February 12, 2025 • 24 mins
The invisible gatekeepers to your business loan approval might not be who you think. While you're perfecting your business plan and financial statements, lenders are silently evaluating something you may have overlooked entirely: your digital presence.
This eye-opening conversation with digital marketing expert Gerald Bass reveals exactly how loan officers and underwriters scrutinize your online footprint before deciding your funding fate. Gerald shares firsthand experience of businesses being denied loans because their websites and social profiles didn't align with their loan applications or lacked professionalism. The shocking reality? Many business owners never discover this was the real reason for their rejection.
We dive deep into what constitutes a funding-worthy digital presence, from essential website elements to social media strategies. Your website needs more than just product information—it requires clear mission statements, professional contact details (not personal emails or cell phones), and cohesive branding that matches across all platforms. Gerald introduces his powerful "Four E's of Social Media Marketing" framework: Enlightening, Educational, Entertaining/Lifestyle, and Engaging content that collectively builds lender confidence in your business.
Perhaps most valuable are the real-world cautionary tales shared throughout our discussion. Learn why combining multiple business ventures on one website can instantly disqualify you from funding opportunities, why inconsistent posting schedules raise red flags for underwriters, and how even small details like having a Gmail address instead of a company email can impact your credibility.
Whether you're a startup securing your first business loan or an established company seeking growth capital, your digital presence now functions as your silent pitch to lenders. Take control of this crucial funding factor by implementing the practical strategies outlined in this must-listen episode.
Ready to transform your digital presence and improve your funding prospects? Connect with our expert team for personalized guidance that could make the difference between loan approval and rejection.
If you need assistance in obtaining funding, email us at podcast@tdjequityfundinginsiders.net. Tell what the scope of funding is needed and the amount. A broker will contact you to discuss your funding needs. And remember, at TDJ Equity Funding, we do not force your funding needs into a lender's box but find a lender's box that fits you!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Ready to get the inside scoop on equity funding?
Tune in to TDJ Equity FundingInsiders Podcast for an in-depth
look at what it takes to accessfinancial capital and maximize
your investments.
Hear from experiencedprofessionals, including bankers
, underwriters, loan officersand industry experts, as they
(00:36):
share their unfiltered storiesand valuable lessons on securing
funds securing funds.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Okay, so everybody's in for us to get started.
First, I want to welcome youall to our webinar series Giving
Power to the Business Owner.
I'm your host, jacquelineJackson, and I am a loan broker
with TDJ Equity Funding.
So, as dedicated loan brokers,what we try to do, our mission,
is to have to simplify thecomplexity of funding and also,
at the same time, we try tooffer resources that will
(01:13):
actually help our clients toreach those goals that they try
to reach.
So part of that is what we'redoing today.
Today's session is designed todo just that.
We're talking about from clicksto capital leveraging, digital
marketing to secure businessloans.
Okay, so that's what we'redoing today, and so I guess that
(01:35):
we have, and I definitely amexcited to talk about Gerald,
because I'm so proud ofeverything that he does.
But to introduce you is GeraldBass.
He's a digital marketing expertfrom Atlanta, georgia.
He is the CEO and founder ofthe Rise of the 1%.
Now listen to what these guysdo.
They're a consulting firm,digital marketing firm,
(01:58):
e-learning platform and coursecreation.
I do know personally thatGerald also does a lot of
coaching, and that's how wefound him on some of the great
work he's been doing and some ofour clients sent to him.
So we are really blessed tohave him on us, to have him with
us.
Now he knows what stops us frommoving forward and how to
change that.
(02:18):
The stops that he has seen inbusiness marketing are the same
that we've seen as loan brokers.
So that is why we brought himin today, so that we can
actually get this started.
So, first of all, thank you andwelcome, gerald, for coming in.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
No problem.
Thank you, Jackie, for havingme.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Okay, we want to start off and go into our
questions, and one of the firstquestions we want to talk about
is the fact people do not let memake a statement, give
background they don't thinktheir digital presence will
actually play such a part onthem getting funding.
So, you and I had thisconversation and experience
where you have to take clientsand try to help them out, where
(02:57):
they can look a lot better, andso you already know that.
So could you tell our audiencehow important is a professional
website in establishingcredibility, and what essential
features should it include?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Okay, well, a website is very important because it
actually, for one, establishesthat you're actually really in
business when it comes to theselenders or what have you, and it
gives you credibility.
When it comes to the websitesetup, I would say the first
(03:31):
thing when lenders land on yourwebsite they should see is, for
one, the name of your company,who you serve, how you serve
them.
Okay, matter of fact, we liketo call it a Wilfam statement
W-I-F-M, which stands for what'sin it for me.
When people land on yourwebsite even lenders land on
your website they want to knowwhat's in it for the people that
(03:53):
are actually visiting thewebsite.
So that's the first thing.
Another thing as well, which wehave found to be great to be on
websites, when it comes topotential lenders as well for
your business, is having yourmission and your vision
statement on the website.
That's great as well.
Another thing, too, is havingwhat we call your unique value
(04:20):
proposition statement, so,primarily, what makes your
business unique in the marketcompared to other businesses.
That's within the market aswell.
And another thing as well, ofcourse, have your products or
your services on your websiteand also, if you have any like
testimonials, reviews or casestudies from clients.
(04:40):
That's always great to have onyour website as well.
