Why XYZ Marketing Was Selected as the Winner
After careful review, we have chosen XYZ Marketing as the recipient of this year’s Stellar Business Award. The founder, Jonathan Lauer, has demonstrated an exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and a commitment to continuous learning, all of which are reflected in the success of his company. His unique approach to marketing, which combines his expertise in videography with innovative marketing strategies, has resulted in a significant return on investment for his clients. Furthermore, his dedication to his team and his willingness to take responsibility for their livelihoods speaks volumes about his leadership skills. Lastly, his decision to share his successful marketing system for free exemplifies his commitment to empowering other businesses. For these reasons, we believe XYZ Marketing is a deserving winner of this award.
They displayed all of the qualities that we at Stellar Business look for when determining excellence. These qualities include outstanding growth, service to their community, and excellent business practices. We determined that they excel in these criteria as the top Marketing in United States.
About XYZ Marketing
A Marketing Agency that grantees success. We Are A Growth-Focused Agency That Gets Your Leads To Kick Open Your Doors And Scream, “Take My Money!”
Today, we congratulate XYZ Marketing for winning this years annual Stellar Business Award for Marketing in United States. Our selection committee reviewed several outstanding companies for this award, and we decided unanimously that they are the official winners.
Competition in Marketing
– ABC Advertising
– DEF Digital
– GHI Growth
– JKL Marketing Solutions
– MNO Media Group
– PQR Promotions
– STU Strategies
– VWX Ventures
– YZ Marketing Co.
– 123 Creative Agency
XYZ Marketing Reviews
Our team at Stellar Business reviews companies based on several factors, including online reviews, the ability to deliver results, interactions with leadership, and more. Based on these metrics, we then create a weighted overall score.
When giving reviews, we interviewed Jonathan Lauer about their success in the United States area. We also looked at what their customers were saying on Google and other trusted review sites. Because XYZ Marketing maintains consistently stellar reviews, they received strong consideration for this award.
Best Business Consulting in United States
XYZ Marketing quickly became our strongest applicants in United States. They displayed excellent customer service, an ability to deliver, and maintain high reviews in their community. So, Stellar Business would like to endorse them as the top Marketing in United States. We believe that their outstanding ability to serve their clients in United States makes them a long-time favorite provider.
Jonathan Lauer Recognized as Co-Owner of XYZ Marketing
I grew up in a colorful mix of entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering support. My father, a self-employed insurance agency owner, instilled in me the drive to dream big and think outside the box. Meanwhile, my mother, the ultimate yard sale hustler, outshined Gary Vee himself when it came to turning a profit. As a kid, I was fondly called “The Professor” due to my glasses and occasional flashes of brilliance. With my parents as role models, I was constantly brewing up business ideas and exploring the possibilities of entrepreneurship.
I vividly recall presenting my wild business concepts to my father. Regardless of how outlandish they seemed, he would lean back, ponder for a moment, and proclaim, “That’s an amazing idea; go do it.” Looking back, those ideas were often laughable, but my father’s unwavering belief in me fueled my entrepreneurial spirit. He made me feel like I held the keys to solving the world’s biggest problems, inspiring me to pursue my calling.
While my father was a brilliant business owner and salesperson, his true greatness shone as a father. His primary goal was to always be available for his children, no matter the circumstances. He achieved this by growing his company from the moment my mother announced her pregnancy until our oldest sibling turned two. In a remarkable turn of events, my father, armed with little knowledge of insurance, landed a job selling insurance and swiftly climbed the ranks to become the Sales Manager. It was during this time that one person posed a game-changing question: “Why don’t you open your own insurance agency?” With $5,000 in hand and a commitment to sharing commissions with employees, my father laid the foundation for his own agency.
Within just three years, my father’s agency rose to become one of the top 10 producers in Germany. His astute understanding of insurance and its potential for residual income allowed him to work only 20 hours a week, precisely when we were at school. He was always present when we needed him, ready to help with homework or any other challenges we faced. My father’s genius—his photographic memory—enabled him to absorb knowledge effortlessly. I marveled at his ability to devour an entire book in just 20 minutes—a superpower in my young eyes. His wisdom extended beyond societal definitions of success; he imparted invaluable lessons about family and what truly mattered in life.
My mother, a force of empowerment, refused to accept limitations. In our family, the mantra “geht nicht gibt’s nicht” (“impossible is possible”) reverberated. We were never allowed to say, “that’s not possible” or “I can’t do that.” Instead, we were taught to figure out how to overcome obstacles. Everyone possessed unique gifts and talents, and we learned to surround ourselves with individuals who could help us achieve our goals. My mother selflessly served others, sacrificing herself whenever needed. On the other hand, my father always saw the best in people, encouraging us to look beyond outward appearances. Growing up, I realized that everyone had something to teach me, and I embraced the value of continuous learning.
