135: Performance Marketing for New Hardware Products

Jake Schmidt has sold over five hundred million dollars in products online for customers. He is the CEO of Structured Agency, a digital marketing firm that specializes in performance marketing for hardware brands direct to consumer. In his early years, he was the online sales guy behind the fidget spinner, which they ended up leveraging to then get into major retailers like Best Buy. Today Jake is going to share some valuable knowledge on how inventors, startups, and small manufacturers can understand the different strategies to marketing online, what platforms are most successful and how that is changing, and how to spin up simple at-home ads that convert into real customers for your new physical product.

Today you will hear us talk about:

Performance marketing agency, which is driving revenue for your brand.

Paid Media

Push vs Pull marketing

Retention marketing: Email and SMS Marketing

Community building: Content Marketing

It all starts with a quality product

Social media likes unique content, meaning new invention ideas are promoted much heavier.

TikTok is similar to what Instagram was 5 years ago

Repurpose your content to amplify the digital creative work you are doing.

Show the value proposition within 2 seconds

Keep the product simple, so that you can sell it extremely quickly

Authentic video ads are easy to shoot, and the market loves them right now, and that opportunity may not last.

Consider coupon websites, affiliate selling programs, etc.

EPISODE LINKS

Jake Schmidt / Structured Agency Links:

Website: https://www.structured.agency/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-schmidt-a495b513b/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iamjakeschmidt

The Product Startup Podcast Links:

Website: https://www.ProductStartup.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ProductStartup/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ProductStartup/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ProductStartup/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ProductStartup/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ProductStartup/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ProductStartup

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent

Mako Design Links:

Website: https://www.makodesign.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MakoInvent

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MakoInvent/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/MakoDesign/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakoInvent/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/MakoInvent/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MakoInvent/

Kevin Mako Links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Entrepreneurs/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/KevMako/

Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Kevin-Mako

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KevMakoPage/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KevMako/

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry’s leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about Mako Design + Invent!