SharkPreneur

Protecting Your Merchant AccountsMaria Sparagis, DirectPayNet – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 928 Maria SparagisAs President of DirectPayNet, Maria Sparagis makes it her mission to help merchants find the best payment solutions for their online business, especially if their business model involves online subscriptions or continuity products and services. She helps setup localized payments modes and has tons of other tricks to increase conversions and in turn your revenue! Prior to starting DirectPayNet over 10 years ago, Maria was a founding Director at MANSEF Inc. (now known as MindGeek), where she led a team dedicated to managing merchant accounts for hundreds of product lines as well as customer service and secondary revenue sources. She is an avid traveler, conference speaker and loves to attend any event that allows her to learn about technology. She is fascinated by anything related to fintech and can offer you a wealth of information on new trends and technology regarding payments around the globe. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Maria Sparagis about protecting your merchant accounts.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How there are two different types of risk: reputational risk and charge back risk.- Why having a lot of charge backs can lead to issues with your payment processor.- How being a high-risk merchant means you can have large repercussion in your business and little recourse.- Why relying on aggregators like Stripe and PayPal is a huge risk you shouldn’t take.- How you lose all your traffic and subscriptions if your aggregator shuts down your account. Connect with Maria:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @directpaynetFacebook facebook.com/directpaynetLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/directpaynetYouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiPxIjN4s6iZskqf7BvP43Q Links Mentioned: directpaynet.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why CryptoCurrency RegulationDr. Christopher Smithmyer, BlackWalletLTD – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 927 Dr. Christopher SmithmyerDr. Christopher Smithmyer is the cofounder of BlackWalletLTD, a professor of MBA business at Doane University and the Vice President of International Affairs at Brāv Online Conflict Management. Dr. Smithmyer is one of the most lettered men in the world with 9 degrees (8 graduate). He is also one of the projects leads on the KIROS spiderweb bridging project to help make the cryptoverse more accessible and safer for people around the world. He is one of the authors of “Dragons of The Digital Age: How Unilateral Cryptocurrency Regulation is a Threat to Consume the Entire Global Economy," "Digital Exquecher," and "Smithmyer's Encyclopedia of Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Dynamics" Volume I - VIII and Appendix (only Volume I image including).  Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Dr. Christopher Smithmyer about crypto currency regulation.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How the concept for Blockchain has been around since the 1970s, started forming in 1990, and was monetized in 2009.- Why many people don’t understand what crypto currency is.- How you must look at each individual currency to see how they will function.- Why crypto currency isn’t the problem, it’s unilateral crypto regulation that threatens to consume the global economy.- How creating cookie cutter regulations don’t fit the different forms of crypto. Connect with Dr. Smithmyer:Guest Contact Info Links Mentioned: blackwalletltd.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using API Tech to Track AudiencesRocco Baldassarre, Zebra Advertisement – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 926 Rocco BaldassarreRocco Baldassarre is best known as the Founder of Zebra Advertisement. As the CEO and public face of the company, his main responsibility lies with consulting clients to develop customized advertisement strategies. Rocco was awarded Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professional for his consulting work for Bing Ads and The Forbes 30 under 30 for Marketing and Advertising. He is the youngest person and only marketer to ever be awarded. His digital marketing agency manages $2 Billion in Ad Spend and is a three time Google Partners All Stars Winner and Stevie Award Winner. Clients include Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Yellow Pages, Thomson Reuters, and among many others. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Rocco Baldassarre about using API tech to track audiences.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How you can’t be a good marketer unless you understand what works for your company.- Why you need to be financially invested in a company to learn how good marketing works.- How Zebra Advertisement looks at your whole business to help market and scale it.- Why you shouldn’t hire a marketer who only does campaigns.- How understanding what goes on in your company will make you an effective marketer. Connect with Rocco:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @TheZebraTeamInstagram @zebraadvertisementFacebook facebook.com/ZebraAdvertisementLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/zebra-advertisement Links Mentioned: zebraadvertisement.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brand IronMichael Doyle, Brand Iron – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 925 Michael DoyleMichael Doyle has been changing the face of brand marketing for over two decades. He built a tech-based advertising agency, DNA Advertising, into a multi-million-dollar company. Michael sold the company as part of a national IPO in 2000. Michael founded Brand Iron in 2002 and has since lent his expertise to hundreds of other businesses in dozens of industries around the world. