1661 – Looking Under The Soil with The Business Growers’ Laura Johns

09/08/23 • 17 min

1 Listener

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks to the Founder & CEO of The Business Growers, Laura Johns. Laura Johns is the driving force behind The Business Growers, a company that serves as a fractional CMO and implementation team for founder-led companies with 50 or fewer employees. The Business Growers is a godsend for companies that may not need or can't afford an entire marketing team. They provide both implementation and high-level strategy services, filling the gap in the market for affordable yet practical marketing solutions. Laura shared that companies often hire individuals with high expectations, expecting them to handle all aspects of marketing. This can be challenging and often leads to less-than-optimal results. The Business Growers works well with companies that have an in-house marketing person who serves as a liaison and project manager but lacks the skill set to execute marketing strategies fully. If this sounds like your company, then you might be ready for The Business Growers' services. Laura emphasized the importance of consistent branding and messaging. She suggests checking if all marketing materials, websites, business cards, and email signatures are consistent. This consistency is vital to creating a strong brand identity that resonates with your target audience.

Key Points from the Episode:

The Business Growers is a fractional CMO and implementation team for founder-led companies
Discussion on when a company might be ready to hire The Business Growers' services
Branding, messaging, and social media strategies for increasing visibility and attracting leads
Insights on thought leadership and authenticity on social media
Origin of the name "The Business Growers" and the size of Laura's team
The Business Growers works well with companies that have an in-house marketing person but lack the skill set to fully execute marketing strategies
Importance of consistent branding and messaging across marketing materials
Laura's journey from accidental entrepreneur to starting The Business Growers

About Laura Johns:

Laura Johns is the accomplished founder and CEO of The Business Growers, a prominent marketing firm specializing in serving B2B telecom, SaaS, IT, and cloud-services industries. With an impressive career spanning 18 years, Laura's expertise has been honed through managing marketing efforts for a diverse range of companies, from tech startups to global conglomerates, with nearly half of her career spent as a corporate marketing executive in the telecommunications sector. Her primary focus centres on developing highly effective marketing strategies tailored to technology companies, leading to tangible and significant successes. Today, The Business Growers boasts an extensive clientele of over 50 companies across 15 states. Laura's contributions to her home state of Mississippi have not gone unnoticed, as she has received accolades such as "Top 50 under 40" and "Top 50 Leading Women in Business." She is a distinguished member of the Leadership Mississippi program, an honour conferred by the Mississippi Economic Council. Laura's educational background is equally impressive, graduating cum laude from Mississippi College and earning a Master of Arts degree from the University of Alabama. She is also recognized as the co-founder and host of two notable podcasts: "The Home and The Hustle," catering to working moms and "The Know, Grow and Scale" videocast and podcast tailored for entrepreneurs. Laura Johns is undoubtedly a prominent figure in the marketing and business world.

About The Business Growers:

The Business Growers is a solution-oriented marketing firm that specializes in aiding tech companies facing marketing challenges, particularly those without a Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Recognizing that numerous tech companies encounter difficulties in achieving effective marketing results due to the absence of an in-house CMO, The Business Growers fills this gap. This innovative company offers comprehensive services, including high-level marketing strategy development and implementation support. By doing so, they empower tech businesses to boost their revenue and expand their market presence without hiring a full-time marketing team. The Business Growers' expertise lies in tailoring marketing solutions to the unique needs of tec...

Key Points from the Episode:

The Business Growers is a fractional CMO and implementation team for founder-led companies
Discussion on when a company might be ready to hire The Business Growers' services
Branding, messaging, and social media strategies for increasing visibility and attracting leads
Insights on thought leadership and authenticity on social media
Origin of the name "The Business Growers" and the size of Laura's team
The Business Growers works well with companies that have an in-house marketing person but lack the skill set to fully execute marketing strategies
Importance of consistent branding and messaging across marketing materials
Laura's journey from accidental entrepreneur to starting The Business Growers

About Laura Johns:

About The Business Growers:

Previous Episode

1660 – Understanding Your Customers with Win Big Media’s Brandon McKee

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Chief Executive Officer of Win BIG Media, Brandon McKee. In the current economic climate, many businesses are cutting back on their marketing spend, particularly in brand awareness campaigns. However, Brandon advises against this. Instead, he sees this as an opportunity for businesses to increase their market penetration and gain a competitive edge. By focusing on brand awareness and understanding customers' needs, businesses can increase their revenue and return on investment (ROI). Transparency and data-driven marketing are two key factors that Brandon emphasizes when working with agencies. He encourages clients to ask about the transparency of reporting and the key performance indicators (KPIs) that agencies track to ensure ROI. If an agency lacks transparency or cannot provide data to support their strategies, it's a red flag. Win Big Media's approach to marketing is media-agnostic. They analyze first-party customer data and their extensive third-party data to determine the most effective advertising channels for each client. This approach prioritizes efficiency and optimization, ensuring that ad campaigns are targeted correctly and unnecessary spending is avoided. Their data-driven approach, which is based on data collected from 230 million American consumers, proved to be a game-changer in this fast-paced environment. Recognizing the potential of this approach, Win Big Media decided to extend their services to corporations, helping them understand their customers' psychological drivers for better results.

