EP364: Harness The Potential Of Digital Marketing To Reach Ideal Customers With Zach Day | Brand You Media

Stacy Jones:
welcome to marketing mistakes and how to avoid them. I’m Specie Jones, and I’m so happy to be here with you all today, and I want to give a very warm welcome to Zach Day. Zack is the founder and creative director of Brand, you media a video agency dedicated to empowering purpose-driven entrepreneurs and coaches to make an even bigger and more massive impact on the world with extensive experience as a film director. He’s helped numerous entrepreneurs unlock their mission-driven story and build content that enables targeted audiences to connect and relate on a whole new level. Zack’s unique three-step process helps an alliance, connect with their ideal audience and build an engaged community around their message. And additionally, he hosts the entrepreneurial podcast right now show podcast today, Zach, we are going to be chatting about the challenges, entrepreneurs face in the digital world and the steps to connect with your ideal audience and build a connection. We’ll learn what works from Zack’s perspective, what should be avoided and how some businesses miss the mark, Zack, welcome! So happy to have you here today. Thank you. That was quite the intro. I’m like taking notes in my head. I’m like cause. I my own, podcast. I’m like, yeah, I should probably do my intros kinda like that, too. That was that was awesome. Thanks. So much for doing me, of course. So what I always like to do is start out. How did you get here today? Because our listeners are going to be in for a little bit of surprise, because you’ve had a different journey than most.

Zach Day:
Yeah. So right now, you know, I’m I’m a filmmaker. I help tell people stories of the world. But you know, how do I get to that point? It’s the story. It didn’t really start where you’d, you know. You’d expect I started doing American injury warrior when I was years old. And if you guys don’t know what American into warrior is, it’s basically like rock climbing park and free running. If you guys know what that is, and gymnastics, like all put together, and they form something called American jewelry, where it’s the hardest obstacle course in the world, and there’s different regions throughout the country, and people compete at these regions, and you come together in Las Vegas and the top athletes compete on the hardest optical course. in the world. And you know I I did that for about years, and you know, how did that lead me to filmmaking? Right? So I you have to make a submission video to get on the show. So it’s like a  min video. And it’s kind of like what I do now. It’s almost like a brand story. You have to show your personality off. You have to tell your story to the viewers. and you know you have to betray why you should be on this show. So I had to do that, and I’ve really. I’ve been kind of making videos my whole life, like, even in like middle school, like, I would be the kid out with my high pod making pranks in class with my ipod And you know, I’ve I’ve just always, you know, pulled out the camera and made videos, editive videos kind of lance our life. And then American as a warrior kind of got me into that because I started making videos on myself, like the highlights of what I would do, and posting on social media. And then as a little bit about the journey on American and your warrior did that for about years. When I was they actually changed the age limit from to . And when I turn . So I got my chance to compete. And at the time I was one of the top prospects, I guess you could say in the world because I was winning local competitions. There was other leagues that I was doing really well in. I have in place Number one in the biggest league. So I pretty much knew I was gonna get my shot to me. But At that time, right before I went on the show, my father actually passed away. and literally weeks before I went on the show, and I actually got the call and my dad’s screen roll. Which was. I mean. It was awesome that I got to go on the show. But all this kind of happen at the same time, you know, my dad passed away, and he was the biggest mentor in my life, like really amazing family man. I really supported me in every single way. And then, weeks later, I’m competing on national television. You know, prime time, Nbc, and you know, I they get to go for my dream, basically. And so I ended up doing really well. I got past the first rounds I made to Las Vegas. I was the youngest one ever to make it to Las Vegas at the time. and I remember the the there’s stages in Las Vegas stage number one. it was. It was a really hard course for me. Because, can you hear me? I can. yeah, it was a really hard for me, just because of the the style of the course. I remember, I had like  s left. and I remember slamming the buzzer, and I had on for Bd. On the back of my shirt, which stands for for Brian Day. and sorry. That was kind of like the proudest moment of my life, because I gotta dedicate that to him. So. And then I went on with the stage to get really deep in that stage. Sorry I got siri going in the back. And I ended up getting rookie of the year that year. Got something to that inside the top , and then kind of how that let me down the film making journey. I ended up starting another business where we built Ninja warrior courses in people’s backyards, summer camps in their basement. So that was kind of like the first business I created, and I used to do a lot of films and marketing for that, you know I had a drone. I put it up in the air, and I would just kind of show off what we did. And I would market just like. That’s how we got most of our business. And then after that, I created an online platform where we taught. You know people that aspiring as your warriors, kids, and adults? online, you know how to do the obstacles like how to do the work ball, and the same ladder, how to train your grip, strength, how to balance the mindset. And then, you warrior, the the certain strategies that you want to apply to American enjoyer. But I created that online platform team that with the film crew they taught me a bunch of stuff. And that’s kind of how I got introduced to filmmaking, and then I started doing some outside work that wasn’t really involving ninja warrior, or you know, other businesses. And then I ran into my, what? My business partner now, which we actually met through Ninja Warrior, started doing work for him. and then he actually called me up one day, and he asked me if I wanted to become business partners with it with him. and that’s pretty much how we got here, and you know, then we kind of dumped around a little bit in the different styles of film, making like doing a bunch of social media content. Instagram reels tik tok. And now we’re more into telling people’s stories kind of like they’re like, I kind of almost put someone’s life story. And inside a to  min video like their ups and downs of life, the impact that they want to make, why, they do what they do. And I put it inside almost like a Mini documentary like a mini movie of their life. Stacy Jones: And so when you’re working with a client, and you’re trying to figure out how to tell their story and and what their story is. What’s that process? How do you get started with them? Yeah. I mean, first, we just do book a call, and we we just asked them to tell tell them, tell us their story, and we just kind of asked the deep, hard questions. And you know what they went through in their life, what they overcame, the conflicts, the struggles that they went through. Why, they do like, why do they do that certain thing like, what does it mean to them? what’s the target? Audience? All that kind of thing? And we have a very particular process that we take them through with. You know those deep questions and kind of a formula that we follow for our video. So it engages the viewer the the entire time. It makes them very curious about you.

