Growth Experts with Dennis Brown

Chris Porteous is the CEO of Grey Smoke Media, which builds sales funnels and marketing workflow solutions for businesses across North America. His growth-focused agency, My SEO Sucks, has helped clients generate tens of millions of dollars and has one of the lowest churn rates of the industry. Chris is here to address the question: Is SEO dead? We discuss the importance of looking at SEO as part of your entire business, its future, and your journey in marketing, as well as the biggest changes he's seen in SEO in the last few years.

Tune in to learn which aspects of SEO aren't working today that were working a few years ago, like over-optimized SEO keywords and link building methods, as well as how to leverage SEO optimization holistically across all your social media channels to build your digital footprint and increase your SEO's effectiveness.

During this interview, we discuss:

1:51 – About Chris Porteous

3:07 – Did you raise any capital for your ventures or did you bootstrap?

3:21 – Chris's take on the question: Is SEO dead?

4:34 – In the four years you've been growing your agency, what are the biggest changes you've seen in SEO?

8:08 – Building a holistic footprint for better results: The larger it is, the easier you're going to rank for more valuable keywords

10:45 – How does SEO tie in to social media?

14:16 – The power in shifting to publishing fewer blogs per month and focusing on higher quality

18:06 – Updating your content + Incorporating user/client questions into your website copy

19:21 – An exciting SEO process they're using right now to build out their footprint

21:31 – The big takeaway from this episode: Integrating SEO into your entire marketing funnel

22:07 – Chris's favorite growth tool

22:47 – His most recommended books

23:38 – How to connect with Chris

Plus, a whole lot more!

Chris's Websites and Resources:

Email Chris: [email protected]

Grey Smoke Media

My SEO Sucks!

Quora

Ahrefs

The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss

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Tim Higham is an entrepreneur with 25+ years of experience and several exits under his belt. He is currently the leading visionary and creator of AscendTMS, the world's most popular TMS (Transportation Management System) software with over 30,000 customers in 20 countries. Tim is here to talk about how he is leveraging a unique partnership model to grow his business. He explains how the model works, who his first big partnership was, and the framework for how he monetized this partnership model. Tim also details how he scaled his processes holistically and nurtures his client relationships so that everyone profits.

Tune in to hear some wise words on the benefits of using a milestone approach when going digital and the disadvantages that arise when you have too many developers on a project.

During this interview, we discuss:

2:45 – What is TMS and how did Tim get into this industry?

13:44 – How a partnership model took Tim's business to the next level

18:40 – Who the first big partnership integration Tim got was

20:15 – The framework for how he was able to monetize this model

22:18 – How Tim scaled his processes holistically after delivering customers to his clients + How he nurtures his relationships with his clients

27:24 – Using a milestone approach: The whole world is going digital, but you don't need to solve the entire digital paradigm shift overnight…

29:57 – The downfall with having too many developers on a project

31:02 – Tim's favorite growth tool

31:51 – Tim's most recommended book

34:08 – How to connect with Tim

Plus, a whole lot more!

Tim's Websites:

The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber

Learn more about AscendTMS

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Oliver Chwojko is Growth Experts' resident Google Ad Expert and works with Triple R Marketing. Oliver is here to discuss our new remarketing campaign and to explain how to generate leads and sales by using Google Ads in the cold traffic, where it can scale up. We break down the purpose and strategy behind this basic search campaign and even dive into Google's new campaign for increasing brand awareness and engagement, Discovery Campaigns.

Tune in to learn about the update that Google is launching soon for credit-related ads, the biggest factor to consider when launching Google Ads, and how we're using a quiz and a webinar as strategic parts of the marketing funnel to achieve a specific goal in the campaign. Stay connected with Growth Experts to see the results of our campaign!

During this interview, we discuss:

2:05 – Introducing our campaign study

3:10 – The first step in creating a cold audience list from existing traffic

4:09 – Creating brand awareness with keywords

4:47 – The goal of the campaign + Their strategic plan for reaching that goal

7:40 – Oliver's thoughts when I shared this idea with him

8:53 – Why our ads stand out (in a non-salesy way)

10:34 – Breaking even as a win: Return on ADSPEND

12:15 – The purpose of this basic search campaign

12:39 – The biggest factor to consider when launching Google Ads

13:08 – Data Oliver is gathering based on different audiences

15:12 – Google's new type of campaign for increasing brand awareness and engagement: Discovery Campaigns

16:47 – Update on zip code targeting with ads about credit-related products

18:21 – How to contact Oliver

Plus, a whole lot more!

