First of all, how are you and your team doing in these COVID-19 times?
We are good. We have navigated this for the better part of 2 years. When running a business, there is always uncertainty, but COVID took that to a new level. We have learned a lot during this time and feel we are a better and stronger team today than before the pandemic. Our team learned to be very resilient.
Tell us about you, your career, and how you founded or joined this company?
I co-founded the company (42connect) in 2002 with my partner, Hany ElHibir. We were both in our early twenties and lost our jobs at an agency due to the dot-com bubble burst of the early 2000’s. It was at this point we decided to start our agency. Twenty years later, we are still going strong.
Currently, I’m a digital marketing professional serving as the Digital Marketing Director at 42connect.
I help our clients grow their businesses using digital marketing strategies. I’m involved in all aspects of the process, including creating the digital marketing strategy and overseeing the implementation of PPC campaigns and search engine optimization (SEO).
As the digital marketing director, my team and I have achieved outstanding results for our clients:
– B2B client achieved a 600% return on investment in less than 12 months
– Generated on average over 75 leads per month for a B2B supplier
– Exceeded client’s revenue goals for B2C eCommerce website in 12 months
– Using SEO, ranked 12 keywords on page 1 of Google, helping generate $1MM in leads for manufacturing company
My career began when I sold one of my designs to ASICS for a few hundred bucks, a windbreaker, and a pair of running shoes. That experience kicked-started my career and fueled my passion for design and marketing. Since then, I have worked on projects for Tiger Woods, David Duval, Sergio Garcia, GE, Eaton, Moen, and Fitworks, to name a few.
In 2010, I was awarded The Cleveland Professional Twenty-Thirty Club: NEO Top 25 Under 35 Business Professionals. From 2009 to 2012, I helped 42connect earn the Weatherhead 100 Outstanding Growth Companies award. To have my talent recognized and share in 42connect’s success is an honor that I take pride in.
Being born and raised in Cleveland instills a certain work ethic and attitude in you. I learned at an early age that if you want something, you will have to earn it. I carried this attitude to college, where I was an Art & Design major and an NCAA wrestler.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and watching my kids play sports. I love golf and Cleveland sports, and I’m always up for some good sushi or a cup of coffee if you want to talk.
Specialties:
– Digital Marketing Strategy
– Online Advertising
– SEO & SEM
– Creative Direction
– UI/UX Design
How the Coronavirus pandemic affects your business, and how are you coping?
When the pandemic first hit, we decided to work remotely like many businesses. We worked from home for almost a year. It was a bit of an adjustment, but we learned the team was very productive.
I see value in working from home and working remotely. Because of the pandemic, we have now adopted a hybrid working model. We operate three days a week in the office and two days a week from home.
I feel it’s important to have people working together in person. Being in the same room with other people allows for quicker and more productive communication, leading to better ideas and creative problem-solving. There is something different about being face to face with people that is very difficult to replicate through zoom call. It’s hard to substitute that human interaction and the interpersonal relationships you build when people physically share a space.
On the flip side, working remotely a few days a week is beneficial because it gives people time to focus on tasks they need to accomplish. If done correctly, there tend to be fewer interruptions when working remotely, leading to more productivity.
The hybrid model we have adapted seems to give the best of both worlds, and currently, it’s working.
What specific tools, software, and management skills are you using to navigate this crisis?
We use the same tools we used before – Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Zoom, Google Drive, Teamwork Project Management, and Teamwork Chat. These are core tools, and they seem to serve us well. They help us communicate and keep things organized.
- Spokesperson: Brian Ferritto
- Company: 42connect
- Website link: https://www.42connect.com/
