Heather Ripley has released an updated edition of her book, Next Level Now, at a time when brand perception plays an increasingly central role in how home service companies compete. Every contractor builds a brand, whether intentionally or by default, yet many businesses leave that process to chance through benign neglect rather than strategy. The Next Level Now book challenges that approach, positioning public relations as a disciplined, proactive way to shape credibility, trust, and long-term growth in crowded local markets.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Dec. 18, 2025 – Heather Ripley, founder and CEO of Ripley PR, a leading global public relations agency specializing in the skilled trades, announces the re-release of her book, “Next Level Now: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for Your Home Service Company.” The updated edition is self-published and available on Amazon in paperback format.
Originally released in 2021, “Next Level Now” became a widely used resource for residential service contractors seeking to build stronger brands, attract skilled talent, and drive business growth through public relations. The Next Level Now book reflects Ripley’s belief that brand perception is shaped either intentionally or by default, with public relations serving as a way to reduce that randomness.
“Home service contractors appreciate the role of marketing in facilitating business growth, and they tend to leverage it effectively,” said Ripley. “On the other hand, PR often goes overlooked, which means it can be a significant differentiator for the companies that do embrace it. This book provides proven strategies, allowing home service professionals to foster credibility, strengthen customer trust, and take their businesses to the next level of profitability.”
Drawing on more than two decades of experience, Ripley outlines practical PR tactics contractors can apply immediately. Topics include media relations, crisis management, social media, and reputation building. The book also features real-world examples from Ripley PR clients and other home service leaders.
Next Level Now equips residential service contractors with tools and strategies to grow smarter and faster, with a clear emphasis on using PR as a long-term business asset. The concepts are distilled from Ripley’s firsthand experience seeing what works and what does not when companies position themselves as trusted brands in competitive local markets.
“In this book, Heather will share how to unleash the power of public relations to jumpstart your growth,” wrote Ara Mahdessian, co-founder and CEO of ServiceTitan, in the book’s foreword. “Since she’s been working with the industry for over a decade, she understands the unique challenges home service contractors have.”
In a separate foreword, Tab Hunter, president of The Surfin’ Plumbers, added, “Knowing how to leverage PR can be instrumental in your journey toward financial freedom and success.”
Heather Ripley began her career in the residential service industry managing marketing for the three brands within the Clockwork Home Services family, earning national media exposure including an appearance on The Celebrity Apprentice. Her work in home services PR has earned multiple industry recognitions, including the PRNews Top Women Award for 2024 and selection by ACHR News as one of the Top Women in HVAC in 2024.
Since 2013, Ripley PR has focused exclusively on public relations for home services, manufacturing, franchising, and B2B technology companies, working with contractors and brands across the country.
For many contractors, brand development happens implicitly rather than by design. Trucks get wrapped, websites evolve, and reputations form, often without a unifying strategy behind them. The updated edition of Next Level Now argues that this passive approach limits growth. By treating public relations as a deliberate, long-term credibility engine, home service companies can shape how they are perceived, strengthen trust with customers and employees, and reduce the risk that their brand is defined by circumstances rather than intent.
“Next Level Now: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for Your Home Service Company” is available now on Amazon.