After completing my studies, I embarked on an LDS Mission, where I encountered remarkable individuals and even met my wife, Lisa. Lisa radiated love and had an unparalleled capacity for kindness. I’m not even sure if she’s capable of thinking negatively about others; she would probably refer to someone as a “poopoo head” rather than resort to harsh words. Her nurturing nature and unwavering concern for others inspired me to become a better person. Because of her natural ability to connect with children, Lisa was surrounded by the infectious enthusiasm of children all the time.
During my mission, my father faced a significant setback. His insurance license was revoked as a result of a territorial dispute that the owner’s brother instigated. Overnight, my father lost his source of income, and with a two-year non-compete clause, he was barred from reentering the industry. It was a challenging time for our family, and we faced the possibility of losing our home. This experience taught me the importance of taking ownership of what we build and the resilience required to navigate unexpected setbacks.
Upon my return from the mission, I pursued my passion for photography, immersing myself in the art form. I pushed myself to the limit, waking up before dawn to hike mountain peaks and capture breathtaking sunrises. With each step, I learned to embrace failure, adopting the mantra of “fail forward.” I understood that stumbling along the way would reveal my shortcomings, enabling me to make adjustments and improve.
But it was a pivotal moment while watching the film “The Theory of Everything” that ignited a new passion within me. As I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions within a span of two hours, I realized the immense power of video to evoke feelings and convey stories. Music, camera movements, framing, coloring, acting, and sound design—these elements could transport an audience through a range of emotions. The video had the ability to tell a complete story, capturing not just a single moment but the full essence of an experience. This epiphany motivated me to switch my attention from photography to filming.
After marrying my loving wife, Lisa, we embarked on the arduous journey of obtaining a green card. The process involved intimidating interviews and an extensive collection of evidence to prove the authenticity of our relationship. We faced scrutiny and endured moments of uncertainty, but our commitment to each other and the unwavering support of our family carried us through.
Through the highs and lows, I have learned invaluable lessons from my entrepreneurial father, empowering mother, and compassionate wife. They have shaped me into a dreamer and a seeker of possibilities. Now, as I stand at the precipice of new adventures, I carry their teachings and the indomitable spirit they instilled in me. The call to adventure beckons, and I am ready to embrace the unknown, armed with resilience, creativity, and a burning desire to capture stories through the lens of my camera.
This is my ordinary world—a vibrant tapestry of entrepreneurship, love, and the pursuit of personal and professional growth. And with each step forward, I am reminded that the greatest journeys are often born from the most unexpected beginnings.
Marrying my wife, who resided in America, entailed uprooting myself from Germany and embarking on a new chapter in a foreign land. My wife’s four children would face major difficulties if they joined me in Germany because they didn’t know German, which was a persuasive reason for the decision. Additionally, my wife had a stable job in America, making it more practical for me to relocate. Thus, I made the choice to move to America with her, leaving behind my established life.
However, this transition posed a challenge for my flourishing Video Business. I had invested substantial time and effort into its development, and now I had to grapple with the uncertainty of its future. Could I sustain and expand my business in an unfamiliar market? Balancing my entrepreneurial aspirations with the responsibilities of my new life weighed heavily on my mind.
The call to adventure beckoned, urging me to embrace the unknown and confront the risks that lay ahead. Marrying my wife meant not only embracing a new family but also starting afresh in a foreign land. Striking a delicate balance between personal commitments and professional dreams became essential. With determination and resilience, I embarked on this transformative journey, carrying the belief that I could adapt, seize new opportunities, and forge connections in the American business realm. It would be a test of my skills, creativity, and ability to navigate uncharted territories.
Leaving Germany would entail bidding farewell to everyone dear to me, including my family and friends. The thought of parting ways with them, knowing that some of my grandparents are at an advanced age and in fragile health, is truly heart-wrenching. I fear that if I were to embark on this journey, they might pass away before I have the chance to return to Germany and be by their side.
Yet, the ramifications extend beyond personal relationships. Leaving Germany would mean severing ties with everything I have ever known and cherished in my life. It’s not merely a physical departure; it’s a departure from my cultural roots, my heritage, and the very essence of who I am. I would be forced to leave behind the customs, traditions, and values that have shaped me into the person I am today.
