Ready to unravel the secrets of effective marketing in the oil and gas sector? Join us as we uncover the essence of authenticity and consistent marketing strategies with Bella Kelada-Khalil, the dynamic Jr. Business Development Manager at Midnight Marketing. Bella's refreshing take on marketing in traditionally conservative industries is an exciting revelation. Plus, her adventures in Houston are simply not to be missed!
Ever wondered if your personality could land you a job in the oil and gas industry? In our next segment, we talk to a newcomer in the industry, who proves that personalities can indeed trump experience. With the help of a mentor like Tim (CEO), she navigates the industry with relentless curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. We also spotlight the role of Midnight Marketing in guiding startups to increase their brand awareness and build their authentic brand image.
Dare to embrace social media for your company’s branding? We discuss the need for oil and gas companies to step out of their comfort zones and tap into the potential of platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok. Be it showcasing company culture or educating the audience about the industry, social media can be a game-changer. As we wrap up the episode, Bella shares her entrepreneurial journey and the company's expansion plans. Thanks for tuning in, and we can't wait to bring you more insights in our next episode!
Ready to unravel the secrets of effective marketing in the oil and gas sector? Join us as we uncover the essence of authenticity and consistent marketing strategies with Bella Kelada-Khalil, the dynamic Jr. Business Development Manager at Midnight Marketing. Bella's refreshing take on marketing in traditionally conservative industries is an exciting revelation. Plus, her adventures in Houston are simply not to be missed!
Ever wondered if your personality could land you a job in the oil and gas industry? In our next segment, we talk to a newcomer in the industry, who proves that personalities can indeed trump experience. With the help of a mentor like Tim (CEO), she navigates the industry with relentless curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. We also spotlight the role of Midnight Marketing in guiding startups to increase their brand awareness and build their authentic brand image.
Dare to embrace social media for your company’s branding? We discuss the need for oil and gas companies to step out of their comfort zones and tap into the potential of platforms like LinkedIn and TikTok. Be it showcasing company culture or educating the audience about the industry, social media can be a game-changer. As we wrap up the episode, Bella shares her entrepreneurial journey and the company's expansion plans. Thanks for tuning in, and we can't wait to bring you more insights in our next episode!
I and good morning everyone out there tuning into this new energy crew podcast. We we, first off, we want to thank you. I think there's so many different podcasts out there and in the fact you're spending your, your, your time whether it's the morning, afternoon or evening or your insomnia times and not where you can't sleep you want to catch up in the latest and greatest, hottest gossip, not just in the energy space, but any space out there. You're tuning into energy crew podcast. I want to think through that and I'm pretty excited. So we're over.
Speaker 1:It's been a busy week for me, it's been a busy week for our guests here today and and before you actually begin, we'd like to introduce yourself a bell and kind of let's talk. And I want to hear look, this conversation. We're starting off from the ground and we're gonna get into several things. When it comes to Marketing, kind of your background, what keeps you inspired, what you're seeing in the marketing oil and gas space yeah, let's just get into this. So why don't you give a little introduction of yourself and kind of let's know where you're, where you're recording this from this morning?
Speaker 2:Yes, sir. So good morning. My name is Bella. I am the junior business development manager at midnight marketing. I'm originally from Montreal, but I have been spending the week in Houston. It is my first year and I am I'm pumped, I love it so okay.
Speaker 1:so, before we get what's, what's, what's, what's been your initial reaction of Houston?
Speaker 2:Oh, my goodness, I love it. So far, not gonna lie. I've had a few people. I've had a handful of people asking me when I'm moving. I'm undecided, I didn't know that I was moving, but apparently have a few people who think that I should work Visiting.
Speaker 1:That's no works. Yes.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely so. I mean, everyone is just they're so lovely, I love it. No different to Canada so far.
Speaker 1:Okay, all right, so, so, okay. So, houston is one of those places where you have to like give your favorite spots to go eat, you know. So where have you been introduced to on your short week in Houston?
Speaker 2:Um fantastic question. I've currently been introduced to Uber Eats. That is where I've been.
Speaker 1:No, no, no, carabas, no, papa's nothing.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, I've heard Papa's. I also had a colleague of mine suggest I go to Tejas barbecue and chocolate, but I think it's like an hour away. I'm not too sure. I think it's in tumble. I could be very wrong. So far that's weird.
Speaker 1:That's a weird. I mean, like you hear, like you know, cotton robata for sushi, or like you know Carabas for Italian, or like whatever you don't hear of.
Speaker 2:Okay, what's your go-to place for barbecue in Houston?
Speaker 1:Well, I'm not really a little barbecue guy. Look, I love barbecue, don't get me wrong. But the fact that barbecue is, like you know, $75 for like four ounces of whatever thing I was pricey these days, yeah, that's Biden barbecue nomics. Um, no, it's. Uh, I like truth. I like truth. I know there's me a lot of people like, no, but I'm not a barbecue guru, but I do enjoy good barbecue. But no, I would say, if you're here, go to truth. And that's near the. Actually, that is kind of near where the others the social octanes of oil and gas party is this evening.
