Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to C.F. Jackson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi C.F., thanks for joining us today. Folks often look at a successful business and imagine it was an overnight success, but from what we’ve seen this is often far from the truth. We’d love to hear your scaling up story – walk us through how you grew over time – what were some of the big things you had to do to grow and what was that scaling up journey like?
Don’t you agree that starting a business is a process? Well, what many don’t mention is the fact that growing a business can be a challenging process.
When iDefine TV launched in October 2013, its target market was independent music artists. “I understood the plight of indie music artists who wanted or needed exposure for their music,” says Founder and CEO C.F. Jackson.
Imagine completing a music project, and it never airs on television or reaches an international audience. This happens not only with indie music artists, but also with entrepreneurs, authors, industry experts, and the like.
The first music artists we helped were in Sweden. Here we are in Atlanta, and they were an international world husband and wife duet. It felt awesome to have a media vehicle to help many indie artists reach a global TV audience on Roku.
Was it a simple market to support? “iDefine TV was new, which meant no one had heard of it. I’m sure if it was a recognized brand and company name at the time, many things we wanted to do back then would have been accomplished,” says Ms. Jackson.
Many of the artists were content with their position. Then some didn’t understand marketing and promotion required an investment. The music artists would rattle off, “I don’t pay to play.” They didn’t want to invest to have a track air and distribute on television.
But to grow, iDefine TV had to look at other target markets that could benefit from what it offered: brand building, credibility building, major distribution channels, and capitalize on a mass media platform.
We’ve had to position ourselves as an advertising engine for entrepreneurs, authors, experts, small businesses, consultants, and the like.
The growth comes from not being married to the initial idea. Being able to pivot when it’s necessary makes a difference.
iDefine TV decided to pivot by adding more ways to help our target audience reach Roku TV viewers.
We recognized a demographic of people in business who were timid when it came to getting in front of the camera, but not so much when they didn’t have to go at it alone. Hence, the iDefine TV Business Spotlight Series (iDefine TV BSS) was born.
Launching of this series allows iDefine TV to interview entrepreneurs from around the world. As the host, C.F. Jackson has interviewed experts and authors from Sweden, Australia, India, Canada, and the United States.
Currently, social media is saturated, and many are getting lost in all the noise. What is a way to help a brand break through the noise? Have your show or series on television. There are so many podcast shows online that they are a blur. It’s about standing out and demanding everyone’s attention.
iDefine TV provides a media vehicle where entrepreneurs can have a show or series while providing marketing support.
Imagine how taking a web or podcast show and adding TV can be a game-changer for any business.
One of the pivots iDefine TV was slow to bring into the fold: Roku Channel Developers and Designers for those who want their own Roku Channel or Network.
Why was iDefine TV slow to add this as a service? “We customize the designs of each channel we create, so we needed the team to help make this feasible,” says Ms. Jackson.
The best part about having your own Roku Channel, in addition to all the online media platforms like YouTube and Facebook, is ownership. Become the owner of your network and monetize it in multiple ways.
Wow! We can go on for days on the ways iDefine TV scaled up. Adding ad spots and the iDefine TV Spotlight Channel are other ways entrepreneurs can leverage iDefine TV to scale and grow.
Over the years, iDefine TV has positioned itself with partnerships with local events such as the Atlanta Film Festival, Black Enterprise Summit, Tap The Miller Lite Experience, and others. It helped to have had sponsors over the years: Earthlink and AT&T.
Is there more for iDefine TV to accomplish?
“Most definitely! We haven’t scratched the service. We’re seeking to redefine TV. It can be done. I’m talking about entrepreneurs, authors, experts, and small business owners. The goal is 5,000,” C.F. Jackson shared.
We’re still scaling. We are doing it in a way by using partners and ambassadors.
One last thing. To scale easier, use partnerships. Leveraging other people’s communities or networks is a game-changer. To compensate those who participate in iDefine TV’s growth is a win-win. It’s one of those feel-good moments.
Feel free to apply to become an iDefine TV Ambassador: https://iDefineTelevision.com/cash
C.F., love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Business coaches, entrepreneurs, authors, and book publishers partner with iDefine TV to give them mass exposure using video and distribution on the #1 streaming TV platform.
Because they agonize and struggle with being a hidden secret in the crowded space of social media, and they are frustrated with going at it alone.
We empower them with easy-to-implement strategies and practical tools to use for video and TV.
Bottom line, iDefine TV offers partners ways to reach television viewers to boost their brand and build credibility while adding another revenue stream.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Smile.iDefineTV.com
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/iDefineTV
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/iDefineTV
- Other: Roku TV – iDefine TV
Image Credits
iDefine TV