Oliver's Website:

Email Oliver

Call or Text Oliver: (941) 356-4481

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Jordan West is an entrepreneur who almost went bankrupt owning a Mexican chain restaurant. He's built multiple 7 figure businesses and now helps eCommerce stores move from 6 to 7 figures in revenue using strategies he uses on his own business. Jordan and his family own a clothing brand called Little & Lively, as well as an eCommerce marketing agency called Mindful Marketing. He also hosts the Secrets to Scaling Your eCommerce Brand Podcast. Jordan is here to speak on how he was able to generate over $250,000 in eCommerce sales in 24 hours with no direct paid ads.

Tune in to learn the steps he took to develop his strategy, including gating his website, creating a VIP group, and an SMS list. Jordan explains how he's able to scale a very personal message that's included with every purchase and shares two books that helped him on his entrepreneurial journey.

During this interview, we discuss:

2:37 – About his eCommerce brand, marketing agency, and mastermind

6:00 – The breakdown of Jordan's strategy for generating revenue: VIP group + SMS list

12:22 – With paid ads, how did you get people to go from a Facebook ad onto the SMS list?

13:53 – How often to message people on your SMS list

15:10 – Password protecting your website during launches

16:38 – How many products/SKUs did you release in this launch?

17:00 – The caveat to paid ads

17:50 – The special extra they're including with every order + How they're managing it at scale

19:32 – Some valuable strategies aren't scalable

20:13 – Jordan's favorite growth tool

20:55 – Jordan's most recommended book

22:18 – How to connect with Jordan

Plus, a whole lot more!

Jordan's Websites:

Contagious by Jonah Berger

Shopify

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

Mindful Marketing

Little & Lively

Join Jordan's Mastermind

Email Jordan

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David Kidder is an experienced entrepreneur, angel investor, and Co-Founder and CEO of Bionic, a company that installs proprietary solutions designed to unlock new growth and competitiveness for the world's largest enterprises. David is here to talk to us about how to shift from surviving to thriving and what that looks like in business. He emphasizes solving customer needs in relation to how they've changed, experimentation with customers, and ambidextrous leadership. Our relationships with our personal and professional domains, as well as our relationships to our customers and their needs have all changed. Tune in to learn how you and your business can shift with them!

During this interview, we discuss:

2:41 – David's backstory on how he got into investing and entrepreneurship

4:18 – Some of Bionic's partners

5:53 – Why are we surviving rather than thriving?

7:41 – What are we trying to solve in relation to how has the need changed?

09:29 – The difference between surviving and winning

10:05 – Shift your mindset towards acceptance and experiment with solutions to your customers' problems

14:00 – Togetherness: The most effective ways to make discoveries about customers

17:05 – The Bionic Burst Community

19:38 – Ambidextrous leadership: Thinking about digital and growth transformation

20:47 – What does other experimentation look like?

23:24 – Combat fear with responsible abundance

24:41 – David shares his favorite growth driver.

25:14 – His most recommended book

Plus, a whole lot more!

Visit David's Websites:

DavidSkidder.com

Bionic

Connect with David on LinkedIn

Buy his Book!

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During this interview, we discuss:

2:32 – About Obviously and why Mae started it

3:14 – What drew Mae to social media marketing?

4:10 – Brands Mae has worked with + Examples

5:15 – Why you need to consider getting on TikTok

9:30 – How to work with influencers on TikTok

11:27 – Why utilizing micro influencers is better

12:58 – An example of a campaign that works well with micro influencers on TikTok

14:17 – Cost: What to expect to pay influencers on TikTok

17:36 – Working with Millie Bobby Brown's line Florence by Mills

18:07 – Tips on how to select the right influencer on TikTok

19:55 – Analytics tools Obviously uses

20:56 – What Mae wants people to know about influencer marketing

22:42 – The importance of the messaging and campaign in influencer marketing

24:52 – Stay connected with the people that love your brand

25:49 – She shares her favorite growth driver.

26:23 – Her most recommended book

Plus, a whole lot more!

Visit Mae's Websites:

Email Mae: [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter

Follow her on Instagram

Connect with her on LinkedIn

Obviously

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Manuel Suarez is the Founder and CEO of AGM Marketing Agency, which has generated over 3 billion views and 5 million leads with social media marketing. Manuel is here to talk to us about his lead generating strategy, starting with finding your unique superpower and why it's essential to excessively communicate about it via content creation, so that you can offer your value to the world. He speaks on the importance of structure and strategy in creating value for the world and how to make people see the value in free products to keep them engaged with your brand.

During this interview, we discuss:

2:19 – Manuel's backstory: How bankruptcy lead to entrepreneurship

7:35 – Introducing the framework behind his lead generating strategy

10:17 – Figuring out your superpower

12:41 – Execution: Excessively communicate about your superpower

15:18 – Determine your value, create content to offer that value to the world, and then structure your content creation

18:20 – You really have to care about people and work to make their lives better!

19:27 – Manuel's go-to entrepreneurial tool: Chat marketing + How he makes people value free products

24:34 – What to do after executing your campaign

27:05 – Manuel talks about his favorite growth tool.

