Why The Process > The Results

Podcast Summary

• Find enjoyment in building your business on social media: Approach social media as a game, focus on long-term perspective, and find happiness in the journey of building your business

  Social media is an essential tool for building businesses and leaving a legacy, but it requires a focused and enjoyable approach. Gary B, in his talk, emphasized the importance of hard work and enjoyment in the process of business-building, and warned against the vulnerabilities of solely focusing on financial gains. He encouraged the audience to view social media as a game, and to approach it with a long-term perspective and a passion for the process. Ultimately, the speaker encouraged the audience to find happiness in the journey of building their businesses, rather than solely focusing on the end goal.

• Effective communication and understanding platforms are crucial for success: Prioritize communication skills and adaptability to succeed in today's rapidly changing world

  Success in business and personal life often comes down to effective communication and understanding the nuances of various platforms. The speaker emphasizes the importance of being financially stable to continue playing the game, whether that's in business or personal pursuits. He also highlights the undervalued skill set of communication and the need to adapt to mobile-centric, content-heavy marketing strategies. Additionally, recognizing the value of personal branding and kindness, while not mandatory, can lead to unique benefits. Overall, the key takeaway is to prioritize communication skills and adaptability in order to succeed in today's rapidly changing world.

• Maximizing LinkedIn's Organic Reach with Paid Ads: Investing in LinkedIn's paid ads, in addition to organic content, is crucial for effective social media marketing. Targeted ads can reach specific audiences, while a competent marketing team or outsourcing to experts can optimize efforts.

  While organic reach on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook has significantly decreased, LinkedIn is still in a golden era where organic reach is possible. However, most businesses and individuals are not maximizing their potential on LinkedIn due to various reasons, such as lack of resources, lack of expertise, or misguided efforts with outside agencies. The speaker emphasizes that investing in paid media, in addition to organic content, is crucial for effective social media marketing. For instance, a small business in Detroit might benefit more from paid ads targeting C-suite executives in Michigan rather than relying solely on organic reach. The speaker also highlights the importance of having a competent marketing team or outsourcing to experts to avoid wasting resources on ineffective social media strategies. In summary, leveraging both organic and paid strategies on LinkedIn can lead to greater success for businesses in this era of limited organic reach on other platforms.

• Shift from salesperson to publisher for long-term success: Focus on valuable content, build trust, relationships, and a strong brand. Commit to producing significant content weekly and analyze both data and feedback to optimize strategy.

  Shifting your mindset from a salesperson to a publisher or a brand, focusing on providing valuable content to your audience without expecting an immediate return, can lead to building trust, relationships, and a strong brand. This approach, whether you're B2B or B2C, can help you stand out and create real connections with your customers. Another key takeaway is the importance of quantity in content creation on the internet. While quality is subjective, the volume of content you put out is a fact. Companies that commit to producing a significant amount of content weekly, such as 53 pieces on LinkedIn, can see real results through data and analytics. Moreover, understanding the connection between paid media and creative content is crucial. By analyzing both the quantitative data (shares, likes, website visits, leads, and conversions) and the qualitative feedback (comments and human interactions), you can create a successful social media and content marketing strategy. In essence, combining art and math in your content marketing efforts, allowing your creativity to shine while also considering the data, can lead to significant growth and success.

• Effective communication and relationship building in the digital age: Master social media marketing and content creation to build a strong brand, reach large audiences, and stand out from competition.

  In today's digital world, building and growing a brand, whether B2B or B2C, requires a deep understanding of social media marketing and content creation. The ability to communicate effectively and build relationships online is becoming increasingly important as products and services become more commoditized. Skills like creating engaging content, running paid media campaigns, and participating in online conversations are essential for getting in front of potential customers and standing out from the competition. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and even Amazon Fire Stick offer opportunities to reach large audiences and target specific demographics. To succeed in 2021 and beyond, it's important for businesses and individuals to become practitioners, getting their hands dirty and experimenting with different strategies to see what works best. This may involve creating videos, writing blog posts, or even starting a podcast. By mastering these skills, you can build a strong brand that resonates with your audience and drives long-term growth.

• Maximizing B2B Exposure with Internet and Social Media: Leverage targeted advertising, create evergreen content, and focus on creativity to effectively reach potential B2B customers on various internet and social media platforms.

