Dive into the transformative journey of a founder and the essential lessons learned from scaling a business to impressive heights. Discover why vanity metrics on LinkedIn are less important than genuine engagement. Unpack the significance of personal growth and the role of intuition in leadership. Explore the shift towards video content and live events as game-changers in audience engagement. Plus, rethink traditional VC funding models and learn how to leverage LinkedIn for powerful talent attraction and sustainable growth.
Founders must prioritize genuine engagement and value over vanity metrics on platforms like LinkedIn for sustainable growth.
Recognizing and leveraging personal strengths can significantly enhance a founder's clarity, vision, and overall business trajectory.
The evolving nature of social media presents ongoing opportunities for entrepreneurs to establish their presence and innovate in B2B marketing.
Deep dives
Career Evolution and Entry into Marketing
The speaker details his progression from engineering into product management in the medical devices field, where he managed significant product lines. His transition into marketing occurred seven years into his career, driven by a realization that existing marketing channels did not align with customer learning preferences. This experience of collaborating closely with sales teams and engaging in e-commerce projects led him to discover the potential of social media as a compelling demand creation tool. Ultimately, in 2019, he established Refined Labs, originally a B2B social agency focused on innovative marketing strategies.
Impact of DemandGen Live and Brand Building
The framework and concepts introduced through DemandGen Live played an instrumental role in shaping the marketing discussions within the industry. The speaker popularized ideas such as 'dark social' and 'dark funnel,' emphasizing the importance of demand creation over traditional demand capture tactics. By markedly elevating his LinkedIn presence, he not only elevated his own brand but also influenced many marketing professionals who engaged with his content. This successful positioning enabled the rapid growth of Refined Labs, which now stands out as a leader in the marketing landscape.
Recognizing and Leveraging Superpowers
The speaker reflects on discovering his professional 'superpower,' an acute intuition that facilitates clarity and vision, often following periods of confusion. This unique ability allows him to conceive comprehensive business plans and strategies rapidly, which often leads to significant organizational advancements. He encourages listeners to cultivate awareness of their own unique strengths, as recognizing and leaning into them can yield transformative effects on both career and business outcomes. This perspective aligns well with the notion that everyone possesses distinct capabilities that can enhance their professional journey.
Lessons in LinkedIn Strategies and Adaptability
The speaker recounts his steady evolution in content creation on LinkedIn, shifting his approach over time from chasing algorithmic engagement to sharing meaningful insights. Initially, his focus lay on optimizing for likes and impressions, but he eventually recognized the futility of this approach when it did not correlate with business success. Now, he prioritizes genuine communication with his audience, accepting reduced engagement metrics if it means delivering value. This adjustment demonstrates how adaptability and authenticity can lead to sustainable growth rather than short-term popularity.
Future of Social Media and Emerging Opportunities
The speaker asserts that social media will keep evolving, asserting that there remains substantial untapped potential within platforms like LinkedIn. He emphasizes that despite popular belief, it’s not too late to establish a presence and capitalize on social media trends. Opportunities will continue to emerge, particularly as platforms innovate their features and user engagement patterns shift. By focusing on creating compelling content and engaging authentically with audiences, entrepreneurs can successfully carve out their niche in the ever-changing landscape.
Chris joined Brad Zomick’s show (LinkedIn Famous), where he shared insights on personal growth as a founder, his learnings from executing on LinkedIn for 5 years, and the new playbook founders can use to build and grow their companies.
Key topics from this episode:
The right way to approach LinkedIn (hint: vanity metrics don’t matter)
Personal growth and intuition as a founder
Learnings and mistakes from scaling Refine Labs & Passetto
Live events as a compounding asset
Why founders should re-think the VC-funded model
The future of social media in B2B
Why the most important thing as a founder is to take action
–
Thanks to our friends at Hatch for producing Revenue Vitals and all of Chris’s short-form video and YouTube content. Hatch is a video-first content agency that creates short-form video content, video podcasts, original video series, and YouTube videos for B2B companies. Visit www.hatch.fm to learn more.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode