The video that started a show…
It was just a joke! Well, at first it was a slip-of-the-tongue, which turned into a joke, which was escalated into a video. And then, someone said, “This should be a show!” Within a week we recorded our first podcast and launched this site. Our goal is to provide honest and practical information related to the digital age of sales and marketing. We invite other experts in our field to talk and share information in a real and straightforward manner, and maybe have a few laughs along the way.
The Full story
In November 2017 I enrolled in the Facebook Ads Academy. I immersed myself fully in the program and a little over a month later I completed the four levels and joined the Masterminds. Upon doing so I decided to record a brief video to thank the faculty and to provide some words of encouragement to new students joining the program.
In that video, I said something rather odd but ultimately fortuitous. As I went through the list of faculty, thanking each one, at one point I said: “I appreciate your balls in your face approach to sales”. I don’t really know why I said it that way, it just slipped out. Maybe for extra emphasis, maybe because “in your face” has become cliché? As strange is it sounded, this was for a limited audience, so I saw no need to rerecord it and posted it to the group.
That one line garnered a few laughs and became a bit of an inside joke among some peers who’d seen it. Fast forward a few weeks, and some other Academy members started posting a few joke videos for fun. Always game for a laugh, I decided I’d join in on the action and quickly threw together a video for a mock-agency called “Ballz In Your Face Marketing” (the one you see above). I really didn’t expect much to come of it other than a few laughs from a small inside group who were privy to the original video and joke.
To my surprise, the video received a lot of positive feedback regardless of whether people understood the context. A couple of days later, it was suggested to me that I start a YouTube channel and Podcast based on the mock-agency video. I thought about it for a few days, debating whether I was willing to host a show with such a provocative and not-so-PC title. Ultimately I decided yes! My rationale was two-fold: That sort of comment is typical of me; a reflection of my tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. I also concluded that I simply wasn’t much of a PC kind of person (it’s not that I have a desire to provoke or upset people, it’s just that I don’t believe in taking things or myself too seriously, and I value free speech and humor, certainly above thought and language control). I concluded that the title was reflective of my authentic-self and would serve as a filter for those who did take things a little too seriously or were perhaps excessively PC. A few days later I’d completed the first version of the website and started interviewing guests. It’s been growing fast and strong ever since.
The Philosophy and Mission of the show
The purpose of BIYF Marketing is to provide free, straightforward, informative and actionable advice related to Sales and Marketing. I wanted it to be low-maintenance, not-for-profit, fun, and helpful! As it has grown I have identified a few more core values:
1) The rising tide lifts all ships – It’s the guests (not me) who have made BIYF Marketing a success, and for their time, I feel it appropriate that their expertise is exposed and promoted.
2) Uncaged and Unscripted – Rather than prepare my questions before each interview I’ve opted to simply identify a theme or focus based on the unique knowledge of each guest. This not only helps reduce the time commitment for all involved, but it is my belief that a natural and organic conversation can be like a journey which I assume is more entertaining and engaging for the audience who get to “come along for the ride”.
3) Keeping it fun and funny! – This whole initiative was born from some light-hearted fun and humor, so why change that!?! It’s important to me that my guests and audience have an enjoyable and entertaining experience. I don’t believe this detracts from the value or seriousness of the subjects discussed. Quite the contrary, I think it facilitates honest and productive dialogue! There’s always room for a little bit of fun while we get things done!
4) An acronym within an acronym – BALLZ stands for Bold And Living Life Zealously – In Your Face Marketing