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Michael Doyle about transforming brand marketing with Brand Iron.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How Brand Iron helps brands and companies position themselves to achieve their goals and objectives.- Why branding isn’t about your logos or your website.- How Brand Iron helps your company achieve the results you want using a repeatable and scalable process.- Why many people don’t have an objective view about what their brand is and how it’s positioned.- How Brand Iron can provide an objective opinion about your company. Connect with Michael Doyle:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @BrandIronInstagram @brand.ironFacebook facebook.com/BrandIronDenverLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/brand-iron Links Mentioned: brandiron.net  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Exceptional Storytelling for Sophisticated AudiencesThomas Carter, Artillery Creative Collection – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 924 Thomas CarterThomas Carter is a founding partner of Oil & Cattle and managing partner of Artillery Creative Collection. Oil & Cattle is an entertainment acquisition and development fund created to support exceptional storytelling for a sophisticated audience. O&C specializes in identifying and developing commercially viable intellectual properties for the big and small screen. Artillery Creative is a production and literary management company based in Los Angeles. We are called "Artillery" because we believe in the power of collaborative storytelling, and we believe that talent comes first. We specialize in identifying and developing commercially viable writers, directors and filmmakers and work closely with them to develop their career path whether in feature films, television, digital or brand integrated content. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Thomas Carter about exceptional storytelling for sophisticated audiences.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How it can be difficult to figure out how to make money off independent films.- Why good storytelling leaves your audience more empathetic to the world.- How you must cut through the clutter and find good writers you want to work with.- Why an aspiring screen writer should write what they are passionate about.- How the authentic stories with strong voices are the projects that succeed. Connect with Thomas:Guest Contact InfoLinkedIn linkedin.com/in/Thomas-carter-9145723  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Monetize Your ContentRoy Taylor, Ryff Inc. – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 923 Roy TaylorRoy Taylor has been Founder and CEO of Ryff Inc. since the company was formed in June 2018. Ryff is the inventor & world leader in VPP (Virtual Product Placement) which delivers real-time, digital dynamic brand integration for sport, social media, film, and television. Until December 2021 he was also a Director for the Board of BAFTA (British Academy of Film & Television Arts) North America. Chairman Emeritus to the Infinity Film Festival he is also Technology Advisor to three film schools, the Beijing Film Academy, Dodge Chapman and The Johnny Carson Center of Emerging Arts.Previously he was Corporate Vice President and Worldwide Head of AMD Entertainment Studios based out of Hollywood, Los Angeles. Before that Mr. Taylor ran worldwide channel sales at Advanced Micro Devices responsible for $2 Billion annual revenue. He worked at AMD from January 7, 2013. Prior to AMD Mr. Taylor served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of Display Devices Division at MasterImage 3D, where he was responsible for autostereoscopic (glass-free) 3D business. From 1998 to 2010, Mr. Taylor served as Executive Vice President NVIDIA, first as a founder of NVIDIA Europe and later internationally after a transfer to NVIDIA headquarters in Santa Clara in 2005.Mr. Taylor is principally known for the invention of the ecosystem business model whilst at NVIDIA and for his roles in supporting the video game industry. Mr. Taylor is synonymous with his ‘The Way Its Meant To Be Played’ campaign and the catch phrase ‘Can it play Crysis?’. More recently he has been a vocal advocate for the metaverse including VR, AR and AI. In his role as head of AMD Studios Mr. Taylor was Executive Producer of VRLA, the worlds largest VR event and during this time he picked up Executive Producer credits for three VR productions and the India’s most successful film, Baahubali. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Roy Taylor about monetizing your content.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How Ryff delivers perfection that is rooted in authenticity.- Why you don’t want to sell more to spend more, you want customer activation.- How it’s important to find the content that resonates with your customers.- Why all decisions are based in emotion.- How you should direct your content to the people buying your products. Connect with Roy:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @ryff_coInstagram@ryffcoLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/ryff Links Mentioned: ryff.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Legacy Letter ChallengeBlake Brewer, LegacyLetterChallenge.com – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 922 Blake BrewerBlake Brewer is on a mission to help 1 million dads write at least one well-written, meaningful, lasting Legacy Letter to their children. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Blake Brewer about the Legacy Letter Challenge.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How the idea of writing a letter is simple but writing one for your children can be difficult.- Why your children need to hear your voice and what you have to say.