Fully Managed

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Diverse Marketing Services and Personal Growth Journey: CJ Bachmann outlines their company's broad range of marketing services, including SEO, PPC, email marketing, and more, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to meeting various client needs. They also share their personal journey from initially aiming to become a teacher focused on ADD and ADHD, to working in corporate roles, and eventually climbing the ladder to become the CEO of 1SEO. Their story emphasizes how diverse experiences and roles contributed to their growth and success.

2. Bootstrapped Growth and Overcoming Challenges: CJ Bachmann describes the initial bootstrapping of 1SEO, where the business began with minimal resources and relied on early sales to drive growth. They recount their personal experience of starting in a low-level position, overcoming obstacles such as gender biases in the construction industry, and progressively building up their skills and responsibilities. This growth mindset and resilience played a significant role in the company's expansion and success.

3. Client-Centered Approach and Continuous Evolution: 1SEO's growth has been driven by a focus on deeply listening to clients' needs and adapting services to meet their evolving demands. Originally focused on traditional SEO, the agency expanded into website design, development, and other marketing solutions as clients' pain points were uncovered. This client-first approach allowed the company to develop customized strategies that aligned with the changing landscape of marketing and fostered strong relationships based on trust and transparency.

About CJ Bachmann and 1SEO:

- Website: http://1seo.com/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjbachmann/

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

- Website: https://penji.co/pricing/

- Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. The Circular Economy Model: Nick Esposito explains the concept of the circular economy, where instead of a traditional "take, make, dispose" model, resources are kept in use as long as possible. This reduces waste and supports more sustainable retail practices, and Circa Systems is pioneering this through platforms like **Unless Kids**, a toy-buying and swapping service that reduces waste and extends product life.

2. Practical Application and Growth: Circa Systems is focused on creating a seamless user experience by offering discounts and easy swaps for customers while engineering a platform that encourages return and reuse of products. Their initial focus on toys is part of a broader strategy that could eventually expand into other sectors like clothing and tools.

3. Marketing and Retention Strategies: The company uses a combination of localized marketing, word of mouth, and social media to attract and retain customers. They also emphasize the importance of customer feedback and tracking touchpoints to understand the sales cycle and improve engagement, ensuring both acquisition and retention through thoughtful outreach and consistent communication.

About Nic Esposito and Circa Tech:

• Website: https://circasystems.co/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nic-d-esposito/

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Importance of Managing Overhead and Liabilities: Mac Frederick advises entrepreneurs to "slow roll" their business growth to avoid debt and unnecessary liabilities. They emphasize starting small, minimizing expenses, and gradually expanding the business, sharing personal experiences of managing businesses remotely, then moving to physical locations only when sustainable.

2. The Shift in Education for Marketing Careers: The speaker argues that traditional college education may not be necessary for marketing, emphasizing that many skills can now be self-taught through free online resources like YouTube. While college may offer practical courses like computer science or Google Ads, much of the curriculum is outdated and not as useful in today’s marketing landscape.

3. Mental Health and Entrepreneurship: The speaker touches on the emotional toll of entrepreneurship, discussing how stress, anxiety, and depression are common among business owners due to unmet expectations. They stress the importance of managing these emotions and being more open about the challenges that come with running a business.

About Mac Frederick and Momentum Digital:

- Website: https://www.needmomentum.com/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macfrederick/

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Balancing content creation with another job.

2. Social media and networking

3. The complexities of UX/UI design

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About Jophin and his social media  

- Website: https://designxstream.com/

- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DesignXstream/videos

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Focus on Quality and Sustainability: Merch.com prides itself on providing high-quality, customizable products at competitive prices, with an emphasis on sustainability. They highlight their commitment to eco-friendly practices and the importance of creating durable products that clients will want to use over time.

2. The Importance of a Strong Team and Positive Culture: The speaker emphasizes that a successful company relies on its people, not just its founder. Building a supportive, positive work environment is crucial, as it motivates employees to perform at their best. Recognizing and celebrating team achievements fosters loyalty and encourages a collaborative atmosphere.

3. Understanding Client Needs and Brand Identity: The speaker highlights the significance of aligning products with a client’s brand identity. They express frustration when companies use generic products that don’t match their branding. Instead, they advocate for a thoughtful approach that not only meets client expectations but also enhances their brand story through well-designed, customized products.

About Ikey Bensimhon and Merch.com:

- Website: https://www.merch.com/

-  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikey-bensimhon-59155a30/

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Building Client Relationships Over Creativity: Kyle emphasizes client retention by focusing on building strong relationships rather than prioritizing creativity. Maintaining long-term clients involves under-promising and over-delivering, such as providing extra deliverables or completing projects ahead of schedule to exceed expectations.