Stacy Jones:
And so all of this, your life story encapsulated in to  min, as as far as the video goes, that’s a lot of information. Andall of the people you’re working with are very mission driven, are they not? That’s gonna be your specialty.

Zach Day:
Yes, definitely.

Stacy Jones:
And so who who are the types of like, what are the types of people that you’re working with, like, what are they trying to do in life?

Zach Day:
Yeah, I mean. I think I think it’s for any money that has that like has a big passion, has a big purpose in life like I my my beliefs. God has given us. you know, a very particular skill of gift, so to speak, and it’s fairly anyone who wants to bring that that gift to life and make a bigger impact with it, do something that’s bigger than themselves. But whether it’s for, you know, impacting other people or helping someone in a very, very particular thing. Anybody like that. So I mean, it could be motivational speakers. It could be entrepreneurs. I’ve done body built before I’ve done people on the real estate industry. So anywhere in there. Stacy Jones: okay, and when you are working with them, is it hard for people to come up and figure out what these major moments are on their life that cohesively tell, or how we how difficult is it? you know it really depends on the person like. Sometimes I would say yes, and sometimes people know exactly what their story is, because they’ve said it a bunch of times a lot a lot of times. People in the industries that I work with. They’re constantly telling their story, you know, to people that they network with. But they don’t have a video that portrays that story, you know, where they can put it on social media and and reach a lot more people, or they could throw it in inside their their email inbox. And you know, when they send an email out that person that receives the email, it can just hit that link. And now they know their whole life story, now that they they can truly connect and relate to them like never before.

Stacy Jones:
And I think that’s the key words here you’re saying, connecting and relating like never before, where you are instantly opening up the door. And it’s like all of our listeners just now, you know they heard your life story. They I tiered up as you’re talking about your father, you know. I thought about my own father and his passing, and how difficult it would have been to actually work on such a physically exertion. where your dream in life is coming true. And you’re on national television. But at the same time the man that you wanted to have at your side wasn’t there? That’s a very poignant part of your story. And so when you’re telling these things the level of connection, where you’re no longer looking at someone as just a service provider or a professional or a creator of a brand. You are now actually relating to them on a whole new level.

Zach Day:
Right? Exactly. Yeah. It’s that that connectability. And when someone you know shares, you know their life story with you, and and not just the good parts, but the bad parts to, and the things that they overcame, and their biggest struggles and setbacks. When people share that you can tell that it comes from the heart, not the mind. And when and you can kind of pick that up in people’s tonalities and their body language and the emotion they put behind their words. And when you could betray that on video, it can be a game changer. You you can really. you know, really touch a person.

Stacy Jones:
And I think that a lot of our listeners might be sitting here going. Hmm! Do I have something that is, you know a big enough, a significant enough why, and that’s the whole point. That why? because you can tell a life story, and you can have a wonderful and a fascinating life. But if you haven’t actually in your business encapsulated, what the why is? It’s driving you what you’re actually trying to achieve. That’s more than just making money. That’s more than selling, which it’s. It’s more than just coaching people. Then there’s a miss, and your audience feels that correct

Zach Day:
absolutely. Yeah, that’s one of the big things that we kind of go over because we’re not just like a a media company. I’m not just a filmmaker. I’m not just the person who carries a fancy, you know. Fancy camera equipment around. I help you craft that story like we get together. We have. We have a pre reduction call where we we dive deep into your why, we’re gonna find out what your why, so we help you do that. We help you craft that story, and you know, tell the story that you want to tell, that you tell the story that you want to tell other people so you can truly connect with them.

