Gary Vaynerchuk's Blog, page 36

The Best Business Strategy No One Talks About

Over the past few months, I’ve been pushing kindness more heavily than anything else.

For me, it’s a crucial part of the legacy I’m building. I want to build big businesses and buy the Jets, but I want to do it by being a good guy. I have zero interest in building the biggest building by tearing other people down.

The problem is that most people see kindness as a weakness. They confuse it with being passive or being a pushover.

The truth is, people who view kindness as a negative are just insecure themselves. You can only be kind if you feel that you’re coming from a place of leverage.

That’s why I see kindness as a massive advantage, not a passive trait — especially if you’re a naturally “tough” person.

As I go through my own life, I’m realizing more and more how kindness is such a big part of the equation. It’s not just about sales and negotiation. It’s not just about doing what you love. It’s not just about hustle.

That’s why It breaks my heart that so many people think “nice guys finish last.”

People don’t get that kindness is the best business strategy.

Here’s why:  

1) Kindness builds emotional capital

If you give value to someone else first in business, you have the leverage. I truly believe that.

It’s why I give 51% of the value in every relationship. It’s why I deploy compassion when people are mean. It’s why I make time to interview for small podcasts and blogs (even though people tell me it’s stupid).

But let’s be clear: I’m not Mother Teresa.

I just think it’s a smart thing to do, both in business and in life.  

The more I give, the more emotional capital I build, and the more my reputation grows. If I want to, I can cash in on that — like when I have a sneaker or a book coming out (even though I prefer not to).

Secondly, you never know where the people you impact are going to end up. As they get more opportunity in their own lives, they might end up as the CEO of a big company, or some other influential position — and that connection could end up being super valuable in some way.

Even if they don’t have a “high status” job, that “karma” from being kind could come back to me in a different way — like someone sharing a piece of my content or telling their friends to buy my wine.

You never know what opportunities you’d get behind your back by being a good person. You’d never know what kind of opportunities you’d lose by being a bad person.

2) It creates stickiness with employees

The biggest issue for most is they see bad behavior get ahead in the short term. They see mean people in corporations getting promoted. They see entrepreneurs who built big companies being rude to their people.

And based on that, they get tricked into thinking being a jerk is how you win the whole game.

A lot of companies get tricked into this too.

They get caught up in maximizing 90-day numbers at the expense of how their employees are treated.

But if you’re using negativity to control people who are working for you, they’ll build resentment that’ll affect your business long term.  

At VaynerMedia, our Chief Heart Officer (aka Head of HR) sits 2nd from the top on the org chart. She’s the 2nd most important person in the company.

And if there’s ever any debate between what’s good for our people and what’s good for our bottom line, she’ll win that debate 9 out of 10 times.

3) It’s always rewarded

Kindness always gets rewarded. Somebody is always watching.

People take notice when you deploy kindness and at some point, your life will be affected because of it.

Even if you’re in a confined space, talking to only one other person, that person will know when you’re being kind. Especially if they’re not expecting it.

Even if they’re mean to you in the short term, you never know — they might change their character 10 years later. They might become a different person. And when they do, they’ll remember what kind of person you were.

The reality is, the amount of opportunity gained by good people because of their kindness is enormous.

Think about it. How many times have you done something that’s affected a person’s life entirely based on how you felt about them?

It happens all the time.  

Counterintuitively, the biggest reason I’m able to be so kind and generous to other is because I have zero expectation of getting anything in return. I don’t expect anyone to reciprocate, and that’s exactly what allows me to keep on giving.

And when come from that place, you’ll get more opportunities than you know what to do with.

Announcing 2018 Annual Wine Library Super Tasting

Hey guys

I’m On Roku

One of the things that has always been true about my presence on social is being able to identify key distribution channels and executing within them. I never want to limit the upside of where I’m seen – if there are eyes willing to watch – I will always deliver.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gv2016wp/wp-content/uploads/20180905230950/context-video.mp4

Roku has established itself as one of the key players in the OTT space and I think my content living there just makes sense. I’m super excited to be on Roku, I think they’re making the right moves in terms of marketing and execution,

There’s a few ways to get my channel on your Roku device – For all of the below, make sure you are signed into Roku and have an active Roku device. Keep an eye out for the channel poster below:

Via Roku Quick Link

Open this link: https://garyvee.com/roku
Select the + Add Channel button.
If you protected your Roku account with a pin, it will prompt you for that now. If you forgot your pin, click HERE to reset it.
That’s it, you should now see my channel on your home screen.