Speaker 2:Yes, sir. Okay, I will note it down. I'm still here until Sundays. I've got a few days left, so all right.
Speaker 1:Well, there's L T Ampia you gotta check out. I mean, if you haven't had any good text mix, I mean that's, that's pretty sad. There's probably better places out there, but that's pretty stable place to go. So, hey look, let's get off the the foodie train. When it comes to Houston, all stuff I want to hear about you right now. So, all right, so real quick, can you give me a? If you don't mind this, let's kind of have a conversation.
Speaker 1:I want to hear kind of you know, background, what brought you into, kind of like where you, how you kind of just Discovered midnight market or how they discovered you, and kind of would you know, would you know, about the only gas space where you stepped in? What are you learning about it? Like kind of what's? Because this is why I'm asking again. I told myself I would never. I gotta stop asking questions, kind of like beating into that game time. But the reason is why?
Speaker 1:Because if those that don't know who you are or haven't seen you, then that means they're not on LinkedIn, they're not checking out the latest and greatest you've been I've seen. I mean your stuff, your content pops up, it's very engaging, it's new, it's. It's definitely a breath of fresh air in a very, I Think, historic. I think we're getting better about on the gas base. When it comes to marketing, I think we still have a long way to go when it comes to telling our story, but you know, you see your content, you see your approach. It's such a new, dynamic, exciting, different way that I guess companies are communicating. So, again, that's a lot. So let's start off with your background. So Tell us about you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I started off in retail when I got my first job and I discovered I was a. I was a people person. I love talking. I was a theater kid to begin with, so naturally that's where that came out from. And then, when I was working in retail, I started I don't know. I just I couldn't do it anymore and I had a friend of the time who suggested I come on to his team, where he was working at the time, because they needed an office administrator. I'm like you know what I'll do it you tie the retail.
Speaker 1:You're tired of staying around.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did the retail game to you, yeah like I still, I love people and I love talking. I just spent so much time on my feet. I'm like you know what I just want to? I want to die in the back a little bit.
Speaker 1:And it's also let's, let's, let's give a shout out to the retail people. It's also dealing with people.
Speaker 2:The people in retail are hardcore, the people that are in because you have to say the customer is always right.
Speaker 1:Are they? Are they really always right, especially when they're coming like? I bought this yesterday and it was 20% off, so now it's 21% off. Can I get my discount Upgraded like come on, man, I got other stuff to do anyway?
Speaker 2:Yes, and you're dreaming in your head like, yeah, I can do that for you. I honestly shout out to retail workers they're amazing. We wouldn't be, you wouldn't be where we are without them but also you.
Speaker 1:I mean, I think work in retail. You're right, I mean I think there is something special about it because you do learn how to kind of talk to anyone off the fly and kind of learn what they're there for, kind of learn not to sell but to kind of ask questions. I thought it was enjoyable experience, but anyway, so continue. So off Office manager administrators position opened up.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So when in his office administrator and they were doing door-to-door for telecommunications so TV, home phone, internet, all that kind of good stuff and then that same friend ended up opening up their own business and he said, listen, I need a chief administrative officer. You have the knowledge, you've learned everything from the ground up. I want you on my team. I'm like okay.
Speaker 2:So I signed on as CAO and I, at the end of the day, I ended up doing that and door-to-door as well In Ontario for a few months. That was really interesting. And then we moved back and we moved back to Montreal and I was looking for a bit more to up my game, and I saw this position for office coordinator. What do you look?
Speaker 1:real quick. What do you mean? You were looking for a bit more to up your game, I mean. So it was it just kind of like you weren't challenged anymore. What was I?
Speaker 2:feel like I wanted to challenge myself more, because I graduated college in cinema and communications and, unless your Beyonce getting discovered at a sonic drive-through, it's really hard to get into that industry, like unless you're really good or you know the right people. Personally, I didn't think that I had what it took to get to that point. So that's when I went from retail to Office administrator, cao, all that kind of stuff, I thought, huh, I can learn something that I never learned before. I didn't go to school, for what else can I do? If I can go this high, how much higher can I go? So then I started looking on link on not linkedin on, indeed and I saw office coordinator for this marketing company. I'm like you know what, I'm gonna test it out looks cool. So I checked out their website and the website was really cool.
Speaker 2:Oil and gas I don't get any background in oil and gas, but I mean, again, if I can learn telecommunications and administration stuff, I'm pretty sure I can learn this too, and I gave it a shot. I sat down and I had my very first chat with Impaler and he said so you've done door-to-door, yeah, you've done administration work. Yeah, okay, sounds good. So I came on as office coordinator and a few months later he sat me down. He's like look, you have the personality, you have the energy and you have the drive. We want to build out a business development Department at midnight completely new. No one else has done it. All of the business is in my brain. I want someone to off-board it on too. And I was like, wow, and here I am. I've been so okay.
