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Are you worried about how you look and sound on camera? Do you ever stop your content idea right in its tracks, when that fear grips you right before you go live on this episode of deal casters, we're joined by “the manly Pinterest guy,” who's also the international speaker and visual marketing consultant Jeff Sieh, who specializes in Pinterest, Instagram, and also a live video. He's also worked with some of the largest brands in the space. And brings his knowledge, expertise, and experience to the Dealcasters stable. So pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage and get ready to get manly!
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Full Episode Transcript:
Are you worried about how you look and sound on camera? Do you ever stop your content idea right in its tracks, when that fear grips you right before you go live on this episode of deal casters, we're joined by the manly Pinterest guy. Who's also the international speaker and visual marketing consultant Jeff Sieh, who specializes in Pinterest, Instagram, and also a live video. He's also worked with some of the largest brands in the space. And brings his knowledge, expertise, and experience to the Dealcasters stable. So pull up a chair, grab your favorite beverage and get ready to get manly.
This is fun. I love, I love not having to press all the buttons, you know, you just show up and that's you guys. You're the talent today. Lean back and just.
So, so Jeff, tell us about, you know, how did you end up in social media? I know you've been in it for, for quite a while. T tell us the Jeff C's story. Cause it probably could be a movie or even a book if it isn't already. Uh, yeah. And Brad Pitt should be play me. I think so. No. So the funny thing is that Jim and I, and Jim and I met over here at Google plus that's where it all.
Started for me, actually, what I did is I had this little, um, like digital agency here in Longview. I did, you know, commercials. I got into video when nonlinear editing systems first came out like Adobe premier, which I've been using since it came out. Um, and I started doing the social media thing to start telling my clients they needed to do it.
And I'm like, well, I better do it too. Started writing a blog. And I wrote this blog called manly Pinterest tips. Number one, where it was, uh, my daughter and I sharing a secret board. It kind of blew up and back then in the day before Facebook and all these other places, Google plus and Google Hangouts were like the wild West.
Of, um, live video. I remember we went, I went to South by Southwest with Ronnie Benzer, who was this Google Hangouts guy about video. And we interviewed the guy cows talking before I knew him with this contraption, like on this pole with we duct tape, like a, like a, a cell phone and we call people back and it was just, and it had a speakers that we had hanging off of it.
It was this jury rig thing because it was the wild West of live video started doing that. Um, Google plus went nuts. I started a live show over there in Hangouts, all manly Pinterest tips, because everybody wanted me to do one, uh, that led to me getting a gig at social media examiner, um, doing their Pinterest and then they had me speak.
And then I've been speaking there ever since. I think I spoke there. I was the fifth time I did it. That's it. I mean, that's how it all started. I can trace it all back to those little circles on Google plus. Well, and I can tell you, Chris, one of the most eye-opening things to me, and this was probably, I think it was 2017, uh, when Jeff was speaking and it's like, I learned all this stuff about fonts and colors.
And as like, it was like mind blowing to me because, you know, I had just started in social media and, you know, I was like, wow, I'm thinking way too simple. But. You know, Jeff, I know that's something I'll never forget. And of course, you know, you, I think you were also even, uh, doing something with, uh, Rebecca as well.
And, uh, and yeah, and then we've, uh, had a chance, you know, it was unfortunate this past year. We didn't get to hang out in, uh, San Diego, but it's always, it's always been fun to get to, to hang out with you and Eric and some of the other folks that, uh, that we see and what was, what was neat, like pre pandemic.
I know you weren't able to make it, but, um, Eric came to social media week, Lima, which is an August this year. And I don't know if you guys are going to be able to make it, cause I know you guys have a lot on your schedule, but that was a great, got to know, you know, as I used to say your, your other half Eric, uh, quite a bit better, another, another amazing human being.
So just, I want to like go back how important, like these relationships are and, you know, people say that social media, whatever. I can trace everything back to like the gig I have with guy Kawasaki right now I produces his live show and also his podcast, remarkable people, which is goes crazy. I mean, we were on clubhouse of the day with Jane Goodall and he's had Martha Stewart on, I mean, it's like I get to listen in edit really interesting conversations and make money doing it.
So, uh, but I can trace it all back to a post that I made. Uh, commenting on, on take this Patrick's post and then a friendship developed and I helped her with stuff. She helped me, she runs all guys social. So five, seven years later here, I am producing his show, but it all came from those relationships that you make on this, you know, these goofy little platforms, but you can really.
You know, Jim and I had a little fun debate about clubhouse cause you know, I kind of poopoo it. A lot of people like it. And so, I mean, it, my thing is, it doesn't matter, Google plus isn't even around anymore. And I built my business off of it. And so I'm still reaping the benefits. So it doesn't matter if you're building good relationships.