Via Your Roku TV App

Navigate to Streaming Channels.
Select Search Channels.
Input “garyvee” in the search bar and select The GaryVee Video Experience channel.
Select Add channel.
If you protected your Roku account with a pin, it will prompt you for that now. If you forgot your pin, click HERE to reset it.
That’s it, you should now see my channel on your home screen.

Via The Roku Mobile App

On either the Channel or What’s On tab, select the magnifying glass in the top right of your screen.
Input “garyvee” in the search bar and select The GaryVee Video Experience channel.
Select Add channel.
If you protected your Roku account with a pin, it will prompt you for that now. If you forgot your pin, click HERE to reset it.
That’s it, you should now see my channel on your home screen.

 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gv2016wp/wp-content/uploads/20180905150651/mobile.mp4

 

Via The Roku Website

Navigate to https://roku.com in your browser.
Login to your Roku account.
Navigate to Channel Store.
Input “garyvee” in the search bar and select The GaryVee Video Experience channel.
Select the + Add Channel button.
If you protected your Roku account with a pin, it will prompt you for that now. If you forgot your pin, click HERE to reset it.
That’s it, you should now see my channel on your home screen.

 

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gv2016wp/wp-content/uploads/20180905150652/website.mp4

If you’ve made it this far and are still having trouble, checkout this video tutorial from Roku HERE

Protected: I’m On Roku

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

Get Your Ass Up

I know some of you struggle to get going in the morning – and you just need something to light a

Protected: Get Your Ass Up

This content is password protected. To view it please enter your password below:

Password:

The Ultimate Flip: How to Find Free Stuff to Sell on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and eBay

Learning how to make money online can be tricky, which is why I wanted to put out an article that can be a resource for anyone and everyone looking to make a few hundred extra bucks on the weekend. As opposed to teaching you how to turn $100 into $1,000 or even $10 into $1,000, I’m going to teach you how to turn $0 into $1,000.

For what feels like the last 30 years, hundreds of people have told me that they can’t pursue their new business idea, their personal brand, or even flip stuff online, because they have “no money to get started.”

@garyvee I wanna start a clothing company, I got many super dope design for youth but I have no money to start it up.

— STORM (@storm_2147) February 18, 2018

@garyvee i have a business plan but no money. i am working to save up money, but i need a lot. any tips? Id give details but character limit

— Marinescu Alex (@MarinescuAlex3) June 2, 2017

The worst part is, despite hating excuses with all my heart, I’ve always had to pander to that response because of the lack of a straightforward workaround. However, that is no longer the case. For the first time in my career, I’ve eliminated the excuse of having no money. It’s called the Craigslist “free” section.

How to flip items online like a pro:

1. Go to Craigslist.

 

2. Under the “for sale” tab, there’s a section called “free”. Click that.

 

3. The “free” section is where people list stuff that they want to get rid of; anything from an old couch or desk to an extra TV or set of dishes. Find someone with something that they don’t want and that you think you could sell.

 

4. Drive to the spot where they want you to pick it up (or take the bus if you don’t have a car).

 

5. Take their thing.

 

6. Go back home.

 

7. Take a picture of it.

 

8. List it on Facebook Marketplace.

 

9. When someone buys it, give it to them.

 

Start making money on the weekends:

Look, I’m already anticipating someone to come in and say “well, it’s going to take you 40 minutes to go pick it up, 40 minutes to get back home, and then 7 minutes to list it on Facebook Marketplace,” but here’s the thing, what are you doing with your time anyways? You’re watching the fucking Spurs game. So, sure, it may take you 87 minutes to make that extra $20, but trust me, that’s a whole lot better than doing whatever it is that you’re doing otherwise.

