Join the ASOM pod community at https://www.creatorscombine.com- Mastermind with likeminded Agency owners, SaaS founders, brand Operators, and Marketers.

Thank you to Recharge for sponsoring the pod. Trusted by over 20,000 brands, Recharge is the #1 platform for your eCommerce subscription needs. Learn more at http://recharge.asompod.com/

Thank you to Salvit Advisors for sponsoring the pod. Salvit Advisors help eCommerce brands make profitable decisions by tailoring data-driven sights that are unique to your business. Learn more at https://www.salvit.com/

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In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer & Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO & Co-Founder of BattlBox), Amir Grozdanic (CEO & Co-Founder of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride) dive into the dynamic world of founder-led marketing, unraveling its influence on brand success and exploring real-world examples like MailChimp, Barstool Sports, and Tesla. They discuss the unique advantages and challenges of founder-led branding, compare it to traditional marketing approaches, and examine the trend of building in public. Along the way, they analyze how personal branding and generational shifts shape marketing strategies and contribute to business growth.

What You’ll Learn:

• How founder-led marketing can build a brand’s identity—and when it can backfire
• The pros and cons of personal branding and building in public
• How founders like Elon Musk and Dave Portnoy shape their companies’ reputations
• The challenges of scaling beyond a founder's influence
• Creative debates about leveraging mascots versus human faces in branding
• A behind-the-scenes look at Barstool Sports' founder-driven growth
• Key strategies for transitioning from founder-led marketing to scalable systems
  

The episode wraps up with a lively “Buy or Sell” segment, where the hosts debate hot takes on founder-led marketing strategies. If you're curious about how founders influence modern brands or want actionable tips for leveraging personal branding, this episode is for you!

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00:00 Teaser Trailer
00:16 The Success and Pitfalls of Founder Led Brands

00:59 The Slack Notification Dilemma

02:09 Welcome to The ASOM Pod

03:13 Deep Dive into Founder Marketing

08:47 The Barstool Sports Story

22:47 Building in Public: Strategy or Trend?

25:32 Purpose of Building in Public

25:53 Different Strategies of Building in Public

26:04 Critique of Founder-Led Public Building

26:25 Consumer Connection and Organic Social

27:16 Examples of Successful Public Building

27:52 Challenges and Misconceptions

33:14 Scaling Beyond Founder-Led Marketing

33:36 Barstool's Talent and Growth Issues

40:25 Buy or Sell: Marketing Strategies

45:56 Future Topics

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Follow Jimmy Kim at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim

Follow Bryan MacDonald at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad

Follow John Roman at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman

Follow Amer Grozdanic at:

X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic

IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic

Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!

Are you ready for BFCM? Head to https://www.ASOMpod.com to subscribe and get your Must-Have DTC Black Friday & Cyber Monday Prep Checklist! Join the ASOM pod community at https://www.creatorscombine.com- Mastermind with likeminded Agency owners, SaaS founders, brand Operators, and Marketers. Thank you to Recharge for sponsoring the pod. Trusted by over 20,000 brands, Recharge is the #1 platform for your eCommerce subscription needs. Learn more at http://recharge.asompod.com/ Thank you to Salvit Advisors for sponsoring the pod. Salvit Advisors help eCommerce brands make profitable decisions by tailoring data-driven sights that are unique to your business. Learn more at https://www.salvit.com/ _______ In this episode of the ASOM Pod, hosts Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer & Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO & Co-Founder of BattlBox), Amir Grozdanic (CEO & Co-Founder of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride) dive into one of the most pivotal decisions for entrepreneurs: choosing between external funding and bootstrapping. They bring together insights from their own entrepreneurial journeys and perspectives from other founders, exploring how each approach shapes a business’s growth, control, and risk profile. What You’ll Learn: * The pros and cons of fundraising versus bootstrapping for new ventures * How growth speed and business control differ between funded and self-funded businesses * Key market trends, including crowdfunding and venture capital shifts * How economic cycles influence funding opportunities * Personal stories of fundraising wins, bootstrapping challenges, and lessons learned * Tips for assessing whether to raise capital or stick to bootstrapping based on your goals Whether you’re weighing funding options or simply interested in understanding how these choices impact long-term success, this episode offers a balanced guide to help entrepreneurs navigate growth, risks, and the evolving investment landscape. _______ 00:00 Teaser Trailer 00:09 Personal Experiences with Bootstrapping 00:43 Pizza Talk and Casual Banter 01:30 Starting the Podcast: Meet the Hosts 02:44 Fundraising vs. Bootstrapping: Key Considerations 10:22 Deep Dive: Timing and Growth in Fundraising 14:38 Investor Perspectives and Risk Tolerance 19:03 Mindset and Growth Strategies 26:01 Investor Relationships vs. Entrepreneurial Freedom 29:18 John's Acquisition Journey 30:17 The Freedom of Entrepreneurship 32:38 Bootstrapping Challenges and Strategies 36:18 Fundraising Failures and Lessons 42:19 The Future of Investment and SaaS 48:54 Buy or Sell: Business Insights 52:21 Closing Remarks and Future Topics _____ Follow Jimmy Kim at: X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim Follow Bryan MacDonald at: X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad Follow John Roman at: X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman Follow Amer Grozdanic at: X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!

