Building a business or launching a product is a skill set just like any other. And if you lack experience then the best thing you can do for yourself and your business is to seek guidance. That is the opinion of today’s guest, Rudy Grippo. An expert in directing and developing marketing strategies, he has helped countless companies across various industries roll out successful marketing strategies — even during the COVID-19 pandemic. His company, Online Cultur, is a creative marketing agency that specializes in web design, web development, search engine optimization (SEO), social media, and video production, and helps its clients achieve success through digital marketing. Tuning in you’ll learn why having a good marketing strategy is critical to a successful product launch, why no product is good enough to ‘sell itself’, and how seeking out guidance can help you avoid common pitfalls and achieve exceptional results. We examine two contrasting case studies of marketing strategies during the pandemic, and why the company that sought out expert help was able to thrive while the other flailed. Rudy also provides expert insight on how entrepreneurs should approach their online presence, including how to choose which social media platforms to focus on, before sharing his views on AI as a marketing tool and why mindset is critical to your success as an entrepreneur. For a comprehensive look at how to approach your marketing strategy in the digital age and how to ensure you have the proper support, be sure to tune in to our conversation with Rudy!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Rudy’s expertise in directing and developing marketing strategies across industries.
• The most consistent reason entrepreneurs’ businesses don’t succeed.
• How being underfunded and not seeking advice can undermine your marketing strategy.
• The most important thing businesses can do prior to launch: seek guidance.
• An illustrative example of how Rudy constructed an effective marketing strategy for one of his clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• His insights on an unsuccessful marketing strategy that was instituted during the pandemic and the factors that caused it to fail.
• Why marketing is critical to your relevance.
• The importance of websites and how they showcase your capability.
• A rundown of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and how to establish your online presence.
• Insight into how Rudy improves SEO for his clients.
• The role of social media and how to determine which platforms you should be utilizing.
• Why you need to establish an online presence on more than one platform.
• How to determine whether you are reaching your target audience.
• The biggest asset to business owners in the digital landscape.
• Rudy’s views on the usefulness and limitations of AI as a marketing tool.
• Your mindset as an entrepreneur and the critical role it plays in a successful product launch.
• The immense value of having a counselor, mentor, or coach.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Online Cultur

Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork

Lynn Donaldson on LinkedIn

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ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group

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The focus of this episode is the United State's number one resource and driver of the economy: entrepreneurs. Today’s guest is Deborah Simpson, Chairman, CEO, and Co-Founder of SeeMedX, a medical equipment manufacturing company that provides smart non-invasive monitors and telehealth devices that save lives, improve patient care, and reduce healthcare costs. Not only is Debs a successful serial entrepreneur herself, but she is also an expert in guiding and mentoring others. With her skills in directing strategic and developmental growth, Debs has taken numerous companies from startup to successful public offering (IPO), and she joins us today to share some key insights for any product innovator embarking on their unique entrepreneurial journey. From the power of marketing to the value of surrounding yourself with people smarter than you, Debs has plenty of practical advice to share, but more importantly, she emphasizes the benefits of being tenacious, following your passion, learning to accept rejection, and more. If you want to find out what it takes to develop the mindset of a successful entrepreneur, be sure to tune in today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The importance of surrounding yourself with an incredible team.
• Reasons that entrepreneurs fail and why tenacity is the key to success.
• Passion and other qualities that Debs looks for in entrepreneurs.
• The power of marketing and why the phrase “my product will sell itself” is a red flag.
• How Debs has achieved an 80% success rate in her portfolio when 90% of startups fail.
• Whether venture capitalists (VC) are a good or a bad thing for entrepreneurs.
• The story behind why Debs is devoted to saving lives and helping entrepreneurs.
• Why she recommends bootstrapping and emphasizes the value of strategic planning.
• Debs’ view of marketing as the driver of your business and technology as an enabler.
• How failing to make decisions will stop any company in its tracks.
• Advice for keeping your eye on your competitors, making connections, and planning ahead.
• Why the right mindset is absolutely critical for successful entrepreneurs.
• A final appeal to entrepreneurs to never give up: you can change the world!

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Deborah Simpson on LinkedIn

SeeMedX

Lynn Donaldson on LinkedIn

Email Lynn Donaldson

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group

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One of the most important aspects of preparing a successful product launch is planning for non-controllables. Unfortunately, this critical aspect is often overlooked on account of it being too uncomfortable to discuss. Our guest today is a big proponent of full scenario planning and believes that preparing yourself for these eventualities doesn’t need to be all doom and gloom. Joerg has seen countless project launches over the course of his career, having worked in a large pharma company for 15 years followed by a decade in biotech. In that time he has occupied a series of roles ranging from local product manager to global team leader and has been involved with both primary care and specialty products. In today’s conversation, Joerg shares what his decades of experience have taught him about successful launches and missed opportunities. He breaks down key considerations to take into account in the planning phase; including how to overcome internal and external challenges, and unpacks the important role of mindset for leaders and team members. We also discuss the inefficiencies of the US healthcare system and how innovative thinkers can improve the marketplace that they’re launching into and move the industry forward. Tune in to hear all of Joerg’s powerful insights along with a comprehensive overview of what he deems crucial for a successful product launch!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Joerg’s extensive experience working within a large pharma company.
• How he transitioned to working with a much smaller biotech company.
• The many product launches Joerg has seen in his career and his interest in oncology.
• How Joerg built his own practice and the commercial consulting he does today.
• An overview of the internal and external challenges to creating a successful product launch.
• The importance of managing expectations and why they aren’t always based on reality.
• Preparing for non-controllables and why they are often overlooked.
• Joerg’s definition of a successful launch and the importance of meeting expectations.
• What he would consider to be a suboptimal launch and how to identify underlying causes.
• Insight into the metrics that Joerg uses to measure success.
• The benefits of gathering data and insights from the field as soon as possible.
• Which functions should be prioritized for a successful launch, and why mindset is key.
• The value of enlisting people with late-stage experience to help inform earlier decisions.
• Why a subject matter expert in big pharma won’t automatically be a launch expert in biopharma.
• The important role of mindset for your team, both individually and as a collective.
• The COVID pandemic as a black swan scenario and the importance of preparing for these in future.
• Joerg’s thoughts on using AI to process data and reduce costs.
• Unpacking how innovative thinkers can move the industry forward.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Tysabri

