digital marketing strategy Archives

Building E-commerce Success: Insights from Lantern Sol Founder Jay Neyer

From Philosophy to Profit: An Entrepreneur’s Journey

Jay’s story begins unusually – with a degree in accounting and philosophy. After realizing corporate life wasn’t his calling (literally crying on his drive home from work), he made a pivotal decision to learn coding and web development. This led him into the Shopify ecosystem, where he’s now helped build over 500 websites generating more than $113 million in online sales.

The Power of Persistence in E-commerce

One of the most striking insights from my conversation with Jay was his emphasis on persistence. “As long as you have that stubborn bullheaded mentality of just running through wall after wall after wall, it’s impossible to fail,” he shared. His first venture saw zero sales initially, but this experience laid the groundwork for his later success – building a fitness product company from zero to $25 million over seven years.

The Age of Influencers: A New Marketing Paradigm

Let me share something fascinating that Jay revealed about current e-commerce trends. While everyone’s talking about AI, Jay emphasized we’re in “the age of influencers.” His agency has found remarkable success with what he calls “whitelisting” – running the same ad content through both brand pages and influencer accounts. The key insight? Even micro-influencers with just 1,000-2,000 followers can drive significant results.

Landing Page Innovation: The Future of Conversion

One strategy that particularly caught my attention was Jay’s approach to landing pages. His team creates hyper-specific pages that maintain consistency between ad content and landing page experience, especially when working with influencers. This attention to detail in the customer journey has proven to be a game-changer for their clients.

Authenticity: The Ultimate Differentiator

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway from our conversation was Jay’s emphasis on authentic branding. In a space where many are tempted to simply copy successful competitors, Jay advocates for finding and maintaining your true authentic voice. This philosophy has not only shaped his client work but also his personal approach to business, combining his diverse interests in languages, music, and entrepreneurship.

As someone who’s been in the e-commerce space for years, I found Jay’s insights both refreshing and practical. His journey from an accounting student to a successful e-commerce entrepreneur and agency founder demonstrates that success in this field isn’t just about technical knowledge – it’s about persistence, authenticity, and the ability to evolve with the changing digital landscape.

Want to hear more of Jay’s insights? Listen to the full episode of Talk Commerce to dive deeper into his strategies for e-commerce success.

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Smart Scaling Secrets from Disruptive Advertising’s Jacob Baadsgaard

January 29, 2024November 14, 2023 Brent W. Peterson

In a recent episode of my podcast, I had the pleasure of hosting Jacob Baadsgaard, the founder of Disruptive Advertising. We delved into his journey from starting as a freelancer in his basement to becoming the founder of a thriving agency. We also discussed his passions, the importance of balance, and the lessons he learned from being out of balance in the past.

The Journey of Disruptive Advertising

Jacob shared about his day-to-day role at Disruptive Advertising and his passion for helping businesses reach their potential. He revealed that Disruptive Advertising started as a freelance side gig in his basement and has now grown into a thriving agency with employees across the country.

Life Beyond Work

When asked about his passions outside of work, Jacob mentioned that his biggest passion project is his four kids. He recently took his oldest daughter on an adventure to New Zealand, which was a great bonding experience for them. Jacob also enjoys zone two cardio, spending time on the bike or running outside while listening to books. He finds that these workouts help him clear his mind and feel connected to his life.

Transitioning Roles and the EOS Model

Jacob discussed his transition from the CEO role to focusing on his passions within the company. He has stepped away from the day-to-day management and execution of the business to focus on developing education and experiences for digital marketers. He emphasized the importance of working on the business rather than in the business and the need to let go of how things get done while maintaining a clear vision and strategic direction.

We also discussed the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) model, which we both use in our businesses. The EOS model provides simplicity and clarity, allowing everyone in the organization to be on the same page and work towards a common goal.

Core Values and Mission of Disruptive Advertising

Jacob touched on the core values and mission of Disruptive Advertising. They have a unique approach to operating below industry benchmarks in terms of margin. Instead of focusing solely on profitability, they have a profit-sharing program and a personal development budget for their employees, investing in their growth and well-being.

Unique Aspects of Disruptive Advertising

Jacob explained three unique aspects of Disruptive Advertising. First, they limit the number of clients they work with, focusing on quality rather than quantity. Second, Disruptive Advertising is the top-rated performance marketing agency, with many happy customers. Lastly, Jacob emphasized the importance of alignment between business goals and marketing strategy.

The Role of Guessing in Marketing

We discussed the role of guessing in marketing. Jacob emphasized that guessing in marketing leads to nowhere and compares it to steering a rudderless ship. He appreciates the fact that on our podcast, we don’t give advice but rather share our own experiences.

The Current Disruptor in Advertising

When asked about the current disruptor in advertising, Jacob responded that AI is the game-changer in marketing right now. He expressed excitement about the possibilities of AI, such as chatGPT and image/graphic creation. He believes that AI will make marketers more valuable by freeing them from repetitive tasks and allowing them to focus on strategy and creativity.

My conversation with Jacob Baadsgaard was insightful and inspiring. His journey from a basement freelancer to the founder of a top-rated agency, his passion for his family and fitness, and his insights into the future of marketing were all enlightening. I look forward to seeing what Disruptive Advertising will achieve in the future under his visionary leadership.