Speaker 1:So I think this I'm actually jot something out pretty interesting. So before you I mean cuz I think it's interesting like so I'm first-generation, all feel didn't have any background before. Sorry, group of Connecticut went to Texas A&M with the France Can be Houston, got no, couldn't find a job land in the old field. I really didn't have any Knowledge of the old, the energy space, because it probably wasn't, you know, such a hot topic these days. You know it wasn't such a Emotionally driven topic these days. So what was kind of your, I guess, understanding the only gas of space where you got in here and I guess what were some big, I guess, stereotypes that you found to be true or not true?
Speaker 2:Well, to be honest, I mean, if you're not in oil and gas? Oil and gas is big, bad, scary, it's. It's climate change, it's the, it's the world, and everything is in pending doom. And I, I'm lucky enough to have one uncle that worked as an engineer and that's your connection.
Speaker 1:I got one uncle.
Speaker 2:That's the only thing. And so, obviously, getting into this, I obviously you know I I had no one telling me the flip side of it. I only had one view of oil and gas. So, coming into it, I'm like again, listen, if I can learn about Telecommunications and office work, I can learn about this too and see what the flip side is right coming in, I had no, not like no experience whatsoever, and so what was your no.
Speaker 1:Because I'm asking you so you get in here, cuz like for I remember, like when I got in, I remember the feeling I was like okay, wow, I got my job. First off, it was me getting a job, that was like the big thing. I was like hallelujah, uh is up. And then it was like, okay, now it's like I Don't know anything about this. Like wait, we're gonna float platforms in the middle of the ocean to drill a well, like what the hell you talk about? Like I, how does that transfer to gasoline where I put in my car? So I was very naive and that's kind of why I Love the fresh perspective on the industry, because it's like that's, I think, the communication we need to get down to as an industry. If we're talking about the streets, people don't understand the space. So I'm kind of curious about kind of your, I guess, experience, kind of stepping in this, this new industry. It's new, kind of echo chamber and what was that like, and kind of if anything was disproven, or kind of a firm.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm I'm very lucky to be surrounded by a whole bunch of people, and it's that this, this industry, is full of people that are willing to share their knowledge and they're so kind about it too, and they're willing to sit down and give you the time of day to explain Both, like both sides to it, so you can see.
Speaker 2:Okay, I understand why there are people on the outside who say, oh, big, bad, scary oil and gas, and the people on the inside who are saying, yeah, but do you know what we're doing To like to try to make it better. So I'm, and I'm still learning to this day. I mean, it was only if, months ago, I was sat down to have someone explain upstream, midstream and downstream to me Frack plugs, hydraulic, hydraulic fracking, all of that, and so and it's interesting, like even now, to this day, I'm learning about how many everyday Products that we use that require oil and gas, like hand sanitizer and makeup and, to a certain extent, clothing. So it's interesting to think that if we removed that aspect, how would our everyday products continue to be used?
Speaker 1:Yeah, no, it's kind of cool. I mean, you're right, people definitely love in this industry, love talking about what they know. They love talking about kind of like things to distract or they love talking about like you know what they know and all that stuff. But also it's it's, that's a very good. I mean, it's one of those things it doesn't matter how long you're in the industry, you're not gonna know everything. So I've been in the industry since 2005. That's crazy. It's like 18 years, almost 19. I still don't know a lot and I'm okay with that. So it's, it's always one of those things like it's okay to like always ask questions. So if you're out there listening and all that stuff and you're like I don't, I feel like I should know this, just ask people like talking about what they'd absolutely that's what I'm doing now.
Speaker 2:I mean, I I like to be very, very transparent on my LinkedIn as well in telling people I don't have a background in marketing, I don't have a background in oil and gas, I don't know but I want you to explain it to me. So if I'm saying something that you know perhaps doesn't sound right, explain it to me in my own terms so that I do understand, because I want to gain that knowledge. That's what makes me happy at the end of the day is being able to know from all sides.
Speaker 1:So it's pretty interesting. So I love that. That idea of we're hiring, like what Tim said. You know, we're hiring the. We're hiring the right Personalities for the role, not the experience. We're hiring the personalities. And I remember you know that just happened at a company I was at, a, previously Penergy. They were like I'm like I don't really have a sale experience, so like doesn't matter, we're hiring, we want the right people on the bus to go towards the direction. It kind of sounds very similar what Tim was doing. So what was that experience? Kind of like being brought on to midnight marketing and the next thing, you know it's like, oh, by the way, we want you to leave the business development side of this oil and gas marketing company and you're like, okay, I'll do that, so talk to me about kind of jumping in that pool.
Speaker 2:I mean it was definitely well. First of all, Having Tim as a mentor is it's genuinely insane. It is a wild ride because there is so much information in his brain that I've been given the opportunity to to extract.