2. Navigating Niche Specialization: Finding a niche remains a challenge and an area of growth for Orchid Media. While currently functioning as a "jack-of-all-trades," the founder recognizes the importance of specialization for attracting a broader and more focused client base. The agency is exploring potential niches, such as sorority recruitment videos and emerging opportunities in virtual reality and 360-degree advertising, as part of its ongoing evolution.

3. Leveraging Personal Branding for Lead Generation: For lead generation, the founder relies on an organic approach through personal branding. By sharing the agency's journey, showcasing work, and building trust via personal social media, the founder creates a "founder story" that resonates with audiences.  

About Kyle Schmidt and Orchid Media:

Website: https://orchidmedia.co/

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

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Slow Down To Speed Up Strategy: Elevate My Brand's unique approach to success lies in its **"slow down to speed up"** process, which includes a detailed, three-pronged discovery phase. This phase allows them to balance creative inspiration with data-driven decisions. Through this method, they assess client fit, ensuring both parties align before committing to long-term work. This approach helps manage client expectations and ensures they provide expert guidance even when clients' preferences conflict with data-backed strategies.

2. Adapting Marketing Strategies for Gen Alpha: Elevate My Brand customizes its marketing approach to resonate with younger generations, particularly Gen Alpha, by using informal communication styles and understanding the trends that capture their attention, which differ from those of older generations.

3. Ensuring Effective Client Communication Through Structured Touchpoints: To maintain clear and ongoing communication, the agency utilizes a system of scheduled meetings, organized agendas, and detailed, color-coded reports, making it easy for clients to track progress and address concerns efficiently.

About Laurel Mintz and Elevate My Brand:

- Website: http://www.elevatemybrand.com/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurel-mintz/

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. How to grow your social media platforms
2. Using social media as a business owner
3. Navigating brand partnerships as an influencer

About Maddi and her social media

• Website: https://lnk.bio/madecreativeco
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madecreativeco

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. The Importance of Implementation and Accountability: Jerome helps real estate professionals with marketing by focusing on implementation. While many understand the concepts of marketing, they struggle with taking action. Jerome addresses this by offering coaching and accountability, either by guiding clients through the process, doing it with them, or doing it for them.

2. The Role of Daily Role-Playing in Building Sales Confidence: Jerome emphasizes the importance of role-playing in sales. He participates in daily role-playing sessions with other agents to practice handling objections and improving his sales scripts. This regular practice has significantly boosted his confidence in sales, transforming him from feeling uncertain to being highly confident in his abilities.

3. Video Marketing for Personalization and Outreach: Jerome recommends the use of video as a personalized outreach strategy in real estate and other businesses. Instead of public speaking or large-scale broadcasts, they recommend sending one-on-one video messages, such as birthday greetings via video, to build personal connections and differentiate oneself. This personalized approach, especially in real estate, helps people feel more connected and valued, creating a lasting impression that can eventually lead to business.

About Jerome Lewis and Digital Realestate Strategy

Website: http://digitalrealestatestrategy.com/

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

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast

Here are three things you’ll learn in this episode:

1. Investment in Long-Term Growth: Smartsites’ growth is driven by a strategic investment in their own marketing and employee development, rather than focusing on immediate transactional returns. They spend a substantial amount on marketing (e.g., $300,000 a month) with the understanding that the returns will be realized over the long term through the lifetime value of clients. This approach contrasts with a short-term ROI mentality and emphasizes building a solid reputation and generating leads that will contribute to sustainable growth.

2. Reputation and Unique Selling Proposition: Smartsites relies heavily on its strong reputation and positive reviews to attract clients, avoiding traditional outbound sales methods like cold calling. Their proposal process is focused on responding to inbound inquiries, explaining their unique services and processes, and leveraging their reputation to differentiate from competitors. In situations where they are in a bidding war, the emphasis is on showcasing their distinct value proposition and ensuring that their sales team effectively communicates their unique approach and expertise.

3. Effective Customer Service and Empowerment: Addressing customer dissatisfaction promptly and effectively is crucial. Smartsites has a dedicated senior-level role to handle client issues, empowering this person to make decisions and resolve problems without needing extensive approvals. This approach, similar to the Ritz-Carlton’s $2,000 rule, ensures that customer service issues are managed efficiently, enhancing client satisfaction and maintaining a strong reputation.

About Alex Melen and SmartSites:

- Website: http://www.smartsites.com/

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexmelen/

✨Sponsors✨

Penji, the human first creative subscription service for agencies and teams.

Enter code for 15% off your first month: FULLYMANAGED15

• Website: https://penji.co/pricing/
• Subscribe to Penji’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@dotpenji
• Subscribe to Penji's Podcast Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@penjipodcast