Get to know the business development director at Union agency in Charlotte, NC as he talks about client relationships and why digital marketing matters.

Jason Spooner | Business Development Director | Union

Take 10: with Jason Spooner, Business Development Director

Jason is Union’s official business development director and unofficial improv comedian. He has a storied past in marketing (working with brands in auto parts, health care, the NFL, advocacy marketing and more), as well as on the stage (performing with a variety of local troupes).At Union, Jason leads new clients and partners through the agency’s onboarding process. That ranges from leading initial conversations, to scoping and estimating projects, to handling contract and project kickoffs. He also oversees our marketing and prospecting efforts. On the side, he leads training sessions for businesses of all sizes, using improv comedy as a tool to help entrepreneurs, team leads and CEOs become more confident and comfortable communicating their ideas.From bringing improv into the workplace to building client relationships, here are some thoughts and pieces of advice from Jason. Learn a little from him.

Get to know Jason through his unscripted answers to the 10 questions we tossed his way.

What’s the first thing you want prospective clients to know about Union?Every project we work on is built on a purposeful, methodical strategy. Whether it’s a new website or a new programmatic campaign, we build our work on a strategic foundation that’s specific to each of our client’s unique needs, brands and customer base. Why should brands invest in a digital marketing agency?Access. I’ve never met a brand that didn’t have some cap to their marketing budget. By partnering with an agency, brands can stretch that budget because they’re suddenly tapping into a wide range of subject matter experts and toolsets that they would otherwise have to hire for. Example: Instead of hiring a digital marketing strategist, a certified Google Ads manager, a copywriter and a designer ― and offering them benefits ― you can hire a single agency to get access to all of those resources.How do you apply your improv skills to this job?When it comes to meetings around new client development and onboarding at Union, my number one goal is to listen. Actively listen. It’s an important skill in improv and, I would argue, it’s also critical to a successful new business conversation. You have to listen. Sure, this includes listening to the particulars of a project or a need, but it also means actively listening for other key insights. What’s driving the project? What’s the root pain or problem they are trying to solve with our help? What does success look like? How do you approach relationship building with clients?It’s a partnership. I’m not big on strong-armed, adversarial sales tactics. We’re in this together. I’m here to help you determine if Union is the right fit for your project and, if you agree, I want to make it as easy as it possibly can be to get a scope and start the work.What’s the biggest mistake brands make when determining the scope of a project?Trying to lump everything related to a new project into a single request for proposal or scope. Don’t be afraid to split projects, especially website projects, into multiple parts. We can focus first on building the strategic foundation of a new website or a digital campaign. Then, we can focus on executing. It all gets done.

What do you love most about agency life?The variety. I get to work with different clients from all over the industry spectrum. Big, small, nonprofit, for-profit. No day is ever the same. Also, you’ve got to love the free beer in the fridge.What’s one piece of advice you’d give a brand that’s shaping their vision for the future?I’m going to echo strategy director <a href="https://union.co/articles/take-10-megan-carrigan">Megan Carrigan</a>, here. All of your marketing efforts need to be built on a solid strategy. Take the time to define and understand: (1) Who is your brand? And (2) Who is the customer you’re here to serve? Then, let tactics shift as the project evolves.How do you recharge between meetings?Coffee. Black. What’s your brand?I try to be a source of good energy and comic relief. Every room needs a little bit of fun, plus that reminder to work hard without taking yourself and others too seriously. Where can we find you in Charlotte when you’re not at work?You can catch me hanging out in Plaza Midwood at Workman’s Friend or any of the local breweries in town. You can also find me on stage performing alongside one of the many talented improv troupes Charlotte boasts. Follow me on my ‘gram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaspooner/">@jaspooner</a>. Jason is just one example of the energetic and charismatic talent we keep around at Union. Is your brand ready to partner with a digital marketing agency? <a href="https://union.co/contact">Let's talk.</a>

Valtech + Union is a creative &amp; performance marketing agency that creates omni-channel campaigns, unleashing creativity on a data-driven world, helping brands produce memorable, measurable and repeatable results. Obsessed with data-driven performance, we believe every marketing dollar should be viewed as an investment. Our clients expect a meaningful return and we prove the ROI of our work with quantifiable data.

About Valtech + Union

Jason Spooner, Business Development Director at Union Digital Marketing Agency in Charlotte, NC