Speaker 1:How does it work, like me, because there's like, because what I'm saying, like I would see like Tim seems to be like such a creative person, kind of like you know a visionary, this and that, so flow, how do you like, how is that, I guess, grabbing that information and communicating with him and kind of getting that information, because I know I Can reflect mom, sure, if I'm trying to communicate something to my wife about like the vision, I'm like I gotta do something, like I'll be distracted. So what's that like? I guess Getting moments from him and kind of like pause and to extract that knowledge.
Speaker 2:Honestly, it kind of like the situations are they come and they come as they go, almost so I remember my very first discovery call. I didn't set it up, but he had someone who knew him, who wanted to look into marketing at the time and he's like, okay, you're gonna sit on in on this with me and you're gonna take notes. So I took notes and then every single thing that that person said I would ask him Okay, what does this mean? Okay, why did we do this? Okay, is this? Okay, are we allowed to say that?
Speaker 2:And then, as we go, it would really just be Tim giving me the confidence to take it on myself, so connecting with people that he wouldn't trust anyone else to to connect with. He's like these are, these are like great names in the Industry that I want you to connect with, because I think that you know you can do a lot with that, and I wouldn't just ask anybody to talk to them because I know that you have a lot from what I'm telling you. But, taking all of this information from Tim, it's really talking to him practically every single day. I'm pretty sure that he's sick and tired of me already. He has to talk to me every single day, but it's just asking him constant questions.
Speaker 1:So let's talk about that. Let's talk about that confidence. Okay, I love hearing that because it seems like it's. This industry is very and this is my perspective. You know I'd love to hear, kind of you know, other people's perspective too, but my perspective is that this industry is very knowledge based, like experience based, like I've done this, I've done that and I remember, you know, it took me seven years for I'd confidence in this industry and I still don't have all the confidence I actually.
Speaker 1:Now I have the confidence to say I don't know what I you know, but before is like there was so much technical knowledge and there's so many big Characters right, big characters fill in the room. So the fact that you know, you have this confidence to approach people and you have this confidence that's been instilled with you when you haven't previously had experiences, is phenomenal. So how? I guess this is kind of a two-part question like how are you bringing that? I mean that that confidence, but also that sense of like Wonder, you know, like I don't know what I'm talking about, but also I'm confident knowing that I can help you out, but I don't know.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I mean, I would rather tell the person straight up to their face hey, I don't know the answer to this question, explain it to me. Or I don't know the answer to this question, but I know someone who will. So I'd rather put that out there and be transparent, rather than be humbled down the line where they're like oh, but you told me, you know what this means, and I'm like ooh, yeah, maybe not. So the confidence comes from just putting myself out there and being honest with people, just to tell them. Tell me what you know, so that I can learn from you and be better at what I'm doing.
Speaker 1:So I mean so it would seem like someone you know someone, you know you're new in the industry, you know you got, you know fresh ideas, but at the same time you still want to answer to the how are you balancing? I guess, because the content, the stuff you're putting out there is new, you know it's like hasn't I don't think it's been seen before in the only gas space. And the thing is, though, you're trying stuff, and that's the cool part. I remember, when you took over Tim's LinkedIn for a week, like I'm seeing that, I'm like you're trying stuff, and I think that's so inspirational. So how are you kind of finding that balance between, like trying new stuff out and, I guess, respecting the traditions?
Speaker 2:Oh, that's a. It's a good question, I mean.
Speaker 1:We ask good questions here on Energy Crew.
Speaker 2:Fantastic, thank goodness, thank you it. I guess it's really just about not necessarily like knowing what the consumer wants, but it's also kind of going with what is what is trending now in everyday marketing as well, and branding what do, what do potential prospects want to see, and how can I mix that in with who I am and what I'm doing? So how?
Speaker 1:so how do you see, like, what's trending now in market? Is that something like you kind of like? You like I mean I hate being like not taking away anything away, like, but like, is that like kind of scrolling, saying hey look, this is kind of getting a lot of tension? Or like this, this formula, this whatever, is kind of getting a lot of. Let's try this out.
Speaker 2:I mean, I'm I'm very grateful to have a huge team behind me who is also producing constant work for their clients, and we're always sharing ideas to keep our big, our bubble of creativity open. And one of my, one of my very good friends she's always sending me TikTok ideas like oh, I think you could do this for your personal LinkedIn. Oh, what do you think about doing this with your LinkedIn? And so it's just. It's a huge collaborative space and that's how I'm getting it, and a lot of it is also from constantly being on LinkedIn and seeing what people post the most Like. I recently posted a poll on my page saying Okay, what, what gets you to stop scrolling? What content do you like? And a lot of people posted. A lot of people had said that they remember that one yeah yeah, video with captions.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I love videos with captions. If I'm in an area where I can't put your phones in or put the volume up, I love being able to read along and still witness the content, because it's personal and I'll say this time and time again, I'll sound like a broken record, but people want people. So if I'm seeing someone's video with the captions, I get the, I get the person, I get the person, the personality, but I also get to read along and still feel engaged with the content.