Now, another thing I would sayis all websites don't have to
have this necessarily to getfunding or what have you, but it
still helps, I believe, is ifyou can have some type of blog
(05:00):
in terms of content as well onthe website, like educational
content, right for yourparticular audience, so you know
your marketing and stuff likethat on there as well, that
helps too, right, yeah, so thoseare some of the things I would
say.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
So basically what you're saying is basically what
we go through, which is we tryto.
We have to make a story, wehave to make a summary, we call
it a long story and so when weget ready to make that, we go to
the web.
Like I said, we go there asloan brokers and I know my loan
officers that we've dealt withat banks.
They do the same thing and,like what you said, it has to be
(05:36):
basically summing it up.
It has to make sense.
You have to be consistent in whoyou are, and I think what
happens when we start doingwebsites on our own, we don't
take and this is just us sayingwhat we see that comes into the
office a lot of what we do.
Okay, right, we put it togetherbased on not really considering
(05:56):
who necessarily going to lookat it for us on the money side,
you know, because we doinvestors or lenders, and don't
get me wrong, I think ourclients, your customers, are the
same way, like what you'resaying.
They're looking at it.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
But on their end.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
They're trying to look for consistency.
Did you say that you do aclothing store and then they
look and see that you dospeaking and gazing?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Right, right, right.
Yeah, they look for consistency.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
And I think and I'm going to tell you when you what
good with having you around isthe fact that having you part of
their team is that you helpthem to be consistent and make
sure what's business is businessright.
That's why they should jump andtry to do it on their own
because, like I said, you'rebringing the expertise, is
what's needed and that's whatsaved them, I believe, on
looking the way that they needto look, uh, when it comes to
(06:40):
them setting up the website.
So, everything you named inthat website they need, they
should have it because, remember, we got to see that the
business established and thatwhat are you doing and how
you're doing, without youtelling us anything.
So see that that's veryimportant.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Yeah, and I would say as well, Jackie.
one more element, too, that youdefinitely want to make sure is
on that website as well is yourcontact information, and the
contact information needs to be,of course, you know, a business
email, a company email,typically and some type of
business phone number as well,not your cell phone, not your
cell phone number actualbusiness phone number.
(07:16):
And also, as well, a companyemail address, not a Gmail or
Hotmail.
Actual business address,support address right, and also
a business physical address.
A business physical address,whether that's a virtual address
, or even some type of officeaddress, right, or either way, I
would say too.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And see and that is that's what I'm saying what all
that you're saying?
That is what we look at, whatthe lenders looked at and I
didn't realize how heavy theywere looking at it until we
dealt with the underwriters.
That were like, we looked themup and he said he does
construction, but we don't seeany of this stuff.
Look like some handyman stuff,and this is stuff they've had in
(07:54):
feedback.
Not necessarily we got, butthey talk about it.
So we know that's a problem outthere and that's why it was so
important.
So, along with that and I thinkyou kind of answered this next
question I had for you, but, ifso, we just repeat it or just
add it, because it is somethingthat I wanted to ask to make
sure you were able to answerthat which is what are the key
components of a strong digitalpresence that can attract a
(08:18):
lender or even investors?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yeah, gotcha, yeah with a digital presence.
I know we just talked about thewebsite, but also as well, in
terms of a digital presence,your social media presence as
well.
Right, and like you were justsaying, jacqueline, in terms of
being consistent on the website,in terms of your business not
having all these different typesof offices or businesses on one
business, you want to have asocial media page, right.
(08:44):
Let's say, for instance,facebook page right, it needs to
for one, whatever the companyname is for that particular
Facebook business page needs tobe the same thing if you're
going to set up an Instagrambusiness page right, it needs to
be the same thing.
If you're going to set up anInstagram business page, it
needs to be the same thing ifyou're going to set up a company
page.
If you're going to start aYouTube channel or what have you
(09:08):
, it needs to be congruentacross all platforms In terms of
a strong digital presence.
Get on as many of the platformsas you can and create that
omnipresence right Across social, to even search as well on the
internet.
But I would say as well how youhave your pages set up, too,
(09:30):
right, so when they land on,let's say, a LinkedIn company
page, for an example right,having a background cover photo
up there can potentially have,like your name of your business,
your logo, who you serve, howyou serve them for the actual
profile picture, a picture ofyour company logo, the name of
(09:50):
your business up there In termsof the about me session.
I'm just using LinkedIn for anexample In terms of the about me
session, pretty much writing itup where it actually speaks to
the pains, problems orfrustrations of your market.
Maybe give them some solutionsin terms of how you help solve
those problems and give themsome type of call to action.
If those people that land onyour company page need some
(10:13):
assistance, they can inbox youor they can call you or book a
call or whatever the case may be.
You'll want that on there aswell in terms of some strong
digital presence and, of course,content as well educational
content and things of thatnature, right?
So, those are some of the thingsI will say.
I'm just using LinkedIn as anexample, but you'll want to have
(10:35):
that consistent across thedifferent platforms that you're
on and whatever you kind ofchoose.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
So and basically you and I both are telling people
business owners your digitalpresence is way more important
than you think, and I was onethat did not think it was that
great.
But once we started workingwith the banks and the lenders
and things we were finding out,they're like, ok, what's the
(11:01):
website?
Want to make sure they had awebsite and I thought we just
putting it in, just to beputting it.
But no, they going in andlooking and we get calls back
saying, hey, this is what theysay, but this is what we see.