Sorority estate sale on a Sunday yielded some amazing finds! $120 in cash from all of my flips and I’m up to $250 from today’s items. Almost $1,000 overall. I run a business at 80+ hours/week and still find this time @garyvee we should put out a free slide share on flips pic.twitter.com/TjbUM8Ny2V

— Jacob Williamson (@jacubwilliamson) August 5, 2018

I seriously cannot get this opportunity out of my head because of how ridiculous it is. Using the arbitrage of the internet, by picking up stuff for free and then listing it on Facebook Marketplace, I really think that you can make an extra $300 a week. If you’re taking you 6:00PM to 9:00PM on Monday and Tuesday to go pick stuff up, then listing it online throughout the week, and having people come to your house on Saturday to buy whatever you have listed, it honestly could end up being more than $300 a week.

Here are a handful of people that are killing it in the flip game

Post 4Ds: LONDON Edition // The Return on My 4Ds Investment

How one UK company transformed their business and mindset after spending a day with the VaynerMedia team for the Daily Digital Deep Dive.

The best way for us to talk about what the 4Ds program can do is by showcasing stories of the businesses that have attended. This article focuses on one of our 4Ds Alumni from our most recent session out of our office in London. For anyone on the other side of the pond and throughout Europe who’s wanted access to me and my team or is curious about 4Ds, have a read to hear about a 4Ds Alumni, Paul Gibson’s experience.

Paul Gibson is CEO of Fan Frames the official licensing and eyewear company for many of England’s powerhouse proper football clubs Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle, Tottenham, you get the picture. In addition Paul also started Reading123 Monocle Madness and JOIUSS (Launching Soon) based on the white spaces he was seeing in the market for consumer eyewear. While Paul’s primary sales channel has traditionally been retail he’s watched as the internet has shifted consumer behavior and has recognized that brand awareness of his companies would suffer the longer he waited to commit to a social and digital strategy to compliment his retail presence. For any entrepreneur building a business these inflection points always come at pivotal moments and you have the choice to go on offense or on defense. For those who are “on the fence” about “Influencers” or “Facebook Ads” or “Building a Digital Community” or any of the things I speak about in my content I promise you you’re not alone, but I also promise you that ignorance is surely not bliss my friends. Paul is one of the hundreds that has gone through 4Ds and I’m excited to share some of his story. Below we have a Q&A format, if you don’t have time to read the full piece, read through the questions that might be relevant to you, as always I appreciate your time and attention.

WHAT WAS THE MOST VALUABLE PART OF THE 4DS? WHAT SESSION WAS THE MOST BENEFICIAL FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESS?

“If I had to choose it would have to be the Paid Media session led by Jeff Nicholson, Chief Media Officer at VaynerMedia.  He’s a true practitioner on the digital media platforms and I enjoyed hearing his backstory about his early days running ads on the Google Adwords platform. The takeaway about starting with the customer first and helping attendees really think through what their sales funnel looks like was very helpful. With all the different media channels out there, it was important for me to gain a fundamental understanding of how a media expert would approach the business problem. Jeff gave me this! The extent to which he cared about each and every person’s business and was able to cross-refer examples and useful pointers was incredible.”

WHAT HAS THE ROI (Return on Investment) OF 4DS BEEN FOR YOU SO FAR?

“A couple of weeks after The 4Ds we decided to drop one of our most expensive licenses. Instantly this saved Fan Frames £100k. Then, within a fortnight, we generated a £120k direct order.  Net-net, this resulted in £220k to invest into our brands as a return on the £10k investment I made in The 4Ds. Now that’s real ROI!”

WAS THERE A KEY TAKEAWAY FROM THE DAY FOR YOU?

“I think I can break this question into two separate areas of impact inspired by Gary’s session, which, for me, tied together all of the thinking during the day…”

The day gave me the confidence to go directly to the customer (on social and digital). It gave me the affirmation to go all in on the land grab opportunity of building a brand on the social channels where customers are spending their time and attention.
The morale boost the 4Ds has had on me and my employees.  I’ve started the process of growing our team, we recruited 2 new employees immediately; a creative and a marketer. To give these two young people an opportunity to grow means a lot to me. I promoted my head of sales to Editor and Chief. I’m giving my team the required training spanning Amazon, to Facebook, and every platform in between. We’re already seeing the signs of customers engaging with our brand more, building a community and strengthening our brand for the long term.

HOW ARE YOU TACTICALLY EXECUTING WHAT YOU LEARNED IN 4DS?