Speaker 1:So much done, cover here, okay. So let's talk about content. Let's talk about people's. You know people's content. You know I feel like a couple years ago obviously, when COVID I don't find the computer personal branding was very important. It was very center stage. You know, people were talking about the brand, the personal brand, the brand, this brand, that I feel that's kind of fallen on the back burner a little bit, but at the same time it still is extremely important for people to kind of understand the personal brand without people staying on scrolling on LinkedIn or this or that or diving or getting stressed Because I feel like it might be an overwhelming subject. You know, like I don't have time for this, I'm not going to worry about that. What I guess quick, easy, low hanging fruit can people kind of, that should, should people focus on or discuss or think about whether it, whether any piece of content, whether it's personal branding or content about their company or content about whatever, like what type of stuff is kind of engaging and, I guess, often not thought of like the easy stuff.
Speaker 2:Honestly, the easiest thing that comes to mind and it's something that Tim has told me time in time again is just whip out your phone and just get it. Just get it gone. Just literally take out your phone, film yourself around the office, because that's what people want to see. That's what drives people to midnight as well. Yes, it's our, it's our work and yes, it's what we're doing for our clients, but at the end of the day, they want to see the behind the scenes. They want to see who's that marketing coordinator who's on my project. Yeah, I mean so, just whipping out your phone and filming a little 30 second video, it goes a very, very long way.
Speaker 1:And it could be about anything, you know, it could be literally about anything, like you, y'all have done some very creative stuff, and but that's the thing like some of the stuff, like that dude right in the the Cranberry you know the Fleetwood Mac song drinking the Cranberry juice, I mean, that was something simple, silly, but at the same time oh, that was such a good video. Everyone knows that it was. So that's the thing you never know what's going to. Hit was not going to hit Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I think it's. It's a big thing and it could even be a picture of the team after Thanksgiving. It could be you literally doing a PPE, like walkthrough, like this is what my, this is what my heart, how it looks, like these are the gloves that we're using. People love that kind of stuff and it's really easy. I mean, I think that it's easy because I have my phone on me and I can just talk to the camera. For the people who aren't confident in, you know, having their camera out uncomfortable, yeah, find, find someone who who is, or just do a walkthrough of the facility. You know what I mean.
Speaker 1:I mean, that's a thing like you know, like I'll do all these videos, like these, you know. You know I've been trying to do more, you know, because I've been trying to be my coat, pursue my coaching certificate, but like I'm not comfortable with it, Like I mess up a lot. I'll have to do probably nine or 10 different times, but that's the thing. Like there's a lot of vreels that people don't understand, Like it's never just do it, Just get it out there and do it. I want to talk to you about kind of a marketing.
Speaker 1:I feel like marketing in the only gas space is not something that's understood. I feel like marketing in the oil and gas space is a lot of times and honestly, I heard this, I hear this complain all the time. It's like people, third party marketing Okay, and the marketing company usually has no idea or concept about the only gas space Okay, and they're like, well, I guess I'll just give them a retainer for whatever. And I always hear this. It's always so ridiculous that, first off, I believe that marketing is probably one of the most important things to a company.
Speaker 1:All right, there's so much great ideas out there, but there's so much stuff that we're getting every day, on a daily basis, from our phone. So marketing to me is something that is should take center stage when you have a especially a startup right or a new company or even a growing company. So I find a lot of times when people do marketing in the oil and gas say third party and it's not the quality they want. What are you seeing, I guess, some stories when it comes to stuff like that, when it comes to marketing in the oil and gas space, because it is kind of a different environment to marketing. So talk to me about, I guess, your experience in the importance of marketing and especially in the oil and gas space.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I mean, I've heard this from a lot of people, that they feel there are a lot of people in the workspace now that aren't taking their marketing seriously because they think, you know, okay, and there's nothing wrong with going on Canva and whipping out a really nice graphic.
Speaker 1:I love Canva. Let's not talk about Canva.
Speaker 2:I use Canva all the time. I use Canva all the time. I think, personally, marketing is an investment, and I don't think a lot of people understand that either. They think that marketing is a few good graphics here and there, maybe in marketing campaign, and then that's it. It's really not Marketing. Is it's brand awareness? It's getting your services out there, it's showcasing what you and your team are capable of and it's building that authenticity as well. I'm not going to want to go for a company that you know doesn't have their face out there, doesn't explain their services and they're all around generally quiet online.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it feels murky, it feels murky.
Speaker 2:It feels murky.
