation
- Instant lead response and missed-call text-back automation
- CRM pipeline tracking from first call through completed job
- Automated recurring service reminders for annual customers
Why It Matters
The first 5 minutes after a lead comes in decide who gets the job. Our systems make sure the first answer is yours and the customer stays in the system long after the first service.
Construction and Trades
For the concrete, foundation, framing, and specialty trade businesses building the region.
The Reality
Construction is high-dollar work on long sales cycles. Most bids are not lost on price, they are lost because the contractor went quiet during the decision window. Portfolio visibility and follow-up discipline decide the contract.
How We Help
- Visually strong portfolio websites that showcase craftsmanship
- Lead qualification flows that separate serious buyers from tire-kickers
- Long-cycle nurture automation for projects that take months to close
- Quote-to-close CRM pipeline tracking
- Automated referral request workflows after completed jobs
- Custom quote and estimate tools for operational efficiency
Why It Matters
The firm that stays visible and responsive through the full decision cycle is the firm that gets the contract.
Professional Services
For the legal, financial, mortgage, consulting, and technology firms that win business on credibility and relationships.
The Reality
Professional services buyers research multiple firms before reaching out. Credibility is the buying criteria. Sales cycles are long and relationship-driven. Referrals are the primary growth engine but usually untracked. In 2026, your presence in AI answer engines now shapes the first impression alongside Google.
How We Help
- Authority-focused website design that establishes expertise
- SEO, GEO, and AEO content strategy that builds long-term inbound
- Content production that positions the firm as a thought leader
- CRM tracking for every prospect, referral source, and relationship touchpoint
- Long-cycle nurture sequences for slow decision timelines
- Organization and Author schema so AI engines cite the firm accurately
Why It Matters
The digital presence decides whether the first conversation happens at all. Our systems make sure prospects find, trust, and verify the firm before the introductory call.
Health and Wellness
For the physical therapy, wellness, med spa, and clinical practices that grow through patient relationships.
The Reality
Health and wellness practices grow through consistent patient relationships, not one-off transactions. Booking and rescheduling eat staff hours. Patient communication gets scattered across text, email, and voicemail. Reviews directly affect new patient acquisition. Inactive patients never come back without systematic follow-up.
How We Help
- Online booking and scheduling systems integrated with the CRM
- Automated appointment reminders that reduce no-shows
- Review generation workflows triggered after visits
- Unified patient communication across SMS, email, and phone
- HIPAA-conscious CRM configuration and intake flows
- Patient re-engagement campaigns for inactive clients
Why It Matters
Every patient relationship is a multi-visit relationship. Our systems handle the operational work so the team can focus on delivering care.
Portfolio Examples
Hospitality and Events
For the event venues, retreats, and hospitality experiences that sell the weekend.
The Reality
Hospitality buyers decide with their eyes first and sign with whoever responds fastest. A poorly presented venue loses the booking before the first inquiry. Long planning cycles require nurture that most venues do by hand. Seasonal demand needs proactive marketing months before peak.
How We Help
- Visually-driven websites designed to sell the experience
- Inquiry flow automation with instant response
- Booking calendar integration and availability management
- Email nurture sequences for long planning cycles
- Content marketing that captures early-stage research traffic
- CRM tracking for every inquiry, site visit, deposit, and booking
Why It Matters
The venue that presents best visually and responds fastest gets the booking. Our systems make sure both of those things happen without manual work.
Portfolio Examples
Education and Community Organizations
For the schools, academies, training programs, and community organizations that shape the region.
The Reality
Education and community organizations live on enrollment, membership, and engagement. Cycles are time-sensitive. Stakeholder communication is constant across students, parents, members, alumni, and sponsors. Manual operations cap the impact of the mission.
How We Help
- Enrollment-optimized websites with clear paths for prospective students and members
- Content systems that support ongoing updates from non-technical staff
- Event registration and attendance tracking
- Segmented communication workflows by role
- Email and SMS nurture for prospects, members, and alumni
- Donor and sponsor relationship tracking
Why It Matters
The mission scales only as far as the systems support it. Our infrastructure lets the team focus on the work that only the team can do.
Bands and Music
For the bands, musicians, and music projects building an audience and filling rooms across the Twin Cities and beyond.
The Reality
Fans discover you across a dozen platforms and decide in seconds whether to follow, stream, or buy a ticket. Without a home base you own, your audience lives on platforms that can change the rules overnight, and your show announcements, releases, and merch get buried in the feed.
How We Help
- Fast, striking band websites that turn first-time listeners into followers
- Show and release announcement systems with email and social built in
- Email and SMS list building so you own your audience instead of renting it on social
- Streaming, ticketing, and merch links unified in one place
- Social content and automation that keeps the project visible between shows
Why It Matters
The bands that grow treat the project like a business: own the audience, make every show and release easy to find, and stay in front of fans between gigs. We build that system so you can focus on the music.
Portfolio Examples
Our work spans industries, but the approach stays consistent. We build connected systems that capture leads, convert them, and keep them. If your business does not fit neatly above, book a strategy call and we will walk through the fit honestly.
Book a Strategy CallDo Not Just Take Our Word For It.
"Whatever you need, Sam can deliver. Friendly and available, Sam created my website and it's helped me get more leads. Thank you!!"
