In this episode of The D2Z Podcast, Brandon Amoroso interviews Chris Brisson, founder and CEO of Sales Message, discussing his entrepreneurial journey, the importance of bootstrapping versus fundraising, the significance of co-founders, and how businesses can leverage SMS marketing effectively. Chris shares insights on building a team, integrating SMS into customer lifecycles, and best practices for SMS marketing, emphasizing the need for businesses to adapt to changing communication preferences.

Here's What You'll Learn:
❗Chris Brisson started his first business at 19, selling rims and tires on eBay.
❗He has always bootstrapped his companies, preferring to avoid investor cash.
❗Bootstrapping allows for more control and less pressure to grow quickly.
❗Finding the right co-founder is crucial for business success.
❗SMS can be integrated into every stage of the customer lifecycle.
❗Businesses should focus on generating leads through SMS and other channels.
❗Integrations with platforms like HubSpot enhance the value of SMS marketing.
❗Texting can be a powerful tool for two-way conversations with customers.
❗Every business should consider their phone number as an asset for lead generation.
❗Simple strategies like text-to-join can yield significant leads.

Timestamps:
00:00 Entrepreneurial Beginnings and Journey
03:02 Bootstrapping vs. Fundraising: A Personal Perspective
06:12 Building a Team: The Importance of Co-Founders
09:10 Leveraging SMS in Business: A B2B Perspective
12:07 Integrations and Customer Lifecycle Management
14:56 Best Practices and Use Cases for SMS Marketing

Chris Brisson:
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbrisson/

SalesMsg:
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/salesmsg/
Website - https://www.salesmessage.com/

Brandon Amoroso:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonamoroso/
Web - https://brandonamoroso.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bamoroso11/
X - https://twitter.com/AmorosoBrandon
Scalis.ai - https://scalis.ai/

In this episode of The D2Z Podcast, Brandon Amoroso speaks with Steven Sakach about the intersection of Gen Z entrepreneurship and empathetic marketing. Steven shares his journey in the digital marketing space, emphasizing the importance of building love into scalable systems and the need for authenticity in marketing. They discuss the transition from a service-based organization to a software company, the implementation of a pod structure for better employee engagement, and the significance of understanding customer emotions. The conversation also touches on the challenges of navigating advertising channels, the pros and cons of bootstrapping versus VC funding, and the future of marketing in an AI-driven world.

Here's What You'll Learn:
❗Empathetic marketing is essential for engagement.
❗Building love into business systems can enhance employee satisfaction.
❗A pod structure can foster collaboration and passion among team members.
❗Defining a higher purpose is crucial for business direction.
❗Younger generations prioritize authenticity and meaning in their work.
❗AI is rapidly evolving and impacting marketing strategies.
❗Understanding customer emotions can lead to better marketing outcomes.
❗Bootstrapping allows for greater control over business vision.
❗Authenticity is key to resonating with modern consumers.
❗The future of marketing will rely on emotional connections.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to the Gen Z Mindset
03:12 Stephen's Entrepreneurial Journey and Conscious Marketing
06:01 Transitioning from Services to Software
08:54 Implementing a Pod Structure in Business
12:03 The Importance of Empathy in Marketing
15:02 Understanding Customer Emotions
17:59 Navigating Advertising Channels and Technologies
20:56 Bootstrapping vs. VC Funding in Business
24:03 Conclusion and Future Directions

Stephen Sakach:
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-sakach-3181aa28b/

ZeroCompany:
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/zero-company-performance-marketing/
Website - https://www.zerocompany.com/

Brandon Amoroso:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonamoroso/
Web - https://brandonamoroso.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bamoroso11/
X - https://twitter.com/AmorosoBrandon
Scalis.ai - https://scalis.ai/

In this episode of The D2Z Podcast, Brandon Amoroso speaks with Daniel Borba, CEO of Spark Portal, about the evolution of video marketing, the challenges of transitioning from a service-based model to a core offering, and the importance of authenticity in branding. They discuss the nuances of delegation, hiring the right talent, and how AI is reshaping the video marketing landscape. Daniel shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey and the strategies that have led to success in the B2B marketing space.

Here's What You'll Learn:
❗Transitioning from freelance work and agency services into SaaS.
❗The hardest part of delegation is learning who to hire.
❗Video on LinkedIn is currently a powerful marketing tool.
❗Authenticity in branding is becoming increasingly important.
❗Brand identity should reflect core company values.
❗AI is streamlining video editing processes.
❗Creative work in marketing is subjective and challenging to quantify.
❗Effective hiring requires understanding personality over just skill set.
❗Video marketing strategies must adapt to changing consumer behaviors.
❗The future of video marketing will leverage both high production and authentic content.

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to the Gen Z Mindset
00:30 Daniel Borba's Entrepreneurial Journey
01:17 Transitioning from Services to Core Offerings
04:44 The Art of Delegation
10:02 Hiring for Success
13:32 Overview of Spark Portal
16:54 The Evolution of Video Marketing
21:29 Navigating Brand Identity
26:40 The Impact of AI on Video Marketing

Daniel Borba:
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielborba/

SparkPortal:
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/spark-portal/
Website - https://sparkportal.com/

Brandon Amoroso:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonamoroso/
Web - https://brandonamoroso.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bamoroso11/
X - https://twitter.com/AmorosoBrandon
Scalis.ai - https://scalis.ai/