- How people from all different businesses and walks of life want to write their children a Legacy Letter.- Why teams can bond when they write their Legacy Letters together.- How your children can benefit from your Legacy Letter and why it’s a good idea to give it to them as soon as possible. Connect with Blake:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @giftofdad Instagram @legacyletter Facebook facebook.com/legacyletterchallenge LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/blakebrewer Links Mentioned:legacyletterchallenge.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Generating Over $200 Million in RevenueRudy Mawer, Mawer Capital – The Sharkpreneur Podcast with Kevin Harrington and Seth Greene Episode 921 Rudy MawerRudy Mawer is a serial investor and CEO to multiple brands and manages over 70 staff. Currently, he runs multiple businesses, including a Marketing Capital group with Kevin Harrington, the Original Shark from the TV show “Shark Tank”, where he helped over 50,000 small businesses around the world. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Rudy Mawer about generating over $200 million in revenue.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How a blend of numbers, data, and strategy can lead to huge success.- Why TV is still a great way to reach people and potential customers.- How entrepreneurs should pay attention to key pillars of business such as the financials, logistics, and ability to scale.- Why a business can’t be wildly successful if it can’t acquire customers on scale.- How being a good person and having a good track record leads to a successful business. Connect with Rudy:Guest Contact InfoInstagram @rudymawerlifeLinkedIn linkedin.com/in/rudymawerLinks Mentioned: mawercapital.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leveling Up Home Service BusinessesClint Junell, Job-Dox – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 920 Clint JunellClint has managed a restoration company in Dallas since 2008. He grew up in Amarillo where he learned the ins and outs of restoration since 1993. He is one of the top drying experts in the region and regularly teaches. Clint has an entrepreneurial spirit and is constantly pushing the envelope on how the restoration business should operate in order to provide a better level of service to clients. Clint is a co-founder of Job-Dox, which was initially developed to help his team manage the volume of restoration projects they were managing. Need predicated that processes and tools were implemented to assist in the management and growth of the restoration business. Job-Dox evolved out of the restoration company to effectively organize projects from anywhere. Keeping track of photos, documents and tasks has enabled his business to provide updates to customers and insurance adjusters in an easy to use format. Ultimately, the decision was made to take the product to the market as there were no viable tools available to accomplish what they needed that could be customized to each company’s own processes and workflows. He is married to Elizabeth and they have 3 children. Clint enjoys snow skiing, cycling, working out and watching his kids’ sporting activities.  Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Clint Junell about leveling up home service businesses.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How lending a helping hand to those in need can lead to a lot of business.- Why knowing all the nuances in your industry will set you up for success.- How Job-Dox was born out of a need to centralize communication with clients.- Why creating something that helps your client do their job better allows you and your client to succeed.- How you must bill your clients to make money and keep your business open. Connect with Clint:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @job_doxInstagram @job_doxFacebook facebook.com/jobdox Links Mentioned: job-dox.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Story Selling Your BrandDavid Fischette, Go West Creative – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 919 David FischetteDavid Fischette is President, CEO, and Chief Creative of Go West Creative. He is known for his creative passion and his 30+ years at the helm of the award-winning Go West Creative. David has established himself as a creative force in the live event, media, and entertainment industries. During his years, David has produced live concerts with Blake Shelton, Sheryl Crow, Jay Leno, Darius Rucker, Rascal Flatts, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, The Band Perry, Echosmith, Josh Groban, and Heart.In addition to his day-to-day duties at GWC, David has executive-produced the comedy film “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” a Season 4 of the Emmy Award-Winning Television Series “My Generation,” starring Leeza Gibbons. He also directed and produced the New York City Film Festival Award-Winning Thriller “Gods of Accident.”Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with David Fischette about using a story to sell your brand.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How you want to tell your story in the most impactful way.- Why you need to build a bridge between what your company is saying and what your customer is thinking.- How being a boutique agency allows you to be nimble and do many things quickly.- How Go West Creative helps its clients find their voice and who they want to be.- Why telling a story can be an effective marketing technique. Connect with David:Guest Contact InfoInstagram @digiwest @gowestcreative @thestudiocollectionnashvilleFacebook facebook.com/gowestcreative facebook.com/thestudiocollectionnashLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/go-west-creative-group Links Mentioned: gwcg.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices