The GaryVee Audio Experience: The Social Media Crash Course That Will Grow Your Business TODAY | Tea with GaryVee Ep. 71

Release Date: March 27, 2025

Host: Gary Vaynerchuk
Guests: Mackenzie, Herman, Sherry, Sean, Tessa, Simon

Introduction

In Episode 71 of Tea with GaryVee, Gary Vaynerchuk delves into actionable strategies for leveraging social media to scale businesses. The episode features engaging conversations with several entrepreneurs and creators, addressing challenges and providing insights on branding, content creation, and business growth.

Segment 1: Building a Unified Brand

Guest: Mackenzie
Topic: Balancing Multiple Ventures and Creating a Cohesive Brand

Mackenzie opens the discussion by sharing her journey from a long-term tech career to flipping furniture and starting the Career Flipper podcast. She seeks advice on unifying her diverse endeavors under a single brand.

Key Insights:

• Unified Branding: Gary emphasizes that disparate activities like furniture flipping and podcasting can coexist under one cohesive brand. He illustrates this with his multifaceted roles, stating, “I’m a podcaster. I’m also a million other things... It is a cohesive brand” (00:45).

• Content as an Overlay: He explains that podcasting serves as an overlay, enhancing all other activities. For Mackenzie, blending her ventures can amplify her overall brand presence.

• Content Distribution: Gary advises leveraging multiple platforms simultaneously, particularly highlighting the importance of LinkedIn and TikTok for business growth.

Notable Quote:

"All the things I do are part of one unified brand. You can do multiple things as long as they complement each other." – Gary Vaynerchuk (01:06)

Segment 2: Scaling a Small Business Against a Giant Competitor

Guest: Herman
Topic: Strategies for a Small B2B Tooling Distribution Business

Herman seeks Gary's expertise on how to compete with a significantly larger competitor in his local market.

Key Insights:

• Start a Podcast: Gary recommends initiating a podcast to interview potential clients, transforming cold outreach into value-driven conversations. “Cold calling and saying, do you want to be on my podcast... converts dramatically better” (02:50).

• AI and SEO: He suggests utilizing AI for SEO to stay ahead of emerging search engine technologies, though he acknowledges budget constraints for small teams.

• Social Media Engagement: Emphasizing organic content creation, Gary underscores the use of affordable tools like smartphones to produce content without hefty investments.

• Authentic Outreach: Transitioning from traditional sales pitches to offering value through content can foster stronger client relationships.

Notable Quote:

“Provide value versus asking them to buy things from you. Start conversations with potential clients that aren’t starting with like, hey, I’d like you to buy.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (03:40)

Segment 3: Enhancing Employee Quality in a Company

Question from Brittany: “What’s the one quality you look for in an employee?”
Answer: Self-Awareness and Confidence

Gary highlights the importance of employees possessing self-awareness and confidence. He explains that insecure employees can undermine company culture, while those who are self-aware contribute positively and handle success maturely.

Notable Quote:

“Self awareness and confidence are what I look for. An insecure employee... fucks up the culture regardless of what they do.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (07:35)

Segment 4: Leveraging TikTok for Business Growth

Guest: Sherry
Topic: Utilizing TikTok for a Pet Products Brand

Sherry discusses her challenges in building her pet products brand's social media presence and launching a podcast.

Key Insights:

• Prioritize TikTok: Gary advises Sherry to focus intensively on TikTok, emphasizing its potential to transform business trajectories. “You must win on TikTok over any other platform” (11:52).

• Consistency is Crucial: Sherry acknowledges her need to increase her TikTok posting frequency, to which Gary reinforces the importance of regular content production.

• Diversify Content Strategy: Although Sherry is launching a podcast and YouTube channel, Gary encourages maintaining a TikTok-first approach given its immediate impact.

• Overcome Regulatory Hurdles: Addressing Sherry's issues with regulatory compliance, Gary reminds her of the importance of adhering to guidelines to avoid business setbacks.

Notable Quote:

“TikTok is the one place where you have the likelihood of getting a post that changes the course of your career.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (11:52)

Segment 5: Navigating Employer Restrictions While Building a Personal Brand

Guest: Kelly
Topic: Balance Between Corporate Job and Personal Content Creation

Kelly expresses her dilemma of growing her personal brand on TikTok while her corporate employer disapproves of her online presence.

Key Insights:

• Continue Content Creation: Gary advises Kelly to persist with her content creation efforts, even if it risks her current job, suggesting parallel job searches as a safety net.

• Accountability: Emphasizing personal responsibility, Gary encourages Kelly to accept the consequences of her choices without blaming external factors.

• Adaptability: He underscores the importance of being flexible and ready to pivot based on the success and reception of her content.

Notable Quote:

“Keep doing until they fire you... Take accountability. Don’t blame me.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (13:00)

Segment 6: Adapting Content Across Platforms

Question from Sarah: “When I post the same video on different platforms, it performs well on one and terrible on another. Why?”

