TONY BERARDO

I’ve never really told you all what I actually do for a living, so here you go Pisgah Peaks Ventures builds & manages fractional marketing team for SMBs that are doing under 10-15 M ARR. The teams could be anywhere from 2 to 20+ individuals. Hiring for PT marketing roles can be a big drain on small businesses. They're unsure of who to hire, how to train, and they def don't want to manage them. This keeps costs in check (no office space here!) + avoids costly benefits / W2 wages. Perfect clients for us? B2B companies with 1-2 internal marketing team members Dispensaries with 2-5 locations. Soloprenuers who are scaling from 6 > 7 figures. A few years ago we started investing into other small businesses & at this point have equity in a handful of other SMBs. The goal? By 45; be able to live off the proceeds of our portfolio and golf 4X a week. To my network.... Tell us What do you do? Why do you do it? Post in the comments!

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Do you own a B2B consulting firm? Here's what you need for your business: - Clear & concise website - Messaging that speaks to pain points - Technically sound SEO for website - Clear value prop Check out some of our most recent work where we helped a Charlotte based Fractional CTO firm revamp their site & messaging & dial in their technical SEO. Hit us up if you're curious about elevating your digital footprint!

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From Local Markets to TikTok Virality: How this Brand Gained $1.1M Revenue in Just 1 video El Ranchito Jerky, a brand that specializes in beef jerky made with traditional recipes. Their product range also includes various snacks and spices, catering to customers seeking flavorful, protein-packed options. Initially, this company grew through grassroots methods, selling at local events, flea markets, and even door-to-door. This personal approach allowed them to build a strong local following before expanding into TikTok Shop. One of their video gained 1.2M views With over 45.3K engagements and a simple yet effective video format, the brand leveraged its following of 91.3K to turn a single viral video into substantial sales. It generated $1.1M in revenue showcasing the immense power of TikTok Shop and viral marketing for product sales. Their participation in TikTok Shop highlights their ability to adapt to new marketing strategies, with viral content significantly boosting sales​. El Ranchito Jerky has successfully transitioned from traditional, local sales methods like door-to-door to embracing modern digital marketing via TikTok Shop. This shift highlights the power of social commerce in today’s marketplace, where short-form content can create massive reach and engagement. — Ready to see how TikTok can skyrocket your brand’s sales? Don’t miss the chance to turn your products into the next big trend—get started today! Book a FREE 30-minute strategy call ☎️ https://lnkd.in/gCyVrRxU #ElRanchitoJerky #ElRanchitoJerky #ViralSnacks #TikTokShop

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Measuring ROI on your company's podcast isn't about guesswork. It's about hard numbers and real impact. 1. Listeners or Downloads: Want more reach? Track your downloads. Example: 6,000 downloads with a $10,000 investment gives you a 60% ROI. ((Total Downloads / Investment) x 100 ) 2. Leads and Conversions: Your podcast should generate leads. If 500 leads come from your podcast and you convert 5 at $1,000 each, a $10,000 investment brings a 50% ROI. ((Number of Leads from Podcast / Investment) x 100 ) 3. Ad Revenue or Sponsorships: Turn those ads into dollars. Example: $15,000 in ad revenue minus $10,000 in production costs equals a 50% ROI. ((Ad Revenue - Production Costs) / Production Costs x 100 ) 4. Engagement Metrics: Look at the average consumption rate, ratings, reviews, and social media interactions. If your average consumption rate is 80% for 35-minute episodes with 500 listeners per episode: 35 * 500 = 17,500 minutes. Divide by production cost for engagement ROI. 5. Brand Awareness: Measure increases in social media impressions, website traffic, and unique listeners. Calculate by (Number of Impressions or Visitors / Cost of Production). More eyes on your brand for less money equals success. 6. Professional Relationships: Networking through your podcast can open doors. These relationships can be invaluable, even if they're harder to quantify. 7. Educational Impact: If your goal is to educate, measure outcomes. High download rates for educational content mean you're hitting the mark. Don't guess. Measure. And turn your podcast into a powerhouse.

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BetMGM Bets Big on a New Marketing Hand—Here’s Why You Should Care (Or Pretend To) Well, well, well. BetMGM has shuffled its deck and come up with a new CMO: Casey Hurbis. If you’re not in the know, Hurbis is the kind of marketing hotshot who can sell mortgages during a housing crisis and still make you feel warm and fuzzy. After nearly seven years as Rocket Mortgage’s marketing guru (remember those Super Bowl ads that had us all Googling “can I afford this house?”), Hurbis has packed his playbook and landed in the glitzy world of online sports betting. Hurbis isn’t new to big bets. He’s spent three decades mastering the fine art of getting consumers to spend their cash, with stints at Rocket Mortgage, FCA Fiat Chrysler, and BBDO. Now, he’s stepping into one of the most cutthroat arenas out there: sports gambling. And oh, is the competition fierce. BetMGM holds a respectable 13% market share in North America, trailing behind DraftKings Inc. (the high school jock of sports betting) and FanDuel (the nerd who somehow also throws great parties). But with sports betting projected to balloon to $23.8 billion by 2029, the stakes are high, and BetMGM isn’t here to play small-ball. Hurbis isn’t just bringing his A-game; he’s bringing his trademark swagger. “It’s an exciting time,” he says, promising to push “creativity and innovation” to attract new audiences. Translation: Expect ads that’ll make you chuckle, cringe, or—dare we say it—actually place a bet. But let’s not gloss over the uphill battle. With DraftKings and FanDuel eating up 67% of the U.S. market, BetMGM needs more than flashy ads—it needs to create a brand experience that hooks customers and keeps them playing. CEO Adam Greenblatt is doubling down, teasing “additional marketing” and a renewed focus on customer experience. What’s the endgame? If BetMGM can mix Hurbis’s marketing chops with the right mix of incentives and experiences, they just might climb the leaderboard. Or they’ll burn through a small fortune trying. Either way, it’s a gamble—fitting, no? Adam Greenblatt As for us, we’ll be watching (and maybe betting) to see how it all unfolds. Stay tuned for more as Hurbis rolls the dice on BetMGM’s next big move. Stay Bold, Stay Curious, and Know More Than You Did Yesterday.

