We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dimitris Gazonas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dimitris below.

Dimitris , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

Unexpected problems:

1) Money required

Starting out in digital marketing seems so easy and carefree. There are a lot of opportunities out there that require “little to no investment”. Others say you can get started for a very small investment. What a bunch of crap that is! Whoever says you can make money with little or no investment is scamming you. Every business venture requires cash as a car needs gas to move. It is the single most important component in a business. You go into business to make money. You invest money and get a return.

The problem that I faced was that of many. Not having enough cash! For freelancers & small business owners, it’s hard to budget how much money you will need, and it comes in the most unexpected ways! Any business needs significant investment to get going. While you can get started with a few clients, you will always hit a ceiling and plateau.

2) Competition

One of the most challenging aspects of the digital marketing industry is the competition. As more businesses go online, so does the need to market digitally. This has led to intense competition, not only between service providers, but also between market share within sub-niche industries. Millions of businesses are competing to stand out on Facebook, Google, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok (and many others). Out of those millions, the market has to share it evenly, which makes the competition fierce, and has increased the need for highly skilled marketers.

This is exceptionally difficult for freelancers and small business owners since most get swallowed up by large advertising firms who have the resources.

3) Building a team

Building a team has been an unexpected issue I ran into, and I’m sure many have as well.
The term “solopreneur” has been used as a way to motivate individuals to flee the “9 to 5 grind”. Simply put, it refers to someone who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business without the help of a partner. At first glance, it seems like a pretty good deal! You get to work for yourself, make your own hours, charge whatever you want, and have unlimited earning potential.

Sadly, none of this is true. The world is built on relationships. Businesses are built on relationships. We help each other achieve great things. As a soloprenuer you are in charge of sales, accounting, marketing, customer service, market research, R&D etc. Think of every business you have encountered and how each employee played a role in the function of the business. Imagine if one, two or even three roles were removed from that business. How inefficient would the business be? Could it operate normally? How long would it be able to keep its doors open? These are the same issues a soloprenuer faces. It is simply not possible to do everything by yourself. You need a team of people to help you.

4) Ever-changing digital platforms

This issue has become more and more relevant now with the huge influx of digital advertisers. The social media sites have been forced to compete against each other, just like the marketers. Who has the cutting edge platform? Who can get the best leads at the lowest price? Who can get the most viral content and most eyeballs to pay attention to them?

As a digital marketer, it is vital to keep up with the changing platforms weekly. Things change drastically and you need to prepare how to handle the changes.

5) The age of Information Overload

In today’s age there is no absence of information. You are bombarded with it every second of the day. The term “information overload” is associated with the overwhelmed feeling an individual faces with the excessive quantity of daily information.

While that is an issue, I believe there is an even greater issue. Most refer to it as “shiny object syndrome”

The continual state of distraction brought on by an ongoing belief that there is something new worth pursuing. This can be as large as a career change, or as small as the headline used in an advertising campaign. There is a huge issue in the industry and I have fallen victim to this a couple times. Because entrepreneurs are highly motivated, they crave for new trends and technology. It feels normal to stay on top of every little “system” but It only slows you down and disrupts the momentum of your previous projects. It is most important to take control of your focus and filter out 99% of the information you are bombarded with.

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

About myself:

My journey started right out of high school. I was enrolled in college and was planning on getting a degree in Music. While I was passionate about music, I knew that when It came to paying the bills, it wasn’t the best career path. Right around that time, a friend of mine gave me a book (Rich Dad Poor Dad) which was the catalyst to my entrepreneurial journey. Since then, I tried and failed many times and learned a lot from different business ventures, and around 6 years ago, I founded Direct Contact Marketing (my current business). Since then, I’ve been able to hone my craft and take on newer and higher challenges!

Industry:
The industry was chosen through years of trial and error. I worked in many industries & niches and through that process I was able to find some consistent success using Google & Facebook Ads for my clients. I knew there was more to it than sheer luck, so I tried it again, and again, and it seemed to be the one problem I could solve well.

Service Provided and Problems Solved:

Simply put, I help businesses market their products and services on Google & Facebook. But I always saw myself as a consultant rather than a digital marketer. While it’s important to keep the doors open with consistent customers, it’s more important knowing your customers, their buying journey, and how the business should operate to accommodate that clientele, which is more than just launching an advertising campaign.

What sets me apart from others:

I choose to work with a client based on how well we communicate and understand eachother. A business at the end of the day is a relationship between 2 people, and building a strong relationship with clear communication is the single most important thing.

Proud of:
I am proud of my clients for putting the trust in me to help their businesses grow. I am proud of helping businesses go from closing the doors, to doubling their inventory and helping ther community grow as a whole. I am grateful for all the challenges I have faced and look forward to tackling new problems, in order to acquire more and better skills and knowledge.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

The most effective strategy for growing your clientele is simply knowing your clientele. The better you know your customers, the more effective your strategy becomes. Who are they? What language/jargon do they speak? Where do they hangout.? What news/content do they consume? Where do they shop? etc. The more you know about your customers, the easier it is to market to them.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

Yes. Communication with other people, let alone a client, is the most important aspect of a healthy relationship. If you want to build strong relationships, then you must put in the effort to build that with communicating clearly to them (and vice-versa)

A strong relationship helps you celebrate, but also helps you back up after you fall down. A client will be there for you when you are there for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: directcontactmarketing.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greekfanta/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dimitris.gazonas
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitris-gazonas-b417a2131/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFvoOjY5Fffa2azIwmWh62A
• Other: GMB Profile: https://g.page/direct-contact-marketing?share