What's the definition of a passionate entrepreneur? Meet Manny Lopez, Founder & CEO of Brightside Advertising. I have met Manny a few times, and every time I see him, he exudes cool confidence of a seasoned businessman, and an infectious enthusiasm about his work and life. When I introduced oGoing Pro membership for small business, Manny was the first owner that called me on the same day, and signed up as a new member! When Manny sees new opportunities for his business, he seizes them immediately! I was fortunate to catch Manny this week to answer a few questions, and he provided insightful responses. Read on...
1. What led you to start Brightside Advertising? How is the progress?
I had a background in SEO after years of promoting different forms of advertising (print, mailers, TV, radio, etc.) and what I saw most was my clients wanted more word of mouth business. It was the most profitable, and provided the best form of advertising. I saw Facebook as the perfect opportunity to help businesses capitalize on that market. Thus, Brightside Advertising was born.
2. What are your products and services? What problems do they solve?
We have many forms of online marketing which I will outline which each problem they solve:
Facebook Websites:
Our Facebook Websites allow companies to really brand themselves on the biggest website in the world where everything is connected. It's basically a website on steroids! We give you the branding and function of a normal website, with the viral marketing aspect of social media where every interaction creates a story that is shared with their network of friends to help generate more referrals and repeat business.
Mobile Website Apps:
Our mobile website apps allow our clients to not only mobilize their website, but they are downloadable to any smartphone as an app for iPhone, Android, Windows, and Blackberry. They give our clients functions like: 1-touch click to call, maps / directions to their locations, lead capture, appointment setting, social media integration, plus dozens of other features all from a mobile device.
Online Video Ads:
Video marketing is one of the fastest growing forms of marketing out there. With our online video ads, our clients can reach out to consumers in a short 1 minute to minute and a half video that outlines their products and services with professional voiceover, background music, animated transitions and backgrounds and full of content like text, pictures, and video clips.
Our "Reach & Presence" program:
We have 2 different programs for online marketing with your brand, Presence & Reach. Presence allows us to get a company started online by building them a website that's SEO optimized and helping them build a brand that is unique to theirs. Our Reach program is for companies that already have an established online presence and is looking for more exposure which we help by the way of website citations and display advertising.
Mobile Banner Ads:
Once a company has got a mobile website from us and wants to drive more traffic than is already coming, we have our mobile banners ads that can help. It's a cost per click basis which allows our clients to only have to pay for engaged users of their brand instead paying for people just to see and hope they take action. And at 1-10 cents per click, it's THE most cost effective approach to driving traffic to your business.
3. What is your favorite customer success story?
We've helped over 250 businesses develop true online branding with our products and services over the past 2 years and we've had tons of success stories between that time, but if I was to choose one that really stood out, I would have to say 7 Day Dental. When they started with us, they had nothing on social media or mobile as a way of marketing their brand. We helped grow all 4 of their Southern California locations with Facebook Websites and Mobile Apps. We taught them how to ask for recommendations and referrals from their existing clients and have grown their business extensively over the past year and half they have been with us. They are constantly getting new likes and referrals along with daily recommendations on their Facebook pages without having to spend any money in Facebook Ads to help drive new traffic.
We started asking for recommendations this year, and check-ins and so far, they've had anywhere between 400-500 check-ins on each of their Facebook pages along with close to 500 likes in each page as well. Without spending $1 in advertising, that is a great success.
4. Why do customers love Brightside? What makes you different?
Customers love Brightside because in everything we do, we make the customer satisfaction our #1 priority. Everything we do is on a month to month basis, we don't lock anyone into a long term contract. So each month, we have to prove to you why we earned your business and I think that is the only way we can make sure we see 100% effort in anything we do. I come from a background where customer service is the key to success and if you are just there to make the quick buck, you'll always lose.
What makes us different is not only our pricing, but the level of customer support they receive for the price they pay. My customers always tell me how we should be charging more than what we do for what they get. A lot of people are suprised at how low we charge. I also give my direct cell phone number to each of my clients so they have multiple ways to get in touch with me should they ever have any questions about utilizing our services.
5. How do you define success within your company?
I define success with my company not by the amount of clients we sign up or how much money we make, but by how many of our clients stick with us for the long haul. Most of our products come with a monthly service fee to cover updates, training, and monthly service and my goal is to maintain at least a 95% retention rate with my customers. Currently, we are at 92%. Some may see that as success but I will always strive to do better then yesterday. Once we hit 95%, I will keep raising the bar. Brightside Advertising will become a household name. That's the ultimate goal and we will always strive to give additional value to the customers we have now and the future.
Connect with Brightside Advertising on oGoing today! They also have great offers for oGoing members.
Manny Lopez
Founder & CEO
Brightside Advertising
Direct: 714-603-1114