Speaker 1:No, I think I mean that's the thing. I mean there's so many again. There's so many great products out there, there's so many great ideas, there's so many great services and companies out there, but without proper marketing. And it's one of those things it's staying relevant, it's staying on top of people's minds. I mean, I know that people are always in their bubble Like, oh, everyone's thinking about exec crew. Right now, Everyone's thinking about exec crew because I'm thinking about it. That's my world, that's in my to-do list, that's what the? How many people are thinking about exec crew? Probably not anyone but me. So that's why it's so important to keep on putting marketing out there, Keep on telling your message out there over and over what's been kind of the conversation that's carried people over the hump when it comes to, I guess, taking their marketing serious.
Speaker 2:I think it's really when they see what we're. It's when they see what we're capable of. But it's also when we come to the table for our first marketing meeting and saying, listen, this is what I've noticed, having done research on the company and research on your consumer and research just all in general, this is what I think you could be doing. This is what I've seen works. I want to hear what you have to say. So it's giving them the opportunity to know that we're doing the work and showing them that we're experts in the field and that we have suggestions and, should they want our opinion, it's there. But also giving them the leeway to drive their brand because, at the end of the day, it's their voice, their brand. Drive it in the direction that they want. So they have the help if they want it. But if they want to go off and do it the way that they want to do it, we're going to do that and make it better.
Speaker 1:No, I love that because the value y'all bring to the table, the way y'all are able to communicate the story, I mean I've worked with y'all for several months now and it's just like every week I get more excited for meetings because it's like, holy shit, never thought about that. Or like, oh my God. Like I get more excited about the direction just because it's thought of. Like I think of ways. I mean I had a podcast where I talked about fever, you know brand's fever, fever, fever. But like it's so cool to get other people's fever towards my brand. Like because it's just a unique way to look at kind of telling a story, and I think that's a lot of stuff is telling a story. But that's the thing too.
Speaker 1:How do you, how do y'all navigate people's I guess control, because I can think of personal experience and also a lot of people's experience when it comes to their own company branding strategy. A lot of people, they hold on to a lot of control. They don't want a lot of stuff getting out. Oh, this is my team. I don't want any of my faces team to know. So, my coach, how do you handle, I guess, the trust and having people relinquish the control to your team?
Speaker 2:It will. To be honest, it's all about hearing them out and understanding why they don't want their face out there or why they don't want certain things and certain pieces of content coming out either. So, taking the time to be empathetic towards a client, because that's the most important At the end of the day, we will, as the, as the marketing team, the project managers and the marketing coordinators. They are trying to replicate your voice. They're trying to be the chameleon. So if you're telling me OK, I don't want that out there, but perhaps we know that it may benefit you, we're going to understand that. But we're also going to say no problem, this is what I've seen works If you do want to get your face out there. This is what the impressions are like, this is what the engagement is like. If this is something you want to explore in the future, this is what it would look like, and we just bring out a whole campaign to prove what benefits it could be to you.
Speaker 1:But all through the day it's. And then after you, after you start implementing that, I mean tell me some stories of success, like after y'all start implementing campaign or something like that, or people's you know it's, you get over that hump and something like, ok, come on in and we'll do this. I mean tell me how does that feel for you?
Speaker 2:I mean oh, it's when they officially, it's when they officially agree to go forth with a project idea that someone has had for them, or that let's say we is the team when that goes forward and we see the reactions that we're also getting from our team internally, because we have you have a whole army going behind this.
Speaker 2:So, ok, my, my best example would be recently we've done a Christmas campaign, ok, for a few clients, where they're posting old pictures of them from from the eighties, from the nineties, of them sitting in front of the Christmas tree, some of them in diapers, and it is the cutest thing, but it is so personal and authentic to who they are and they're willing to be vulnerable to their clients and say, hey, 30 years ago I was wearing, I was wearing diapers and reindeer antlers in front of a Christmas tree, and now I'm your most trusted adviser in the gas energy space. You know what I mean. So when we get past that hump and we see the engagement rate and we see the impressions and the comments in the in in like on the post as well, yeah, it just makes us feel like, ok, we can, actually we can. We can do something that will increase their engagement rate and that people will love.
Speaker 1:I mean it's remarkable. It's remarkable seeing. So I know I'm known Tim for years. You know, I've known, you know and just seen kind of like you know he kind of works, you know cards kind of close to his chest. But the next thing, you know, like you see the Canada office open, you see a Mexico office open. You see guys at social octane events. You see, you know I'm talking to people around the crew club table. I'm like oh yeah, you've heard of me. I was like I use midnight mark. Wait what? Like you're seeing midnight market and kind of like pop up in all these different avenues and areas and just the growth and the impact of the industry. I just think that's probably got to be such a really cool, satisfying feeling.
Speaker 2:Oh, we want to. We want to be able to take those risks in a good way, because we know that it works, because we know that not everyone has has taken that risk before. So if we are going to establish ourselves or continue to establish ourselves as you know, thought leaders as a marketing agency, specifically in oil and gas, we have to take those risks. We have to post the pictures of the workers in diapers in front of a Christmas tree. It has to be done because if we don't do it, then someone else will, but then the competition is.
