Episode 318: How to Grow to 250k Followers in Under 3 Years with Bart Szaniewski of Dad Gang

Release Date: March 19, 2025
Host: Daniel Murray
Guest: Bart Szaniewski, Co-Founder of Dad Gang

1. Introduction to Dad Gang and Bart Szaniewski

In this episode of The Marketing Millennials, host Daniel Murray welcomes Bart Szaniewski, the co-founder of Dad Gang, a brand that has impressively grown to 245k Instagram followers and sold nearly 500,000 hats in under three years. Bart shares the origin story of Dad Gang, emphasizing the brand's foundation on friendship, fatherhood, and community support.

Notable Quote:
[06:00] Bart: "We sold out of our initial 100 hats in less than 36 hours, which was a strong indicator that there are dads out there who want to celebrate fatherhood in a meaningful way."

2. Building the Brand through Organic Instagram Strategies

Bart discusses the early stages of building Dad Gang on Instagram by posting authentic content featuring simple product photos and personal stories. The focus was on connective captions that resonated with fellow dads, highlighting various aspects of fatherhood—from new dads to those with teens and college-aged children.

Notable Quote:
[06:14] Bart: "The copy and the captions on those posts were really important, reiterating that we started this brand to empower dads and highlight all aspects of being a father."

3. Advertising Strategies: Boosting Organic Posts for Profile Growth

Leveraging his 13 years of experience in eCommerce, Bart explains how Dad Gang utilized Instagram's boost feature to amplify their best-performing organic posts. Instead of directly targeting sales, the strategy focused on profile visits and audience growth, creating a ripple effect that built anticipation for new product drops.

Notable Quote:
[07:35] Bart: "We sold almost half a million hats since we started, primarily by building a massive community through organic growth and strategic boosting."

4. The Power of Social Proof and Follower Counts

Bart emphasizes the importance of a large follower base as a form of social proof. A substantial number of followers lend credibility and legitimacy to the brand, making new customers more likely to trust and engage with Dad Gang.

Notable Quote:
[11:15] Bart: "Having 245k followers on Instagram gives our brand a level of trust and legitimacy that purely transactional strategies can't achieve."

5. Creating Community via Private Facebook Groups and Instagram Broadcast Channels

To foster deeper connections, Dad Gang established a private Facebook group and utilized Instagram's broadcast channels. These platforms allowed for direct communication, exclusive content, and real-time feedback from the community. Bart highlights how these groups serve as central hubs where dads can share experiences, receive updates, and feel more connected to the brand.

Notable Quote:
[13:37] Bart: "Our private Facebook group has 11,000 engaged dads who see every post we make, allowing us to communicate effectively without relying on algorithmic reach."

6. Collaborating with Everyday Dads and Influencers

Beyond partnering with high-profile athletes, Dad Gang focuses on collaborating with everyday dads who create authentic and relatable content. This approach broadens their reach and ensures that their audience feels personally connected to the brand.

Notable Quote:
[17:12] Bart: "We love featuring everyday dads because not everyone can relate to a huge celebrity, but they can relate to these just like your everyday dad posting content."

7. Launch Strategy for New Products

Bart outlines their multi-channel launch strategy, which includes:

• Organic Social Posts: Authentic teasers and videos showcasing new products.
• Email Campaigns: Targeted emails to engaged subscribers.
• SMS and App Notifications: High open rates for real-time updates.
• Social Media Announcements: Coordinated posts across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube.

By spacing out communications throughout the day and utilizing various platforms, Dad Gang maintains engagement without overwhelming their audience.

Notable Quote:
[20:59] Bart: "On launch day, we send an email to engaged users, a push notification on our app, a text, and then ramp up organic social posts to keep the momentum going throughout the day."

8. Audience Growth Tactics: Giveaways and Direct Interaction

Dad Gang employs product giveaways and collaborative contests to attract new followers and engage existing ones. By requiring minimal effort to enter—such as commenting with a specific emoji and signing up for their email list—the brand effectively grows its audience while fostering goodwill.

Additionally, Bart emphasizes the importance of direct interaction with followers. Responding to comments and engaging in conversations humanizes the brand and strengthens community bonds.

Notable Quote:
[27:28] Bart: "If somebody takes the time to appreciate your brand or your product, you should take the time back to interact with them and just be a real human being."

9. Rapid-Fire Insights: Marketing Advice and Trends

In a rapid-fire segment, Bart shares key insights and advice:

• Platform Brands are Sleeping On:
  "Brands need to utilize Instagram's interaction tools, like broadcast channels and private groups, to build stronger communities."

• Best Marketing Advice Received:
  "Making content is a lot easier than we think. It's more important to just create and post rather than over worrying about perfection."

• One Thing They Wish They Did Earlier:
  "Establishing the Facebook group earlier would have accelerated our community growth."

• Social Media Tactics to Stop:
  "Brands need to stop relying on perfectly curated graphics that resemble ads. Authentic, relatable content resonates more with audiences."

• E-commerce Trend to Watch:
  "New platforms like AppLovin and emerging social media channels like Snapchat are gaining traction and should be monitored."

• Marketing Hill to Die On:
  "Simplify your approach. Focus on the core of your product and build around that instead of getting overwhelmed with every new tool or strategy."

Notable Quote:
[30:27] Bart: "It's not as hard as we make it out to be. Find the core of your product, understand why people want it, and build simple content around that."

10. Conclusion and Key Takeaways

Bart Szaniewski's journey with Dad Gang underscores the significance of authenticity, community building, and strategic simplicity in scaling a brand. By focusing on organic growth, leveraging social proof, and maintaining direct engagement with their audience, Dad Gang has successfully transformed from a small project among friends to a prominent brand with a loyal following.

Final Notable Quote:
[31:41] Bart: "Find the core of your product, understand your story, and build your community around that. It’s not about dominating multiple channels but focusing on the ones that best serve your community."

Connect with Dad Gang

• Instagram: @dadgang.co
• Website: dadgang.com
• Twitter: @the_szef (Bart's personal account)

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