So we were like, oh, so that'swhy we felt it was important to
bring you in.
That was important to bring youin.
So another question that wehave for you is what type of
(11:22):
content should the businessfocus on to engage, maybe,
potential lenders or conveytheir value to people?
I know you mentioned the blogsand stuff like that.
What else do you do to do that,to convey that?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Yeah, I mean in terms of content.
It's different ways you can goabout content.
For one, you can have writtenposts where you just write up a
post, don't necessarily have tohave an image of video, but
you're just educating.
So, for instance, if you was infinancial services, let's say
you did bookkeeping you mightwrite up a post of 10 things you
need to know before hiring abookkeeper.
(11:53):
You may just write up avaluable post.
You don't necessarily have tohave an image of video all the
time.
Or, in some cases, if you havesome type of compelling image
you want to attach to that post,you can do that.
Or even a small video clip aswell, which you actually
speaking in the video to sharethat information.
So that's what I would saythere.
(12:14):
Of course, on LinkedIn, you canwrite articles as well from
time to time if you want to goabout doing that.
Those are some of the ways youcan go about creating content.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I agree.
I'm going to say this to add toit too.
When you mentioned it, Iremember a we had where one
underwriter was going to look ata person as a matter of fact,
was a speaker and what they weredoing was trying to look for
personality, like you know whatblogs have.
They were, you know how you,like you said, write educational
blogs, but you need to show youan expert in your field.
(12:49):
Some blogs need to be in there,even if you got guests or
whatever we think that need tobe in there, and anything that's
more personal, family, friendtype ones.
You want to put something inthere once or just so they can
know how you are.
And I remember you did a youwere talking or speaking, I
think and you mentionedsomething about putting a little
bit more of your personalityyeah, the human element.
(13:09):
So that's something that Ithink is really important,
because you can't talk to theunderwriters.
They got to go based on whatyou wrote up and what they see.
So that's how important digitalprison is, because you're not
there and they're just going tolook at what you have.
And you're right, they're goingto look for those main points.
So I think that's good.
So let's talk more about how do, as a business owner, do we put
(13:32):
that human element in to ourdigital prison?
How do we do that?
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, yeah.
So I have this concept calledthe four E's of social media
marketing in terms of the typeof content you want to be
putting out.
So the first E is enlighteningcontent.
You want to inspire, so put outinspirational type of stuff on
your page.
The second E is educate, whichis what we just talked about
(13:57):
educational content, right.
The third e, like jack was justsaying I've spoken on in terms
of the human element as well, isentertaining, slash lifestyle
from time to time.
Okay, just to put more of ahuman element so they can.
Because at times, like on thesedifferent platforms, when you
see just people's page and it'sjust fully business at times and
there's no type of humanelement, sometimes you don't
(14:19):
know if this is a bogus page.
There's people out herecreating fake pages on social
media and stuff like that.
They're doing all this AI typestuff now in terms of postings
and stuff.
So it's good to actually see asan actual, real human Right.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
That's what you're saying and thought of it that
way, you're right.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So you know, showing a littlelifestyle from time to time,
that you do live life outside ofthe business.
Um, and then the last e isengaging content.
Just posting content to getpeople to engage, comment, share
on your content as well, right?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
and I know now let me say this so, so people can know
, because I know you have likeyour startup, so let's, let's
make sure we're gonna talk aboutthat too, right?
Somebody that's starting up,and you know, startup money, we
can get up to 150 000, somethinglike that.
And then we have the peoplethat's been in business for a
minute.
Right, that should also showwhen we look at people's digital
(15:10):
presence, don't you think?
Because when you start, I mean,I'm thinking you don't want to
have like a full, all of thisstuff, especially if you you
starting up.
You know that's why, becausesome people just kind of pull up
everything and then when youhave somebody that has been
there for a while, they mighthave less stuff when they need
more.
So, my thing is talk to us about, you know at what level.
(15:32):
What should we have startingout and what we should end with?
Probably when it comes to ourdigital presence for a starting
out market, because people don'tknow where to start, they'll
know where to go gerald, they'llknow what?
Speaker 3 (15:42):
yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, the first thing you got todo, like I say, is whatever
your company name is or which abrand is going to be centered
around, make sure that thatcompany name or brand is
available for you to be able touse that name across the
platforms.
And you actually can go to asite it's called name check and
(16:05):
it's a way that you can actuallypull up to see if that
particular name that you want togo with across all platforms is
actually available.
So that's the first thing, andonce you establish that that
name is available, then fromthere you want to go on and set
up all your pages on theplatforms where your audience
will be hanging out with thoseparticular names.
(16:27):
So you want to start therefirst and then, like I was just
saying earlier, jacqueline, it'sjust really them just making
sure they got a real compellingbackground cover photo on the
pages across the platformprofessional, uh, profile
picture, or, if you're going touse the logo on the company page
, great, and then just fillingin all the necessary information
(16:48):
that the platform is askingfrom you and pertains to you or
your business, right, and thengo on and start to post content.
Don't have like a naked page,you.
You got to start posting.
Come up with a schedule in termsof what days, what times,
you're going to have content, goout and start to be consistent
with it if you're starting offfrom the beginning.
