Do you know how to build a loyal following?

Welcome to The Marketing Accelerator Podcast, featuring three insights in about three minutes. I'm Drew Dinkelacker. I walk alongside business leaders and guide them along their marketing journey. If you have a marketing conundrum, then let's talk. Today, I'm speaking with Mike Brevik. He's the Chief Barketing Officer at CyberDogz Marketing. That's a Midwest brand design and creative agency. Mike, your career is quite widespread. Cartoonist, graphic design, web design, e-commerce, print, and corporate retail. What did that experience teach you about creating a loyal following?

Mike Brevik: It taught me that transactional mindset is temporary. It also taught me that to build followers, you have to build relationships and you have to put yourself out there as a person. And for me personally, I lean on the Midwest nice thing, and I definitely try to put that out there when I'm getting to know my clients, because I have small town roots, small town vibes, and I like people to experience that.

Drew: So how do you advise your clients on being more relationship oriented?

Mike: Yeah, I think they have to lean on their core essence of who they are and what they're about and steer into that when trying to build relationships with clients. I have one client who's in the finance industry, and he's naturally very charismatic. He's very approachable. He speaks well, and he's… I would say, different than most financial advisors in that way. And it's a struggle sometimes to get him to lean into and understand that that is his superpower. So, as he's continued to build his business and as he's continued to adopt and accept that as part of his skill set, it's making a huge difference in his business.

Drew: I've often had clients that think their superpower really isn't all that super. What about clients who are, how do I say this, a bit quirky or unique?

Mike: Yeah, everybody's quirky and unique in their own way, and I think that, again, that's something you want to lean into and you want to kind of be that person so that you're more relatable. I have another client who I would say is very black and white. She's very brash to some, and for most people, I would say she's probably not everybody's cup of tea, but in her industry and the target audience that she goes after, they absolutely love it, and they really appreciate the fact that she comes at them with the hard truth at all times.

Drew: Being your authentic self is good for life and business. The Marketing Accelerator Podcast is a production of MarketingAccelerator.com, where business leaders gain confidence in their marketing efforts and marketers turn into high-performing leaders. If you have a marketing challenge keeping you awake at night, let's talk. I'm Drew Dinkelacker.