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What does Pisgah Peaks Ventures do? We build fractional marketing teams, but there is more to it than that. I've waffled on positioning for a while I landed on the tagline "We build fractional teams for the price for 1-2 FTEs" But I knew my website needed an update (been a couple years since one) I don't like to use the word agency. Too many biz owners have been burned . Agencies deliver projects. They don't necessarily "join your team" For more developed companies; sometimes this works just fine. We also custom quote things vs put companies in packages. We save smaller companies from: - W2 wages - Benefits - Training - Equity Nothing wrong with FTEs; but when you're trying to scale a marketing program; you can only hire so many generalists. I've been working on a website revamp & I wanted a short / concise video that conveyed our value prop to visitors. I knew David Pascaru & his firm Purely Imagined from LinkedIn from several years. (This is a great example of why staying active on LinkedIn has value; as I wasn't in market for years; but as soon as I was; he was first person I thought of & closed a deal without much in the way of "sales") He & his team helped me take my vision & create a sleek & easy to understand explainer video that will live on my new home page. Check out the video below & excited to share my updated site later in the quarter.

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Cannabis operators: get your priorities straight. DON'T invest in SEO until you've: - Put retention marketing systems in place (especially email) - Implemented rewards and referral programs - Honed in ultra-closely on your value prop and target audience - Optimized AOV with product bundles and free shipping - Optimized LTV with subscriptions Do these things and THEN we'll talk about acquiring more customers with SEO. Doing SEO before you've focused on optimizing revenue from your existing customers is like inviting people in, then deciding to clean your house. "But Wells, you literally run an SEO agency" Yeah, but I want to see both of us win. Growth is about doing the right things at the right time, and no sooner. ✌🏻 #CannabisMarketing #SEO

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FOMO is something every brand needs to master in different parts of the customer journey. We've gone from 0 to $80M in the last 5 years. This is what we've learned in the 3 easiest ways to induce FOMO. ✔ Push UGC Not in the standard influencer usage of UGC. Encourage your buyers to share stories, reviews, and photos featuring your products. Here’s the plug-and-play setup: 1)  Create a page on your website dedicated to customer stories.  2)  Social Media Campaigns (make a hashtag)  3)  Contest and Giveaways - Host a contest where users share photos or videos of them using your product for a chance to win a prize. ✔ Leverage Social Proof Include it in your copy. People love reading about the success stories of others, especially first-time buyers. Garners trust for the brand + makes them feel confident that if it worked for others, it’ll work for them too. Do it through email, SMS, ads, or any other content that you push out to your audience. ✔ Create REAL Urgency There’s a few ways you can do this, 1) If you say there are only ten pieces left in stock – once the ten pieces are sold out, you MUST say SOLD OUT. 2) Limited-Edition Products Change up the packaging, sell it only in-store, or the countless other ways to run a limited-edition item. 3) The Countdown Timer Stick a live countdown timer on the page where you’re running a limited-time offer. The reason this method is so effective is because it’s something about actually visualizing time running out that makes buyers start running around like headless chickens. Alright so urgency, social proof, UGC What am I missing?

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I love this ! Effective email marketing starts with segmentation. By tailoring our messages to specific audience segments, we can ensure that each communication is relevant, engaging, and impactful. Don't just send emails—send the right emails to the right people. #EmailMarketing #Segmentation #MarketingStrategy

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Looking for best tool for a service business that does 1) CRM (pipe + contact data) 2) Email autos + SMS + form buil What recs y'all got? I usually would use Active Campaign; but it's gotten crazy expensive

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Forget the "viral marketing" hype. Here's the in-person networking blueprint behind Spanx (swipe). Each week, I dive into how visionaries like Sara Blakely won BIG with in-person connection. Strategies no-one is talking about. Real connection – not chasing algorithms – leads to success. This week: Sara Blakely's in-person strategy revealed. Link below for the free case study.