Key Points from the Episode:

Overview of Win Big Media's data-driven approach to marketing
Origins of Win Big Media in political marketing and expansion into corporate marketing
Types of clients Win Big Media works with, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies
Conducting customer insights reports using extensive data before running advertising campaigns
Importance of transparency and data-driven marketing in achieving ROI
Examples of big brands Win Big Media has worked with, emphasizing the use of data in marketing strategies
Challenges of interpreting data and turning it into actionable insights
Comparison of political campaigns targeting different voter segments to corporate marketing strategies targeting different customer segments

About Brandon McKee:

Brandon McKee is an essential figure at Win BIG Media, orchestrating, supervising, and streamlining operations within the organization. His pivotal role involves guaranteeing the implementation of efficient operational strategies and cost-effective systems that cater to the present and future requirements of Win BIG Media. Before his tenure at the rapidly expanding WBM, Brandon accrued over a decade of experience in various capacities within the fitness industry. With a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from HRCI, Brandon also excels in strategic planning. He is raised in the Washington DC vicinity and resides in Arlington, VA. Outside of work, Brandon's pursuits often revolve around spending time at the dog park, where he enjoys the company of his rescue puppy, Bruno, and his partner, Paul.

About Win BIG Media:

Win BIG Media is a dynamic agency focused on revolutionizing the marketing landscape. Committing to data-driven strategies and innovative, creative solutions empowers business owners and entrepreneurs to reshape industry norms and optimize their ROI. Bolstered by a seasoned team of marketing strategists and acclaimed creative professionals, Win BIG Media equips its clients with a competitive advantage, ensuring success daily. Central to Win BIG Media's ethos is its mission to foster business growth, employment opportunities, and life-altering impacts. This mission is driven by The Undefeated Marketing System, an unwavering approach that ensures continuous and boundless client expansion. In essence, Win BIG Media emerges as a catalyst for transformative marketing endeavours, propelling businesses towards enduring success and forging a new era in the marketing realm.

Tweetable Moments:

06:23 - "If you're a business owner out there and you're looking at your budgets, you're looking at what you're going to cut right now because things are tougher, it really really shouldn't be marketing."

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Next Episode

1662 – Do’s and Don’ts With Hiring An Attorney with Motiva Business Law’s Danya Shakfeh

In this episode of the Thoughtful Entrepreneur, your host Josh Elledge speaks with the Attorney & Founder of Motiva Business Law, Danya Shakfeh. Danya specializes in helping entrepreneurs stay out of court and focus on their businesses. She does this by ensuring they have proper legal documentation and contracts. Danya explained that many business owners end up in court because they didn't take simple steps to protect themselves from legal disputes. She emphasized the importance of having a proper operating agreement and contracts to avoid costly litigation. Danya also pointed out that legal exposure is not just a risk for larger or brick-and-mortar companies. Still, she can also affect smaller businesses, especially in industries like startups and intellectual property. Danya also shared insights on trends in the intersection between small businesses and law. She mentioned that while she offers online resources and a YouTube channel, she has also been organizing in-person events to cater to people tired of virtual meetings after the COVID-19 pandemic. Danya emphasized the importance of proper due diligence when buying a business. She advised potential buyers to involve an attorney early in the process. She also highlighted the significance of obtaining consent from third parties involved in the business transfer, such as landlords or franchisors.

Key Points from the Episode:

Common legal topics that business owners should be aware of
Guidance on hiring an attorney
Mergers and acquisitions in business
Startups and legal compliance
Importance of proper contracts and legal documentation
Legal exposure for small businesses
Danya's events on how to buy a business
Due diligence when buying a business

About Danya Shakfeh:

Danya Shakfeh is a dedicated attorney specializing in helping entrepreneurs navigate the legal complexities of their businesses, allowing them to focus on what they do best. With over a decade of experience in business law, Danya has become an expert in her field, consistently delivering top-notch services to her clients. Danya's primary focus is on contract review and drafting. She excels at identifying potential legal pitfalls within contracts, ensuring her clients' interests are protected and their business transactions run smoothly. Her meticulous attention to detail has kept numerous entrepreneurs out of legal trouble, allowing them to confidently conduct their business operations. One of Danya's notable achievements is being recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers for nine consecutive years. This prestigious accolade is awarded to less than 2.5% of lawyers, underscoring her exceptional legal skills and dedication to her clients' success. What sets Danya apart is her commitment to understanding her clients on a deeper level. She doesn't just ask the routine legal questions; she delves into her clients' biggest fears and dreams. By gaining insight into their aspirations and concerns, she leverages her legal expertise to protect their interests and help them realize their entrepreneurial dreams. Danya is more than just a business lawyer; she's a trusted legal and business advisor. Her approach encompasses fear-crushing and dream realization, ensuring her clients receive comprehensive support and guidance throughout their entrepreneurial journey. With Danya by their side, entrepreneurs can confidently navigate the legal landscape, knowing they have a dedicated advocate committed to their success.

About Motiva Business Law:

Motiva Business Law is a versatile legal firm that employs various strategies to engage potential clients. They create valuable legal resources like "lead magnets," videos, publications, and systematic approaches to attract potential clients effectively. Motiva specializes in various legal areas, including contract law, employment-related matters, civil and business litigation, and business law. They have expertise in reviewing and drafting contracts across diverse industries such as technology, food, healthcare, and construction. Their legal services include litigating complaints, counter-claims, motions to dismiss, motions to strike, answers, replies, requests to admit, interrogatories, discovery requests, contracts, and demand letters. Motiva Business Law is committed to educating the community. They conduct public seminars tailored for new and established businesses, focusing on important topics such as business entity types in Illinois, general contract principles, and employment regulations. This commitment to education underscores their dedication to serving their clients and the local business community.

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The Thoughtful Entrepreneur - 1661 – Looking Under The Soil with The Business Growers’ Laura Johns

Transcript

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