Why do you need to form strategic partnerships as you are growing your brand? Because those relationships are critical to your long-term growth. Being aligned with business practices and customer experience are important. You don't want to align your business with a business whose core values are vastly different than yours. For us, VaynerMedia is perfectly aligned and makes sense.

Don't ever sell out your values. If the business that you are considering aligning with doesn't fit your values without editing them to fit their model, find a new partner.

Last week, my operations Ninja, Brandon, and I sat down with the VaynerMedia Platform Partnership team to talk about the working relationship between Ad Zombies and SMB's as well as how Ad Zombies aligns with agencies like VaynerMedia to support their team and business growth. Having some face time with their team was great.

While driving to meet with our office broker, I wanted to share some thoughts on being practical. I hope this connects with you at some level.

How I Built The UBER Of Copywriting In 9 Months

What's the number 1 question people ask me these days? How did I build www.adzombies.com into a global brand in only 9 months?

The truth is, by accident.

Recently, I did a Facebook Live Q&A with a group of entrepreneurs in a private Gary Vaynerchuk online forum. They wanted to know about the process, the challenges, hiring, decision making, etc. As the live session went on, I wondered if what I was saying was making any difference to anyone, it did. The comments I started to see during the live Q&A reaffirmed that transparency in the process, sharing the journey, talking about wins and losses, matter. People take what they need and leave the rest. That's OK with me. I don't need to impact everyone, only someone.

After I completed the Facebook Live with this group, the questions continued to come into my business and personal page facebook.com/spankymoskowitz. Those questions ranged from, can you help me figure out X?, or I'd love your thoughts on Y, and would you be able to work with me and my team on this part of our business?

I have now obtained the video from this group, scraped the audio since no one really needs to see me talk about this, and have decided to share it with you. Why? Because hidden amongst the over hourlong live-cast, are gems for any business owner, entrepreneur, decision maker, or side hustling young person.

Is this podcast for all of you? NO WAY! But if it impacts 1 person's journey in life, if it makes a difference to 1 individuals next year, 5 years, or decade. I will have achieved my ultimate goal of bringing value to another human being.

In this episode, I did into my recent 💨 My Disappearing Act.

No, I am not dead.🧟‍♂️

No, I wasn’t abducted by an alien craft.👽

No, I haven’t fled the country in the witness protection program.👤

Yes, these are all questions I have been asked over the last 30 days by several people in at least a dozen different Facebook groups. Where did I go? Why did I go dark? Take a listen.

I had the opportunity to sit down with a man I respect in the marketing business, Brian Meert, CEO of AdvertiseMint. This guy knows the landscape of the digital world and his book, The Complete Guide To Facebook Advertising, is a living, breathing, ever-changing tool for marketers. This is a must read if you're trying to figure it all out.

AdvertiseMint:

https://www.advertisemint.com/

Grab The Book Here:

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Facebook-Advertising/dp/0999308408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1509568998&sr=8-1&keywords=the+complete+guide+to+facebook+advertising

I got some great advice from Gary at dinner last night and it really speaks to who I am as a businessperson. Are you an operator or a creator? I am the latter. Here is my first brain dump from dinner.

I'm in NYC for a few meetings and had the opportunity to have dinner with a friend who's launching his career as a speaker. Bryan's story is remarkable and I think his journey can relate to anyone struggling with an addiction. Take a listen.

What the hell will you do when marketing stops working or when you're no longer the flavor of the moment? Build your damn brand online. If you're in radio, TV, sales, chiropractic... name it, you need to build a brand around YOU. John Jay & Rich have done this incredibly well as radio hosts. Why? Because the flavors in radio may change, but when the iHeart flavor changes to the new guys, John Jay & Rich have the BRAND equity to self-sustain without the big media company behind them. Pay attention broadcasters, own your brand, don't let your company own it. Episode 5

Too many marketers show a total disrespect for Snapchat and the value the platform has to their client's brand and sales. This platform has aged up and continues to grow a more mature audience, yet businesses can't seem to figure out HOW to use it to engage, grow and sell with it. Here's how. #brandwidth Episode 4.

Many businesses spend lots of time and money on marketing and advertising, very few, except for big companies, focus on their brand. The brand is what will keep your business alive when times get tough. In Episode 2 of BrandWidth, you'll hear a call between the owner of a multi-state restaurant chain and some of their brand challenges and me.