WEBVTT
00:00:00.073 --> 00:00:02.803
andrew welcome to the virtual CMO podcast.
00:00:02.863 --> 00:00:04.514
Thanks so much for joining us today.
00:00:05.083 --> 00:00:05.924
Hey, glad to be here.
00:00:05.953 --> 00:00:06.703
Thanks for inviting me.
00:00:07.134 --> 00:00:12.683
You know, it's funny, that's called the virtual CMO podcasts, but we actually have two virtual CMOs here today, which is great.
00:00:12.714 --> 00:00:14.573
virtual CMO, fractional CMO.
00:00:14.624 --> 00:00:15.153
CMO.
00:00:15.204 --> 00:00:16.673
demand, whatever you want to call us.
00:00:16.884 --> 00:00:18.743
It's great to have some company on the show.
00:00:19.493 --> 00:00:20.364
Yeah, I was going to rename it.
00:00:20.393 --> 00:00:22.763
CMOs are us, but someone told me that was taken.
00:00:22.824 --> 00:00:23.693
Yeah, that's funny.
00:00:23.724 --> 00:00:24.294
That's funny.
00:00:24.294 --> 00:00:34.804
So I would love to hear, as we start out, just to give the audience a little bit of a background on yourself and how you came to start up a fangled tech, your consulting company.
00:00:35.914 --> 00:00:36.124
All right.
00:00:36.204 --> 00:00:37.103
originally the.
00:00:37.207 --> 00:00:37.866
Do age group.
00:00:37.990 --> 00:00:45.850
And I began my work years ago in central Florida, and then 10 years working in growing the business in the South of Brazil.
00:00:46.631 --> 00:00:51.820
And when I came back to the States, A troll had taken my name and registered it.
00:00:51.890 --> 00:00:53.060
then why did it hurt me for it?
00:00:53.841 --> 00:01:00.470
So at that same time I had gone to work for, one of my clients is as part of their company for a period of time.
00:01:01.070 --> 00:01:11.870
And decided when I came out, rather than fight with the troll and go through all the legal, I needed to come up with a clever name that really said who we were and, you know, got the brand recognition that we would want to going forward.
00:01:12.531 --> 00:01:17.971
So it was a conversation with some of the folks that we're working with and you know, what kind of a company are you.
00:01:18.281 --> 00:01:20.021
we're not new fangled cause we really do.
00:01:20.021 --> 00:01:20.501
What's great.
00:01:20.561 --> 00:01:23.200
We're not old fangled because we're moderate and we deal with it.
00:01:23.471 --> 00:01:24.941
So we're right in the moment we're fangled.
00:01:26.171 --> 00:01:26.501
And.
00:01:27.191 --> 00:01:28.361
Became Fangled tech.
00:01:29.620 --> 00:01:38.471
We were talking just before the broadcast started about the importance of a brand story and the ability for a brand to be recognized.
00:01:38.501 --> 00:01:43.010
And I've had a few guests on the show that, they'll wear a certain color.
00:01:43.010 --> 00:01:51.710
I had a nice lady on the show and she wore a pink scarf every time that she was doing a public appearance and another one at word green dress and a guy that wore a purple shirt or a tie.
00:01:52.191 --> 00:01:58.873
And it's nice to have something about your brand that's recognizable so that when people see you, they, equate your brand with you.
00:01:59.804 --> 00:02:00.463
Absolutely.
00:02:00.493 --> 00:02:05.144
And the thing is, everyone says your brand needs to be memorable, but memorable for the right things.
00:02:06.284 --> 00:02:08.283
You know, you don't want to be remembered for.
00:02:08.734 --> 00:02:12.633
The kinds of things that destroy brands you want to be remembered for the great work that you do.
00:02:13.024 --> 00:02:14.913
And the problems that you solve for your clients.
00:02:16.144 --> 00:02:16.864
That's so true.
00:02:16.864 --> 00:02:21.554
And I really want to get into that a little bit more with you because, we're both seasoned veterans.
00:02:21.554 --> 00:02:28.283
We've been around the game for a long time and in marketing, there's quite a breadth of skill that's out there.