So that's what I would say interms of a startup.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
yeah, Probably for them to kind of do, and that's
right, because you know whatPeople do, that they don't put
everything on that they need,and that's why I think what you
guys do and if you guys have aproblem with this hotel, but
they need to come see you,gerald, your team can actually
help them, whether they juststarted or they've been doing it
for a while, because the thingyou don't want to do is find out
what you're doing is not right,and you don't want to find out
(17:34):
when you're trying to close on aloan and you know the questions
are coming back and it's moredealing with your presence, of
what you look like and theyreally questioning what you do.
And you're right, that'ssomething you said.
I didn't think about it.
But we are dealing with a lotof cyber uh threats.
That's out there, right.
They are going in and usingpeople, and you right.
So it's best for you to fillthat up instead of be a naked
(17:56):
page.
You made a good point, you knowif anything safety-wise, do
something.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Right, exactly, exactly.
And one thing I do want to addin there too for a startup you
got to keep in mind too ifyou're just starting, you got to
grow your network.
You got to grow your audiencetoo, because you're going to be
putting a lot of posts out andif you don't really have anyone
following the page or followingyou or connecting with you, I'm
going to really be seeing yourposts and then, on top of that,
(18:24):
even to lenders at the same timeif they don't see you really
have much of a following.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Or the way or the last time you post was two
months ago, three months ago.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Exactly Inconsistency , right that too.
Months right, exactlyinconsistency, right that too.
Right that it too.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
so you got to make sure you're doing that as well.
Right, and and I think now morethan it was years ago your
digital presence.
That's what.
That's why we all have beenshocked, because a lot of us
that we all work together, ourteam, we're like, we're business
owners.
So, basically, what you'refinding out is that a lot of
people have just have actuallyexperienced that that, being a
business, the digital presence,that wasn't so noticeable years
(19:02):
ago it is now.
I mean you really have to dealwith it.
Even if you're not dealing withit, you're going to have to
deal with it.
That's what I think what youguys do.
I think business owners need toget more involved with you,
because you're seeing, you knowhow people images are not being
conveyed as deep as people areusing it, right.
You all deal with that a lottoo, don't you?
yeah, absolutely yeah, so I know.
(19:24):
So we have that.
So let me ask you this.
So, when it comes to the seo,how can businesses utilize seo
strategies to increase theirvisibility online and improve
their chances of securing sometype of funding?
And we know that by lookinglegit, but go ahead yeah,
absolutely well with yourwebsite.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
First of all, if you want to rank on like google or
what have you, then it justcomes with making sure that for
the specific keywords that youwould want, you know your
audience to find your websiteoff of right or they'll be
searching for on Google Right,to make sure those specific
keywords are actually goingthrough the website or even
(20:06):
going through blog posts.
If you're putting up blog postsin terms of your blog, that
helps with them actually beingable to find you on Google and
ranking on Google.
Linkedin as well is an SEOoptimized platform too, based
off of, once again, specifickeywords going throughout your
LinkedIn profile, to even usinghashtags up in the description
(20:29):
of your profile that youraudience may be actually
searching for on LinkedIn.
They can find you too that waySEO-wise, and that looks very
presentable once again tolenders, you know you can find
your website.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
You saying use the social media platforms more for
your SEO, kind of getting yourprofiles built out.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
That's yeah, it helps with you ranking your profiles
on platforms too, like you know,google and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yeah right, and that does so.
And so let me say this part too, because when you said that
about the websites and stuff andI know we're talking on that a
lot, but it does matter youdon't have, like I had, we had a
.
Well, we were told, aninsurance guy was an insurance
guy, but he did public speakingand what he did is put it all
together on the website.
(21:16):
So so when they went looking,they said, oh, we can help with
this.
Was that public speaking?
He was a coach.
We can help with the coaching,we can do the coaching for him,
and he said we can help withthat.
But then when they found out itwas an insurance they do not
fund insurance agencies so guesswhat?
They couldn't fund him Becauseyou had it all on the same site.
(21:37):
Exactly, I think you talked onthat right.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
You got to separate that.
Yeah, you need a whole separatewebsite if you're going to do
insurance from the coaching.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
And I think when people come and that's what I
like about you guys you're goingto help tell them, whether they
like it or not, what you'regoing to say.
You're going to tell them thetruth.
You can't run that together.
I know you won't do, but youcan, and that's what people need
.
They need us, you know, andyou're not going to let them go
out there like that.
(22:07):
But people think or I had oneperson that said oh, I'm using
my husband's LLC to do what?
Oh, I'm opening up a cookieshop, but your husband's a
plumber.
So you know, and that's when sheand she actually had it all set
up.
So I'm like you can't do that.
So that's why, again, this iswhy it's important for us to
have that image and what we needto do.
So if you would, before weleave, what is one thing you
(22:27):
would love to tell everybodybefore we head out?
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Yeah, I would just say in terms of what we spoke on
on this webinar.
In terms of what we spoke on onthis webinar definitely
identify two to three thingsthat you can definitely take
action to.
Hopefully you know this was avalue to you to tune in now or
just going to watch this replayHopefully some of this stuff
(22:52):
that we share you actually canutilize to better your website
right, better your digitalpresence, better your social
media so that you can go out andreally get the funding to
really be able to grow yourbusiness.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
So that's what I would say there.
Exactly, and you guys know youcan reach out to him or you
could reach out to us.
You have our website as well,because we don't do marketing he
does.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
We don't do digital, he does.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
So we will definitely get you with him, but we aim to
provide you with extraactionable takeaways.
