Marketing In The Now

How Can You Make Doubt a Force for Good in Your Life?

Many people believe that if you are on the right track, you will have no doubt, be confident and just keep going. During This Episode of “In The Now”, guest, Sara Sabin, an executive coach with her own podcast,  talks with David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed. This conversation is eye opening to the benefits of constructive doubt in a person's life. She believes that it's important to understand both the emotional and rational sides of our situations before making a decision. An additional thought is that we can even use imposter syndrome positively to help us move forward as leaders. Listen to her more about her philosophy! 

Do Inbound or Social Media Marketing Campaigns Work on Their Own?

Many marketing leaders are trying to create inbound or social media campaigns that will produce amazing marketing results that can grow rapidly.  My guest, Louis Gudema, the author of the book Bullseye Marketing and a Fractional CMO, makes that case that investments in inbound or social media marketing rarely produce results by themselves. He argues that it takes a multi-channel approach to reach your market place since 95% of your potential customers are not even considering buying today.  The most effective marketing programs have a mix of short term tactics, intent based campaigns, and long term strategies that engage buyers at every level. Do you have an effective multi-channel strategy or are you relying on one channel to drive all of your results? 

What’s More Important, Unique Ideas or Innovation?

Do you need a unique idea to win in the marketplace? Mike Volkin, an author, serial entrepreneur, and Fractional CMO talks with David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed. Volkin believes that you don't need a unique idea, but it's much easier to build a great company when you make innovation a core part of your culture. In his book, The Business Success Formula, he offers a set of innovation evaluation questions that help an organization see if they are on the right track, or if they are stifling innovation and slowing their own growth. Mike also shares important ideas about the role that leaders can play in supporting innovation from the bottom to the very top of the organization. How strong is the culture of innovation in your company? Listen to learn more strategies now!

Why Build The Right Sales & Marketing Processes

Many leaders believe that the best way to compensate sales people is to pay a straight commission to motivate , and put most of the risk of sales effectiveness on the sales people themselves. Henning Schwinum, co-founder and managing partner of Vendux, talks about how he has a radically different view with David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed and Host of “In The Now”. Schwinum believes that sales success happens when the right sales and marketing systems and process are in place to build your brand, generate leads, and support sales people in their work. If you have the right systems in place, you will find that the best sales people deliver a strong ROI, and you don't need to put all of the financial risk on them any more than you'd put it on your engineers or accountants.  
 
This provocative conversation may change how you think about sales compensation, marketing support, and even how to structure your sales teams for success. Listen to learn more about the right compensation model for sales people!

Why Business Owners Don’t Have To ”Carry The World”

In this episode of the In the Now Podcast, David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed, interviews business expert Electra Govoni to debunk the pervasive myth that business owners need to "carry the world on their shoulders." Many entrepreneurs operate under the belief that no one else can handle their business as well as they can. Govoni unpacks the dangers of this mindset, which include the fast track to burnout, limitations on scalability, and the impossibility of selling a business that's overly reliant on one person.
To mitigate these risks, Govoni offers pragmatic solutions. She advises business owners to focus on the truly critical aspects of their operations, and to consider bringing in fractional leaders or consultants for specialized roles. Process documentation is also highlighted as a crucial step in building a team that cares as much about the business as the owner does. A company culture rooted in a shared sense of purpose, mission, and vision helps inspire dedication among team members.
Govoni also delves into the downsides of the 'solo hero' approach, including the negative impact on one's health, stress levels, and personal relationships. She dismantles the cliché that business owners must work 60-hour weeks to succeed, advocating instead for a more balanced, sustainable model that distinguishes between building a company and merely creating a job for oneself. Designing roles with delegation in mind, she argues, can liberate business owners from the burdens they unnecessarily impose on themselves.
The role of a business coach in this transformational journey is vital. According to Govoni, a coach helps entrepreneurs set goals, decide on critical functions that don't necessarily need to be managed by them (like administration and financials), and build the confidence to delegate and trust others. By focusing on being visionary leaders rather than operational workhorses, business owners can indeed create successful, scalable enterprises without sacrificing their well-being.
Listen to this episode now!

