We recently connected with Daniel Bussius and have shared our conversation below.
Daniel, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s something you believe that most people in your industry (or in general) disagree with?
A travesty is happening to small businesses worldwide. Their growth suffers due to ineffective, costly marketing strategies. The issue stretches beyond business owners, impacting the entire marketing industry. Despite rapidly evolving consumer behaviors and expectations, marketers cling to outdated strategies, like the 20-year-old “marketing funnel”. The marketing industry must embrace the one true facet that will not change over time: that marketing must create a real connection to humans. Everything else will change, but the recipient of the messaging and the buyer will always be human. If the marketing industry embraces this, then we’ll see a positive transformation of many more small businesses achieving success, brands that form genuine connections with their buyers, and an overall improvement in the image of the marketing industry as a whole.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m an award-winning marketing consultant, author, serial entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of Built by Love®, a full-service marketing agency. Since 1998, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with more than 1,000 clients globally, ranging from Fortune 100 brands and celebrities to small business owners and start-ups. Frustrated by the marketing industry’s reliance on outdated tactics and strategies, I developed Marketing RAMP®, a software designed to empower business owners to create a proven marketing strategy in about 30 minutes to power their business efforts.
I also wrote a book called “Marketing Built By Love” (published by Greenleaf Publishing), which teaches readers how to harness neuroscience, the five scientific stages of human relationship development, and the critical touchpoints of a buyer’s journey to achieve long-lasting marketing success. I’ve been privileged to serve as a board member and advisor for publicly traded companies, private companies worth over $100M, entrepreneurial organizations, and New York Times best-selling authors. All in all, I guess I keep myself quite busy!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Without a doubt, results. In my profession, you’re hired to produce results and numbers don’t lie.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I first founded my agency in March 1998, it was exclusively an experiential marketing firm. Essentially, my company produced events and experiences for big brands, mostly Fortune 500 entities. However, the industry was decimated after 9/11. Marketing budgets were cut, and people became fearful of large public gatherings. I had to pivot, so I ventured into the small business space, offering traditional marketing services to entrepreneurs. Over time, I realized the potential of digital marketing to revolutionize the small business landscape, despite it still being in its infancy. Consequently, my agency pivoted again, focusing on digital marketing, email marketing, and CRMs for small business owners. Over the last three years, I’ve seen the inevitable impact of artificial intelligence on the creative landscape, prompting me to create a software company powered by AI. Who knows what’s next, but change is inevitable, so we must either embrace it or risk being left behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marketingbuiltbylove.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instgram.com/danbussius
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/builtbyloveagency
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbussius/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/danbussius
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCokmfhMuzypoGd8zenWHFYQ