In addition, the loss would extend to the sensory experiences that define my daily existence. The thought of relinquishing the taste of my favorite German foods, the aroma of familiar local delicacies, and the comforting ambiance of my treasured local places fills me with a sense of longing. These are the elements that have woven themselves into the fabric of my life, providing a sense of belonging and comfort that cannot easily be replicated elsewhere.
Furthermore, the sacrifices would also extend to my professional aspirations. Recently, I embarked on a new venture, establishing my Video Business with enthusiasm and dedication. However, the prospect of leaving Germany would necessitate the closure of this budding enterprise. It feels disheartening to consider the painstaking efforts I have invested in building my business, only to have to start from scratch once again. The mere thought of stepping into the unknown without any established connections or acquaintances in the American Business World is daunting. It would require me to rebuild my career and establish a new network of contacts, essentially starting from ground zero.
As I approached the end of my Photography degree in Germany, my mind was swirling with thoughts and possibilities. It was during this pivotal moment that Videography caught my attention, and fate led me to discover Parker Walbeck, a talented Videographer based in Orem, Utah, just an hour away from my upcoming destination. Our conversation sparked a connection, and he graciously extended an invitation for me to learn from him. From that point forward, my world revolved around my laptop, as I eagerly absorbed every bit of knowledge he shared.
Learning from Parker wasn’t without its challenges. With an eight-hour time difference and a language barrier to navigate, my journey into the world of videography became an exhilarating and unpredictable adventure. He unveiled the secrets of video cameras, guided me through the nuances of camera settings, and taught me to discern between a remarkable video and a lackluster one. He showed me the missing ingredients in my own work and illuminated the path to improvement. Above all, he instilled in me the confidence and know-how to build a thriving business in the vast and unfamiliar American economy, even without a preexisting network of connections.
After immersing myself in Parker’s teachings for several months, I felt a surge of determination and a newfound sense of readiness to embark on my American journey. The universe seemed to align with my aspirations, and not long after, I received my green card, granting me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams. With a mere 60 days to make the move, the task at hand was to condense my entire life into just two suitcases and a backpack. I meticulously wrapped up my affairs in Germany, closing bank accounts, parting with possessions, and bidding farewell to the business I had poured my heart and soul into building.
On a memorable Valentine’s Day in 2019, I finally set foot on American soil, brimming with excitement and anticipation for the chapters that lay ahead. It was a bold leap of faith, leaving behind the familiar and venturing into the unknown, but it was a leap I took with unwavering determination and a burning passion for the art of videography. The journey had only just begun, and the challenges and triumphs that awaited me in America were ready to be embraced.
Stepping foot on American soil was nothing short of a whirlwind. In an instant, I went from being a single individual to becoming the stepfather of four wonderful children from Lisa’s previous marriage. The suddenness of it all took me by surprise. I mean, let’s be honest, who is ever truly prepared to become a parent? Overnight, my responsibilities multiplied, and alongside the joy of it, there was a tinge of disbelief. As if life couldn’t get any more exciting, Lisa was also pregnant with our baby boy, adding another layer of anticipation to the mix.
Upon my arrival, I was brimming with enthusiasm, ready to hit the ground running and open up my own business. Little did I know, there were certain formalities I had to navigate first. One of the most crucial requirements was obtaining an American driver’s license. It was the key to mobility, allowing me to connect with people, attend video shoots, and potentially secure clients. However, an unexpected obstacle arose in the form of my green card paperwork, causing a frustrating delay of six months in receiving my social security number. During that time, my existence in America was restricted to mere existence—being able to spend money but not much else.
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Within the confines of this bureaucratic limbo, I couldn’t secure a job or even obtain a driver’s license. It was a challenging phase to navigate. However, I refused to let circumstances define me. While waiting for the paperwork to be resolved, I channeled my energy into productive endeavors. I immersed myself in online networking, connecting with like-minded individuals through local virtual events. I ventured outside, seizing every opportunity to create compelling content and honing my skills with cameras, lights, microphones, and drones. Transforming my modest 250 sq ft basement office into an impromptu video studio, I poured my heart into building a website that showcased my talents.
Despite the setbacks, my determination remained unyielding. I refused to be confined to the walls of my home, indulging in idle television watching. Instead, I focused on growth, seizing every chance to sharpen my craft and expand my network. But what truly fueled my fire was the presence of my little boy. Spending precious moments with him reminded me of the driving force behind my entrepreneurial pursuits—the unwavering desire to provide for my family and create a better future for us all.
Within a short span, I managed to secure my first client, pulling in around $35,000 in revenue despite not having a business license. It was an impressive feat for someone who had just relocated across the ocean without any connections. However, it was far from enough to sustain my growing family of seven, especially with another baby on the way. The need for more income became paramount.
