The Build Cycle

What's up builders! It's been a minute, but this episode brings it back in a big way. My friends Simon and Giulio are co-founders of Bike Connection Agency, a marketing and event firm focused on the cycling market. If you're considering taking your own industry relationships and experience and creating a marketing or event agency, there's a lot to learn here about how to do it, what services to provide, and more. Over the past six years, BCA has built up to four annual events and servicing a handful of premium marketing clients, which simultaneously sounds like a lot and not that much. And that is one of the most fascinating parts of this interview - how they're balancing work and life by creating a business that meets their needs while still allowing for a massive amount of free time for both of them. At a time when many of us are examining our own work - life balance and re-prioritizing personal and professional goals, to hear these two discuss it is incredibly refreshing. The icing on the cake is their relationship. Starting a business with a lifelong friend can be tricky, but they've created a system of open, honest communication and trust that should be a benchmark for any of us. We get a little personal on this, and it's amazing. WANT MORE? For photos and more, check out this episode's show notes here: Ep #075 – Maximizing Work-Life Balance for Fun & Profit Follow me and reach out on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Have you ever tried to come up with a business idea that's mostly automated and creates a great passive income stream? Or tried to figure out how to take your skillset and turn it into a low-effort lifestyle business? Well, that's almost exactly what my guest today has done. Tina Wilmott already knew the Public Relations agency business, so when she wanted to take control of her time and her life, she found a gap in how brands were able to get their news in front of the media. She launched Endurance Sports Wire, and quickly hired a small team to handle the daily tasks. In theory, it could basically run itself, but as you'll learn, the dream is much harder than the reality, especially for those of us with an entrepreneurial, growth mindset. If you want to launch your own side hustle or lifestyle business, or you're just interested in PR and media, this is a great episode for you! Bite Size Content Newsletter Get my (somewhat) weekly content marketing strategy newsletter for tips on how to get more press for your brand or product, and how to work with the media better! Want more? For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at tylerbenedict.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

With the start of a fresh year, I thought it'd be fun to talk Mindset. We're all probably thinking through the ways we can perform better, manage better, grow our companies, and, hopefully, strike a better balance between work and life. My guest today is entrepreneur mindset coach Joe Trodden. He focuses on working with early stage founders, those who have launched and built a small team, usually in their first few years of business. His goal? To help them, and us, push past some of the pain points that come as our teams grow but we still think of ourselves as the fearless leaders who can solve all the problems. I know this is something I've done many times, and it's definitely a limiting factor for any company's growth. Here's how you overcome that by sharing your vision in a way that your team can execute. SHOW NOTES & LINKS For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at tylerbenedict.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, TuneIn, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

We've all seen subscription boxes for everything, and kids toys, coding boxes, learning kits and more are common. But a toy RENTAL service that's focused on eco-friendly sustainability whose toys are returned and sent back out to a new family? How does that even work? How is it safe? Is THAT business model as sustainable as its products? I interview founder and CEO Rachael Classi on how she launched, where the idea came from, and how this early startup is sourcing products and pricing their service. This is probably the youngest startup I've interviewed, but there's still plenty to learn. And it's an interesting concept with lessons and ideas you can apply to your own business. For more show notes and links to connect with Rachael, head over to this show's post here: https://tylerbenedict.com/2020/12/01/ep-072-how-tiny-earth-toys-launched-a-subscription-toy-rental-service/ Want more? Want more startup stories, expert branding tips, and content marketing ideas? Hit SUBSCRIBE on your favorite podcast player right now! Connect with Tyler on social here: LinkedIn // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram

This episode is a mix of startup story and content marketing ideas, perfect if you're: In this episode, Magma co-founder Jake Warner recounts his inspiration for creating an app that lets anyone create a well designed, easy to share, searchable digital magazine straight from their phone! Not only can you share it, but it can have links, videos and more...and it's SEO friendly with Google. This one really impressed me, and I'm looking at how I can use it myself to promote my own businesses. For full show notes and links to things mentioned in this episode, go to: http://www.tylerbenedict.com/podcast and click on this episode!