27:50 – His most recommended book

Plus, a whole lot more!

Visit Manuel's website:

Connect with him on Facebook

Follow him on twitter

Follow him on Instagram

Connect with him on LinkedIn

Subscribe to his YouTube Channel

AGM Marketing Agency

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Bryan Clayton is the CEO and Co-Founder of GreenPal, an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. He was also the Co-Founder of Peachtree. Bryan is a believer that you can grow any idea into a successful business with the "Get, Keep, Grow" concept and being relentless with learning and improving.

During this interview, we discuss:

2:42 – The story behind why Bryan decided to launch GreenPal.

4:54 – How does he fund his business?

6:26 – Bryan shares insight into the size of the business.

8:23 – He explains his concept of "Get, Keep, Grow" and how he implements it.

15:33 – What did Bryan realize he needed to apply to GreenPal to make their value stick to consumers?

18:00 – The importance of making mistakes and being relentless about constant improvement

19:39 – What you need to think about and act on in order to see growth in your business

21:49 – Bryan shares a story of why you shouldn't always follow the footsteps of other companies.

22:39 – How to increase durability in your business

23:48 – Bryan divulges his favorite growth tool he uses to grow GreenPal.

24:47 – Then, he recommends one of his favorite books to us.

Plus, a whole lot more!

Bryan's Website:

www.yourgreenpal.com

[email protected]

You can also find GreenPal on the Google Play Store or Apple's App Store!

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Derek O'Carroll is the CEO of Brightpearl, a retail operations platform for retailers and wholesalers. Derek worked with many startups and has made many exits in his career. He got involved with Brightpearl when it wasn't profitable and is here to talk to us about how he facilitated Brightpearl's turnaround. Derek details the process he went through to evaluate what was working and what wasn't, to get rid of unprofitable customers, and the key project that he started when he first joined the company. Tune in to learn the impacts of changing pricing and customer focal point on Brightpearl's churn and dollar retained revenue, as well as the strategies Brightpearl uses to get new customers.

During this interview, we discuss:

1:08 – A bit about Derek's background

3:00 – Introducing the turnaround of Brightpearl

3:30 – What is Brightpearl and why did Derek choose to work for Brightpearl?

5:09 – How Derek identified companies in markets that could be disrupted

6:33 – The size and scope of Brightpearl: Now & Then

9:14 – How to win $100 just for listening to this podcast!

10:16 – The strategies they're using to get new clients

13:01 – How Derek evaluated what was working and what wasn't working at Brightpearl

15:20 – Adjusting pricing + Getting rid of unprofitable customers

17:30 – Changing the culture to drive profitability

18:27 – The key project that Derek started when he joined Brightpearl

19:50 – Big takeaways from that project

22:18 – Impacts of changing pricing and customer focal point on churn and dollar retained revenue

24:08 – What they changed within their engineering team to control the growth of legacy

26:27 – What is Derek's dream business superpower?

28:22 – Derek shares his favorite growth driver.

28:58 – His most recommended books

29:30 – How to get in touch with Derek

Plus, a whole lot more!

Derek's Websites:

Follow Derek on Twitter Brightpearl

Escaping the Build Trap by Melissa Perri Rubicon by Tom Holland

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John Ghiorso is the Founder and CEO of Orca Pacific, a full-service agency focused exclusively on helping brands succeed on Amazon. He started the company 12 years ago and they now work with over 100 brands, managing their sales channel and optimizing their Amazon advertising campaigns. John is here to talk to us about the three major trends regarding Amazon that businesses need to pay attention to in 2020. He speaks on making sure you're using all the Amazon advertising properties at your disposal, doing your advertising budgeting in a way that is driven by performance, and having a strong content and SEO strategy. Tune in to learn why it's critical to get your business online and the value in focusing on content marketing and what's important to your audience.

During this interview, we discuss:

2:18 – Orca Pacific's evolution and growth

4:31 – Has the covid-19 pandemic heightened the need for brands to get on Amazon?

6:33 – The strategy that leads to Orca Pacific's customer acquisition

9:38 – Trend #1: Search & Display Advertising

12:50 – Trend #2: Budgeting with KPI's

14:40 –Trend #3: SEO & Content Strategy

15:51 – Examples of native content on Amazon

17:23 – Insight on browse and research behavior on Amazon

18:04 – Brands to look at for inspiration on Amazon content

19:18 – John shares his takeaway regarding Amazon's fast-changing environment & thinking outside the box

19:53 – What is John's dream business superpower?

20:40 – John shares his favorite growth driver.

21:25 – His most recommended book

Plus, a whole lot more!

John's Websites:

Connect with him on LinkedIn

Orca Pacific

Listen to his podcast: eCommerce Deep Dive

Evernote

Traction by Gino Wickman

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