I think people forget that the first part of social media is social right. And a lot of people will take social media and they'll use it to trumpet a bunch of things that's related to their business. While you got to be on this, you gotta be on this, gotta be on this and gotta be this. And of course you can't be.
And lean into everything. Nobody's got all the time to do that, but I think where you find the platform that you're in, whether it's Pinterest or whether it's Twitter or whether it's clubhouse or lean into that, and actually be social, it can turn into some really great relationships, um, personally, and like from a business perspective, I'm sure you've gotten a ton of business just because you actually were a social person.
Believe it or not on Pinterest. Right. Or Google plus, or these things that, you know, may have sunset at this point. Yeah. And it's just making, I mean, any, I did a lot of stuff for free for a lot of people. When you first get started, you just are making relationships and stuff and you never asked, you know, I, you guys, I'm sure since you started doing this show and the success that you've had over there, you probably get pitches every day.
Like I need to be on your show. And here's why, and you know, you can tell that they have even watched your show. They just saw you have some numbers. That's the classical. You don't, you just don't do the ask. Most of the times when people ask me on your show, they're not a good fit to be on your show. Um, and so it's just, it's you do things for people.
And that organically happens. Like I knew Jim from a long time, I mean, back and forth. And we, you know, I asked him questions like offline, like, how are you doing this Amazon thing? And then I'm like, Oh my gosh, he's an expert. And he's needs to be on our show and all this stuff. And it just, it just happens organically.
You can't force it, or it feels really, really fake. Yeah, there's a ton of people that are doing live shows or they're doing a podcast, uh, you know, and that's great, but then there's a lot of people that may be writing a book, or they're a keynote speaker, or they're doing these things and they're using a podcast or a live stream as their marketing, their free marketing.
Like, I'm just going to target a bunch of people or I'm going to hire someone that's just going to scattershot so that I can show up, talk about everything that I want to talk about on a particular platform. But it's like when you're on this show, of course, you're, you know, you're the, you're the feature.
Um, you know, you're the, the quote unquote star, but you're here to just. Talk to serve to, uh, to, to do what you're going to do. It's not like you're going through true. Okay. Here's my list of 32 things that I have to talk about, buy my stuff and do all of that stuff. And I think that comes across, um, in, in both ways, if somebody showing up and doing that other stuff where they're drilling down, guess what?
There's 32 podcasts that, that person did. They all sound alike? And it doesn't, it just doesn't come across and, and is a, is a good podcast doing something that is organic and social. Like a lot of what you guys do is what resonates with people. Yeah. I think you're right. And, and you can tell like, um, and you've interviewed enough people that this has happened, and this is something that, you know, if you do this, you probably need to work on.
And if you don't, this is a skill that you have. Is that like, when you interview somebody like Jim, both of you guys do this is. You don't, you can tell when people are just waiting for you to stop talking, to bring it back to you. And you've had guests on here who have liked that. You're like, they're just waiting.
Okay. Let me tell you about my new course, because I've got this really chorus and all you have to do is go here, here and here. And it just seems like I call them your used car salesman like guests, you know, and if you get lucky enough and you've been blessed enough that people are asking you to come provide value for an online summit or a podcast episode for a live video.
Um, if you're, if you are doing the interviewing, you are going to make, you always went and it, the guests, the feature like you guys have done here. When I had Jim on my show, I wasn't talking about everything that I did. I was like, Jim. So how do you feel about this and why do you do this? That way? They are the focus of the attention like you guys do.
And if you can learn that. Then you are going to be super valuable to be on other shows because people really want that kind of conversation and relationship. Yeah. And your show won't be boring, you know, because it'd be the same thing every time it's like that. Um, yeah. That's fantastic. That's great advice.
I think for. For podcasters for live streamers for content creators, um, just, you know, be, be real, um, in that, in that situation. And, you know, if you want to market yourself, just make yourself searchable. Right. And, and, and, and then when you show up in places like this, yeah. Don't, don't. In Adobe spilling the same, same as sales information you did on 48 prior podcasts.
That's awesome. And you know, that's the thing too, Chris, you know, watching Jeff went, whether it was when he was on social media examiners show with Eric, or just even with his new show. That's one thing I always admire about Jeff is he's, you know, he practices what he preaches. Right. He's always helping everyone learn, get better.
I mean, even when I saw him speak in person, right. It wasn't like, he was like, you know, Hey, if you want to become part of my course, do this. So that as like, you know, Hey guys, here's some free stuff to make you smarter. I've never felt like, like Jeff as a, as a salesy guy. And I think, you know, and like you said, we've done a lot of, uh, You know, behind the scenes communication, you know, uh, they used to, you know, they were struggling for a while to get on LinkedIn live and, you know, I was, uh, humbled that he would reach out to me cause I was like, I got kinda lucky how I got on LinkedIn live and we know there's still a ton of people out there.