Hello Builders and Content Creators! It's been a while, but we're back in action with a new sound, new guests, and a few new topics to help you grow your business! This is a quick episode, just letting you know what's coming up, and explaining why it's been a while since the last episode went live. And, as usual, there's at least one little takeaway to help you along your entrepreneurial journey. Here's what's new: Links from this episode: Bite Size Content Marketing newsletterTylerBenedict.comFacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedIn Thanks a ton for staying subscribed. Now, let's get back to work...

We deal with PR agencies and PR people all the time over on my cycling tech blog, Bikerumor.com. Some are great, others could use a little help. And we see a mix of brands small and large, new and established, choose to work with a PR agency all the time, with mixed results. To say there's a lot of bouncing from firm to firm would be an undestatement.So I reached out to Verde Brand Communications' founder Kristin Carpenter to learn more about how a company should work with a PR firm, what they can expect, and how they can get the most out of it. If you're a brand interested in hiring a PR agency to promote your brand, craft your message, and help get it in front of the media and consumers, this episode will give you a LOT to think about! KEY TAKEAWAYS Two of the biggest takeaways are that you need to have realistic expectations, and you need to communicate with the agency. Regarding communication, it's critical that the brand keep the agency aware of product launch dates, delays and other timing issues. Why? Because if a launch is going to be late, it's better to know ahead of time and push the promotional push back, too. Another thing to consider is where they're getting your coverage. Sure, getting on Oprah or the Today Show might be huge awareness wins, but they may not move the sales needle if those shows aren't targeted to your customer base. Regarding retainers and pricing, one thing I'd personally recommend is weighing the option of hiring someone in-house full time (or part time) versus an outside agency. Pros include having someone there day in, day out that can ensure your PR efforts are deeply integrated into everything else your brand is doing, from sales to marketing to production and scheduling. It also gives media a direct point of contact that (usually) knows most of the technical questions. Cons might be that the person lacks the direct communication lines that a good, established PR firm already has with media and key editors. That list can take a long time to curate, as do the relationships. Thanks for tuning in. If you like this, could you share a link to it with a friend? Or just tell another entrepreneur about this podcast? That really helps me grow my audience and continue getting amazing guests for you. Speaking of, my next guest's startup story is amazing…be sure to to hit subscribe on your favorite podcast player so you don't miss it! WANT MORE? For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at tylerbenedict.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Are you struggling to come up with good content marketing ideas? Trying to figure this whole content marketing thing out? Not sure where to start? My guest today is Melanie Deziel and she has a super simple framework for helping anyone come up with a limitless supply of content ideas. Even better, she helps you pick the right ones based on your message, your strengths as a communicator, and the publishing mediums available to you. Her experience as a journalist turned brand story teller took her from Huffington Post to the New York Times to Time Inc, where she developed branded content programs for these major publishers. She coaches brands, marketers and startups on how to create better content marketing ideas. And now she's sharing her framework with us so we can create better brand stories to connect with our customers. The Takeaway I really like her Focus and Format starting point. And her idea of a Content Language. Let's face it, we all have our strengths, and learning to embrace those and pour fuel…dare I say Content Fuel…on them to drive real growth takes guts. But she's right, and she's not the only expert saying exactly that. Double down on the things that work for you, and maintain a minimum viable presence elsewhere. For more ideas and links to connect with Melanie, check the show notes at tylerbenedict.com/podcast and click on this episode. Want to learn more Content Strategy? If you want to master content marketing strategy and learn how to create and execute a complete strategy, and come meet and learn from Melanie in person, join us both at Peak Content Summit in Asheville, North Carolina. Get the full speaker list and more details at PeakContentSummit.com.

Ever wondered how to start a conference? Launch a seminar? Or host your own event? Then this episode is for you! After launching and selling two separate events-related companies, AppsEvents founder Dan Taylor found himself also running Google Suite educational conferences. Now, his company hosts more than 300 events globally In this episode, we talk about how he started, how he chose the topic and curriculum for his events, and how to market an event to attract more attendees. If you've ever wanted to start you own conference, mastermind, seminar, etc., this episode will tell you how to launch your own event and grow it! WANT MORE? For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at tylerbenedict.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. BROUGHT TO YOU BY... This episode is brought to you by Peak Content Summit, the premier content marketing strategy conference for brand managers, content creators, influencers, marketers and anyone else who wants to maximize their influence, reach and revenue through content marketing. Check it out at PeakContentSummit.com.

