453. Elevating Brand Perception: DJ Sprague’s Journey from Limos to Reputation King

In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer is joined by DJ Sprague, an expert in e-commerce, enterprise sales, and reputation management. DJ has worked with major brands such as Hyundai, Toyota, and NASCAR, and has a wealth of experience in improving online brand reputation and increasing site traffic and conversions. As the CMO of Shopper Approved, DJ shares insights into creating an integrated marketing strategy that delivers a cohesive brand experience to delight customers.

The conversation kicks off with DJ's entrepreneurial journey, including his early success in the limousine business, where he differentiated his service by providing a five-star experience. This strategy of exceeding customer expectations is a recurring theme throughout the episode. DJ emphasizes the importance of an integrated marketing strategy, where every department aligns to deliver on the brand promise, ensuring a consistent and memorable customer experience.

In this episode:

• Discover how to create a five-star customer experience that delights and retains clients.
• Learn the importance of an integrated marketing strategy for brand consistency.
• Understand the role of reputation management in driving traffic and conversions.
• Explore strategies for leveraging reviews and Q&A content to enhance SEO and brand authority.
• Gain insights into the peak-end rule and its impact on customer satisfaction.

00:00:00 - Introduction Melina Palmer welcomes DJ Sprague and introduces the topic of integrated marketing and reputation management.

00:04:00 - DJ's Background DJ shares his journey from running a limousine business to becoming CMO of Shopper Approved.

00:12:45 - Creating a Five-Star Experience DJ discusses the importance of exceeding customer expectations to create memorable experiences.

00:22:00 - Integrated Marketing Strategy The conversation explores how integrated marketing ensures consistency across brand touchpoints.

00:35:00 - Reputation Management DJ explains how effective reputation management can boost traffic and sales.

00:45:30 - Leveraging Q&A for SEO Strategies for using Q&A content to improve search rankings and brand credibility.

00:49:47 - Conclusion

What stuck with you while listening to the episode? What are you going to try? Come share it with Melina on social media -- you'll find her as @thebrainybiz everywhere and as Melina Palmer on LinkedIn.

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• LinkedIn

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Check out and get your copies of Melina’s Books. 

Get the Books Mentioned on (or related to) this Episode:

• Reputation King, by Scott Brandley and DJ Sprague
• What Your Customer Wants and Can't Tell You, by Melina Palmer
• Choice Hacking, by Jennifer Clinehens
• Elements of Choice, by Eric Johnson
• Alchemy, by Rory Sutherland

Top Recommended Next Episode: Robert Cialdini Interview (ep 157)

Already Heard That One? Try These: 

• Disney (ep 144)
• Rory Sutherland Interview (ep 373)
• Surprise & Delight (ep 60)
• Peak-End Rule: Why Averages Don’t Always Matter (ep 97)
• Roger Hurni Interview (ep 405)

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