It's time to prep for BFCM! Head to https://www.ASOMpod.com to subscribe and get your Must-Have DTC Black Friday & Cyber Monday Prep Checklist! Join the ASOM pod community at https://www.creatorscombine.com- Mastermind with likeminded Agency owners, SaaS founders, brand Operators, and Marketers. Thank you to Recharge for sponsoring the pod. Trusted by over 20,000 brands, Recharge is the #1 platform for your eCommerce subscription needs. Learn more at http://recharge.asompod.com/ Thank you to Salvit Advisors for sponsoring the pod. Salvit Advisors help eCommerce brands make profitable decisions by tailoring data-driven sights that are unique to your business. Learn more at https://www.salvit.com/ _______ In this episode of the ASOM Pod, the hosts — Jimmy Kim (CEO of eCom Email Marketer & Founder of Sendlane), John Roman (CEO & Co-Founder of BattlBox), Amer Grozdanic (CEO & Co-Founder of Praella), and Bryan MacDonald (Director of eCommerce at Oma's Pride) — explore their favorite marketing tactics and strategies, sharing both unconventional approaches and proven methods that have driven success in their own ventures. From using giveaways to fuel customer engagement to transforming customer service into a profit center, they reveal actionable insights that can elevate any marketing game. What You’ll Learn: * How to leverage giveaways to build engagement and brand loyalty * Why live video shopping is a powerful tool for connecting with audiences * Creative ways to use event marketing to build pre-launch excitement * How customer service can evolve into a profit center * Strategies to improve customer retention through win-back phone calls * How to adapt marketing tactics across different sectors, including SaaS Whether you’re looking to deepen customer engagement, increase retention, or just need fresh marketing inspiration, this episode is packed with actionable tactics to drive business growth. _______ 00:00 Recap of BattlGames Event 01:09 Introduction to the ASOM Pod 01:42 Meet the Hosts 02:53 Marketing Tactics Discussion 03:29 Giveaways as a Marketing Strategy 04:21 Live Video Shopping Experience 05:56 The Power of Giveaways 15:26 Creating a Buzz 17:59 Innovative Marketing in Restricted Industry19:31 Applying Marketing Tactics to SaaS 21:36 BattlBox's Customer Service Transformation 25:28 Retention Strategies and Customer Feedback 30:19 Event Marketing Strategies 35:40 Wrapping Up _____ Follow Jimmy Kim at: X: https://www.twitter.com/yojimmykim Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yojimmykim IG: https://www.instagram.com/@yojimmykim Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yojimmykim Follow Bryan MacDonald at: X: https://www.twitter.com/bryanomaspride LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-macdonald-ct IG: https://www.instagram.com/@anythingbutasalad Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@anythingbutasalad Follow John Roman at: X: https://www.twitter.com/@JohnMRoman Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-roman/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/@johnnyromes Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnmroman Follow Amer Grozdanic at: X: https://www.twitter.com/@AmerGrozdanic Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-grozdanic IG: https://www.instagram.com/@amergrozdanic Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@amergrozdanic Contact us at hello@asompod.com for sponsorships, appearance requests, interviews, or general information!