And we hopefully that we didthat today.
We do ask if you would tune into learn more about what we have
going on, which is on ourYouTube channel, and what we
want to do is thank so much.
Thank you for being a part ofour show today talking to you
tomorrow.
Thank you, thank you, and wewant the rest of you to tune
into this show as well, alongwith other shows that we have at
(23:44):
TDJ Equity Funding Insiders,our YouTube channel, want to
thank you and you all take care,absolutely.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
We hope you enjoyed this episode of TDJ Equity
Funding Insiders Podcast.
If you'd like to be a guest orget in touch with us, please
visit our website attdjequityllcnet, forward slash
podcast or email us at podcastat tdjequityfundinginsidersnet.
Until next time, take care.
Ready to get the inside scoop on equity funding?
Tune in to TDJ Equity FundingInsiders Podcast for an in-depth
look at what it takes to accessfinancial capital and maximize
your investments.
Hear from experiencedprofessionals, including bankers
, underwriters, loan officersand industry experts, as they
(00:36):
share their unfiltered storiesand valuable lessons on securing
funds securing funds.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Okay, so everybody's in for us to get started.
First, I want to welcome youall to our webinar series Giving
Power to the Business Owner.
I'm your host, jacquelineJackson, and I am a loan broker
with TDJ Equity Funding.
So, as dedicated loan brokers,what we try to do, our mission,
is to have to simplify thecomplexity of funding and also,
at the same time, we try tooffer resources that will
(01:13):
actually help our clients toreach those goals that they try
to reach.
So part of that is what we'redoing today.
Today's session is designed todo just that.
We're talking about from clicksto capital leveraging, digital
marketing to secure businessloans.
Okay, so that's what we'redoing today, and so I guess that
(01:35):
we have, and I definitely amexcited to talk about Gerald,
because I'm so proud ofeverything that he does.
But to introduce you is GeraldBass.
He's a digital marketing expertfrom Atlanta, georgia.
He is the CEO and founder ofthe Rise of the 1%.
Now listen to what these guysdo.
They're a consulting firm,digital marketing firm,
(01:58):
e-learning platform and coursecreation.
I do know personally thatGerald also does a lot of
coaching, and that's how wefound him on some of the great
work he's been doing and some ofour clients sent to him.
So we are really blessed tohave him on us, to have him with
us.
Now he knows what stops us frommoving forward and how to
change that.
(02:18):
The stops that he has seen inbusiness marketing are the same
that we've seen as loan brokers.
So that is why we brought himin today, so that we can
actually get this started.
So, first of all, thank you andwelcome, gerald, for coming in.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
No problem.
Thank you, Jackie, for havingme.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Okay, we want to start off and go into our
questions, and one of the firstquestions we want to talk about
is the fact people do not let memake a statement, give
background they don't thinktheir digital presence will
actually play such a part onthem getting funding.
So, you and I had thisconversation and experience
where you have to take clientsand try to help them out, where
(02:57):
they can look a lot better, andso you already know that.
So could you tell our audiencehow important is a professional
website in establishingcredibility, and what essential
features should it include?
Speaker 3 (03:11):
Okay, well, a website is very important because it
actually, for one, establishesthat you're actually really in
business when it comes to theselenders or what have you, and it
gives you credibility.
When it comes to the websitesetup, I would say the first
(03:31):
thing when lenders land on yourwebsite they should see is, for
one, the name of your company,who you serve, how you serve
them.
Okay, matter of fact, we liketo call it a Wilfam statement
W-I-F-M, which stands for what'sin it for me.
When people land on yourwebsite even lenders land on
your website they want to knowwhat's in it for the people that
(03:53):
are actually visiting thewebsite.
So that's the first thing.
Another thing as well, which wehave found to be great to be on
websites, when it comes topotential lenders as well for
your business, is having yourmission and your vision
statement on the website.
That's great as well.
Another thing, too, is havingwhat we call your unique value
(04:20):
proposition statement, so,primarily, what makes your
business unique in the marketcompared to other businesses.
That's within the market aswell.
And another thing as well, ofcourse, have your products or
your services on your websiteand also, if you have any like
testimonials, reviews or casestudies from clients.
(04:40):
That's always great to have onyour website as well.
Now, another thing I would sayis all websites don't have to
have this necessarily to getfunding or what have you, but it
still helps, I believe, is ifyou can have some type of blog
(05:00):
in terms of content as well onthe website, like educational
content, right for yourparticular audience, so you know
your marketing and stuff likethat on there as well, that
helps too, right, yeah, so thoseare some of the things I would
say.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
So basically what you're saying is basically what
we go through, which is we tryto.
We have to make a story, wehave to make a summary, we call
it a long story and so when weget ready to make that, we go to
the web.
Like I said, we go there asloan brokers and I know my loan
officers that we've dealt withat banks.
They do the same thing and,like what you said, it has to be
(05:36):
basically summing it up.
It has to make sense.
You have to be consistent in whoyou are, and I think what
happens when we start doingwebsites on our own, we don't
take and this is just us sayingwhat we see that comes into the
office a lot of what we do.
Okay, right, we put it togetherbased on not really considering
(05:56):
who necessarily going to lookat it for us on the money side,
you know, because we doinvestors or lenders, and don't
get me wrong, I think ourclients, your customers, are the
same way, like what you'resaying.
They're looking at it.