The very first time I saw Tifosi's products in the store, I knew they were absolutely going to kill it. With a retail price that was one third of the premium brands that were popular at the time, but a look and feature set that seemed on par with those premium brands, Tifosi offered something people wanted at a price point they were willing to pay. And it worked. They've grown like crazy, now owning more than 70% of the cycling specialty market for sunglasses, and they continue to develop top notch designs and features while retailing for about half what the big brands cost. Walk into almost any bike shop or independent running store and you'll likely see a Tifosi display on the counter. So, how did they get there? What were the challenges in going up against Spy, Oakley and other major brands? Today, we'll hear their startup and growth story directly from co-founder Joe Early. THE TAKEAWAY One of the biggest takeaways any consumer product brand should remember is Joe's tips on getting a good rep. When I had my beverage company years ago, we had a couple of great distributors with reps that seemed good, but those reps would barely even mention our product when they went into the stores. Why? Because our sales volume was so low compared to their beer brands that it wasn't even worth their time. Many were just order takers, and that was it. They didn't have to sell. And it killed us. Nurturing your sales force, giving them the tools to do their job, and sometimes even helping to get those first accounts open, can sometimes make all the difference in the world. FOLLOW ME Like this? Let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed, or what topics you'd like me to cover, by following and messaging me on social! Find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

One of the biggest hurdles to managing startup life is balancing expectations at home with the drive to spend every waking hour (and every last ounce of energy) launching your company and fostering its growth. It can be all consuming, which leaves little for anything else. Brendan Moore, co-founder of cycling components brand Wolf Tooth Components shares how he and his wife set expectations in advance, and set some boundaries, which set the stage for them to succeed professionally and personally. And that was a welcome bonus for this interview, which was originally conceived as a lesson on how to deal with product ideas and submissions from your customers. It's a concept that's rife with pitfalls, and can become a sticky mess if not handled properly. Brendan tells us how they do it, how and why they work with select outside designers, and why they pretty much don't want you to share your ideas with them. It's fun, and very enlightening. For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at tylerbenedict.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

This is the first episode I’ve done where we talk about retail strategy, but there’s a strong undercurrent of brand communication strategy throughout. And there’s a lot of different facets to building community around your brand, having meaningful conversations with your customers, and integrating your products, service or brand into their lives. There’s literally something here for any company looking to improve any of those aspects. My guest is Alex Barseghian, author of Local Motion, a book that details how brands both small and large can build a real relationship with their customers to turn them from one time buyers to lifelong loyalists. And If you want to get ta little freaked out about how you’re being tracked? Be sure to listen all the way through to hear what can be done with loyalty programs and how major global brands and small mom and pops can all track basically everything you see, do, and want. For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at tylerbenedict.com/podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

CBD oil and products are one of the hottest industries right now. I literally get 4 oorur 5 emails from PR companies and new brands every week trying to get us to post a story about their new CBD oil. It sounds a whole lot like the energy drink boom 15 years ago when there were literally twenty new brands launching every week. And then disappearing just as fast. So what’s the deal? What’s changed in the hemp industry and legal status that’s causing CBD to blow up? And how hard it is to start a CBD brand and business? What other opportunities are there? My guest today is Caleb Simpson, founder of Hemp Daddy’s Therapeutics, a premium CBD brand that’s going consumer direct. He tells us why there’s a boom, what sort of growth and regulation might be coming soon, and some tips if you’re looking to get into this fast growing industry! For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

I really struggled with how to title this episode. Stefan Loble is the founder of Bluffworks, a clothing company that makes travel clothes that don't look like travel clothes. So, our conversation is based on his apparel brand, and it does provide a fascinating and revealing look at how the fashion and garment industry works. But, this is a wide ranging episode that goes far beyond the apparel industry, with concepts you can apply in your own business, regardless of your industry. Stefan's story rings so true for so many entrepreneurs. First, he found something that he really liked but wasn't readily available. Second, he became miserable in his job. Which is a great starting point for launching a company if a) you're willing to do something about it, and b) you have the courage to leave your job. How he did it provides some key lessons for any entrepreneur. And how he's grown the brand has lessons for those of us who've already made the leap and are trying to figure out the next steps. For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