Answer: Tailor Content to Each Platform

Gary rebukes the notion that algorithms are the primary issue, attributing discrepancies to the content not being appropriately customized for each platform.

Key Insights:

• Platform-Specific Strategies: Each social media platform has unique audience behaviors and content expectations. Content should be tailored to fit these nuances.

• Customize Elements: Adjust the first few seconds, thumbnails, captions, and editing styles to align with the specific platform’s preferences.

Notable Quote:

“It’s a you fucking problem, Sarah. You’re supposed to do slightly different content. The first three seconds, the thumbnail, the copy, the edit.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (15:00)

Segment 7: Handling Constructive Criticism

Question:
“How do you draw the line between taking constructive criticism but not giving into other people's worldview or opinions?”

Answer: Balance Humility and Confidence

Gary explains that balancing humility with confidence allows one to accept feedback without being swayed by differing opinions.

Key Insights:

• Embrace Duality: Life involves managing opposing energies, such as being open to feedback while maintaining self-assuredness.

• Avoid Black-and-White Thinking: Flexibility in decision-making ensures adaptability and growth.

• Self-Awareness: Understanding one's strengths and weaknesses facilitates better handling of criticism.

Notable Quote:

“Balancing humility and confidence and self esteem... Decide which one is right in the moment. Confident, confident, confident. It’s not working. You’re getting feedback.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (15:57)

Segment 8: Competition in Sports vs. Corporate Life

Question from Today in Space: “Do you think competition is healthier in sports than corporate life?”

Answer: Competition is Essential Everywhere

Gary asserts that competition is a fundamental aspect of life, vital for growth and resilience, whether in sports or corporate environments.

Key Insights:

• Life's Competitive Nature: Emphasizes that competition fosters improvement and adaptability.

• Negative Perceptions: Criticizes modern tendencies to demonize competition, which can lead to insecurity and indifference.

• Raising Competitive Spirits: Advocates for encouraging competitive traits to build stronger, more resilient individuals.

Notable Quote:

“If you demonize competition, you’re about to raise an insecure child. Indifference leads to depression.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (20:19)

Segment 9: Expanding Business Ideas with Limited Resources

Guest: Sean
Topic: Managing Multiple Business Ideas Without a Team

Sean discusses his struggle to execute multiple business ideas due to limited team support.

Key Insights:

• Prioritize and Focus: Gary advises selecting one idea to focus on, potentially using methods like flipping a coin to decide.

• Reinvest Earnings: Encourages reinvesting profits back into the business to build a capable team instead of spending on personal luxuries.

• Patience and Persistence: Highlights that business growth is a marathon and requires sustained effort over years.

Notable Quote:

“Pick one. Flip a coin. Do something. Action only.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (26:19)

Segment 10: Embracing Authenticity Despite Risks

Guest: Simon
Topic: Being Authentic While Building an Online Brand

Simon seeks advice on maintaining authenticity in his content without offending his audience, fearing it might impact sales.

Key Insights:

• Intent Matters: Gary stresses the importance of intent behind content. If authenticity is genuine and not intended to offend, maintaining it is crucial.

• Overcoming Insecurity: Acknowledges that insecurities can hold creators back, urging them to confront and overcome these feelings.

• Comfort with Discomfort: Encourages embracing discomfort as a path to growth and resilience.

Notable Quote:

“You are allowed to be insecure about this, but that's what's holding you back.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (29:17)

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Gary Vaynerchuk imparts practical advice on utilizing social media for business growth, emphasizing authenticity, strategic content creation, and the importance of competition. His candid and no-nonsense approach offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and creators aiming to scale their ventures in the digital landscape.

Final Notable Quote:

“Only action.” – Gary Vaynerchuk (26:53)

Timestamp Reference

• [00:45] Mackenzie's Introduction
• [01:06] Gary on Unified Branding
• [02:50] Herman's Business Challenge
• [03:40] Strategies for Small Business
• [07:35] Employee Quality
• [11:52] TikTok’s Importance
• [13:00] Kelly’s Dilemma
• [15:00] Content Customization
• [15:57] Handling Criticism
• [20:19] Competition Discussion
• [26:19] Sean’s Expansion Struggles
• [29:17] Authenticity and Insecurity
• [26:53] Final Advice

Key Takeaways

1. Unified Branding: Diverse business activities can coexist under a single, cohesive brand.
2. Content is King: Leveraging platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn effectively can drive significant business growth.
3. Authenticity Matters: Being genuine in your content fosters trust and better engagement.
4. Focus and Prioritize: Concentrate on one idea at a time to ensure successful execution.
5. Embrace Competition: Healthy competition is essential for personal and business development.
6. Invest in Your Team: Reinvest profits into building a capable team to scale your business sustainably.
7. Balance Feedback and Confidence: Accept constructive criticism while maintaining self-assuredness to navigate business challenges.

This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from Episode 71 of Tea with GaryVee, providing actionable strategies for entrepreneurs and content creators aiming to harness the power of social media for business growth.