Speaker 2:Competition is what is the healthiest thing in this industry. Because if you let's say, for example, we're at the top of the game, there's no other competitors and we think that we're here, we're going to think, ok, this is the greatest that we can be and that's just where we're going to continue to be, whereas if we have competitors, who are always, you know, budging us up a little bit, we're going to say, ok, I see that I want to go above and beyond it, and it's healthy to be able to learn from others. So take the risk, do what you got to do.
Speaker 1:So, speaking about that and I guess the industry that we're in, what are some of the stuff? I mean, you're talking about taking the risk. Ok, what's some of the stuff that you see, or that that you see, that you, that you really that you can, just you wish you had a megaphone, like stop doing this or start doing this.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, no right. I mean, there's everything, from the record runs to the, to the, to the, whatever, to, I mean, or to the. What is it? There's the, the, the wind turbine with the with the eagle next to it. There's always that one, too Like. So what's the stuff that you see that you wish people would, when it comes to marketing their companies or something like that? Like, start doing or like, please, just like, alter this. Not that, anything, not that anyone's wrong, but from your personal perspective, oh goodness.
Speaker 1:I know it's, it's, that's. That's a tough question. I mean, for me it's probably it's. I would say this on my end I think the only gas industry is needs kind of a shot of Prime as my as I joke around my daughter the prime juice. I think it needs to be a little more refreshed. I think people probably need to un, unlock the doors a little bit more when it comes to what people are gonna show. I mean, we had a conversation last night. I had someone on my podcast and we talked about I think we talked about something like Cryptocurrency or we talked about like whiskers, something completely different. Not even well if we didn't tell them what they worked and they got so much trouble. Or the potential guys about Coming on a show. And it's to me it's like we have to be more vocal about who we are as an industry, as people, as individuals, otherwise people think we're this big oil greeted giant. So opening the doors and kind of highlighting of who we are as people.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. I mean, I Well, to answer your question, going back on what I said earlier, it's, it's the content, it's don't. Well, obviously, within you know, within your regulations, you don't want to, you don't want to get your boss is angry but post, post pictures, post videos, like there are people who want to see what your pee pee is like, there are people that want to see a Facility walkthrough. And it could be, you know, in two times speed, a 30 minute video, just, you know, very quickly, walking around the entire facility, chop it up if you need to, or even if it's just, I don't, it could be you doing a silly tick-tock dance with your boss, obviously probably not a work hour, but still something that that showcases who who you are and who your team is, because we don't want to just think, oh okay, this group is a bunch of robots who you know, they, they don't put anything out there and they're just very. Yeah, it's very nice to know that people are professional about their work, but you also want to know who these people are.
Speaker 1:I Would also. I would also say I don't add a thing of that, like if you do a shop or you do something like that, like provide some, like I mean that's that might inspire like your next employee, that might inspire like some kid that's looking at tick-tock, that's like, oh my god, like that's a cool piece of huge equipment. I'm not. What is what it? What is that? Oh, that's only gas base with.
Speaker 2:So it might bring, it might help the, the life, the Recruit and retain people and I would love I would, personally I would love to see More knowledge on on the LinkedIn timeline I see a whole bunch of fun facts or fun fracks, if you will About you know what again, what our everyday use of oil and gases like and just okay, what are the components of a rig and how do you exactly like, how do you use a? Well, I want to know everything, and again there's.
Speaker 2:There are a few people who are concerned nowadays that we're not enticing the younger generation to work in this industry, and if you are gonna entice them, you have to get on the social platforms that they're using and which are. Which would be if it's well. If it's not linked in, you should be on LinkedIn, because that's where you know I'd say 95% of people are if you are working in corporate or just if you're working in oil and gas and use tick, tock, use it from I love tick tock.
Speaker 1:I use it, I use it. You have to accept it, it's you know. Oh, I don't know, tick tock, just use it, just.
Speaker 2:Need him join him.
Speaker 1:I know, I know, and that's the thing, like I personally don't like social media. It's, I think it's because, but I understand the relevance of it, I understand the importance of it, especially when it comes to promotion, you know. So I think I definitely lean in. So, all right, we're coming up on 40 minutes. Let's wrap this up. I know we have both have busy days, I know already.
Speaker 1:So I want to ask you a question what are you most excited about in the near term and when do you see yourself? Where do you see yourself and kind of like your dreams and aspirations within that marketing in the? I know and that it's a tough question. I mean, I know when I started off at noble joe, like where do you see yourself in five years, I was like, oh, I see myself here five years later I was pulling pipe back in a dare. So they never go hand-in-hand. So what do you? How about? What are you inspired by when it comes to this industry and also kind of your team in that marketing, being a Business development Leader and an only gas marketing company?
