The eCommerce Marketing Podcast walks you through everything that goes into ecommerce marketing — from inbound marketing to paid advertising to conversions. Learn the strategies top marketing experts use to grow their businesses.
In this episode of the E-commerce Marketing Podcast, host Arlen Robinson speaks with Behdad Jamshidi, founder of C Jam Marketing, about the critical aspects of hiring marketing agencies. Behdad shares his journey from engineering to marketing matchmaking, emphasizing the importance of understanding agency backgrounds, identifying red flags, and assessing one’s own marketing needs. The conversation also delves into the impact of AI on marketing strategies and the evolving role of agencies in a rapidly changing landscape.
Key Episode Takeaways:
- Behdad Jamshidi has vetted over 1,000 marketing agencies.
- Understanding the founder’s background is crucial when hiring an agency.
- Agencies with less than five years of experience may be risky.
- Agency size can impact service quality and attention to clients.
- Rapid growth in agencies can lead to service issues.
- A strong marketing strategy is essential for businesses before hiring agencies.
- Authenticity in marketing is becoming increasingly important.
- AI can elevate basic marketing efforts but requires expertise for advanced use.
- Certain marketing tasks may be replaced by AI, but human oversight remains essential.
- Marketing agencies will continue to evolve in response to technological changes.
For show transcript highlights, past guests, and more, visit: https://www.ecommercemarketingpodcast.com
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Past guests on the ecommerce marketing podcast include Neil Patel, Nemo Chu, Luke Lintz, Luke Carthy, Amber Armstrong, Kris Ruby and many more.
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Behdad Jamshidi is the founder of C Jam Marketing, a firm dedicated to helping businesses find the right marketing partners. With a background in engineering, consulting, marketing, and strategy, Behdad has vetted over 1,000 agencies and built a trusted network of more than 100 marketing partners. His expertise lies in bridging the gap between business owners and agencies that truly drive growth, and he’s been featured in MarketWatch, Bloomberg, National Post, and Financial Post for his insights into the marketing space.
In this episode, Behdad dives deep into the red flags to watch out for when hiring a marketing agency—insights drawn from his experience evaluating over 1,000 agencies. He breaks down why agency age, size, and scaling pace can signal trouble, and why claims of being “full-service” are often misleading. Behdad also shares how businesses can better understand their own marketing needs before engaging an agency, and how AI is transforming the agency landscape while creating new challenges and opportunities.
Key Topics Discussed
- Behdad’s unconventional journey from engineering to marketing matchmaking
- Top three red flags to watch out for when hiring a marketing agency
- Why agencies with less than five years’ experience can be risky
- How agency size and scaling pace impact service quality
- The pitfalls of “full-service” claims in the marketing world
- How businesses can develop a solid marketing strategy before hiring an agency
- The role of AI in today’s marketing landscape—and the importance of authenticity
- Why expert oversight is still essential despite AI advancements
- How marketing agencies are evolving rather than being replaced by AI
Time Stamps
[00:01] – Meet Behdad Jamshidi and how C Jam Marketing began
[02:22] – From engineering to marketing: Behdad’s journey
[05:23] – The top red flags to watch out for when hiring an agency
[09:18] – Why the “full-service” agency model is problematic
[11:49] – How entrepreneurs can assess their own marketing needs
[15:03] – Emerging marketing trends and the importance of authenticity
[17:31] – How businesses and agencies can use AI effectively
[20:07] – Will AI eventually replace marketing agencies? Behdad’s take
[22:56] – Fun Fact: Living in the Netherlands and visiting 55 European cities
[24:06] – Where to follow Behdad and learn more
Guest Contact Information
Website: cjammarketing.com
LinkedIn: Behdad Jamshidi
