Dominick Giovannone, a seasoned marketing expert based in Chicago, IL, serves as a trusted marketing consultant and growth partner. His mission is to assist businesses in the $1 million to $100 million range in scaling up profitably, leveraging over two decades of industry expertise.
Dominik’s corporate journey has been remarkable, marked by nine promotions in just 10 years, culminating in a C-Suite role. In 2022, driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire for greater autonomy, he made the bold decision to leave his executive position as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at a venture-backed startup. This marked the beginning of his foray into building a diverse portfolio of companies focused on growth and strategic investment.
His core competency lies in growing companies of various sizes and backgrounds, with hands-on experience ranging from bootstrapped initiatives to venture capital-funded projects. His expertise spans startups to mid-market enterprises and encompasses both B2B and B2C businesses.
As a growth partner, Dominick specializes in revenue generation and brand building, collaborating with business owners, CEOs, and entrepreneurs to offer tailored insights and strategies. He also works seamlessly with venture capitalists, private equity firms, marketing agencies, and consulting firms. For those seeking a dedicated and results-driven marketing consultant, Dominick Giovannone is a beacon of expertise committed to propelling businesses to new heights of success.
Outside of work, Dominick is a loving father of three and a strong supporter of his wife, Taylor, who runs her own digital marketing agency. Together, they enjoy traveling the world and exploring new cuisines.
How did you get started in this business?
My journey into marketing consultancy began with a deep-seated passion for driving business growth and a desire to have a greater impact on the companies I worked with. After spending over two decades in various marketing roles, including nine promotions in just 10 years culminating in a C-Suite position, I realized that I wanted to leverage my expertise in a more autonomous and entrepreneurial capacity.
In 2022, driven by my entrepreneurial spirit and a desire for greater autonomy, I made the bold decision to leave my executive role as Chief Marketing Officer at a venture-backed startup. This marked the beginning of my foray into building a diverse portfolio of companies focused on growth and strategic investment.
Drawing upon my extensive background in marketing and my track record of success in corporate roles, I established Dominick Marketing Consultancy with the mission of assisting businesses in scaling up profitably. By offering tailored insights, strategies, and hands-on expertise, I aim to empower businesses to achieve sustainable growth and success in today’s competitive landscape.
Overall, my journey into marketing consultancy was fueled by a combination of passion, experience, and a desire to make a meaningful impact on the success of businesses across various industries.
How do you make money?
As a marketing consultant and growth partner at Dominick Marketing Consultancy, I generate revenue through various avenues:
Consultation Fees: I charge clients for my time, expertise, and strategic guidance. This can include one-on-one consultations, strategy sessions, and workshops tailored to their specific needs and objectives.
Retainer Agreements: Many clients opt for ongoing support, where they pay a monthly or quarterly retainer fee for continued access to my services. This arrangement ensures a consistent level of support and engagement over time.
Project-Based Fees: For specific projects or campaigns, I may charge a flat fee or a percentage of the project’s total budget. This can include tasks such as marketing campaign development, branding initiatives, or market research projects.
Performance-Based Compensation: In some cases, I may negotiate performance-based compensation, where my fees are tied to the achievement of predetermined goals or key performance indicators (KPIs). This aligns my incentives with the client’s objectives and ensures that I am incentivized to deliver results.
Affiliate Partnerships: I may also earn revenue through affiliate partnerships with third-party vendors, software providers, or service providers. By recommending products or services to my clients, I may receive a commission or referral fee for any resulting sales or sign-ups.
Overall, my revenue streams are diversified to accommodate the varying needs and preferences of my clients, while also ensuring a sustainable and profitable business model for Dominick Marketing Consultancy.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Becoming profitable in the realm of marketing consultancy took some time and varied depending on factors such as client acquisition, project timelines, and overhead costs.
Initially, when I started Dominick Marketing Consultancy, there was an investment of time and resources into setting up the business, building a client base, and establishing credibility in the market. This initial phase often involves significant upfront costs without immediate returns.
However, as I began to onboard clients and deliver value through my services, I started to see the fruits of my labor. The timeline to profitability can vary widely depending on individual circumstances, but typically it took several months to a year to reach a sustainable level of profitability.
Factors such as the size and scope of projects, the rate of client acquisition, and the efficiency of business operations all played a role in determining how quickly profitability was achieved.
Overall, while the journey to profitability may have taken some time, the key was staying focused, delivering exceptional value to clients, and continuously refining and improving my business model to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Certainly, like many entrepreneurs, I experienced moments of doubt and uncertainty, especially in the early stages of starting Dominick Marketing Consultancy. The entrepreneurial journey is inherently filled with challenges and uncertainties, and it’s natural to question whether your efforts will ultimately pay off.
During moments of doubt, I leaned on several strategies to help me navigate through:Focus on the Vision: I reminded myself of the vision and purpose behind starting the business. Reconnecting with why I started Dominick Marketing Consultancy helped reignite my passion and determination to push through challenges.Seeking Support: I surrounded myself with a supportive network of mentors, peers, and loved ones who believed in me and my vision. Their encouragement and guidance provided invaluable reassurance during times of doubt.Break Challenges into Manageable Steps: Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead, I focused on breaking down challenges into smaller, actionable steps. This approach allowed me to tackle each obstacle one step at a time, making progress towards my goals.Learning from Setbacks: Rather than viewing setbacks as failures, I embraced them as opportunities for growth and learning. By analyzing what went wrong and identifying lessons learned, I was able to adapt and improve my approach moving forward.