Stacy Jones:
And so you said, you have a step process, and I know the first step starts off with an interview and talking to them, where do you go from? There?

Zach Day:
Yeah. So I mean, step number one is the pre-production calling. I just said, Number is where I would come to you. I always come to my clients because I want to capture them in their environment. They’ll come to you and we shoot for to days, and we’ll do an interview where I’ll sit you down for  min an hour, and we we ask those deep questions kind of like the pre-production call but a little different, and we help you tell your story in a very particular way. So normally it’s like, you know,  min an hour interview. And I’ll condense that interview into  min in the video. And then we also do a podcast where we can capture extra content. And we can go a little bit deeper into your story in a different way in the podcast because now it’s more conversational. So we’ll do it like kind of like a Joe Rogan style podcast when they come out. And then we capture a bunch of B role seeds. So it’s almost like different movie scenes that we orchestrate. You know what you typically do in a day, anything that make you unique. That’s what we’re going to film. So say, if you go to the gym, we’re going to have a Jim’s team. Say, if your family means a lot to you, maybe we have your family around the fire cooking some more is maybe that’s one of the scenes. So yeah, we can get really creative with it. And then we come back. The last step would be production where I come in. And I or I go on my computer. And I edit the video where I add all the the music, the emotional music. I’d I normally add multiple songs. So we can take you all throughout different feelings and emotions throughout the video sound design. All that kind of stuff. So yeah, it’s kind of the process.

Stacy Jones:
And so where are some of the hurdles that people have to do with this? Is it that their camera shy. And so they don’t feel like they’re themselves like, how do you get to work with people to make them feel like this is something that the natural organic part of who they are.

Zach Day:
Yeah. So I mean, obviously, it’s not for everyone, not everyone wants to put their life story out there. So I mean it. It’s a very particular person. But yeah, we do have a process, or I just it. It’s just kind of the the vibe that I portray when I when I do someone like one say, for example, when I’m interviewing someone I’m not like with my phone, with questions out in front of me like you know what’s the biggest thing that you show up with? I I it’s very conversational. It’s almost like I’m just having a conversation with them. So it’s it’s really my job to get you comfortable in front of the camera. That’s that’s kind of what you know. I’m hired to do, so to speak. So yeah, I mean, it’s not for everybody. But yeah, we we try to make it as comfortable as possible.

Stacy Jones:
And so as you’re going through there. Are there any other tips or tricks that you could share with our listeners on, how they could better themselves figure out their stories and put it at least pen to paper or self record.

Zach Day:
Yeah. you know, I think podcasts are a great way to start out. you could start your own podcast. Or you could start, you know, kind of what we’re doing right now, like, start getting interviewed by people because at the end of the day. You’re going to be telling your story over and over again on the podcast I think that’s a great way to start out. I mean, if you want to put start putting yourself out there on social media, just bring out your phone like, shoot some selfie videos. You don’t even need to put them out, so to speak, you could just say, I’m you know, you want to have a challenge. I’m just gonna shoot a  min video every day, and I’m just gonna talk and say, what’s on my mind, or have very. you know, topics that I want to talk about. And you know you could start that way. so I mean that that’s kind of ways to start out. But yeah, I mean, it’s really up to you. If you if you want to make a bigger impact, you know, going online and and putting yourself out there on social media and telling your story. it could make a big impact.

Stacy Jones:
And so once you’ve created the content and chopped it up so that you do have the social media that you can do and share out from there. how do you go about marketing this? Because I think that’s part of your leg of strategy as well. I’m actually getting this content in front of people so that they’re able to see it.

Zach Day:
Yeah, I mean, we do that sometimes where we’ll take over someone’s social media. We kind of give them a a social media manager to speak. it’s not necessarily our forte, but that brand story. That’s where we want to shoot everyone towards, because once they watch that video, they’re either going to be a fan of you or they’re not. And it’s okay. If they’re not, then you’re just not not working meant to work together. But we want to shoot them right at that brand story and the social media assets thing of you know, the brand is sort of like a table, and the legs on the table are basically the social media assets pointing right to that brand story so that could be podcast clips that could be like the lifestyle reels that you see on Tiktok and instagram that have that trending audio behind it. Or it could just be other videos that just, you know, represent what you stand for. Maybe some professional photos. But yeah, we want to have, you know, content to back up that brand story and point them right at it. That’s kind of our strategy, so to speak. Are there any mistakes that you see there are common people make with this. you know, as far as you know, content and stuff like that. I I think people are trying to be somebody else they’re trying to, they what people want them to say, they’re trying to maybe try to follow the algorithm, so to speak. And they’re and they’re trying to portray themselves in a way that they actually aren’t. So I would say them, this being someone that they’re not. You know, you gotta be yourself, because that’s what people are really going to connect to.