As an entrepeneur, the one thing I struggle with most is finding the time to do the important work that grows my business. But Belay Solutions co-founder Bryan Miles has figured it out, owning a company with 700 plus people. Notice I said "owning" a company, not "running" it. That's an important distinction, and truly "Owning" it can only happen when you learn to delegate. Belay Solutions launched in 2010 when Bryan and his wife, Shannon, both tired of working full time for others. He had been using a virtual assistant on his own, and with the Four Hour Workweek popularizing the concept, he saw a need for a U.S.-based option that could do things an offshore firm couldn't. In this episode we talk about how you can offload the things that bog you down -whether that's to an assistant or your employees- plus, how to find a good personal assistant, and ways you can stop "running" your company and start "owning" it. Please welcome, Bryan Miles! For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

How does a former pro NFL player launch one of the fastest growing meat snacks in the country? If you think it's only because he was a celebrity athlete, think again. Stryve Biltong co-founder Gabe Carimi switched gears from playing for the Atlanta Falcons to assembling a team of business all stars and working both smart and hard. This episode is packed with advice for anyone launching a consumer packaged good, but especially one in the food or beverage space. This is an extremely wide ranging conversation - we talk about: Here's another interesting thing: All three co-founders are very, very wealthy. So why did they take on outside investment capital? Also, what the heck is Biltong? If you've ever wondered what it takes to bring a food product to market, our conversation will open your eyes! For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at https://wp.me/p8iNgs-kP and find every episode at TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast. Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Everyone wants to get better at sales, but once you've had some success, could you explain why? Could you repeat that and train others to mimic that success? Cirrus Insight cofounder Brandon Bruce has grown his sales integration software company into a $12MM business by focusing on the process and creating systems that show where growth comes from and how to replicate it. But there's a surprising benefit to this: It allows you to predict potential customers' needs, which you can use to lead them down your sales path and get them invested in your product or service before you ever make the sales pitch! We talk about that and a whole lot more of the challenges startups face early on when trying to figure out how to create a sales system for their company. For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

What if I told you that some of your people are dragging you down? That they're slowing your growth and limiting your company's potential? Would you know who they are? If not, do you want to know how to find them? And get rid of them? That's exactly what my guest today will teach us, and it's massively entertaining! Jeffrey Hayzlett recounts his time as CMO of Eastman Kodak and how he reset the culture to one of accountability and results-oriented action by weeding out the naysayers and "Negative Nancies" one by one. Fair warning, he gets animated. And there's a bit of language. But this is one of my most fun episodes yet, and I know you're going to love it. It's also my first live recording, so be sure to stick around to the end for bonus questions from the audience. For full show notes, links and images, check out this episode's show notes. And find every episode at TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

This episode discusses two important things any entrepreneur should know. First, how to use sponsorships to grow your brand and sales. Second, and much more important, is how to lead. Santini is an Italian, family run premium cycling apparel company doing north of $30 million in annual sales. Started more than 60 years ago by her father, Monica Santini now runs the company her younger sister heading the marketing department. Together, they've grown through strategic sponsorship alliances and by cultivating their retail network. In this episode we discuss how they make those deals work for them, then transition into some of the challenges and benefits of being a female leader. Here's the important part: Her advice will help any leader foster a world class work environment that attracts and retains the best employees. Full this show's notes: https://wp.me/p8iNgs-k5 For all show notes, links and images, check out TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Are you stuck figuring out what kind of business to start, how to start it, or just tired of being a Wantrapreneur? Or do you just feel like you’re spinning your wheels with busy work? Or you can’t figure out out how to optimize for real growth? Yeah? Then you’re going to LOVE this episode! My guest is AppSumo founder Noah Kagan, and he’s constantly launching new companies to solve his own pain points. Today, he walks us through how to come up with a new idea, launch a company, and grow it from scratch by simply taking something you’re already doing and finding a way to charge people for it. And if you’re already established, he tells us how we can grow our business by doubling down on what works and focusing our efforts on the things that actually move the needle. Whether you’re just starting out or trying to find ways to scale things up, this episode is sure to both entertain and enlighten! Please welcome Noah Kagan! For full show notes, links and images, check out this show's post at TheBuildCycle.com/Podcast Be sure to subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Overcast FM, or wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review and rating! And let me know who you'd like to hear interviewed...just message me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.