  The current era of internet and social media marketing offers tremendous opportunities for businesses, especially B2B, to reach potential customers effectively. Targeted advertising on platforms like Amazon Fire Stick and social media sites can help small businesses gain national exposure. It's essential to produce evergreen content showcasing expertise in various formats, such as podcasts, LinkedIn posts, or voice memos, depending on individual strengths. Facebook, for instance, can be an effective platform for reaching older demographics, including decision-makers. The key is to focus on creativity rather than just media spending or analytics. Success often requires persistence and experimentation, as what works may not be immediately apparent. Don't give up, and be open to trying different approaches to find what resonates with your audience.

• Leveraging Social Media for Business Growth: Businesses can reach younger demographics on social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, prioritize creativity and effective media spending, and focus on providing value to grow and succeed.

  Social media platforms like TikTok and Snapchat, which have emerged in the last decade, offer significant opportunities for businesses, even those with seemingly boring offerings, to reach a large audience of younger demographics. Gary Vaynerchuk, a businessman and internet personality, emphasizes the importance of understanding this trend and not dismissing these platforms outright. He encourages entrepreneurs to experiment with social media, learn from the experience, and focus on providing value to their audience. This approach, he believes, can lead to business growth and success. Additionally, he advises entrepreneurs to prioritize creativity and effective media spending when using social media for business purposes, as opposed to just selling products or services. The key to scaling revenues, according to Vaynerchuk, is to focus on human dynamics and go fast to keep up with the ever-evolving social media landscape.

• Address toxic employees for team success: Addressing negative influences, even valuable ones, is crucial for a positive work environment and business growth. Adapt to millennials' motivations and values while maintaining company culture.

  Prioritizing a toxic employee over the well-being of your team and culture can hinder the growth and success of your business. The speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing negative influences, even if they are valuable contributors, to ensure a positive work environment and the ability to scale. When it comes to recruiting and managing millennials, it's essential to understand their unique motivations and adapt to their needs while maintaining a focus on company culture and values. By investing time in individual employees and being open to their evolving priorities, businesses can build a strong and productive team.

• Empathetic leadership: Understanding team members' needs and prioritizing culture: Effective leaders adapt to changing circumstances, prioritize culture, and encourage personal responsibility for long-term success.

  Effective leadership involves understanding and addressing the individual needs of team members, while prioritizing culture over growth. The speaker emphasized the importance of adapting to changing circumstances and motivations, using his father as an example of rigidity versus flexibility. He also stressed the importance of accountability, acknowledging that leaders are ultimately responsible for any issues within their businesses. The speaker encouraged a shift towards personal responsibility and prioritization in both personal and professional life. He urged leaders to allocate time and resources to maintaining culture, even if it means sacrificing short-term financial gains. Overall, the discussion highlighted the importance of empathetic, adaptive leadership in navigating business growth and change.

• Focus on branding and sales balance: Maintain balance between branding and sales, invest in long-term success, and don't rush to sell based on economic uncertainty or fear of loss.

  Entrepreneurs and business owners need to focus on both branding and sales, even during uncertain economic times. While it's important to ensure financial stability, investing in branding can lead to long-term success and reputation building. Selling should not be the sole focus, as it's essential to maintain a balance. Additionally, there's no perfect time to sell a business; it's usually driven by personal reasons or necessity. Fear of taking a step back or experiencing a decrease in revenue should not lead entrepreneurs to sell prematurely. Instead, they should consider letting go of clients or projects that make them unhappy. Success is not defined by revenue alone, but by personal satisfaction and passion for the business.

• Appreciate the journey, not just the end goal: Focus on enjoying the process and being accountable, rather than solely chasing after the end goal. The journey can bring happiness and fulfillment.

  It's essential to appreciate and invest in the journey rather than solely focusing on the end goal. During a recent conversation, Gary Vaynerchuk shared his thoughts on employee retention and his love for the New York Jets. He emphasized that if an employee is not worth fighting for, they should be let go. However, he also highlighted the importance of enjoying the process and being accountable. Gary also reflected on his sports fandom, revealing that he has always been drawn to the journey rather than the outcome. He shared how he abandoned the New York Rangers after they won the Stanley Cup in 1994 because the journey had ended. Similarly, he enjoys the New York Jets despite their lack of success because he values the experience. This perspective is relevant to various aspects of life, including business and personal growth. It's essential to remember that the journey can bring happiness and fulfillment, even if the end goal doesn't materialize as planned. So, in 2021, let's focus on enjoying the journey and being accountable, rather than solely chasing after the end goal.