Stacy Jones:
And with all of that you’re doing. Have you seen that there’s a certain type of individual that does this best.

Zach Day:
I would say someone that’s that’s willing to put themselves out there that’s willing to speak from the heart, not the mind. Someone that’s really willing to be authentic. And you know someone that’s that has a very exciting life and has a good story is always better right.

Stacy Jones:
Of course. And so what are other things that you can share with our listeners today on how they should be approaching this journey of telling their own story?

Zach Day:
Yeah, I mean, I think a a good step is to just write it out, you know. Get, you know, pen and paper, and just write out what is your story and start asking yourself the hard questions like, Who are you? What do you stand for? What is your purpose? What impact do you want to make? And one thing that I’ve learned at one of the events that I just went to is start with the end of mind, like when your life is all set and done, you know. Say, you’re sitting on your death bed. What is? What do you? What in your life did you want to experience? You know what’s everything you wanted to experience? What did your life mean? What are other people saying about you? I think that’s a great way, you know, asking yourself the really hard questions.

Stacy Jones:
and that’s something that a lot of people have done, you know. They’ll sit down and they’ll try to write their own lights recap so that they can figure out where they want to end up and be. And it is. It’s a great way to goal set because it’s depressing is all hell. But you know it’s a great way to forecast yourself out and take a look to see you know. Do you want family? Do you want business success? How do you want other people to actually see you in your life? And how are you going to show up in order to actually create that story ahead of you.

Zach Day:
Yeah, exactly. I mean the last event that I want to. We actually, we all have to write our own eulogy. That was one of the exercises, which is very deep thing. It’s sad, and we kinda had to write it in, you know, as if we are like a family member writing it for us. it’s a tough thing to do. It’s very emotional. But at the end of the day, like you really do find out what you want this life to mean. And then that’s that’s huge.

Stacy Jones:
And a lot of people along the way have a tough truck while doing this, because their life is not actually aligned to the story that they’re hoping to be able to read one day.

Zach Day:
Yeah. And I think, there’s something to be said where people are trying to control their life and their. They’re really they’re running away from the fear. And I think you have to go into the fear, and you’re not going to be able to control everything in your life. You know you can kind of just have to. You have to flow with life instead of trying to, you know. Grab it. You kind of have to release it and kind of go wherever life takes you. that’s kind of like the beauty of life.

Stacy Jones:
Yes, there’s several spiritual beliefs that say that you bend, and to the resist the bend, and to go with the flow with the way.

Zach Day:
Yup, exactly.

Stacy Jones:
Do you think ninja warrior helped teach you that?

Zach Day:
I think I think in some ways. Yeah, I think after an enjoy, I think I I captured that even more, though even more so after I kinda to look back and see what I went through. But but yeah, I mean, I I just you kind of just have to take whatever life gives you. And you know it’s got a one step in front of the other. You just gotta grow a little bit each day, and you know, just just keep going.

Stacy Jones:
And so it’s like, how can our listeners find you if they’re like? I’m interested in this. I’d like to know how you can help me with my life story.

Zach Day:
Yeah, I think the the best way is, I mean, you could either on my website. It’s my brand newcom. or my Instagram is probably the best way to reach me immediately. It’s I am zack day Zach’s called an H. That’s probably just reach out to you and DM, ask me a question we could top on a call, and you know, if we see if we’re a good fit for each other.

Stacy Jones:
And any parting words of advice to our listeners. Today. I mean, I think you just encapsulated it extremely well about seizing the day. But anything else.

Zach Day:
I’m, So my podcast is called the right now show. So I’m I’m really big and just like staying in this present moment and not trying to like the the past of the future. Hold us back like not try to put my attention there. But really, just stay in this moment, because this moment is really the only thing that exists. It’s the only thing that we can possibly control.

Zach Day:
So yes, I’m trying to stop trying to fight the path in the future in this day right here right now. And yeah, just one step in front of the other.

Stacy Jones:
Well, Zack, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts today with us, and I believe in align with your mentality and the same belief structures. And I think that you are helping people unleash potential that they might not even know that they have.

Zach Day:
Thank you so much. Appreciate it.

Stacy Jones:
of course, and to all of our listeners thank you for tuning in to another episode of marketing mistakes and how to avoid them. I look forward to chatting with you this next week. and until then, if you have any interest in not so much your own brand story, but perhaps about your brand getting in or woven into other people’s content through product placement and movies and TV shows influence from marketing or partnerships through pop culture and events and celebrities. Please reach out to my agency, Hollywood branded, and we will connect and make a plan. Have a great one. I’ll look forward to speaking with you this next week. Take care.