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Can SEO meaningfully contribute to the growth of your cannabis brand? Yes, but not until you've: - Put retention marketing systems in place (especially email) - Implemented rewards and referral programs - Honed in ultra-closely on your value prop and target audience - Optimized AOV with product bundles and free shipping - Optimized LTV with subscriptions Prioritize. ✌🏻 #CannabisMarketing

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The brand building playbook of yore - that whole “hire a PR firm, take pretty pictures, pay for events and get the fancy people to post about you” - did very little to move the needle for Little Saints . In fact, that antiquated strategy almost put us out of business in 2022, at a time when I was selling my condo, life insurance policy and the last of my stocks to keep us afloat. So what worked? Internally-created, authentic content and Meta ads. Listen to my episode of The DTC Insider podcast with Brian Roisentul to learn our renegade approach to beverage growth. My favorite fact: the video that Katie Green took of me dressed up like Damiana and dancing the way that Damiana feels (ie sexy and euphoric) at Club Space in Miami has more views than the beautifully produced founder video that we paid a lot of $$ for. The verdict? Our customers do not want scripted or embellished- they want it raw. #dtcfounder #nonalcoholic #rapidgrowth

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📊 This month has been all about leveling up Facebook Ads, and there were some key takeaways! 🎯 Here are a few things I’ve learned that could make a big impact on your campaigns: Audience Segmentation: Narrow targeting works better than ever. Speak directly to your audience! Creative Testing: Keep testing visuals and copy. Small changes can create big differences. Budget Optimization: Invest in your top performers, but don’t be afraid to cut what’s not working. Ad Frequency: Watch out! Too many impressions can turn people off. 💡 What did you learn from running your ads this month? Drop your thoughts in the comments! ⬇️ #FacebookAds #DigitalMarketing #AdStrategy #AudienceTargeting #MarketingTips #OnlineAdvertising #CreativeTesting #BudgetManagement #AdPerformance #MarketingBestPractices

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After years of no paid spend on social media, We’re back. Butt driving ZERO clicks to our website 😱 Instead we’ve chosen to pump traffic to key retailers Because we believe this is where our DUDES want to buy While the attribution isn’t an exact science like DTC You’d have a hard time convincing me the ROI isn’t better ✅Everyone prefers to buy at retailers - so conversion rate is higher 💰 ✅Customers can also stock their cart with other products - driving net new revenue to our retailers, they like that 😃 ✅ We’re pumping the flywheel at the largest marketplaces in the world. Where organic rank is worth much more than a customer’s “1st party data” 🚀 ✅ This strategy requires infinitely less costs than DTC - where you’re constantly draining cash flow into creative iteration, customer service, Ad specialists, web design, etc While this might not be for everyone, make you’re not blindly chasing a Shopify model Often times there is goldmine right under your nose. ✌️

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**The Chomps Story: A Bite-Sized Lesson in Branding ** Can a meat stick brand disrupt the industry with a fresh perspective? That's Chomps! The founders had no industry expertise, but their outside-the-box thinking enable them to reinvent the jerky game . They focused on clean ingredients and modern packaging to appeal to a health-conscious audience. Here's the Chomps magic distilled into two key learnings: 1️⃣ Fresh Eyes Win! It's hard to innovate from within. Many companies prioritize industry expertise, but it takes someone from outside the industry to reinvent it. 2️⃣ Focus is Flavorful! Trying to be everything to everyone is a recipe for blandness. Find your niche and own it. The Chomps story is proof: strong branding = BIG results! #BrandingMatters #ChompsLove #MarketingInsights

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Check out our recent case study for a Shopify website We teamed up with Pinkergreen (who assisted w/ UX & design) Outcomes from work? Conversion rate up ⬆️ 60% Avg order value ⬆️ 7% Upsell value (within 45 days) $8100 SEO up ⬆️ Bounce rate ⬇️ Check out the full case study below with more info on process & outcomes

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🚨 New ASOM Pod Episode Alert 🚨 This week, we’re pulling back the curtain on affiliate marketing...the good, the bad, and the game-changing. Whether you’re a brand owner looking to expand your reach or just curious about what’s driving DTC growth these days, this episode has something for everyone. Here’s what we covered: ✅ Why affiliate marketing is a powerhouse for DTC brands (when done right). ✅ The rise of TikTok Shop vs. traditional affiliate strategies. ✅ Inside stories: how brands like Glossier and Gymshark approached the space. ✅ Lessons from the Fyre Festival chaos. ✅ A candid look at when affiliate marketing hurts more than it helps. ✅ How different generations are reshaping affiliate strategies. Featuring: 🎙 Jimmy Kim sharing insights from Sendlane’s eCom expertise 🎙 I break down how affiliates drive 12% of BattlBox’s revenue 🎙 Bryan MacDonald on managing affiliates at Oma’s Pride 🎙 Amer G. giving us a sneak peek at what’s next in affiliate marketing Big thanks to our sponsors who make this possible: 👉 Omnisend: The email and SMS platform powering 125,000+ eCommerce merchants 👉 Recharge: The number one platform for subscription eCommerce brands 👉 Salvit Advisors: Helping eCommerce brands make profitable, data-driven decisions 👉 Creators Combine: A mastermind community for agency owners, SaaS founders, brand operators, and marketers Available now on all podcast platforms.

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