00:02:28.283 --> 00:02:35.854
There are a lot of companies that tend to hire in young people, right out of school to manage their social media or whatnot.
00:02:36.364 --> 00:02:42.873
And oftentimes we also see that marketing is a function that is given off to another executive within the organization.
00:02:43.264 --> 00:02:45.274
A VP of sales and marketing.
00:02:45.574 --> 00:02:55.924
how do you look at the range of experience that's out there and really what differentiates somebody with experience in marketing with somebody who maybe doesn't have that season skill?
00:02:56.574 --> 00:02:58.824
it's something that I've been talking about quite a bit lately.
00:02:58.883 --> 00:02:59.243
The.
00:02:59.644 --> 00:03:09.663
there's a, an issue across the boards, outside of our field and in the U S and abroad now where folks value someone's confidence far more than their competence.
00:03:10.503 --> 00:03:15.533
So you get a kid right out of school who studied marketing and has a good understanding of it.
00:03:15.954 --> 00:03:18.294
But at the end of the day, what they really have as a tool kit.
00:03:18.834 --> 00:03:19.913
They know about SEO.
00:03:19.943 --> 00:03:22.283
They know about all of these pieces that are tools.
00:03:22.734 --> 00:03:27.324
The true seasoned marketing guys are the ones that recognize tools change every year.
00:03:27.683 --> 00:03:36.554
But the core of marketing is understanding how to build a strategy to really go back and say, who are our customers?
00:03:36.554 --> 00:03:37.364
What do they look like?
00:03:37.364 --> 00:03:38.294
What's their persona?
00:03:38.294 --> 00:03:38.984
What did they want?
00:03:38.984 --> 00:03:40.633
What are the problems that we can solve for them?
00:03:40.933 --> 00:03:41.774
Do I have one type two?
00:03:41.804 --> 00:03:42.794
I various types.
00:03:43.243 --> 00:03:49.674
And then really understand who they are, where they are, how to reach them and how to truly solve the problems that you now know that they have.
00:03:50.963 --> 00:03:56.364
Just because you use social media in your personal life, doesn't mean you're an expert in social media, right?
00:03:56.933 --> 00:03:57.294
Yeah.
00:03:57.324 --> 00:04:06.544
And it's fascinating to me, like for example, you'll come across somebody who will tell you, I know I'm successful in marketing because I can drive 200,000 people to a website a day.
00:04:06.993 --> 00:04:10.274
I can get someone 30,000 followers within a week.
00:04:10.783 --> 00:04:11.443
And you go, okay.
00:04:11.443 --> 00:04:13.454
But what does that do for you?
00:04:13.813 --> 00:04:16.334
Are those followers, people who could do business with you?
00:04:16.634 --> 00:04:19.144
Are you interested in vanity or prosperity?
00:04:19.473 --> 00:04:24.244
And most of my client work is in that, in the industrial sort of niche market space.
00:04:24.754 --> 00:04:29.944
So if you were to ask me, would you want 30,000 connections on LinkedIn?
00:04:30.454 --> 00:04:35.434
I would say, it depends are the 30,000 connections people who I can benefit, or we can do business with me.
00:04:35.733 --> 00:04:40.384
Or am I going to be trying to look for quality content out there and have to filter through all the garbage?
00:04:40.413 --> 00:04:41.103
I don't want to see.
00:04:42.423 --> 00:04:43.894
It has to be target.
00:04:43.894 --> 00:04:45.634
It has to be strategic in what you do.
00:04:46.653 --> 00:04:47.434
I love that phrase.
00:04:47.434 --> 00:05:01.533
You use a vanity versus prosperity because yeah, followers are relatively easy, but getting somebody to open up their wallet and actually buy something to spend money on a product or service is an entirely different proposition altogether.
00:05:01.713 --> 00:05:05.314
And I think many times people don't realize the challenge that you've got there.
00:05:06.213 --> 00:05:06.514
Yeah.
00:05:06.514 --> 00:05:11.463
And you know, I've tried at the supermarket to pay for my food with connections and they don't, they won't take it.
