How Things Progress
[0:20] Introduction to The Marketing Stir Podcast by Stirista
[6:00] Matchnode’s background
[10:23] The inspiration behind starting Matchnode
[11:53] The actual process of starting a business
[14:45] Where did the name Matchnode came from
[17:08] Matchnode’s clients and Chris’ favorite campaign
[23:22] Matchnode as a B2C marketing agency
[26:17] How is Matchnode different from others
[30:47] Seabums: Chris’ NFT project
[36:00] How can creators and investors get involved in NFTs
[42:30] Closing thoughts
[45:00] Wrap-up
In this episode of The Marketing Stir Podcast by Vincent Pietrafesa and guest co-host Brian Gold, Chris Madden talks about how his familiarity with entrepreneurship allowed for him to enjoy finding solutions in business. Vincent was most especially excited to have Chris as a guest in this episode. The reason being is that Vincent shares his love for the digital marketing agency, just like Chris, and for the Chicago Bulls, which is one of Matchnode’s significant clients.
Chris shared the story of Matchnode, from the very beginning until date. As a marketing agency, Matchnode helps brands drive ROI on social platforms through creative and strategy. Early in his career, marketing has always been one of Chris’ deepest skillsets, along with his entrepreneurial experiences early on in his career. Together with his co-founders, Brian and Dan, Matchnode was created. With marketing as something the three of them shared a love for, this became their inspiration which they now enjoy through doing the work and helping solve business problems for their clients. The creation of Matchnode is a process of compounding effects of small continuous improvements. As Chris equates it, Matchnode is the “combination of strategy meets business fundamentals, meets a human desire to help others.”
Chris then shared Matchnode’s clients, and what are some of his favorite campaigns he worked on. Growing up in Chicago, he always loved basketball, and when the Chicago Bulls won their first championship, the brand exploded globally along with the NBA. Fast forward to the future, this sports team he always loved became one of Matchnode’s clients. It’s been about five years – Matchnode and the Bulls got through a pandemic together and became just really great partners.
As for his favorite campaign, last year, the Chicago Bulls and the United Center discussed the idea of selling United Center’s suites digitally. Chris and his team used ads and built out a landing page with them. They also tested a bunch of different kinds of messaging. Because of a couple of big breakthroughs in this campaign, Matchnode helped establish these brands that are shifting to digital.
With the lead coming from the Chicago Bulls, Matchnode markets itself as a B2C marketing agency. Chris emphasized how Matchnode is different from others: “…we’re data driven, we’re strategic, we’re paid social first, and we’re an extension of your team.” He mentioned that it is about knowing who the agency is and putting that out for everyone to see and experience despite the competitive setting.
Chris also shared about Seabums, his own NFT project. Being part curiosity and part strategic positioning, as well as being on the outskirts of crypto at that time, Seabums was created together with his co-creator Nate, who is an artist. They’ve donated over $140,000 to charities that help protect and clean the oceans. Chris is happy to be with a great community of people who have bought an NFT and are advocates to protect the oceans. He continued to buy NFTs and invest and stay involved, because he knows about the many ways in which NFTs are going to continue to affect and help the ways in which brands and consumers interact.
With this discussion at hand, Vincent asked Chris what pieces of advice he would give to creators and investors who want to get involved with NFTs. Chris answered that this requires a spark of curiosity, and a small amount of money. Since NFTs onboarded people to decentralization, he believed it is a combination of community, collaboration, and curiosity.
“…find something you like. Don’t find something because you think it’s going to go up in value or because you think that it’s going to make you rich or something. Find an artist or a community or a cause… there’s tons of them out there now that resonates with you.”
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