Speaker 1 (06:07):
But on their end.
Speaker 2 (06:07):
They're trying to look for consistency.
Did you say that you do aclothing store and then they
look and see that you dospeaking and gazing?
Speaker 3 (06:14):
Right, right, right.
Yeah, they look for consistency.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
And I think and I'm going to tell you when you what
good with having you around isthe fact that having you part of
their team is that you helpthem to be consistent and make
sure what's business is businessright.
That's why they should jump andtry to do it on their own
because, like I said, you'rebringing the expertise, is
what's needed and that's whatsaved them, I believe, on
looking the way that they needto look, uh, when it comes to
(06:40):
them setting up the website.
So, everything you named inthat website they need, they
should have it because, remember, we got to see that the
business established and thatwhat are you doing and how
you're doing, without youtelling us anything.
So see that that's veryimportant.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Yeah, and I would say as well, Jackie.
one more element, too, that youdefinitely want to make sure is
on that website as well is yourcontact information, and the
contact information needs to be,of course, you know, a business
email, a company email,typically and some type of
business phone number as well,not your cell phone, not your
cell phone number actualbusiness phone number.
(07:16):
And also, as well, a companyemail address, not a Gmail or
Hotmail.
Actual business address,support address right, and also
a business physical address.
A business physical address,whether that's a virtual address
, or even some type of officeaddress, right, or either way, I
would say too.
Speaker 2 (07:34):
And see and that is that's what I'm saying what all
that you're saying?
That is what we look at, whatthe lenders looked at and I
didn't realize how heavy theywere looking at it until we
dealt with the underwriters.
That were like, we looked themup and he said he does
construction, but we don't seeany of this stuff.
Look like some handyman stuff,and this is stuff they've had in
(07:54):
feedback.
Not necessarily we got, butthey talk about it.
So we know that's a problem outthere and that's why it was so
important.
So, along with that and I thinkyou kind of answered this next
question I had for you, but, ifso, we just repeat it or just
add it, because it is somethingthat I wanted to ask to make
sure you were able to answerthat which is what are the key
components of a strong digitalpresence that can attract a
(08:18):
lender or even investors?
Speaker 3 (08:20):
Yeah, gotcha, yeah with a digital presence.
I know we just talked about thewebsite, but also as well, in
terms of a digital presence,your social media presence as
well.
Right, and like you were justsaying, jacqueline, in terms of
being consistent on the website,in terms of your business not
having all these different typesof offices or businesses on one
business, you want to have asocial media page, right.
(08:44):
Let's say, for instance,facebook page right, it needs to
for one, whatever the companyname is for that particular
Facebook business page needs tobe the same thing if you're
going to set up an Instagrambusiness page right, it needs to
be the same thing.
If you're going to set up anInstagram business page, it
needs to be the same thing ifyou're going to set up a company
page.
If you're going to start aYouTube channel or what have you
(09:08):
, it needs to be congruentacross all platforms In terms of
a strong digital presence.
Get on as many of the platformsas you can and create that
omnipresence right Across social, to even search as well on the
internet.
But I would say as well how youhave your pages set up, too,
(09:30):
right, so when they land on,let's say, a LinkedIn company
page, for an example right,having a background cover photo
up there can potentially have,like your name of your business,
your logo, who you serve, howyou serve them for the actual
profile picture, a picture ofyour company logo, the name of
(09:50):
your business up there In termsof the about me session.
I'm just using LinkedIn for anexample In terms of the about me
session, pretty much writing itup where it actually speaks to
the pains, problems orfrustrations of your market.
Maybe give them some solutionsin terms of how you help solve
those problems and give themsome type of call to action.
If those people that land onyour company page need some
(10:13):
assistance, they can inbox youor they can call you or book a
call or whatever the case may be.
You'll want that on there aswell in terms of some strong
digital presence and, of course,content as well educational
content and things of thatnature, right?
So, those are some of the thingsI will say.
I'm just using LinkedIn as anexample, but you'll want to have
(10:35):
that consistent across thedifferent platforms that you're
on and whatever you kind ofchoose.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
So and basically you and I both are telling people
business owners your digitalpresence is way more important
than you think, and I was onethat did not think it was that
great.
But once we started workingwith the banks and the lenders
and things we were finding out,they're like, ok, what's the
(11:01):
website?
Want to make sure they had awebsite and I thought we just
putting it in, just to beputting it.
But no, they going in andlooking and we get calls back
saying, hey, this is what theysay, but this is what we see.
So we were like, oh, so that'swhy we felt it was important to
bring you in.
That was important to bring youin.
So another question that wehave for you is what type of
(11:22):
content should the businessfocus on to engage, maybe,
potential lenders or conveytheir value to people?
I know you mentioned the blogsand stuff like that.
What else do you do to do that,to convey that?
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Yeah, I mean in terms of content.
It's different ways you can goabout content.
For one, you can have writtenposts where you just write up a
post, don't necessarily have tohave an image of video, but
you're just educating.
So, for instance, if you was infinancial services, let's say
you did bookkeeping you mightwrite up a post of 10 things you
need to know before hiring abookkeeper.
(11:53):
You may just write up avaluable post.
You don't necessarily have tohave an image of video all the
time.
Or, in some cases, if you havesome type of compelling image
you want to attach to that post,you can do that.
Or even a small video clip aswell, which you actually
speaking in the video to sharethat information.