As any seasoned business owner would attest, earning $35,000 doesn’t equate to taking home that entire sum. I would allocate the clients’ deposits to purchase the necessary equipment for each job. Thus, after expenses, I could only bring home approximately $5,000, if even that. Video equipment certainly comes with a hefty price tag.
Approaching my second year in business, I recognized the urgency to generate more income and provide for my family. Even though I didn’t strike it rich, I was still able to make some wise financial decisions and travel a respectable road. With a revenue of about $80,000, I succumbed to the allure of becoming a bigger player in the video industry, investing over $24,000 in a prestigious Cinema Camera used in famous movies. It boasted Netflix approval and features that would make any filmmaker’s heart flutter. Unfortunately, my clients, who primarily viewed videos on their iPhones, failed to discern any significant difference in quality. It was a costly lesson to learn.
Nevertheless, even amidst the financial setback, I sensed my business gaining traction. In the following year, I engaged with larger companies, fostered long-term relationships, honed my marketing skills, and propelled my revenue to an impressive $120,000.
Allies: Over those three years, I formed two valuable friendships. The first was with Mark Christiansen, a seasoned Sound Engineer with more than 25 years of experience. We collaborated on several events, with him expertly handling sound while I captured the visuals. The other friendship blossomed with Adam Miconi, an exceptional website designer and search engine optimization expert. His design prowess, evident in captivating websites, logos, and graphic creations, left me in awe. Adam specialized in crafting websites and leveraging search engine optimization to drive traffic. We established a reciprocal referral system, benefiting both our clients.
Enemies: Throughout my journey as a videographer, I encountered numerous marketers who frequently referred clients to me. Often, they would assert that their marketing efforts were faltering and believed a well-crafted video would solve their problems. Yet, even with my exceptional videos, the marketing strategies still fell short. Witnessing this recurring pattern was frustrating. While I understood that the fault didn’t lie with me, as the same marketers continued to refer clients to my services, I grappled with the moral dilemma. Mentally, it weighed heavily on me as I witnessed individuals not getting a return on their investment, both with my work and the marketers’ efforts. I took pride in producing high-quality videos, and my company garnered a local reputation as the go-to for impeccable results. However, I questioned myself. How could I rectify this situation? It ignited a simmering desire for change, planting the seed of transformation in my mind.
In my fourth year of business, I was on the verge of reaching the coveted $200,000 annual mark. My personal life was flourishing, filled with joy as Lisa and I reveled in our busy family dynamics. However, a persistent problem gnawed at my conscience. The videos I crafted failed to yield the desired financial returns for my clients, leaving me disheartened and questioning my abilities. It wasn’t that the videos lacked beauty or professionalism; rather, a substantial gap emerged between delivering the videos and their proper implementation by clients or the marketing agencies they employed. Some clients didn’t even bother to download the videos I painstakingly created; they simply stored them in the cloud for vague “someday” use. Realizing that my clients weren’t reaping the benefits of their investment weighed heavily on me. I genuinely wanted to make a positive impact on these companies. I aspired for my business to be renowned as a catalyst for their success, where working with me would undeniably be more advantageous than going it alone. Yet, if I’m completely honest with myself, I’m not sure if they truly were.
The crux of the issue was knowing what needed to be done in theory but lacking the expertise to execute it effectively. It seemed simple enough: just get people to watch the videos. However, enticing viewers to take action isn’t as easy as waving a cookie in front of them. Even if I could drive online traffic to the video, it didn’t guarantee that wallets would open and credit cards would fly toward the screen. Nurturing potential customers through email campaigns, SMS campaigns, retargeting ads, and active social media engagement was crucial, but I wasn’t well-versed in these areas either.
Fortunately, I had a solution: Adam Miconi, the brilliant website designer and search engine optimization expert. Since my clients struggled to utilize the videos effectively, I started referring them to Adam after delivering the video. He would help them with their websites and drive traffic to the page where the video was hosted. In the marketing world, he excelled at “Traffic Generation,” while I specialized in “Lead Generation.” It quickly became apparent that our collaboration yielded remarkable results. Our clients even wondered why they received two separate invoices from two different companies.
That’s when a significant decision loomed before us. Should we join forces and establish a marketing agency? The prospect was enticing, and we had to weigh the possibilities.
And so, the idea for XYZ Marketing was born. In the beginning, we simply called it that because we hadn’t settled on a name yet. We didn’t want something as mundane as a name to hinder our exploration of this merged business concept. But as we ventured further, the name XYZ Marketing started to grow on us. It had a certain ring to it, so we decided to embrace it and officially establish our marketing agency as XYZ Marketing.