“A media buy we made as a result of attending The 4Ds that I’m particularly fond of, It was a bit of a test, but the cost of entry was so low I just had to give it a whirl! In summary, I decided to place a Fan Frames branded Snapchat geofilter over Wembley Way for the FA Cup Final. It cost me £32 to buy, in return 147.6k fans saw the filter and 1.5k actually used it. The 4Ds helped make me more aware of underpriced attention such as in this example and where to capitalise on it.”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT?

“Our latest venture TURTLE SAVERS a re-useable drinking straw brand with the ambition to significantly reduce plastic waste in our oceans.  The impact of the 4Ds gave me the confidence to venture outside of my industry, act on my instincts, create IP before distributing products digitally, and market them socially.  All while retaining complete leverage from the start.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHERS CONSIDERING THE 4DS?

If you feel the world is changing and you want to be at the forefront of your game, then having the knowledge to scale your digital brand on your own is vital. I can highly recommend that, when you are ready, the 4Ds will substantially impact your ability to do this. I loved the experience and feel well equipped to navigate our business through the extraordinary social landscape in front of all of us.

… if you’re interested in learning more about the 4Ds click here to get in touch with someone from my team or click here to purchase a ticket to our session in London on October 3rd. Space is limited to 12 seats for the day.

VaynerBarter 001

One of the things that I’m fascinated by that has emerged in my world within the last three to five years is the barter economy. Frankly, I genuinely believe that over the next decade or two, as information and technology advance, one of the next eBays, Airbnbs, Ubers, and overall two-way marketplaces will be a bartering system. We’re just going to trade, trade, trade.

I think the exchange of goods and services within the context of people owning stuff that is of less value to them, but of considerable value to others, and vice versa, is an incredible trade. Silly things like you own an extra flat screen T.V that you don’t need, but somebody that’s a gardener does, meanwhile you need gardening services, is an enormous whitespace in our society.

As many of you probably know, I actually come from a trading background; baseball cards, comic books, wine, and garage sale flipping, so I love it! One of the things that has emerged over the past two years is from running VaynerMedia is that I’ve been able to start flirting with the bartering industry, but as you can tell by the title of this article, I’m going to go a little deeper.

Today, I’m going to talk about my needs at VaynerMedia in terms snacks and beverages. Being transparent, we spend a lot of money on snacks and beverages across our four, soon to be five, global offices. The truth is that I know I can offer some snack and beverage suppliers/companies out there significant value in comparison to the cost of the goods that I’m looking for. The details are below, feel free to fill out the form.

P.S, when you fill out this form, bare in mind that if you’re asking for $100K in services from me, I’m going to expect $100K in coffee, chips, etc. in return:

https://garyvee.com/VaynerBarter001

 

xoxo,

G

The GaryVee Content Strategy: How to Grow and Distribute Your Brand’s Social Media Content

Mastering content creation and distribution for your brand on social media is a difficult and long process. But, in an effort to provide you guys with as much value as possible, I’m going to help speed up that process and show you how I do it on a daily basis for my personal brand. Shared below is a powerpoint that my team and I created to help empower and potentially completely shift the way that you think about producing and distributing content online for your brand.

Look, I create a ton of content. I publish a new episode everyday on the GaryVee Video Experience, which is distributed on my YouTube channel, Facebook Watch Page, and IGTV. I then also have a daily podcast called the GaryVee Audio Experience, which is distributed on my iTunes, Overcast, and Stitcher, amongst some other platforms. In addition to what I just mentioned, I continually post “micro content”, that is distributed to my Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Quora, and many of my other social channels. “Micro content” is created from each episode and is used to drive awareness back to the original long-form content. Long story short, I am constantly creating and posting as much content as possible and in a way that is contextual to each platform.

Because I am producing so much content on a daily basis and in a way that has been proven to be very effective, I want to give you guys the full breakdown and analysis on what it is that I’m doing and how I am doing it. Like one of my favorite quotes, “watch what I do, not what I say“, this is a really good time for you to sit down, grab a cup of coffee, and carefully take note of what it is that I’m doing in this deck.

The ultimate goal of creating this presentation on my content model is to show you how my team took one of my keynotes, repurposed it into 30+ pieces of content, and then successfully distributed all of that content, resulting in over 35,000,000 total views.

I’m very proud of this deck and sincerely hope that it brings you, your team, or your company some serious value.



 

xoxo,

G