This is the first international Expert Speaks Interview. Till now, I have interviewed several Indian Experts. Today, I feel extremely fortunate to interview Barion McQueen.
But before we begin, let me tell you a bit about Barion McQueen.
Who is Barion McQueen?
Barion McQueen is an American business consultant, digital marketing expert, author and real estate agent.
He excels in branding, devising digital marketing and business strategies.
Barion McQueen is the founder and owner of the digital marketing agency The Brand Castle.
He is currently based in Florida.
His company The Brand Castle serves several big clients like Coca Cola, Adidas, H&M, etc.
Barion McQueen has been featured in several publications like News9, Daily Herald, Digital Journal, NYKDaily, Kivo Daily, International Business Times, etc. Today, we are lucky to host him for this Expert Speaks interview.
He is extremely talented, helpful and humble too.
Let us begin with the interview.
Interview with Barion McQueen
#1. You are a college dropout, worked in the construction industry for 13+ years and finally stepped into digital marketing. Tell us your story.
Being raised by a single mom education was always important to her. She always stressed how important it was for me to do well in school and go to college and get a good job.
I was a straight – student all my life. Ranked #7 in my graduating class in high school. When I was in college full time, I was working 3 jobs.
I worked at an engineering firm part-time during the day, a cleaning service at night and the skating rink on weekends.
What I realized in college was that they were preparing me for a job that I had already had. My major was Civil Engineering and I was already working at an engineering firm. What you learn in the construction business is that they will hire people with experience before they hire a person who just graduated with a degree. I understood that concept.
Around my junior year, I would have to go to school full time in order to graduate my senior year, meaning I could not work a job just to graduate.
So, I made the decision that I was going to quit school because paying my bills and working was more important to me.
#2. Barion, what are the major challenges you faced while setting up or during the initial days of your digital marketing agency The Brand Castle? How did you overcome them?
I believe the hardest part was actually quitting my job. I was already running my digital marketing agency while working a full-time job.
I was treating my business as my side hustle. It just got to a point where there was not enough time in the day to get more clients because my job was in the way. I was at a position in my job where I could not grow anymore within the company and probably could not make any more money than I was getting.
So, I figured if I quit my job, I would not only give myself the opportunity to grow and make more money, but also eliminate the safety net of having a job. I feel that the safety net didn’t require me to go as hard on my business because I knew regardless, I would be getting a steady paycheck.
#3. You are multi-talented and extremely humble too. How do you manage to work so much? Barion, what motivates you?
I manage to work so much because I feel like if I am not working someone is always trying to take your spot. I only average about 4 hours of sleep per night.
Being in the music business in the past I was always used to being in the studio late nights, so my body is used to functioning off little to no sleep.
So, it’s not that I do not want to get rest, but if I feel like I am doing too much sleeping than I am not being productive or growing my businesses.
I am super motivated by success and create a legacy for my family. When I leave this earth, I want to leave something behind for my family.
#4. We live in a world where every kid next door dreams to make a successful start-up. Most of them fail. Sustainability is a great issue.
You have written the book “Why won’t my business grow – Steps to sustainable business growth”. When did the idea strike that you must write a book, and would you like to share 3 key messages from the book?
Being a published author was something I never thought I would be. As a kid I hated reading, I was never a guy who liked to read. The older I got I started reading more.
A lot of successful people that I started studying and following always mentioned that they were always reading books.
My book came about by just writing one day. My experience as an employee working for other people really catapulted me to do my own book. After quitting my job, I had nothing but time and that was one of my goals was to write a book.
I am already in the process of doing my second book now as we speak.
3 key points I would reference is
#1. Understanding the risks and rewards of starting a business
#2. Collecting the data
#3. Analyzing the competition
I feel those are some of the most important things to consider in business.
#5. I was looking at The Brand Castle’s website and found that you have worked with big clients like Mercedes-Benz, Coca Cola, Adidas, H&M, etc.
What is the best digital marketing project to date? Can you share a bit about its execution – what all did you guys do and how it helped that brand?
Its funny because although we work with bigger brands, the projects closest to my heart are the start-ups.
I like to help a client who came to me with nothing. I get to be part of the complete process from the logo design, to the website design, to the website launch, to the website marketing.
It makes me feel like I opened a new business and it makes me happy to see clients have something that they can share and show.
DA Method Apparel was one that we really enjoyed. This was fitness apparel and lifestyle brand. We have never done anything like this before, so it was both challenging and exciting at the same time.
#6. A lot of people struggle to win clients in digital marketing or any other business. Any proven tips that might help them?
I always like to stress the importance of over delivering to clients. Before I asked any of my clients for a dollar, I provided them something of value first.
If people value your work, they will pay you for it.
From a digital marketing standpoint, we have done a lot of websites and website design.
When I was prospecting new clients, I would offer them a FREE Seo Audit. This provided the prospect with something that would help them, whether they asked me to fix their website or they asked their current marketing company why this guy I do not know is telling me everything that is wrong with my site. Providing them with that audit always got me at lease a response.
#7. On a lighter note, what does Mr. Barion McQueen do in his leisure time?
Honestly one of my favourite things to do is bowling.
People do not know that I have one championship in several bowling leagues on the east coast, from Delaware to New Jersey.
#8. How important is personal branding? Any tips on it?
Personal branding is everything. I used to think branding my business was top priority.
The more I stopped focusing on my business brand and started focusing on my personal brand, the business brands grew on their own.
When people like you as a person they will automatically gravitate to everything else you are involved with, including your businesses.
#9. What is your advice to the young digital marketing enthusiasts?
My advice for the young digital marketing enthusiasts is be as active as possible on social media.
Create great content that adds value.
Figure out who your target niche and audience are and invest in building your personal brand. That way you have some authority in your industry.
#10. Thank you Barion. It was great to have you on this Expert Speaks interview series. Expert Speaks is an initiative to bridge the gap between Marketing Experts like you and the students or marketing enthusiasts. Would you like to share a few words on this initiative?
I appreciate you for considering me for your platform.
I want to stress the importance of being humble and grateful for any outlets who provide you with a platform to share your story.
Thank you.
Conclusion
Thank you so much Barion for the honest, inspiring and insightful answers. It was a great experience to interview you.
Dear Readers,
Thank you for your support and love. I will keep publishing such content which helps and inspires you.
I hope you enjoyed this interview with the amazing personality Barion Mcqueen.
You can connect with him on LinkedIn –
linkedin.com/in/barion-mcqueen-974708107/
Also, do let me know in the comments section if you know any such experts from Marketing/Digital Marketing/Sales OR have any questions which you want me to ask to the experts in the upcoming Expert Speaks interview.
Let’s learn and grow together!
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