"Working with Sam at McKinney Creative Ventures has been a great experience. Before working with him, my marketing and systems felt scattered. Sam took the time to understand how my business actually operates and helped me simplify my tools and build systems that fit my reality."
"Sam is an incredibly talented and creative small business strategist. Working with him is absolutely amazing. He knows so much about getting your business positioned for growth... Working with MCV is one of the best choices I ever made for my business!"
Resources
Read How I Think Before You Hire Me.
Everything I know about local search, CRM, reviews, and paid ads is written down and free to read. No email gate, no download form. If you want to run it yourself, the instructions are right here.
Written for owners, not for Google
Every guide is something I would actually walk you through on a call. If a post reads like keyword filler, it does not go up.
Nothing is gated
No ebook funnel, no email wall. You can take any of this to a different agency and I am fine with that.
There is an audio version of a lot of it
I host the East Side Enterprise podcast and record short local marketing episodes. Good for the drive between jobs.
Start With These
No email gate, no download form. If you would rather run it yourself, the instructions are right here.
Speed to Lead: Why the First Five Minutes Decide the Job
The last three jobs you lost probably had nothing to do with price. Read this one first.
Read the article
Why Most Local Marketing Agencies Fail Their Clients (And How to Pick One That Will Not)
The uncomfortable version, including the parts that do not make my side of the industry look good.
Read the article
How Local Service Businesses Rank in Google AI Overviews
What actually gets a local business quoted in an AI answer, and what makes no difference at all.
Read the article
The Complete Guide to Local SEO, GEO, and AEO for Twin Cities Service Businesses
The whole local search playbook for this region. If you only read one long thing here, make it this one.
Read the article
The Complete Guide to CRM Systems for Local Service Businesses
What a CRM is really for when you run a service business, and what to ignore.
Read the article
The 5 Marketing Systems Every Local Service Business Needs Before Scaling
The five systems worth having in place before you spend a dollar trying to scale.
Read the articleThe Podcast
I Sit Down With Local Owners and Hit Record.
East Side Enterprise is the long-form interview show I host and produce out of Woodbury. Each episode is one owner or operator walking through how they actually got here and what the work has taken. It is not a marketing show and it is not a pitch. I started it because the people running businesses in this region are more interesting than anything I could write about marketing.
Listen to East Side EnterpriseAn hour, on purpose
Most episodes run an hour or more. Almost nothing true about running a business fits into a thirty second clip, so I do not try to make it.
Owners from around here
These are people building businesses in and around this region, not founders in another state. When an episode lands with you, the person is usually close enough to go meet.
The show is not a sales channel
I do not sell anything on it. I host it because knowing the people who build businesses here is part of doing this work honestly.
Steve Grohn of AJ Alberts: A Winding Career and a Culture of Care
The Woodbury plumbing company plenty of people here already have saved in their phone, and the winding road from a dairy farm through UPS and Gateway to owning it.
Tim Voit: The Go-Giver's Guide to Networking and Life After Corporate
Networking is how a lot of business in the East Metro actually gets done. Forty minutes on the Go-Giver approach and what work looks like after a corporate career.
Elizabeth Yang: The Deal Fixer on Trust, Decisions, and the $50,000 Price of Being Nice
For anyone who has ever quoted low to avoid an awkward conversation. The Deal Fixer on trust, holding a decision under pressure, and what being nice actually costs.
The Short Version: Tech Tips.
Tech Tips is the other half of the podcast page. Solo episodes where I answer one practical question at a time: what actually decides the local map pack, whether AI tools name you or your competitor, how to reply to every review in about two minutes, and what Google's 2026 review rules allow and ban. Most run under five minutes, and every one is written out as a guide as well, so you can read it or listen on the drive between jobs.
Browse every episodeCertified Partners
Built On Platforms We Are Certified To Run
We hold active partner credentials with the platforms that power your marketing system, so the tools we build on are the tools we know inside and out.
Community & Memberships
The Questions You Are Actually Asking.
These are the ones people ask me in the parking lot after a networking lunch, when the polite part of the conversation is over. Answered here so you do not have to ask.
I already have a website. Do I have to start over?
Usually not. A lot of what I do is fixing what already exists: page speed, search structure, forms that quietly go nowhere. If a rebuild is genuinely the faster path, I will show you why instead of just asserting it.
Am I too small for this?
If you are a one truck operation, the systems matter more, not less. You do not have a receptionist catching the calls you miss at four in the afternoon. That is the whole problem automation solves.
I got burned by an agency before.
Fair, and common. Ask me three things: who physically does the work, whose name is on the accounts, and what happens the day you leave. If any answer is not you, that is a bad answer no matter who is giving it.
Am I locked into something?
There is a term and a notice period, and you will read both in writing before you sign anything. Nothing is buried and nothing changes without a conversation first.
How long before this works?
Depends on the lever. Speed to lead and paid search can change your week. A site build takes weeks. Local search and reviews compound over months. I will tell you which one applies to you rather than promising a date I cannot control.
Do you actually know my industry?
I work with trades, home services, contractors, clinics, and professional firms across the East Metro and St. Croix Valley. If yours is new to me, I will say so on the call, and then I will go learn it before I charge you for a strategy.
Ready to Build a Marketing System That Works?
Book a 30 minute strategy call with Sam. No pitch. Just a plan.
Book a Strategy CallServing the Twin Cities East Metro and Western Wisconsin.