Bob Reina is the Founder & CEO of video marketing company Talk Fusion. Established in 2007, Talk Fusion first opened its doors with its flagship product, Video Email. Combining his 20 years’ experience in the marketing and direct selling industries, Bob spearheads the company’s global success with his innovative vision, charismatic leadership, and passion for helping others. Bob believes in a strong commitment to giving back to family, friends, communities, and animal charities across the world.
How did you get started in this business? What inspired you to start Talk Fusion?
I worked as a policeman for over 10 years, but like so many others, I felt limited by my time and my paycheck. I knew there had to be a better way to take control of my life and help others, and I was always determined to find that answer.
I was directing traffic on an off-duty job when a gentleman introduced me to the network marketing industry; this was what I call my ‘ah-ha’ moment. The business immediately made sense to me: instead of working nonstop toward goals that felt so far out of reach, I could build a team and leverage the time and efforts of a group to multiply my success. This industry completely changed my life, but it didn’t come without challenges. I’d get involved with a company, build a successful team, and then the company would fail, forcing me to once again start from square one.
My dream then came full circle in 2004 while I was touring a house in North Carolina. I tried to email a short video clip to my family, but AOL said it couldn’t be done—and that’s when I found my angle. I called my longtime friend and IT expert Dr. Jonathan Chen and together, we created Talk Fusion’s flagship product: Video Email. After that, I never questioned how we’d advertise the business: I’d market through the same direct selling model that fueled my own success, but this time, I’d change the lives of others by developing a company built on innovation and longevity.
How do you make money?
One of the things I love about Talk Fusion and the direct selling industry, in general, is that we all benefit from another’s achievements. My success depends on the success of others. As I’ve always said: I get paid when other people’s dreams come true.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
When I first started out in network marketing, there were times when my phone bill was bigger than my commission check, but I never gave up or lost my momentum. I believe in hard work, and I refused to ever settle or accept “ordinary” as an answer. It took time, but I eventually found a system that could be duplicated by everyone on my team, and after that, we became unstoppable.
Talk Fusion was a different story. Success arrived pretty rapidly for us, because we created the RIGHT product at the RIGHT time. Every profitable business follows this same logic: find a problem, and then solve it better than anyone else. At Talk Fusion, we’ve since developed a series of results-driven video communication products that does just this, and our success has been exponential in over 140 countries.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Once I’ve seen the potential of a product or an opportunity, there’s not much that can deter me. As a network marketer, I only sold products I believed in—products I could fully get behind and market with true excitement. When it came to advertising the opportunity, I wanted to help others escape the “daily grind,” and this ambition inspired me to push forward. If someone told me no, I didn’t internalize that rejection; I simply moved on knowing the decision was their loss. If you’re truly motivated, doubt tends to take the backseat, which is exactly what happened when I first started Talk Fusion; I knew we had something great from the beginning—it was just a matter of getting the word out there.
How did you get your first customer?
We developed a game-changing product at Talk Fusion, so our excitement instantly started making waves. I talked about the business to everyone I knew, and by the time we were ready to launch, we had already generated a huge buzz that attracted many Customers and Associates.
In network marketing, they key is to approach people you already know and have a relationship with (your warm market), and speak to them in terms of benefit. I remember doing the same thing when I first got started, reaching out to my fellow officers and selling the product out of the trunk of my police car.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
I’m a big believer in the power of video. It’s the best medium for connecting with one another, developing a brand personality, and—very importantly—building relationships. Talk Fusion’s video marketing products help our Customers and Associates do just that, only better and faster. So our brand stays top-of-mind each time they send Video Emails and Video Newsletters, share testimonials, hold Live Meetings, capture leads with our Sign-up Forms, and call prospects on Video Chat.
Other than that, it’s all about development: if you have a good product or opportunity, people will naturally gravitate toward you.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
As a technology company, it’s essential that we never stop advancing. I have so many ideas and so many new directions I’d like to take my business. Not every idea can be executed at the same time, though, so sometimes I have to pick and choose: deciding which new project to implement first and what needs to be placed on the backburner. It can be a difficult decision, but I focus on our current markets and choose the solution that will be the most innovative and instrumental to their success.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
It all comes down to the power of a dream: if you want something badly enough, you’ll be willing to work hard enough to achieve it. With network marketing, it took a lot of trial and error to develop the right system and build my team, but I stuck with it and maintained my excitement because I had a dream. Since then, I’ve shared my method with our Talk Fusion Associates so they can kick-start their own success. I’m always thinking outside the box and avoiding complacency, which is something I believe anyone can do so long as you have a goal and are determined to reach it.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I’ve set personal objectives and watched them come true, but beyond even that, the greatest joy for me has always been helping others achieve their dreams. I love donating to charities and helping those in need, and I’ve created a company that shows people a better way of life as well. The most satisfying thing for me is to hear our Associates talk about how Talk Fusion has changed their lives and allowed them to live out their dreams.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The world is constantly changing, and our company is always at the forefront of those changes, which is very exciting. We pride ourselves on being industry trendsetters and developing revolutionary products, and we currently have huge innovations in the works that I’m looking forward to releasing.
We’re also developing Talk Fusion University, which will be a free educational platform to help our Associates take their businesses to the next level. I’ll be sharing my industry knowledge and tips with them through videos and articles so they can follow my steps to success and continue to check off their goals.
What business books have inspired you?
There are a lot of excellent books out there, but for me, inspiration really comes from the people I meet. When I hear the success stories of our Associates—when they reach out to me personally and explain how Talk Fusion has changed their life—that’s when I find my fire to keep pushing forward.
What is a recent purchase you have made that’s helped with your business?
There really isn’t a recent purchase that comes to mind, but I will say that the investment we make in our employees right here at Talk Fusion makes a tremendous difference. We have some of the best IT and marketing professionals in the business, and this gives us untapped potential in terms of where we will travel tomorrow.