B2B Influencers with Brian Barletta — Bryan Barletta // Sounds Profitable

Sounds Profitable Founder, Bryan Barletta, and Ben Shapiro, host of the MarTech podcast, discuss how they got into the B2B influencer business. Bryan and Ben have successfully built audiences and monetized their content. And they get a lot of questions about how they did it. Today, Bryan and Ben share their stories and tips for B2B influencer hopefuls.
About the speaker

Bryan Barletta

Sounds Profitable

 - Sounds Profitable

Byran is Founder of Sounds Profitable

  • Part 1 B2B Influencers with Brian Barletta — Bryan Barletta // Sounds Profitable

Show Notes

  • 03:21
    Transitioning into the B2B influencer role
    Initially, the aim of the MarTech podcast was to get prospects for the consulting practice. But, it turned into selling to B2B enterprises.
  • 06:40
    How the MarTech podcast was established
    After working 20-30 hours a week in consulting, free time was spent on building web pages and content. This eventually turned into the MarTech podcast
  • 08:47
    Dealing with rejection
    Prior sales experience led to understanding that no shouldnt be taken personally. It was really about understanding the numbers game.
  • 10:11
    The profile for becoming a successful B2B influencer
    Subject matter expertise, willingness to take on risk, and the ability to engage in product marketing and sales as an independent consultant.
  • 11:14
    Becoming an independent media producer
    Writing was a way to share the ideas for growth on an industry level. Talking about these ideas as an independent meant everyone could rally around them.
  • 13:38
    The significance of having hands
    Its the experience thats going to drive you to create the solution to a problem. So, having the experience counts.
  • 14:44
    Why people become independent media creators
    People dont necessarily set out to become independent media creators. General frustration with organizational politics leads them into it.
  • 16:18
    Willingness to take risks
    Pressure creates great ideas. A lot of the success in the independent creative space is due to risk.
  • 18:05
    The best thing about running an independent media business
    Having control over your time and when you work. Youre able to set your schedule according to the demands of your life, not a job.
  • 19:20
    The worst thing about being a independent B2B media influencer
    Wanting to create valuable content for listeners while hitting your sales goals. Theres a myriad of responsibilities to manage, and most of them are your responsibility.
  • 23:12
    Growth and being the center of the company
    Create processes that make content production easier. Position your company for growth beyond just your output.
  • 25:44
    Challenges with growing a media company
    Finding thought leaders who are distant enough from major companies. It boils down to seeking out those individuals and helping them become their own B2B marketers.
  • 28:17
    Tips for upcoming B2B influencers
    Create good content and speak to the right people. Grow your audience through partnerships. Take advantage of the search engine. Over time, youll build your brand and audience.

Quotes

  • "My mindset going into becoming an independent creator was more about lead generation for professional services than it was, I need to build an audience, how's that going to work?" -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "I've found the project work to be more rewarding than billing on an hourly rate as a consultant. I'll do a $25,000 brand retainer for you, and try to describe your brand to you through my eyes." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "I was doing 10 hours of business development, and 10 hours of either exercise or building web pages for my business. It turned into building content, and that's where the MarTech podcast came from." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "In sales, dont take the nos personally." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "To become a successful B2B influencer you need subject matter expertise, willingness to tbe independent, and the ability to engage in product marketing and sales as an independent consultant." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "When I'm talking about my ideas as an independent, and a news source points to them, everybody can rally around it." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "As an independent, you are not influenced by trying to sell a product or service. We work for sponsors, but the content that we're creating has our name, our face, our voice, and our stamp on it." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "When people are looking for an industry voice, they're looking for somebody who isn't influenced by a brand or venture capitalists. They're looking for somebody to independently give the news." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "Every tool I talk about, I've logged into. I've flighted ads. I still make sure I understand how the tech works or I don't want to talk about it." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "Being an independent media creator sometimes means you didn't do a great job playing in the sandbox with the rest of the team." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "I think a lot of the success we're seeing in this independent space is based on needing to move and having to risk everything to do it." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "The best thing about running an independent media business is not having to consult with anybody about not working on Fridays anymore ." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "Selling and creating at the same time is really difficult. I want to help everybody, but there's times where my sales goals get in front of that." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "My companys been in existence for 2 years. The pandemic ic is not much older. So I filled a gap where we weren't having expos and in-person meetings." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "There's 5 different hats I'm wearing on any given day. I run an independent media business. It is my company. I am the only employee." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "12-15 people that work on my media properties are spread across the globe. So that means that I'm still managing a team. I'm still the breadwinner, but I'm also the content creator." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "I intentionally never put my name or face on the logos or the description of the podcast. I wanted to grow this beyond just my output and I don't necessarily want to be the only person hosting." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • "I'm finding people that cover subject matter people need to know about, and helping them become their own consultants and B2B marketers." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "Sounds Profitable as a media brand differs from Forbes in the ethics behind not taking pay to play for article and content writing. Im going to find thought leaders that you need to listen to" -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "A podcast is a great way to get a prospective client available for media. They're creating something with your name and their name. Your company and their company are in the same piece of media." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "If a prospect comes on your podcast, and you have a solid connection with them, you can probably sell your services to them and they can worry about getting your message out there." -Bryan Barletta, Founder, Sounds Profitable

  • "I always say that there are 4 ways to grow your audience: organic, viral, paid, and partnerships." -Benjamin Shapiro, Host, MarTech podcast

  • Part 1 B2B Influencers with Brian Barletta — Bryan Barletta // Sounds Profitable
About the speaker

Bryan Barletta

Sounds Profitable

 - Sounds Profitable

Byran is Founder of Sounds Profitable

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  • Current Podcast

    Part 1B2B Influencers with Brian Barletta — Bryan Barletta // Sounds Profitable

    Sounds Profitable Founder, Bryan Barletta, and Ben Shapiro, host of the MarTech podcast, discuss how they got into the B2B influencer business. Bryan and Ben have successfully built audiences and monetized their content. And they get a lot of questions about how they did it. Today, Bryan and Ben share their stories and tips for B2B influencer hopefuls.