Scaling Challenges with Small Businesses

Bill Gallagher, a renowned scaling and growth expert, CEO, serial entrepreneur, and much more joined David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed and Host of “In The Now” with a conversation largely revolving around the challenges small businesses face when scaling up and the leadership transformations necessary during such phases.
A prevailing myth that many hold is the notion that leading a large organization necessitates losing oneself. Bill debunks this, emphasizing that one's ambition and vision for their company need not be suppressed. He advocates for a "100X thinking" approach, a mindset where businesses don't just aim for modest growth but rather envision themselves being world leaders. This not only pushes boundaries but also brings about positive change on a global scale.
Drawing inspiration from Daniel Burnham, Bill stresses the importance of big ideas and high aims, likening it to setting goals as ambitious as moon landings or Shackleton's Antarctic journey. Such ambition is akin to taking on challenges as extreme as 300-mile foot races, emphasizing the idea of thinking beyond conventional limits.
However, ambition doesn't come without its obstacles. Fear of failure, the daunting prospects of success, and the pervasive imposter syndrome can be significant hindrances. Bill proposes that our Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAGs) should indeed be intimidating. They should challenge and stretch our capacities, pushing us to reach further.
A significant part of scaling involves attracting, inspiring, and engaging people. Bill suggests that when setting goals, they shouldn't be merely financially driven. Instead, they should be impactful, contributing to the betterment of the world, and something one can proudly dedicate their career to.
Leadership dynamics change as a company scales. Effective leaders in scaling businesses lead by influence and not just by authority. They inspire their peers, engage with their teams actively, and emphasize planning and coordination. Furthermore, adopting a coaching mentality, where leaders actively nurture and guide their teams, is crucial. Such leaders understand the fundamentals of their business, align with their team's aspirations, and adopt strategies that suit their unique personality and style.
Listen to more of this conversation now!

The New Rules of Personal Branding

In a revealing interview with Christine Perkett, President of Perkett PR, along with host, David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed Marketing, the essence of personal branding in career progression is highlighted. Contrary to seeing it as vanity, Perkett underscores it as a “walking resume” vital in today’s digital age. She emphasizes the blend of personal and professional lives online and the power individuals hold in shaping their narratives. Drawing inspiration from Martha Stewart's brand evolution, Perkett believes personal brands can pivot and evolve. She advises newcomers to identify their values and adapt content to various platforms, differentiating genuine personal branding from profit-driven influencers.
Hear more about how the rules of personal branding can change over time!

What is Content Marketing’s True Essence?

In a recent discussion, CMO Ian Feder and David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed, delved into content marketing's true essence, challenging the myth that it's solely about information delivery. Ian stressed the vital role of emotions in decision-making, highlighting differences between B2B and B2C dynamics. Feder emphasized a customer-centric approach, involving in-depth research, clear CTAs, and understanding the customer's journey. He also advocated for recognizing media consumption habits to tailor campaigns effectively. Feder's insights advocate for a holistic, emotionally-informed, and adaptive content marketing approach, underscoring the importance of continuous evolution based on comprehensive data. Listen to it in more detail now!

The Differences Between Product Placement & Thought Leadership

Annie Scranton, an expert in PR and media strategies and David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed, discuss the significance of financial investment for quality PR opportunities along with the differences between "Product Placement" in affiliate marketing and "Thought Leadership", highlighting the importance of aligning products with consumers' lifestyles. Initiating a PR campaign starts by understanding a client’s identity and market position. Scranton also suggests starting with trade press releases before progressing to broader platforms like local media. She underscores the transformative potential of Tier 1 media and the power of innovative opinion-editorials in capturing attention. 
 
Listen and learn more about PR strategies! 

How Do You Get the Most Out of Your Creative Agency?

Many marketing leaders believe that the way to get the most out of their creative vendors is to engage in only short-term projects without making a long term commitment to any one agency to increase pressure and / or quickly switch agencies whenever they want more. 
 
Paul Terrizzi, CEO of Indigo-One, a creative agency in Minneapolis, MN, along with David Reske, CEO of Nowspeed, believe that the way to get the most out of your agency is to be clear about your goals and your target market, and then build a trusting relationship with a long-term agency partner. Creative agencies work much better without drama or added expense when they work with clients that believe in the value of building their brand. This also gives their creative team the freedom and trust to do their best work. Is your creative agency a long-term partner, or just a simple transaction?
 
Listen to this episode to gain new insights about creative agencies?