Aduhelm

Lynn Donaldson on LinkedIn

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ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group

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The current healthcare model in the US is taking strain. That’s why it’s becoming increasingly important to launch products that solve a real problem and provide economic value to the market. Bill G is an industry expert with extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry and he joins us today to discuss the magic of product launch success. In this episode, we investigate the metrics that define both successful and suboptimal product launches and reflect on recent industry trends, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Bill sheds light on the challenge of identifying unmet needs and the impact of simple solutions, as well as how to make the most impact in the market. Tune in to find out the optimal pre-launch strategy, the value of face-to-face interactions when it comes to launching your product into the market, and so much more!  

Key Points From This Episode:

• Industry expert Bill G’s background and current role in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry.
• The numerous challenges that can derail a successful product launch.
• What constitutes a successful product launch, according to Bill.
• Why it’s beneficial to get stakeholders involved early on.
• Bill shares examples of successful product launches he’s been involved in.
• How the market determines the value of a product.
• The metrics that define a suboptimal product launch.
• Examples of suboptimal product launches.
• Crucial pre-launch activity.
• The metrics Bill uses to measure launch success.
• The organizational functions required for a successful launch.
• Bill reflects on recent industry trends and post-pandemic changes.
• The value of face-to-face interactions.
• The current healthcare situation in the US.
• How product launch success can be increased going forward.
• The challenge of identifying unmet needs.
• The impact of simple solutions.
• The advantage the pandemic afforded Bill’s company.
• The magic of product launch success, in Bill’s experience.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lynn Donaldson on LinkedIn

Email Lynn Donaldson

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group

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For this month's episode, we are bringing you an in-depth discussion on product launches from the perspective of pharmaceutical Medical Affairs. Our guest is Ben, who has experience in the academic, clinical, public health, and regulatory areas of the profession and has spent the majority of his recent career as a medical director. We have a fascinating conversation covering interesting areas such as coordinating messaging, prioritizing patient benefits, the most notable components of a successful launch, valuable metrics, and much more. As a process with so many moving parts, product launches require adequate planning, a point that Ben makes sure to emphasize, especially in light of the period set out initially. Ultimately all of these strategies and systems should be serving the needs of the patients, and the array of voices and departments involved in important decisions need to be well-managed and properly included. So to hear all of this from our expert guest, and further your understanding of these vital pieces of the puzzle, press play now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Ben's current professional transitional status and his reasons for leaving academia. 
• Looking at Ben's commitment to the medical affairs department and the role of a medical director.  
• Defining a successful product launch; Ben shares his perspective on the challenges.  
• Ben shares an example of a successful product launch from his career. 
• Unpacking some of the major challenges that face product launch.  
• Dealing with sub-optimal launches and managing unforeseen delays.
• Ben's views on the best metrics for measuring the success of a product launch. 
• Completing the list of different voices that need to be present in all launch discussions.    
• Reflections on the industry since the advent of the pandemic.  
• Ben talks about the future and the elements that can most impact the success of launches. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Lynn Donaldson on LinkedIn

Email Lynn Donaldson

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group on LinkedIn

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group on Facebook

Welcome to the very first episode of Product Launch Best Practices, the podcast where industry experts share their insights into what makes for a successful product launch. Today, we are joined by consultant Nancy Barlow to discuss the dos and don’ts of launching a product. Nancy is the President of The Barlow Group and is focused on integrated marketing strategy for both Pharma and device companies. In this episode, she shares the greatest challenges of launching products, and what constitutes successful and suboptimal launches, respectively. We discover the metrics Nancy uses to measure success and why, as well as what goes into developing the market and building relationships. Tune in to find out how best to identify and communicate your unique value proposition, and ensure post-launch success!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The premise of the Product Launch Best Practices podcast.
• Consultant Nancy Barlow’s involvement in serving pharma and device companies.
• Nancy’s broad background.
• The challenges of launching products.
• What factors affect the definition of a successful product launch.
• Examples and characteristics of successful product launches.
• What goes into developing the market for a product to succeed.
• How best to build relationships with both KOLs and payers.
• How to identify and communicate your unique value proposition.
• The importance of regulatory coordination.
• What constitutes a suboptimal launch and how to avoid failure.
• The benefits of war gaming.
• Nancy shares an example of a surprisingly suboptimal product launch.
• The metrics she uses to measure success and why.
• Why medical affairs and market access are critical for post-launch success.
• Nancy reflects on recent trends in the medical industry.
• She summarizes how best to increase product launch success.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Nancy Barlow on LinkedIn

The Barlow Group LLC

Lynn Donaldson on LinkedIn

Email Lynn Donaldson

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group on LinkedIn

ConnectA Strategic Solutions Group on Facebook