Speaker 2:Oh boy, I mean, I would love, I mean in the near, in the near future. I'd love to see, I love to see us everywhere. I'd love to see us networking further. I'd like to see us on billboards, I'd love to see us. I'd love to see us an airport. I would love to see the midnight marketing name Everywhere in all of the major Cities that concentrate on oil and gas, especially Houston we're working on it in the, in the, I'd say further down the line. Personally, for myself, I'd love to be able to eventually build out a bigger team to be able to attend these networking events and yeah, we'll be able to, you know, spread the word of networking and knowledge and say, listen, you don't have a background in marketing, you don't have a background in oil and gas, but if you can talk to people and you're willing to sit down and listen to them, you can go a long way. So I want to also be able to give people who are in my shoes two years ago the chance to be where I am now.
Speaker 1:And so how would someone do that? So if someone's out there listening and saying, man, I kind of want to do with what she's doing. I think that's very impressive. So how would someone kind of go about that?
Speaker 2:Don't be afraid to ask the right people and don't be afraid to just reach out, because if you, if you don't reach out, you'll never know what would have happened. If you do reach out and if you do get turned down, at least you know. But now at least you've. You've made the first step and you know where to go from there. You can't just stay at the starting line. You got to go somewhere.
Speaker 1:I love that, all right, so okay. So we got the social octane event this evening and you're going, I'm assuming.
Speaker 2:I and I'm bringing a very special guest who has been staring at me this entire time.
Speaker 1:Let's see it. Oh, we gotta get a screenshot of this. I know who it is, I.
Speaker 2:Do and can't see um. Feel free to go to midnight Instagram because he's all over there. For those of you who are physically watching this, I'd like to introduce you this week I.
Speaker 1:There we go. I love how you're like folding, you're hugging.
Speaker 2:Oh, we're hugging. We do have some we do, but hence, when it comes to traveling, he does steal the show a little bit.
Speaker 1:And you go on airplanes too. That's cool. Talk to him about that.
Speaker 2:We also okay. So one of the project managers and I we brought him to Oklahoma for the last social octane game of the season.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:He was a hit. We had people yelling at us from across the golf course and stop the car, we need a picture. I was like, okay, I posted it somewhere on my LinkedIn. I have a lot of really great pictures of it too, and people were just dying to get pictures with him. So this is Shmi's, our Midnight Masked.
Speaker 1:Shmi's the CMO Chief Marketing.
Speaker 2:The CMO. He's currently an intern. He does have a LinkedIn.
Speaker 1:Chief Marketing. He does have a LinkedIn.
Speaker 2:He has a LinkedIn. He has an Instagram. Listen, if Shmi's is on LinkedIn and Instagram and eventually TikTok, that gives you no excuse.
Speaker 1:So wait, we're Shmi's. Where's that name Is?
Speaker 2:that a Midnight.
Speaker 1:Marketing family name.
Speaker 2:No, it's really just. We had a few names popping up Potentials, we had Mariah Scary, we had really random ones come up and I'd suggested Shmi's just because why not? It was a weird name, sounds alien-like, and it stuck.
Speaker 1:Is Shmi's going to be at the Oil and Gasby party tonight?
Speaker 2:Yes sir, absolutely, he does have a little holiday outfit.
Speaker 1:That's so awesome, I love it. Well think, hey, honestly, do you have any? Do you have any like final, like oh, I should have said this, or I want to bring this up, or like I got something to say out there. Do you have anything like you kind of want to plug, talk about or bring up before we kind of wrap this up?
Speaker 2:I mean, I would love to give a huge shout out to the team back in Montreal and the promotion that we have. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them Just constantly like hyping up our work and doing an amazing job and marketing and our websites and branding. So this one, this one, is absolutely for them. They are, they are everything you know it's funny about Midnight Marketing.
Speaker 1:It's one of those. Y'all are a company and I've learned this. I mean, again, y'all are popping up everywhere and all the stuff. But it's funny. It's like if you haven't heard of Midnight, I feel like if you haven't heard of Midnight Marketing, you've definitely seen Midnight Marketing in the only gas space, because y'all are it's, it's. It's funny.
Speaker 1:As I remember I'm talking to them, conversations with the team, or like Tim, I'm like, hey, you heard this guy's like, yeah, that's we, we work with them. Or it's like, oh, my God, like it's. I'm like, of course you do, I've saw their website, so, or I've seen their marketing, so anyway, so hats off to y'all. I love, I love again, I always I look forward to the meetings that I have with Midnight Marketing and thank you for taking time out on your busy Houston tour to get on this podcast. And thank you, shmi's. Might be a little UFO or UAP jet lag, but anyway, but I want to thank you out there and I guess, everyone out there. Thank you, and if you have any questions or want to connect with Belle, reach out to her. You can find her on LinkedIn. Where else can people find you?
Speaker 2:They can find me on LinkedIn, If you. If you want to see some behind the scenes, I also post on Instagram. It's my full name. That's about it.
Speaker 1:There you go. All right, everyone. Thank you for tuning in and we will see you all soon, and thank you for joining us.