Overall, while doubts are inevitable in entrepreneurship, it’s how we choose to respond to them that ultimately determines our success. By staying focused, seeking support, and maintaining a resilient mindset, I was able to overcome moments of doubt and continue progressing towards building a successful business.
How did you get your first customer?
Securing my first customer for Dominick Marketing Consultancy was an exciting milestone that involved a combination of strategic networking, leveraging personal connections, and showcasing the value of my services.
Networking: I actively engaged in networking events, industry conferences, and professional meetups to connect with potential clients and establish relationships within my target market. These networking opportunities provided a platform to introduce myself, share my expertise, and explore potential collaboration opportunities.
Utilizing Personal Connections: I reached out to my existing network of colleagues, former clients, and friends who were familiar with my background and skills in marketing. Leveraging these personal connections, I communicated the launch of my consultancy business and expressed my willingness to support them with their marketing needs.
Offering Value: When approaching potential clients, I focused on demonstrating the value and benefits of working with Dominick Marketing Consultancy. Whether through personalized consultations, strategy sessions, or showcasing case studies of past successes, I aimed to convey how my services could address their specific challenges and drive tangible results for their business.
Ultimately, securing my first customer required persistence, patience, and a proactive approach to networking and relationship-building. By effectively communicating the value of my services and building trust with potential clients, I was able to successfully land my first customer and lay the foundation for future growth and success.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
One highly effective marketing strategy that has worked well for generating new business for Dominick Marketing Consultancy is content marketing, particularly through thought leadership and educational content.
By consistently producing high-quality, valuable content that addresses the pain points, challenges, and interests of our target audience, we position ourselves as experts in the field and establish credibility and trust with potential clients.
We leverage social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to share our blog posts, industry news, and other relevant content with our followers. Engaging with our audience on social media allows us to expand our reach, foster connections, and drive traffic back to our website.
We utilize email marketing campaigns to distribute our content directly to our subscribers and nurture leads through targeted email sequences. By providing valuable content that addresses the needs and interests of our audience, we build rapport and credibility over time, ultimately driving conversions and new business opportunities.
Overall, content marketing has proven to be a highly effective strategy for attracting, engaging, and converting potential clients for Dominick Marketing Consultancy. By consistently delivering valuable content that resonates with our audience, we are able to build relationships, establish credibility, and ultimately drive new business opportunities.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
One of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make in the last few months was related to prioritizing client projects and managing workload capacity within Dominick Marketing Consultancy.
As our business has continued to grow and attract new clients, ensuring that we maintain a high level of service and deliver results for our existing clients while also accommodating new projects became increasingly challenging.
The decision involved carefully assessing our current workload, evaluating the complexity and timeline of each project, and considering the resources available within our team. It required balancing the need to provide exceptional service to our existing clients with the opportunity to take on new projects and expand our client base.
Ultimately, the decision required strategic prioritization, effective communication with clients, and a commitment to delivering on our promises and maintaining our reputation for excellence.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
With over two decades of experience in marketing and a track record of success in various roles, I bring a wealth of expertise and insights to my clients. My hands-on experience across different industries and company sizes allows me to provide valuable guidance and strategic solutions tailored to their specific needs.
Trust is the foundation of any successful client relationship. I uphold the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and transparency in all my interactions, earning the trust and confidence of my clients through consistent reliability and integrity.
Overall, it is the combination of these qualities and attributes that contribute to my success as a marketing consultant and entrepreneur. By leveraging my expertise, passion, adaptability, and integrity, I am able to make a meaningful impact on the success of my clients and drive sustainable growth for Dominick Marketing Consultancy.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
One of the most satisfying moments in my business career was when I received heartfelt feedback from a client expressing their gratitude for the impact my consultancy had on their business.
After months of collaboration and hard work, seeing tangible results and knowing that I had made a meaningful difference in helping my client achieve their goals was incredibly rewarding. The client’s testimonial not only validated the value of my services but also served as a reminder of the profound impact I can have on the success of others through my expertise and dedication.
Ultimately, the most satisfying moments in business are those where I see the direct impact of my work on the success and happiness of my clients. These moments serve as reminders of why I chose this path and inspire me to keep pushing forward, making a positive difference one client at a time.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The future holds endless possibilities for Dominick Marketing Consultancy, and I’m incredibly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
One of the key areas of focus for the future is continued growth and expansion. I envision scaling up our operations to serve a broader range of clients across industries and geographies, while maintaining our commitment to delivering exceptional results and personalized service.
Furthermore, I see tremendous potential in deepening our partnerships and collaborations with other industry leaders, technology providers, and strategic allies. By fostering strong relationships and aligning our efforts with like-minded organizations, we can amplify our impact, expand our reach, and unlock new growth opportunities for Dominick Marketing Consultancy.
What business books have inspired you?
“The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell: Gladwell’s exploration of how ideas, trends, and behaviors spread like epidemics has provided valuable insights into the dynamics of viral marketing and word-of-mouth influence. Understanding the factors that contribute to tipping points has helped me develop more effective marketing strategies for my clients.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could offer advice to my younger self, it would be:
Trust your instincts: Have confidence in your abilities and trust your intuition. Believe in yourself, your ideas, and your vision, even when others doubt or question them.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
While I’m not available for direct mentorship at the moment due to my commitments with Dominick Marketing Consultancy, I’m always open to offering guidance, advice, and support whenever possible. If someone wishes to reach out for assistance or have a conversation about entrepreneurship, marketing, or business growth, they can contact me via email at dominick@giovannonemarketing.org or connect with me on LinkedIn. While I may not be able to provide ongoing mentorship, I’m happy to offer insights, share experiences, and provide assistance wherever I can.