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Category: FAQs

Connectual FAQs

The Full List

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

Below are links to all the FAQs answered to date. This series is a work in progress. Please feel free to comment on other questions you'd like to see addressed and/or provide feedback on the responses.

1. What’s the Value Proposition to Marketers?
2. Will Connectual Replace Agencies and Consultants?
3. How does Connectual Make Money?
4. How can Connectual Stay Objective if it's Compensated by Sellers?
5. Does Working through Connectual Mean Higher Rates for Buyers?
6. Why Would Providers Allow Connectual to Represent Them?
7. Are Connectual Partnerships Exclusive?
8. Continue Reading

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Do You Really Know All Those Companies on the Connections Page?

FAQ #13

Saturday, May 9, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

Yes. I'm not one of those social network "friend collectors." Every person I've connected with on LinkedIn is someone I've either met in person or via phone/email AND with whom I've discussed actual business opportunities.

Update 5/26/09: Just laid out my LinkedIn methodology in the post "LinkedIn Best Practices" if you'd like to read more on this topic.
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This post is part of a series addressing frequently-asked questions about Connectual. For more context and the full list of FAQs, read Why Connectual?

 

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What Makes You Qualified to do This?

FAQ #12

Friday, May 8, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

I have over ten years of experience doing sales and marketing for digital marketing companies, so I'm confident I can deliver on the Connectual promise. I've worked with marketers ranging from the largest global Fortune 50 brands to SMB's just dipping their toes in the digital marketing waters. I've completed hundreds of agency RFP's on the publisher side as part of the L90/MaxOnline/Ask.com/IAC network and over 50 client RFP's on the agency side as part of Resolution Media/Omnicom.

I've seen what works and what doesn't work. And I can help all parties involved cut through …

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What Makes the Connectual Business Model Defensible?

FAQ #11

Thursday, May 7, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

If all Connectual brings to bear are strategy and relationships, what makes the model sustainable?

First, let's not overlook the importance of having a comprehensive grasp on digital marketing strategy and a huge network of digital marketing decision-makers. That said, over time, I will develop and launch proprietary technology platforms to accelerate the process of connecting the digital marketing ecosystem both from a B2B and B2C standpoint. These systems will deliver unique offerings in the marketplace to underserved constituents and economies of scale to Connectual and its partners.
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This post is part of a series addressing frequently-asked …

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How does Connectual Avoid Conflicts of Interest?

FAQ #10

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

No Connectual agent will work with more than one provider in a defined vertical on a retained basis. This is the only way to protect the intellectual property of the companies represented by Connectual. Furthermore, each provider agreement includes a strict NDA governing the disclosure of confidential information. Part of being Connectual means maintaining the utmost levels of integrity and business ethics. I will personally remove myself from any situation that requires me to compromise these principles and demand no less from future Connectual agents.

That said, it's important that Connectual agents maintain objectivity and source the right provider for …

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How does Connectual Plan to Grow?

FAQ #9

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

In the near term, I plan to deploy other like-minded and well-connected agents to expand the Connectual footprint and stimulate the network effect. My goal is to add agents that bring expertise in specialized digital marketing disciplines -- mobile, social, video, affiliate, etc. -- to round out the Connectual portfolio.
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This post is part of a series addressing frequently-asked questions about Connectual. For more context and the full list of FAQs, read Why Connectual?

Stay tuned for tomorrow's question -- "How does Connectual Avoid Conflicts of Interest?"

 

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Who are the Current Employees and Investors in Connectual?

FAQ #8

Monday, May 4, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

Just yours truly, for now...
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This post is part of a series addressing frequently-asked questions about Connectual. For more context and the full list of FAQs, read Why Connectual?

Stay tuned for tomorrow's question -- "How does Connectual Plan to Grow?"

 

Continue Reading

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Are Relationships with Connectual Exclusive?

FAQ #7

Sunday, May 3, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

No. Marketers are free (and encouraged) to work with other consultants, agencies, etc. And providers are free (and encouraged) to work with other rep firms, PR firms, as well as deploy their internal sales teams, etc. The hope is that Connectual will add enough value to the process of connecting buyers and sellers that both sides will work through Connectual because they want to, not because they have to.

On the flip side, there are some situations that require Connectual to grant category-exclusivity to a provider. As discussed in FAQ #3, there are 3 ways Connectual engages with agencies, …

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Why Would Providers Allow Connectual to Represent Them?

FAQ #6

Saturday, May 2, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

Allow me to answer that question with a question... Who doesn't need the incremental revenue right now?

Sales and marketing teams within agencies, media companies, and technology providers are being tasked with growing, or at least, maintaining topline revenue without adding significant staffing or marketing costs. 5 years ago, these firms wouldn't have considered using an "outside rep" -- they wanted to control how they went to market through their in-house sales and marketing teams and had the budget to deploy the required resources to meet their goals.

In today's economy, these companies are operating lean and mean and it …

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Does Working through Connectual Mean Higher Rates for Buyers?

FAQ #5

Friday, May 1, 2009 | Posted by Aaron Goldman

Since they have to pay Connectual, providers would just mark up their rates to maintain margins, right?

Not necessarily. Agencies, media companies and technology providers already factor sales/marketing overhead and commissions into their rates so, if they're paying Connectual, it means they don't have to pay one of their salespeople to prospect and close the deal.
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This post is part of a series addressing frequently-asked questions about Connectual. For more context and the full list of FAQs, read Why Connectual?

Stay tuned for tomorrow's question -- "Why Would Providers Allow Connectual to Represent Them?"

 

Continue Reading

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