Rob Gallo on Building Brands and Influencer Marketing Strategies

Our guest in this episode is Rob Gallo, a founder, investor, consultant, advisor, and mentor. With a career in the online gaming industry that spans back to 1997, Rob has specialised expertise in casino and poker platforms. He runs a consultancy practice where he offers strategic guidance to position and elevate brands in the market.

Short overview

Rob shares his professional evolution from operating a successful online casino business to becoming an affiliate and influencer marketing expert. He explains the story behind his company name, Pivotal Zen, which represents his strategic shift from focusing solely on the gaming industry to exploring other sectors that could benefit from his expertise in gamification and loyalty strategies. The inclusion of Zen in the company name reflects his emphasis on a balanced work-life approach, a principle shaped by his experience with demanding work schedules and the importance of overall well-being.

Rob has extensive knowledge of loyalty programs, illustrating their wide-ranging effectiveness with examples from both the hotel industry and grocery stores. When it comes to branding and positioning, he emphasises the significance of these aspects by pointing to the unique strategies of companies like Patagonia and Apple. He highlights the importance of effective positioning in creating distinct brand identities, using Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts as prime examples of how different approaches to similar products can appeal to varied customer bases.

On the domain front, Rob acknowledges the significance of Exact Brand Match domains as symbols of trust and established credibility in the business world, comparing them to traditional markers like 1–800 numbers or a 212 area code.

A crucial piece of advice Rob offers entrepreneurs is the importance of surrounding oneself with knowledgeable people. He emphasises that being open to learning from others, especially in branding and positioning, is more beneficial than being the smartest in the room.

Regarding artificial intelligence, Rob sees it as a valuable tool for content creation and efficiency, stressing the importance of human oversight and noting emerging areas like prompt engineering and AI’s creative applications.

Looking ahead, Rob is excited about his new venture with a gaming company, helping it strive to become a unicorn in the industry. On a personal note, he shares the joy of becoming a grandfather for the second time, marking a fulfilling milestone in his life.

Listen to the full podcast at https://smartbranding.com