I recently had the pleasure of hearing from a founder in the Digital Marketing space and I’m excited to share the learnings with you. Get to know Modestas Mankus with me.
Modestas, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and your journey to becoming a prominent figure in the digital marketing world?
My journey into digital marketing wasn’t something I planned. It evolved naturally from my passion for content, creativity, and the World Wide Web as we know it. I started out in publishing, founding Our Culture Mag, an online arts and culture magazine, which was my first deep-dive into content marketing.
Running the publication taught me how to attract organic traffic, build an engaged readership, and monetize content. That was a game-changer. That whole experience led me to e-commerce, where I quickly saw the power of content within SEO and how it can bring sales. So, I founded Talks Grow, an e-commerce content marketing agency, to help brands, especially in more overlooked industries. That’s my USP.
Your expertise in SEO and digital marketing is clear from your previous answers. Could you share a pivotal moment or experience that solidified your passion for this field?
Purely consistent drive for growth from results. I love seeing results. As soon as the needle starts to move, I can’t stop. Investing time and money into something that can become a truly giant project. I started Our Culture with £100, and now it stands as one of the key arts-and-culture publications in the entire world.
You mentioned the importance of SEO and content marketing for an eCommerce client. Can you elaborate on how you identify the right content niche for a specific audience and tailor your SEO strategy accordingly?
Well, it’s all about the audit: understanding competition-where the client stands among them-and how to get there effectively. It’s also about understanding how we can do it efficiently. We like to set up realistic plans for customers, which is why we offer no contracts but instead a deliverable-based service. This helps establish a strong relationship where there are no false promises.
Staying updated with digital marketing trends is crucial. Besides following thought leaders and webinars, what other methods or resources do you recommend for staying ahead of the curve?
Keep reading the latest magazines, and, most importantly, keep testing. That’s the most important factor in all my success.
You successfully incorporated short-form videos on TikTok for a client. What advice would you give to businesses hesitant to try new platforms or content formats?
Well, I’d look at it as an investment, and also if you haven’t tried it, how will you know if this may not change the course of your business? I always believe in testing as mentioned. However, with social media, you do have to put serious resources into effective growth and testing. That means a team, or one person, runs the social media full-time. Also, don’t spread those people thin. Choose one to three social media platforms max.
You emphasized the significance of email marketing for personalized shopping experiences. What strategies have you found most effective for segmenting email lists and crafting compelling personalized content?
Segmentation is the core to success. You don’t want to lose subscribers or customers because they keep receiving unrelated emails. If they buy Product A, they should only get emails the majority of the time about that product and related products. Promoting Product C or B, which have zero relation, can swiftly get people uninterested. It’s all about understanding the audience and their needs.
You talked about the balance between brand building and performance marketing. How do you measure the success of brand-building campaigns, especially when immediate conversions might not be the primary goal?
You have to be brave about building a brand. A lot of it has no measurable metric. However, specific campaigns can highlight success. For example, promoting offers and products for specific platforms can help you understand how strong the brand is within a space.
Many businesses struggle with adapting their strategies for international audiences. Can you share some insights on how to effectively localize digital marketing efforts, considering your experience working with clients in the UK and beyond?
Well, it’s about hiring right. If you want to break into a new territory, sometimes hiring outside support or a new in-house person or team can help dramatically. They will understand that market and guide your brand to that market. Basically, don’t wing it.
Looking ahead, what emerging trends in digital marketing are you most excited about, and how do you see them shaping the future of the industry?
AI is still so exciting for me. I know the limitations, but they will change. Having assistance on so many tasks can be great for saving time, but also providing you with some ideas that may get the ball rolling.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Keep things simple: test, and if you believe you found the success channel, keep going until you get there.
Modestas Mankus is the Founder of Talks Grow