00:05:11.673 --> 00:05:14.043
They won't take my likes, my connections, any of that stuff.
00:05:14.434 --> 00:05:15.213
They want cash.
00:05:15.514 --> 00:05:16.264
It's so true.
00:05:16.293 --> 00:05:20.824
Cash is the currency that drives the world, not likes and followers, right?
00:05:21.004 --> 00:05:21.663
Absolutely.
00:05:22.264 --> 00:05:22.923
Absolutely.
00:05:23.134 --> 00:05:33.843
So there's this huge differentiation in skills within the marketplace, but at the same time, we're also seeing this move towards a lot of outsourcing towards more use of freelancers.
00:05:33.963 --> 00:05:40.744
I think there was a time when you would just go to an agency and they would be a one stop shop for everything.
00:05:40.954 --> 00:05:44.553
And agencies still have an incredibly important role to play.
00:05:44.704 --> 00:05:47.134
But now I think your choices are more diverse.
00:05:47.134 --> 00:05:49.684
you can have a bunch of different people working on your behalf.
00:05:49.713 --> 00:05:51.334
How do you see the landscape.
00:05:51.853 --> 00:06:04.814
we are not an agency and I make it clear that we're not, I have nothing against there's some real, like you said, some really good agencies out there, but many times I would say nine out of 10 clients that we take on are people that have been burned by agencies.
00:06:05.233 --> 00:06:08.264
there's all of these sort of what I call creepers in the fees.
00:06:08.564 --> 00:06:10.903
They agree, Hey, we're going to put together a print ad.
00:06:11.384 --> 00:06:18.704
And by the time they're done the project management fees are 10 times what the I'm exaggerating, but much higher than what the actual costs should have been.
00:06:19.064 --> 00:06:23.894
Or you go to the agency and they tell you, Oh, we've got a person who specializes in your field.
00:06:23.894 --> 00:06:28.634
And the reality is no one there has ever worked in your industrial sector before understands it.
00:06:29.293 --> 00:06:39.803
So rather than the way we do where we've got about a hundred different freelance people that we've been using for years, we build a team specific to the strategy and specific to the needs of the customer.
00:06:40.103 --> 00:06:42.334
With folks that are relevant within that area.
00:06:43.624 --> 00:06:51.334
But I think you also highlight another point is that there was a benefit in the agency model where you turned everything over to them because.
00:06:51.934 --> 00:06:54.634
They were also an ultimate point of responsibility, right?
00:06:54.634 --> 00:06:57.553
They were the person that you had a lead at the agency.
00:06:57.553 --> 00:06:59.863
And you could go to, if you didn't like something or something was wrong.
00:07:00.043 --> 00:07:02.803
When companies engage with a lot of freelancers.
00:07:03.343 --> 00:07:06.704
Then there has to be somebody who's coordinating that effort.
00:07:06.733 --> 00:07:10.783
Otherwise everybody's just off doing their own thing and there's no strategy.
00:07:10.783 --> 00:07:13.754
There's no continuity in what they're doing.
00:07:13.903 --> 00:07:19.004
And I think that's another way that roles like you and I play with a virtual CMO, fractional CMO.
00:07:19.124 --> 00:07:21.584
You still need somebody driving the bus.
00:07:22.004 --> 00:07:23.004
And that's what we do.
00:07:23.454 --> 00:07:28.463
But the difference is if in an agency model you've got the person running the agency.
00:07:28.463 --> 00:07:31.584
Sometimes they have a sales team who goes out that thinks that they know marketing.
00:07:31.853 --> 00:07:35.033
But they're really about just getting more and more out of it out of the customer.
00:07:35.303 --> 00:07:39.324
It's almost like an interior decorator situation where you're going to decorate your home.
00:07:39.324 --> 00:07:45.184
So you talk about a plan and before long, every napkin you buy for your house has a commission for them.
00:07:45.184 --> 00:07:48.564
Anthe design is more based on what furniture they get the best commission on.
00:07:49.254 --> 00:07:53.603
Whereas with what we do as a fractional CMO, we're part of the team.