So that's what I would saythere.
(12:14):
Of course, on LinkedIn, you canwrite articles as well from
time to time if you want to goabout doing that.
Those are some of the ways youcan go about creating content.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
I agree.
I'm going to say this to add toit too.
When you mentioned it, Iremember a we had where one
underwriter was going to look ata person as a matter of fact,
was a speaker and what they weredoing was trying to look for
personality, like you know whatblogs have.
They were, you know how you,like you said, write educational
blogs, but you need to show youan expert in your field.
(12:49):
Some blogs need to be in there,even if you got guests or
whatever we think that need tobe in there, and anything that's
more personal, family, friendtype ones.
You want to put something inthere once or just so they can
know how you are.
And I remember you did a youwere talking or speaking, I
think and you mentionedsomething about putting a little
bit more of your personalityyeah, the human element.
(13:09):
So that's something that Ithink is really important,
because you can't talk to theunderwriters.
They got to go based on whatyou wrote up and what they see.
So that's how important digitalprison is, because you're not
there and they're just going tolook at what you have.
And you're right, they're goingto look for those main points.
So I think that's good.
So let's talk more about how do, as a business owner, do we put
(13:32):
that human element in to ourdigital prison?
How do we do that?
Speaker 3 (13:36):
Yeah, yeah.
So I have this concept calledthe four E's of social media
marketing in terms of the typeof content you want to be
putting out.
So the first E is enlighteningcontent.
You want to inspire, so put outinspirational type of stuff on
your page.
The second E is educate, whichis what we just talked about
(13:57):
educational content, right.
The third e, like jack was justsaying I've spoken on in terms
of the human element as well, isentertaining, slash lifestyle
from time to time.
Okay, just to put more of ahuman element so they can.
Because at times, like on thesedifferent platforms, when you
see just people's page and it'sjust fully business at times and
there's no type of humanelement, sometimes you don't
(14:19):
know if this is a bogus page.
There's people out herecreating fake pages on social
media and stuff like that.
They're doing all this AI typestuff now in terms of postings
and stuff.
So it's good to actually see asan actual, real human Right.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
That's what you're saying and thought of it that
way, you're right.
Speaker 3 (14:35):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So you know, showing a littlelifestyle from time to time,
that you do live life outside ofthe business.
Um, and then the last e isengaging content.
Just posting content to getpeople to engage, comment, share
on your content as well, right?
Speaker 2 (14:50):
and I know now let me say this so, so people can know
, because I know you have likeyour startup, so let's, let's
make sure we're gonna talk aboutthat too, right?
Somebody that's starting up,and you know, startup money, we
can get up to 150 000, somethinglike that.
And then we have the peoplethat's been in business for a
minute.
Right, that should also showwhen we look at people's digital
(15:10):
presence, don't you think?
Because when you start, I mean,I'm thinking you don't want to
have like a full, all of thisstuff, especially if you you
starting up.
You know that's why, becausesome people just kind of pull up
everything and then when youhave somebody that has been
there for a while, they mighthave less stuff when they need
more.
So, my thing is talk to us about, you know at what level.
(15:32):
What should we have startingout and what we should end with?
Probably when it comes to ourdigital presence for a starting
out market, because people don'tknow where to start, they'll
know where to go gerald, they'llknow what?
Speaker 3 (15:42):
yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, the first thing you got todo, like I say, is whatever
your company name is or which abrand is going to be centered
around, make sure that thatcompany name or brand is
available for you to be able touse that name across the
platforms.
And you actually can go to asite it's called name check and
(16:05):
it's a way that you can actuallypull up to see if that
particular name that you want togo with across all platforms is
actually available.
So that's the first thing, andonce you establish that that
name is available, then fromthere you want to go on and set
up all your pages on theplatforms where your audience
will be hanging out with thoseparticular names.
(16:27):
So you want to start therefirst and then, like I was just
saying earlier, jacqueline, it'sjust really them just making
sure they got a real compellingbackground cover photo on the
pages across the platformprofessional, uh, profile
picture, or, if you're going touse the logo on the company page
, great, and then just fillingin all the necessary information
(16:48):
that the platform is askingfrom you and pertains to you or
your business, right, and thengo on and start to post content.
Don't have like a naked page,you.
You got to start posting.
Come up with a schedule in termsof what days, what times,
you're going to have content, goout and start to be consistent
with it if you're starting offfrom the beginning.
So that's what I would say interms of a startup.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
yeah, Probably for them to kind of do, and that's
right, because you know whatPeople do, that they don't put
everything on that they need,and that's why I think what you
guys do and if you guys have aproblem with this hotel, but
they need to come see you,gerald, your team can actually
help them, whether they juststarted or they've been doing it
for a while, because the thingyou don't want to do is find out
what you're doing is not right,and you don't want to find out
(17:34):
when you're trying to close on aloan and you know the questions
are coming back and it's moredealing with your presence, of
what you look like and theyreally questioning what you do.
And you're right, that'ssomething you said.
I didn't think about it.
But we are dealing with a lotof cyber uh threats.
That's out there, right.
They are going in and usingpeople, and you right.
So it's best for you to fillthat up instead of be a naked
(17:56):
page.
You made a good point, you knowif anything safety-wise, do
something.
Speaker 3 (18:01):
Right, exactly, exactly.
And one thing I do want to addin there too for a startup you
got to keep in mind too ifyou're just starting, you got to
grow your network.
