How Foundr Magazine Turned Struggles into Sales Success | CEO Sales Huddle with Che Brown

When Nathan Chan first started Foundr, he was driven by a love for marketing and technology, but he had a problem - he couldn’t find a job even with two degrees in IT and marketing. So, he decided to start his own project - a digital magazine named Foundr. He had no experience in publishing and initially saw it as a fun side hustle. Little did he know, this side hustle would soon grow into something much bigger. The early days of Foundr were extremely tough. One of the biggest hurdles they faced was getting sued for trademark infringement. Did you know almost 20% of small businesses fail in their first year? The lawsuit forced them to rebrand, leading to their unique name, “Foundr,” without the “E.” Another struggle was figuring out how to make the magazine special and get noticed. One interesting fact is that they landed an interview with Richard Branson, which became a massive selling point for our brand. To achieve this, Chan called the head of PR at Random House, tracked down his media team at Virgin, and secured the interview through persistence and strategy. Their solution was to focus on understanding and engaging our audience - young entrepreneurs and startup founders. They asked them what content they wanted and delivered just that. Just as in sales, knowing your customer is crucial. They also made sure every issue of Foundr was visually appealing and high-quality, much like how good sales strategies ensure products are well-presented. Additionally, having a magazine helped us build authority, making it easier to attract and interview influential figures like Richard Branson, which in turn, boosted their credibility and sales. My Big Takeaway - The biggest lesson Chan learned from this journey is the importance of a strong sales system. Knowing his audience, having a defined strategy, and consistently delivering high-quality content are essential for growing revenue and impacting lives. This is true for any business, not just a magazine. A well-structured sales strategy and leadership are key to navigating challenges and achieving long-term success. Stay Hungry. Stay Humble. Che Brown www.CEOSalesHuddle.com Connect with me - @IamCheBrown #CEOSalesHuddle #CEOSalesDashboard #CEOMasteryNetwork