00:07:53.874 --> 00:07:59.184
It's like having a part time employee with sea level credentials, who's there to build the strategy.
00:07:59.514 --> 00:08:01.584
So the responsibility is with that person.
00:08:01.973 --> 00:08:06.223
But the difference is: us fractional or however else you want to call it.
00:08:06.463 --> 00:08:11.593
We have a pool of people that are already vetted that we know what they're going to charge.
00:08:11.593 --> 00:08:12.524
We know how they work.
00:08:12.553 --> 00:08:14.264
We know what the project is.
00:08:14.824 --> 00:08:18.033
and we're used to working with them on projects specific to that customer.
00:08:18.603 --> 00:08:21.124
So there's no additional project management fees.
00:08:21.124 --> 00:08:27.543
Cause that's what we're doing in our monthly fee for the days or the number of hours that we've negotiated for.
00:08:28.113 --> 00:08:34.774
And when there's additional services and agency, when they outsource, they can double, triple whatever they're being billed.
00:08:35.073 --> 00:08:35.254
In.
00:08:35.254 --> 00:08:41.573
In my case, we actually show the invoice of what we're paying and there's a standard markup for us to manage that project.
00:08:42.144 --> 00:08:54.604
But at the end of the day, we own the project that the freelancers, if a freelancer screws up for us, we're on the hook, not the freelancer they're on the hook with us, but we were responsible to it just as if we were an employee of the company.
00:08:54.831 --> 00:08:56.240
Yeah, I think that's so important.
00:08:56.240 --> 00:09:03.464
And you know, I really want to get back to this statement that I made earlier because I see it so often and I'm sure you run into it as well.
00:09:04.124 --> 00:09:08.864
So many companies will come back and say, I already have a VP of sales and marketing.
00:09:08.864 --> 00:09:11.624
Why do I need to have somebody in a separate role?
00:09:11.624 --> 00:09:15.224
Just for marketing, isn't marketing, a function of sales.
00:09:16.663 --> 00:09:17.053
Yeah.
00:09:17.264 --> 00:09:24.323
Again, at other most common question that's asked and the reality is marketing makes it so that sales can happen.
00:09:24.783 --> 00:09:25.833
we understand.
00:09:25.833 --> 00:09:40.293
And we use the data that we get from sales to understand the customer a little bit better and the performance and otherwise, but to truly understand the total scope of the market to generate the leads to look at where is the low lying fruit, all of the analysis that's involved.
00:09:40.624 --> 00:09:52.203
In where to go to market new regions, being able to hone the messaging to create the materials, even building the CRM systems in conjunction with the sales team.
00:09:52.594 --> 00:10:00.813
So that the CRM is something that they can use and like to use as opposed to an administrative nonsense thing that drives them nuts.
00:10:02.264 --> 00:10:22.484
And I think that this also dovetails nicely into the conversation just on leads in general, because what I often see is when marketing is wrapped up underneath the sales function, everything is leads, but there's more to leads than just going out and going to the magic, lead bank and just purchasing some leads.
00:10:22.754 --> 00:10:27.543
There's awareness that drives interest that then begins to build demand.
00:10:27.543 --> 00:10:33.293
And it's a nurturing process where you have to take these leads and mature them before they can move over.
00:10:33.563 --> 00:10:42.571
And I think oftentimes when it's a sales function, there's the temptation to skip all that and say, where can I just quickly find some leads there?
00:10:42.571 --> 00:10:43.711
There's no quick solution.
00:10:44.280 --> 00:10:49.620
Yeah, there isn't but there, there's a lot of sales guys that have grown up with that kiss or kill sort of mentality.
00:10:49.740 --> 00:10:52.171
If I don't get it on the first run, go away.
00:10:52.530 --> 00:10:57.750
One of the big programs that we've built for many clients is exactly what you just called out a lead nurturing program.
00:10:58.291 --> 00:11:07.380
So for example, there was a, engagement that I was involved with that was selling a product through dealers and leads were coming into the website, hundreds and hundreds a day.