Like how do I get on LinkedIn live? It's you know, I don't know. That's a good question. Tell do we want to now I, I, I don't know. We've, we've, I've really enjoyed the engagement that I have had cause we, so us as you guys have, this is. Amazon live. If you're watching somewhere else, you need to come to Amazon live because that's the focus of this.
Ours is just like doing news and going everywhere. And Amazon is a destination which has been great is we're making money over there. But, um, LinkedIn life has a great community and I've had some really good success of, um, uh, building that up because I just, I don't know, just people are talking and it's still awesome.
It just feels more than Facebook is sometimes I guess. Oh, I would tell maybe it's the right show. It's the right show on LinkedIn. I think there's a lot of your profiles. Yeah, because it's, it's about news and social media and stuff. So you're probably right about that. There's yeah. So, Jeff, what really got you started, I guess, in live streaming, cause even like, and I know we talked about this the other day that maybe you're going to bring it back this summer, but like, you know, you've even had some fun stuff where like you were, uh, doing woodcarving and while you're woodcarving these projects, right?
Like Chris, he literally does this over like a series of shows. And he has a conversation with the audience. So it was really, uh, a lot of fun. So who knows woodcarving could be coming to Amazon line, you know, I thought about doing it cause that would make sense over an Amazon because people always ask me where they get the knives and the tools and all that stuff.
And I was doing it on Twitch. I originally started that just because, um, I saw Mark Schaefer, uh, do some painting and I thought that's really good. It was right. When COVID started, everyone was locked down. Everyone's kind of freaking out. And I just did it mainly like. I went live every day for like two or three weeks.
And just sit there and just talked. I had a topic like what's your favorite movie and whatever. And I just carved and showed them the processes and people thought it was like, That ASM Mara, you know, where the people, like I was like the woodcarving bearded Bob Ross, is that what it turned out to be, and they really liked it.
And that's the one thing, and I don't know why I haven't done it. I just it's time. You know how that is, but it was, um, um, everybody. As asked more, more about that than anything else. So really crazy. Cool. Very cool. And I know we've got some people, um, joining in the chat and, uh, Gina Capone on, over on Amazon says, yes, the exact same thing happened to me.
I ran to chat to chat rooms from 2001 to 2010. And a healthcare blogger from 2005 to two, 2008. And that's how I became a healthcare speaker and a community manager for.org as well. I feel like Jeff's story is mine. So thanks Gina Capone for chiming in that's a that's great. And I think the other great thing I think about Amazon's speaking of is just like how massive your you're casting a net, right?
And so, you know, of course it's not as lean in as some of these other platforms are. But when you do kind of poke in and I know your show is more like, Hey, um, this, this works here. Um, but when you do poke in on Amazon and you've taken, um, you know, the, the, all the great information that Jim shared with you on your show and whatnot, what have you learned from your experience on Amazon?
What have you, what have you sort of taken away that it's it's it reminds me of the wild West of Hangouts on Google plus it really does, but I think that. I mean, the views that you get, and even the time watched are really higher compared to some of the other platforms. If you look at kind of the analytics and I love the analytics, they give you, it's still kind of clunky.
It's like Periscope where you have to start it here and then take your phone. And then that kind of stuff they'll get better. And I really wish I could bring comments on screen. One of the other things, cause everybody likes to see their face. And I think if they could do that on Amazon live, Oh my gosh.
Cause people would love to see that. I feel like Amazon is more of the public. Arena of the it's like you're at the mall. Like, you know, when the UCA, you, you go and have your choir and you stand in and sing at the mall, your mom would have to come. And it's like that. I mean, you're there and you're, you're, you're in front of all these people walking by at the mall and he, and, and depending on how well, but you have a very, can I actually use some of your ideas when I was even crafting my own lower thirds and stuff?
For my show is because you're wanting to catch the eye or somebody walking by the mall. It's like window shopping. What are they? Oh, deal casters, unmute what you know, and doing that. I mean, that's really catchy. And I think so I took some of that stuff. And if you look at my show, I've got this moving background.
And I also went to like, um, CNN and all that stuff. And I actually did a screenshot and then built my graphics by, you know, putting them in Photoshop and building them exactly the same way, the same dimensions and stuff. So there's a lot of stuff you can learn from that. But, uh, Amazon live, I think it is.
It's like the mall you're there. Um, people stop the people who really want to learn more than they go in the store or they put it, you know, anything you see down below here, make sure you add it to your,...
