Timeline

So everybody make money consistently, work with people that you enjoy, know everybody's locked at the elbow and trying to make those things happen. That's kind of what we're trying to do. Because if I could find a way where it's like I had a couple of partners that we could go back in there and, and we could constantly get...

Speaker 1: How do you start finding ways where you can help everybody make money consistently, work with people that you enjoy, know everybody's locked at the elbow and trying to make those things happen? That's kind of what we're trying to do. Because if I can find a way where it's like I had a couple of partners that...

Speaker 1: Okay, you're going to do this and if you don't get it done, I'm going to shit on you about it. Like, well first of all, you set the damn expectation with the client wrong to begin with, and then like you didn't even equip the person to go back out and be successful. But it's like, you know, how do you start finding ways where you can help...

Speaker 1: Treating them like vendors, it's like, okay, shit, you know, hey, you're going to do this and if you don't get it done, I'm going to shit on you about it. Like, well, first of all, you set the damn expectation with the client wrong to begin with, and then like you didn't even equip the person to go back out and be successful. But it's like, you know...

At the end of the day, the reason we went from 35 million to 195 million is I basically got in charge of running partnerships. But when I built the partnership, I built it like they were our most valuable employee, because everybody else treats them like vendors. It's like, okay, shit, you know...

benefit off of that, let's roll. So like at the end of the day, the reason we went from 35 million to 195 million is I basically got in charge of running partnerships, but when I built the partnership, I built it like they were our most valuable employee because everybody else...

Speaker 1: ...way to, uh, license all his data to another agency that has 400 agencies. I'm like, you could print money like that. So, and I'm like, if I can make the connection and, you know, find a way we can all benefit off of that, let's roll. So like at the end...

We actually help him find a way to, uh, license all his data to another agency that has 400 agencies. Oh my dude, like you could print money like that. So, and I'm like, if I can make the connection and, and, you know, find a way we can all go...

Speaker 1: ...was doing, and then he's like, "I know somebody else you need to talk to," and I started talking to Brian like, "Dude, you do not realize what you're talking about." Like, I literally am working this so I can start to put him in a position where, like, could we actually help him find a way to...

I asked him about some stuff he was doing and then he's like, "I know somebody else you need to talk to," and I started talking to Brian. I'm like, "Dude, you do not realize what you're talking about." And like, I literally am working to see if I can start to put him into a position where, like, could we...

We're not getting money from them that we should be. That's how I got into Hong, and then I'm like, I got into like 10,000, the last 10,000 customers. And so Castillo actually got me in touch with Hong, and then he and I started, because I asked him about some stuff he was doing, and then he was like, "Oh, you should talk to Hong." And then I talked to Hong...

...other places that we could be that we're not getting money from that we should be. And that's how I got into Hong and I'm like I got into like 10,000 the last 10,000 customers, and so Castillo actually got me in touch with Hong and then he and I started because...

Speaker 1: That's how I ran into the halls, um, and so I'm like, "Shit," you know, like we don't know the answers to the right questions. So we know, like, where all these—where these people are getting their money from today, but like, where are all the other places that we could be doing...

Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like, okay, that's how I ran into Hong, um, and so I'm like, shit, you know, like we don't know the answers to the right question. So we know like where all these, where these people are getting their money from today, but like where are the...

Dude, there's so many million dollar accounts out there. And we accidentally won a million dollar account. So, but that was just off of performance and then we found a media partner that we worked with that could help us scale on the sophisticated side. Um, but it's like, okay...

Speaker 1: Because like, dude, there's so many million dollar accounts out there. I mean, we accidentally won a million dollar account. So, but that was just off of performance, and then we found a media partner that we've worked with that can help us scale on the sophisticated side. But...

[Web Browser Content] Meet - Merlino X Malone - Beginning the $ Blueprint Participants: - Michael Merlino - Chris Malone - Samantha Little Agenda/Topics: - Merlino Marketing - Beginning the $ Blueprint - Call Tracking - Ads Manager - Hermes Agent - Domain Portfolio Context: Google Meet session for Merlino Marketing Studios.

Like if they knew how to stitch it together, I really believe with about four people I could easily run, I don't know, at minimum a ten million, maybe like thirty-five million dollars worth of business. And like if you bring in that with a small number of people, you don't have to be able to do because like...

They knew how to stitch it together. I really believe with about four people I could easily run, I don't know, a minimum of 10 million, maybe like 35 million dollars worth of business. And like, if you ran that with a small number of people, you don't have to be able to do...

Speaker 1: But I will tell you, it's like, man, shit, if we could figure out how we took the little pieces of brilliant people in this industry—like, I don't think people understand how much they're worth in the circles that you and I run in. Like, those people, like if they...

Speaker 1: Oh, but I will tell you, it's like, man, shit, if we could figure out how you took the little pieces of brilliant people in this industry, like, I don't think people understand how much they're worth in the circles that you and I run in. Like... Speaker 2: Yeah. Speaker 1: ...those people...

You know, you walk into those places and it's like, you know, you're gonna work your ass off for somebody else. You might get a few bonus dollars here or there, but you're only—you're only as good as you were yesterday. Um, so, you know, that's just not how we want to roll.

Speaker 1: You walk into those places and it's like, you know, you're gonna work your ass off for somebody else. You might get a few bonus dollars here or there. Speaker 2: They don't change your life. Speaker 1: But you're only as good as you were yesterday. Um, so, you know, that's just not how we want to roll.

Speaker 1: ...help me grow too, so you know like when I think about growing, Sam's been doing this a long time, I think about like how do we kick, how do we get Sam to a point where, you know, she's she's comfortable when she retires and Haley or or other directors same way with them. Um, but like in most places as you know...

