Jeff Roberts is an expert at mergers and acquisitions, specializing in the advertising and marketing sector. As Partner at Partners for Agencies, his three decades of experience are put to work as he provides venture capitalists with the best of the best professionals in advertising and marketing. These professionals assist the venture capitalists with any marketing requirements within their portfolios. Professionals like Jeff are often considered a venture capitalist’s secret weapon. They are trying to build their portfolios as quickly as possible while making sure that the quality of what they add is always top notch. For that reason, many VC firms have built strong partnerships with experts like Jeff that they can trust with finding the right professionals. However, even startups that are not ready to hire an expensive marketing team, can take advantage of services provided by experienced individuals that can offer the same services through the channel of consulting which Jeff also provides.
Jeff also facilitates the supply of Interim Directors, Non-Executive Directors, and specialist marketing turnaround experts. Jeff is also a permanent consultant for OTW ltd. where he focuses on mergers and acquisitions. There, Jeff has worked with companies ranging from small startups to large industry leaders like McCanns & Grey. In either instance, Jeff shows no partiality as he himself understands what it takes to build something from nothing. He studied and obtained a degree in geography in college but then through his passion for advertising has been able to become a prosperous and well-respected name in the industry.
His record speaks volumes to his perspicacity as it pertains to the advertising and marketing world. In his roles, Jeff has taken part in over 170 deals, all of them having highly successful outcomes. Jeff Roberts at Partners for Agencies is an extremely skilled leader in the advertising and marketing sector and will continue to provide his clients the best while simultaneously proving to be a prosperous entrepreneur to take note of.
How did you get started in your industry?
I have always had a passion for the marketing and advertising industry. I have always had an interest in why companies have chosen to present their marketing and advertising a certain way and I will really take note of the intricacies of it. There really is a different way you start to look at things and think about things when you are in this industry. It helps you to understand companies, consumers, and investors better and more importantly it helps you to understand how they interact with each other better. After I gained employment in the industry, things developed organically, and as I gained more experience, I became more and more successful with the different aspects like mergers and acquisitions. I also have a knack for pairing the right professionals with the venture capitalists that are looking for experts in order to facilitate the best and most successful outcomes a client could possibly have.
How do you make money in your field?
Our rates are all based on the services provided. They can be ongoing or recurring and within that there are flat rates or sometimes percentages. Everything is worked out in our contracts on a client by client basis. Of course, rates can fluctuate along with market conditions and when it comes to mergers and acquisitions, that is based on an agreed upon rate (percentage) that is dependent on what the company is valued at.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
Personally, I saw profits within my first year. For most business, you are going to see profits within two or three years. If you want to reduce that number, keep startup costs low, build up a good network of potential clients before opening or starting your business, and keep an eye on your overhead expenses. Overall though, be patient.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Every entrepreneur faces doubts, but you must keep your end goal in mind. If the person you want to become hasn’t changed then you know that you need to stay the course. Sometimes keeping that in mind is enough to motivate you through the tough times and doubts. If you do need a little extra motivation, I recommend finding some free or low cost online courses relevant to your field. Expanding on your knowledge will always be a good investment in yourself and the self-growth should give you a boost in confidence too.
Do you remember how you got your first client?
The first acquisition I oversaw was one that I took the initiative to go out and get. I saw the opportunity, did the follow-up work to get the information, and made it happen. Keep an eye on your market, take the initiative, and most importantly, follow through if you want to make things happen.
What is one marketing strategy that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Using platforms like Twitter to reach a broader potential client base can be incredibly useful. I often make informative videos that I will share on there, it is a great way to let clients know what you can offer. Any new traffic can be directed to your business webpage and you can follow up by engaging through messaging. Business pages on Facebook and Instagram are also other Social Media platforms that can reach target audiences. When customers comment on posts, reply with information that leads them to your business. Companies have been using Social Media for years, it is such a normal part of business that if you are not utilizing it, you are behind the curve. If you are a new entrepreneur just starting a new business, you are going to want to get your name out there early and often on these platforms. The tricky part is going to be learning how to stand out but if you start from the beginning you are already halfway to figuring that out.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in your professional life?
There are a lot of tough decisions that entrepreneurs need to make on a day to day basis. I have access to the best of the best when I am looking through experts to pair with venture capitalists. Because of this, there are times when I am looking to pair a professional with a venture capitalist and I may have to chose between two incredibly talented and equally deserving individuals. It can be extremely difficult to make the call about who is the “right” one. It really boils down to “who is going to be the one that will produce the most cohesive and productive working relationship so that the project is successful?” Whichever individual I believe will be the one to achieve that, is the one I will choose.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I am highly motivated and resourceful. I have a love for learning and am constantly looking for new subjects to learn in order increase my knowledge. I am also an incredibly determined person, and if I have my mind set on accomplishing something I will not be satisfied until I have done so.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
Looking back on the last three decades and seeing the numerous deals that have been made possible by me as well as all the other things I have accomplished; that is incredibly satisfying. It is one thing to have your own successful company, but to have had a part in the success of over one hundred companies is something I can say that I am proud of.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The marketing and advertising industry is changing rapidly. I have been a part of it for over three decades and I would say that the past ten years have been the most impactful, with the biggest and quickest changes in the markets. I am sure that the next ten will be even more rapidly changing and I am very excited to see where it takes us all and what role I am going to be able to play in that for the future of hundreds of companies.
What business books have inspired you?
100 Things Successful People Do: Little Exercises for Successful Living by Nigel Cumberland because it is a good book to get you motivated, and Tools of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Timothy Ferriss because this book teaches you that there are no secret life hacks reserved to life’s elite, instead it teaches that your future is what you make of it and it helps guide you on how to make the most of it as well.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
That you don’t have to have everything figured out by any certain age, things will fall into place if you keep working hard on your goals.