00:11:07.831 --> 00:11:10.831
And someone would just by zip code, send it out to the dealer and let it go.
00:11:11.201 --> 00:11:13.841
the question at hand, and this is where marketing comes in.
00:11:13.841 --> 00:11:15.880
Is, are the leads being handled?
00:11:16.030 --> 00:11:18.671
Are they actually contacting these people who said they're interested?
00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:20.500
Are they getting into the dealership?
00:11:20.561 --> 00:11:21.971
Are they selling the product?
00:11:22.270 --> 00:11:27.610
And if they do buy, are they buying theirs or are the leads that you're sending, enhancing your competitor?
00:11:27.701 --> 00:11:28.691
Who's also on that lot.
00:11:29.380 --> 00:11:33.850
So we built a lead nurturing program where the leads were first qualified.
00:11:34.421 --> 00:11:38.951
And a personal touch occurs and then introducing them to that dealer network.
00:11:38.951 --> 00:11:39.941
And then later.
00:11:40.291 --> 00:11:46.740
after the engagement, they were supposed to be able to follow up and gather all of that data to better know the performance of their dealers.
00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:53.950
When it comes to that, demand generation and building sort of a real funnel to attract new leads.
00:11:54.279 --> 00:12:03.460
Do you see in your experience that many companies truly don't have a good handle on what their unique value proposition is, what their true differentiators are.
00:12:03.700 --> 00:12:05.620
And instead it's price and features.
00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:07.360
Absolutely.
00:12:08.289 --> 00:12:10.539
I would say nine out of 10 companies.
00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:14.559
The first question that we always ask is tell me who your ideal customer is.
00:12:15.070 --> 00:12:17.049
And nine out of 10 times nobody can tell me.
00:12:17.629 --> 00:12:19.250
and when the 10th they can.
00:12:20.090 --> 00:12:21.860
When we dig into it and look at it.
00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.870
It's not who they thought it was.
00:12:24.289 --> 00:12:25.309
So I'll give you, I'll give you an example.
00:12:25.309 --> 00:12:33.649
We were involved in the steel drum industry for a number of years, and they were as an industry that this particular company was talking about.
00:12:33.649 --> 00:12:36.860
The fact that the drones were made of steel, they were tested in house.
00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:40.850
They had in house authorized government testing for DOD and transportation.
00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.860
They had high quality.
00:12:43.070 --> 00:12:49.070
All of this was there, their entire pitch, everything they were pitching is table stakes.
00:12:49.370 --> 00:12:52.190
These are all of the basic requirements just to be in that industry.
00:12:52.669 --> 00:12:54.769
If you want to sell steel drums.
00:12:55.159 --> 00:12:56.659
You have to be able to test in house.
00:12:56.690 --> 00:12:57.799
You have to do all of those things.
00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:02.049
So we dug in and started to talk to the top customers in the past.
00:13:02.049 --> 00:13:02.379
Customers.
00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:04.120
Why do you do business with this company?
00:13:04.659 --> 00:13:06.370
Number one response.
00:13:07.070 --> 00:13:08.110
Because Ithey answered the phone.
00:13:09.309 --> 00:13:10.509
Number two response.
00:13:10.899 --> 00:13:18.659
Cause when me as the buyer screw up or we get a run on a product, they're the only ones who can turn around and get them to me immediately.
00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:20.009
Other companies could take a month.
00:13:20.669 --> 00:13:21.419
Number three.
00:13:21.929 --> 00:13:25.049
At my salesman's in touch with me all the time and I can reach them anytime I want.
00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:34.740
Number four was when they screw up and they have a defective product, they own it and fix it within a day or two, not, we have a process.
00:13:34.769 --> 00:13:36.240
It'll be a month before we get back to you.
00:13:36.450 --> 00:13:41.679
So the entire reason that people were doing business with them had nothing to do with the quality of the product at all.
00:13:41.897 --> 00:13:44.836
It was, they met and exceeded all of the standards in the market.
00:13:45.173 --> 00:13:52.907
they were huge because people liked them and they got the service and resolved that the personal problems that buyers have in that industry.