With the vision in place, we began offering a comprehensive range of services. My video production and photography expertise combined with Adam’s website design, search engine optimization, and paid advertising skills The demand for our services to skyrocket, surpassing what just the two of us could handle. We knew we had to expand our team. In no time, we had recruited a talented group of individuals. Our team now consisted of two videographers, two video editors, a writer, a web developer, a graphic designer, an SEO expert, and a salesperson.
Our dedication to making sure that our clients got a return on their investment was the driving force behind our quick expansion. We didn’t want them to rely solely on Adam and me to set everything up. We aimed to be the go-to company that others could hire, knowing they would achieve a tangible return on their investment. Our goal was to assist others in realizing the American dream.
The rapid expansion of our team brought with it immense responsibility. Suddenly, we were entrusted with the livelihoods of multiple families. Neither Adam nor I had ever managed such a large team before, and the challenge of getting people with diverse expertise to work together was completely new to us. We were venturing into uncharted territory.
As we focused on building our team and ensuring efficient fulfillment, our sales took a hit. This meant our cash flow dipped into the red, leaving Adam and me without a paycheck. On the other hand, when we shifted our attention to sales, our ability to fulfill orders would lag behind. It seemed like we were stuck in an endless cycle of choosing which problem to face each month.
For the next 18 months, we dedicated ourselves to finding solutions. We worked tirelessly to develop systems, improve our management skills, refine our training methods, and replicate the success we had achieved with one client across all others. And I’m proud to say, we eventually cracked the code.
However, the process of building our studio and expanding the team drained my personal savings. I was on the verge of financial ruin, feeling like a failure. I had let down my family by depleting all our savings in pursuit of XYZ Marketing. We were in an extremely tight financial situation. In fact, during the year we started XYZ Marketing, I had no money to make Christmas happen for my family. I vividly remember the bittersweet feeling of being able to give Christmas bonuses to my employees while knowing that my own children wouldn’t receive any gifts. It was a tough time for us. But just a few days before Christmas, an anonymous person dropped off $800 at our doorstep. To this day, I don’t know who it was, but their generosity made it possible for my children to have a Christmas that year.
Reality hit hard, and we had to face the painful truth: we had to let go of our team, one by one, over the course of the next few months. There was no one else to blame but ourselves. It was a time of rebuilding, of reconstructing what had been torn down. And in the process, we had to rebuild ourselves too. We needed a solid training system, a structured approach to teaching our methods, and the leadership skills to guide a team. It meant confronting our own strengths and weaknesses and actively working on improving ourselves.
But we did it. We rebuilt everything from the ground up—the systems, the methods, and the team. We have mastered the art of replicating success for our clients. It took us a grueling two years filled with blood, sweat, and tears. Countless late nights and an investment of over a quarter million dollars were poured into refining and perfecting our system.
Our system is like electricity, following a set of simple rules. In marketing, you can dabble in various strategies, but without connecting them all together, nothing significant is accomplished. It’s akin to an electrical circuit. If any portion of the circuit is disconnected, electricity cannot flow. What we have discovered is how to close the marketing loop, seamlessly tying every campaign together to achieve one ultimate goal: attracting more customers.
Let’s really accelerate the timeline here. It may say two years, but those short sentences don’t capture the magnitude of our journey. It was a transformative process filled with countless obstacles and triumphant moments.
Now, I can confidently declare that we deliver a remarkable return on investment for our clients. We believe in our abilities so strongly that we offer a guarantee: if we don’t make our clients their money back, we work for free until we do. After two years of immersive learning, I’ve mastered every stage of a successful marketing strategy and understand how implementation impacts its effectiveness. I can now pinpoint precisely why a marketing strategy is either working or falling short. Our systems are adaptable to any company, regardless of industry.
And here’s the best part: we’re giving away our system for free. There’s nothing secretive or elusive about successful marketing. It’s about executing all the necessary components and implementing them effectively. We have made everything we know available in our free resource center, where we teach our system and our approach. You have the option to tackle your marketing on your own or hire us to handle it for you. The choice is yours.
Best Business Consulting in United States
To confirm them as the official winner of our Stellar Business Award for excellence in {text:39} in United States, we made the following announcements:
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This public post on our website highlights them as the winner
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A public announcement on our LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook page
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Provided a physical certificate signed by our committee
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Assured that there are no other winners for the category of Marketing in United States
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Sent a physical Stellar Business trophy to symbolize this award
We encourage you to visit our award winner’s business website to learn more about how they can help you with Marketing in United States. Link below.
www.xyzmktg.com
Contact: Jonathan Lauer