You got to grow your audiencetoo, because you're going to be
putting a lot of posts out andif you don't really have anyone
following the page or followingyou or connecting with you, I'm
going to really be seeing yourposts and then, on top of that,
(18:24):
even to lenders at the same timeif they don't see you really
have much of a following.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Or the way or the last time you post was two
months ago, three months ago.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Exactly Inconsistency , right that too.
Months right, exactlyinconsistency, right that too.
Right that it too.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:41):
so you got to make sure you're doing that as well.
Right, and and I think now morethan it was years ago your
digital presence.
That's what.
That's why we all have beenshocked, because a lot of us
that we all work together, ourteam, we're like, we're business
owners.
So, basically, what you'refinding out is that a lot of
people have just have actuallyexperienced that that, being a
business, the digital presence,that wasn't so noticeable years
(19:02):
ago it is now.
I mean you really have to dealwith it.
Even if you're not dealing withit, you're going to have to
deal with it.
That's what I think what youguys do.
I think business owners need toget more involved with you,
because you're seeing, you knowhow people images are not being
conveyed as deep as people areusing it, right.
You all deal with that a lottoo, don't you?
yeah, absolutely yeah, so I know.
(19:24):
So we have that.
So let me ask you this.
So, when it comes to the seo,how can businesses utilize seo
strategies to increase theirvisibility online and improve
their chances of securing sometype of funding?
And we know that by lookinglegit, but go ahead yeah,
absolutely well with yourwebsite.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
First of all, if you want to rank on like google or
what have you, then it justcomes with making sure that for
the specific keywords that youwould want, you know your
audience to find your websiteoff of right or they'll be
searching for on Google Right,to make sure those specific
keywords are actually goingthrough the website or even
(20:06):
going through blog posts.
If you're putting up blog postsin terms of your blog, that
helps with them actually beingable to find you on Google and
ranking on Google.
Linkedin as well is an SEOoptimized platform too, based
off of, once again, specifickeywords going throughout your
LinkedIn profile, to even usinghashtags up in the description
(20:29):
of your profile that youraudience may be actually
searching for on LinkedIn.
They can find you too that waySEO-wise, and that looks very
presentable once again tolenders, you know you can find
your website.
Speaker 2 (20:43):
You saying use the social media platforms more for
your SEO, kind of getting yourprofiles built out.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
That's yeah, it helps with you ranking your profiles
on platforms too, like you know,google and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
Yeah right, and that does so.
And so let me say this part too, because when you said that
about the websites and stuff andI know we're talking on that a
lot, but it does matter youdon't have, like I had, we had a
.
Well, we were told, aninsurance guy was an insurance
guy, but he did public speakingand what he did is put it all
together on the website.
(21:16):
So so when they went looking,they said, oh, we can help with
this.
Was that public speaking?
He was a coach.
We can help with the coaching,we can do the coaching for him,
and he said we can help withthat.
But then when they found out itwas an insurance they do not
fund insurance agencies so guesswhat?
They couldn't fund him Becauseyou had it all on the same site.
(21:37):
Exactly, I think you talked onthat right.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
You got to separate that.
Yeah, you need a whole separatewebsite if you're going to do
insurance from the coaching.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
And I think when people come and that's what I
like about you guys you're goingto help tell them, whether they
like it or not, what you'regoing to say.
You're going to tell them thetruth.
You can't run that together.
I know you won't do, but youcan, and that's what people need
.
They need us, you know, andyou're not going to let them go
out there like that.
(22:07):
But people think or I had oneperson that said oh, I'm using
my husband's LLC to do what?
Oh, I'm opening up a cookieshop, but your husband's a
plumber.
So you know, and that's when sheand she actually had it all set
up.
So I'm like you can't do that.
So that's why, again, this iswhy it's important for us to
have that image and what we needto do.
So if you would, before weleave, what is one thing you
(22:27):
would love to tell everybodybefore we head out?
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Yeah, I would just say in terms of what we spoke on
on this webinar.
In terms of what we spoke on onthis webinar definitely
identify two to three thingsthat you can definitely take
action to.
Hopefully you know this was avalue to you to tune in now or
just going to watch this replayHopefully some of this stuff
(22:52):
that we share you actually canutilize to better your website
right, better your digitalpresence, better your social
media so that you can go out andreally get the funding to
really be able to grow yourbusiness.
Speaker 2 (23:04):
So that's what I would say there.
Exactly, and you guys know youcan reach out to him or you
could reach out to us.
You have our website as well,because we don't do marketing he
does.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
We don't do digital, he does.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
So we will definitely get you with him, but we aim to
provide you with extraactionable takeaways.
And we hopefully that we didthat today.
We do ask if you would tune into learn more about what we have
going on, which is on ourYouTube channel, and what we
want to do is thank so much.
Thank you for being a part ofour show today talking to you
tomorrow.
Thank you, thank you, and wewant the rest of you to tune
into this show as well, alongwith other shows that we have at
(23:44):
TDJ Equity Funding Insiders,our YouTube channel, want to
thank you and you all take care,absolutely.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
We hope you enjoyed this episode of TDJ Equity
Funding Insiders Podcast.
If you'd like to be a guest orget in touch with us, please
visit our website attdjequityllcnet, forward slash
podcast or email us at podcastat tdjequityfundinginsidersnet.
Until next time, take care.
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