...around me grow too, so you know, like when I think about growing, Sam's been in this a long time, I think about like how do we get Sam to a point where, you know, she's comfortable when she retires, and Haley, our other director, same way with them. But like in most places, as you know...

So, but the whole thing was is like you had too much volatility because all that money sat on one client. And the problem was that I was figuring out how to do it while someone else had all the equity. Um, and so it's like, you know, for me too, it's like, you know, I like helping people around...

But the whole thing was is like you had too much volatility because all that money sat on one client. And the problem was is I was figuring out how to do it while someone else had all the equity. Um, and so it's like, you know, for me too, it's like, you know, I like helping people around...

Speaker 1: ...line, it was State Farm. And the problem was— Yeah. Now, this was when I was working for somebody else. So, so, yeah. So, so we took a $35 million traditional agency and over 15 years turned it into 195 before it got acquired. So...

Speaker 1: ...your agency? Speaker 2: No, this was when I was working for somebody else. Speaker 1: Oh, the other—wow. You were working for a fucking mega agency. Okay, wow. Speaker 2: Yeah, so, so we took a $35 million traditional agency and over 15 years turned it into 195 before it got acquired. Speaker 1: Wow.

Speaker 1: ...of course as well. And then I actually picked up, you know, the reason... In my former life, we went from 35 million to 195 million. Dude, that was like slow because when we were 35 million, like almost all of that came from one client. It was State Farm. Speaker 2: Your agency...

leader on the other side who does that for us as well. And then I actually picked up, you know, the- the reason in my former life we went from 35 million to 195 million, dude, that was like slow. Because when we were 35 million, like almost all of that came from one client.

is you could come back in and step out of running SEO for me and you could run all the operations across everything to keep people aligned and make sure that we got the right people and they have what they need to succeed. Um, and then you know we got a paid media leader on the other side who does that.

Shit, you know, the reality of it is, if you could come back in and step out of running SEO for me and you could run all the operations across everything and keep people aligned and make sure that we got the right people and they have what they need to succeed. Um, and then you know, we got a paid media...

Speaker 1: ...see things light up green or red or stuff. Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. Speaker 1: Um, and and so, but you know, like, we're good at that. Sam has has really done an incredible job of building it up on our end. But the other part of it is too, like, you know, I talked to Sam about, like, man, shit, even the reality of it is...

You make sure all those damn things light up green and ring the phone. Um, and so, but you know, like, we're good at that. Sam has really done an incredible job of building it out on our end. But the other part of it is too, like, you know, I talked to Sam about, like, my man...

Speaker 1: The whole key is like you create that interdependency and it's like man there's that mutual desire to work with one another and help each other cash in on what our passions are and what we do best. I'm like dude I will never make you talk to a client one day in your life if you make sure all the...

And the whole key is like if you create that interdependency and it's like, man, there's that mutual desire to work with one another and help each other cash in on what our passions are and what we do best. I'm like, dude, I will never make you talk to a client one day in your life.

Speaker 1: See like, man, listen, if you did this a little bit different, you could really grow your business. Um, but what, you know, we're looking at is like how do we get to a place where we position other people where we can help them grow while we grow, and then...

Better at getting people to see like, man, listen, if we did this a little bit different, you could really grow your business. Um, but what, you know, we're looking at is like how do we get to a place where we position other people where we can help them grow while we grow.

The key is, it's like, okay, who could be smartest when we're actually playing to things that matter. And, you know, the thing that matters to me is like what I'm—what I am really good at is I'm really good on the client relationship side, I'm really good on the strategy side, and I'm really good at getting people to—

But the key is, it's like, okay, who could be smartest when we are actually playing for things that matter? And you know, the thing that matters to me is like what I'm what I am really good at, um, is I'm really good on the client relationship side, I'm really good on the strategy side, and I'm really good...

Speaker 1: The analogy of, you know, if you and I are walking through the woods and we see a bear, I don't have to run faster than the bear, I just gotta run faster than you. Speaker 1: Because there's no, there's no perfect, right? Speaker 2: No, that's true. That's a very good way to put it. Speaker 1: But the...

SEO for me is like real simple. It's like that analogy of, you know, if you and I are walking through the woods and we see a bear, I don't gotta run faster than the bear, I just gotta run faster than you, right? Cause there's no—there's no perfect, right?

Speaker 1: ...successful at SEO, but a lot of people suck at SEO. [laughter] Speaker 1: The problem is, is like when you run into the map pack or somebody like you... but the key is, is like, like SEO for me is like real simple. It's like that...

Point to the the number one reason that that we're successful at SEO is because a lot of people suck at SEO. Now the the problem is is like when you run into the Map Pack with somebody like you, uh but the key is is like like...

And for me, like, you know, I look at it and I'm like, man, uh, you know what? The reason I'm good at SEO and Sam's good at SEO is because we've taken time to learn from people like you and others. But at the same point, too, the the number one reason that that we're...

And everything is always about who's around you. And for me, like, you know, I look at it and I'm like, man, uh, you know what? The reason I'm good at SEO and Sam's good at SEO is because we've taken time to learn from people like you and others, but at the same point...

Speaker 1: ...a couple of other very key team members, but, you know, what I'm at a point of doing now is like, you know, that whole, truly, that Avengers thing, which is like, man, how do you put the right people together? Because the success in everything is always about who's around you.

I'm really, really blessed to have people like Samantha and I got a couple of other very key team members, but, you know, what I'm at a point in doing now is like, you know, that whole truly that Avengers thing, which is like, man, how do you put the right people together? Because the success...

...$400 a month client and just just started chipping it together and but then I knew that like if you could, you got to take the time to build the right team because I think that team is always everything and I've been really, really blessed with people like Samantha and I got...