We recently connected with Brian Reiser and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I can’t speak for all marketing agencies. But from my own experience as well as what I’ve heard from colleagues and peers over the years, the state of many marketing agencies is…. problematic.

For one, the emphasis at such agencies tends to be chasing new clients at the expense of servicing current clients. This leads sales teams to overpromise and the rest of the organization to underdeliver.

Further, tremendous pressure and stress are put on the rest of the staff who have to deal with the consequences, leading to low employee satisfaction, high employee turnover, and, frankly, high client churn.

I’ve seen great employees cry and walk out. I’ve seen great clients justifiably furious.

Many agencies can do better. This motivated me to start my digital marketing consulting business based on the values of providing superior, client-first service executed with integrity and a passion for helping all of our stakeholders thrive.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

It took me a long time to find my way to digital marketing. In my 20s, I was pursuing a career in academic philosophy (purely for the money – I kid). After finishing my M.A., I realized this path wasn’t for me and did not complete my Ph.D..

One problem: now I needed a job—actually, a career.

Through my network, I found an opportunity to blog for a famous blues musician. There was only one problem – I knew nothing about digital marketing, content, or websites.

This combined my talent for writing with one of my main passions – music! Suddenly, I found my path, and I’ve been thrilled to be in digital marketing ever since.

I started as a content writer, writing copy for everything from email newsletters, blog posts, social media, e-commerce product descriptions, press releases. You name it.

Early on, I discovered SEO. While it wasn’t a major focus of this job, I soon began learning all about SEO best practices and quickly fell in love with it as a marketing channel.

Ever since, SEO has been my primary specialty. I love the challenge of getting websites to rank and how I need to always use the analytical, strategic, and creative sides of my brain.

SEO is a pain point for most of my clients. Before I start working with clients, many know very little about how SEO really works. And why should they? It’s not their specialty.

I love helping my clients achieve results and teaching them SEO strategies and tactics to force multiply the combined efforts. SEO is truly an organizational effort, so educating clients on how everyone can contribute to the mission is paramount.

I view my clients’ and my success as the same. The more I can help them grow and show results, the happier I am.

More than anything, I want to be known for my integrity. That people know I will work hard for their success, that I will go above and beyond, that I’ll be honest, transparent, and accountable, and that my clients are delighted to keep working with me.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

My SEO business began as my side hustle. I was working a full-time content marketing job but began doing some SEO work in my spare hours.

It was just for a little bit of extra spending money to blow on Dave Matthews Matthews Band concerts while I also got to learn and improve my SEO chops—a win-win.

But over time, the side hustle began to grow, and I started thinking more and more about making a go at running the business full-time.

There came a time when I knew I was at the tipping point. I couldn’t keep growing my business without leaping into the unknown of entrepreneurship. I could go for it or stay huddled in the security of my full-time job.

I leaped.

Ten years ago, entrepreneurship was the furthest thing from my mind, and today, my mind is blown that I took this leap, but I am so glad I did.

While I can’t say for sure what the future holds, I can certainly say that this past year that I’ve owned my own business has been one of the most thrilling and rewarding periods of my professional career.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I am a devoted follower of marketing and business guru Seth Godin. Pursuing the remarkable – the “purple cow” – is a north star for me. How do you bring remarkable to your work every day?

There are different ways to try and make it in business. You can offer something cheaper. You can cut corners. You can chase that new customer and forget about those who have been your loyal partners.

I’m not interested in those roads. For me, it’s all about bringing that wow factor to your clients and helping them achieve their own wow factor.

If remarkable isn’t the goal, it’s probably not worth pursuing, at least for me. For me, as Godin would say, “This is marketing.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://reiserseo.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reiserseo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-reiser-content-marketing/

Image Credits

Mariah Gale Creative