00:13:53.616 --> 00:13:57.697
so obviously all of the messaging had to change the very differentiators they thought they had.
00:13:57.817 --> 00:13:59.527
First of all, it didn't differentiate anything.
00:13:59.886 --> 00:14:01.657
And second had no meaning to the customer.
00:14:01.869 --> 00:14:07.509
what you've really touched on, there is something that I'm such a firm believer in and it's this.
00:14:07.647 --> 00:14:09.447
Understanding of pain points.
00:14:09.447 --> 00:14:18.197
It's understanding how a particular product or service is actually going to solve a problem that is going to address some sort of a pain that the customer's having.
00:14:18.407 --> 00:14:21.376
Not what it does and all the capabilities that it has.
00:14:21.376 --> 00:14:24.047
Like you say, a lot of times that just ends up being table stakes.
00:14:24.226 --> 00:14:27.466
Chances are your competitor's products do very similar things.
00:14:27.797 --> 00:14:34.456
But how are you uniquely suited to solve a customer's pain points or a problem that maybe your competitor is not?
00:14:34.606 --> 00:14:35.657
And would you just describe her?
00:14:35.657 --> 00:14:38.297
A lot of service differentiators had nothing to do with the product.
00:14:38.596 --> 00:14:40.216
Yeah, it's it had nothing.
00:14:40.216 --> 00:14:41.147
I'll give you another example.
00:14:41.147 --> 00:14:45.547
Years ago, I was tasked with the U S manufacturer of sofas of upholstered goods.
00:14:45.937 --> 00:14:48.366
They were looking to get into the South American luxury market.
00:14:48.817 --> 00:14:53.136
And in the U S when you go buy a sofa, a real high end thousands of dollars sofa.
00:14:53.466 --> 00:14:55.177
They'll show you the inside of the sofa.
00:14:55.206 --> 00:15:00.037
They show you the Springs and how many directions it was hand tied in Brazil.
00:15:00.037 --> 00:15:03.157
You would talk about that and the consumer would go, I don't give a crap.
00:15:03.256 --> 00:15:03.647
literally.
00:15:04.157 --> 00:15:05.236
That means nothing to me.
00:15:05.267 --> 00:15:06.317
I want to know if it feels good.
00:15:06.317 --> 00:15:10.517
When I sit in it, I buy a sofa with my butt was the most common thing that I heard.
00:15:10.817 --> 00:15:13.096
I want a fancy, beautiful fabric.
00:15:13.096 --> 00:15:14.027
I want it to look nice.
00:15:14.027 --> 00:15:16.937
I want it to be comfortable and I want to be able to tell people I imported it.
00:15:17.746 --> 00:15:18.976
That was what mattered.
00:15:19.067 --> 00:15:23.956
So all of the collateral that existed in the U S for selling those sofas was useless in Brazil.
00:15:25.576 --> 00:15:37.966
I'm so glad you segwayed into this, because I really do want to leverage your experience working with global brands and talk a little bit about that, because I think that's a challenge as we become an increasingly global economy.
00:15:38.366 --> 00:15:47.506
businesses want to open up in new markets, but it's not as simple as, translating your content from English to French or the German.
00:15:47.907 --> 00:15:50.277
there's a lot of culture that's involved in this.
00:15:50.277 --> 00:15:53.246
And the term I always like to use is cultural translation.
00:15:53.456 --> 00:16:00.236
Just like you said, the same sofa here versus Brazil, but the way the consumer bought it Was very different.
00:16:00.246 --> 00:16:01.866
that's just a difference in culture.
00:16:01.866 --> 00:16:03.697
That's a different dish in buying behavior.
00:16:04.086 --> 00:16:10.657
So I'd love to hear about your experience and advice that you give businesses as their thinking to expand into new markets.
00:16:11.466 --> 00:16:14.616
The most common thing we encounter with a company that wants to go global.
00:16:15.187 --> 00:16:17.346
Is, Oh, we're already exporting so we know what we're doing.
00:16:17.496 --> 00:16:18.756
You say, okay, where are you selling?