Michael Moreno is a New York based content consultant for small and medium sized businesses, creative producer, and industry-recognized podcaster.
As trained storytellers, Michael and his wife Cristin combine their 20+ years of entertainment producing, project management, and business building into Much More Media, helping business owners develop powerful attention grabbing content strategies that unlock the media empire already alive in their business and deliver their message to their ideal audience in a big way.
Whether through consulting or guiding creative business owners through their 100K Accelerator program, Much More Media uses proven strategies to easily create content, reach thousands, and leverage press attention to make a massive impact all within the budget and time constraints of hard working entrepreneurs.
While helping others grow their visibility, Michael also hosts his own podcast reaching over 15K creatives called The Actor CEO Podcast and is an expert contributor to multiple entertainment magazines. He also co-produces The Notable Woman Podcast with Cristin helping over 25K women worldwide step into their power.
Much More Media donates a portion of profits directly to minority small business owners in underserved communities around the world.
Please tell us a little bit about your company – what is Much More Media all about?
Much More Media is about growing the impact of a business by amplifying their attention and boosting their visibility. We say we “unlock the media empire alive inside your business” because now business owners large and small have access to incredible audience reach and very few gatekeepers. It’s about efficiently and effectively using that reach to be the most productive that matters, and that is what we help with.
Tell us a little bit about your background and how you started your company?
The company started in 2016 because people reached out to us needing help with advertising. I come from the world of video production and live entertainment and had the capacity to help produce advertisements for Facebook. That’s where we started, but we quickly learned that every business we helped lacked any comprehensive content strategy or follow up plan to their Facebook ads. They thought they could run one ad and solve everything. So we developed more effective content marketing solutions and incorporated PR and press attention. Now our work is far more powerful.
What are your plans, how do you plan to grow this company?
We’ve opened a group program called the 100K accelerator which allows 20 businesses at a time to get 100K eyeballs on their business in 90 days through content and press. The group program is extremely effective because we can help more business owners in less time. In conjunction with our 3, 6 and 12 month consulting packages, this type of program really allows us to grow our own impact in people’s businesses and further improve how modern business owners leverage the evolving media landscape.
What was the biggest problem you encountered with your business and how did you overcome it?
Again, the biggest problem we encountered in the beginning was the misunderstanding business owners had around certain media outlets. The Facebook ad content we created is a great example. Owners though, “I need a Facebook ad. That’s what will increase sales.” But one single ad with no retargeting, no content to maintain interest, no nurture sequence in email and no PR strategy to maintain visibility is a very limited strategy. So instead of just operating like most contractors and making the thing and taking the check, we worked with our clients to highlight what they were missing and showcase how powerful and long lasting a more comprehensive strategy was.
What were the top mistakes you made starting your business and what did you learn from it?
Not asking for help. Hands down thinking you can do everything all the time is a BIG MISTAKE. We now operate with the motto, “do what you do best, and outsource the rest.” Virtual assistants, content editors, researchers, ad strategists and more make it far more possible to keep a robust and effective business afloat, and this type of team work is more efficient and more affordable than it has ever been. We absolutely encourage our clients to think this way as well and those who do see incredible results.
How do you separate yourself from your competitors?
Usually our competitors fall into one of two groups, those who are really just contractors – Facebook ads, social media managers and the like, or consultants with no professional storytelling experience. What makes us more effective is we can draw upon our deep understanding of digital ads, PR, social media and the like, plus we know how to craft effective stories that attract and keep the attention of your ideal audience. Now, more than ever, businesses have to be storytellers because that is how your audience listens and it’s how, over time, you keep their attention.
Attention is the MOST VALUABLE commodity on the internet and one piece of content or always shouting at folks to buy your stuff is not effective. It’s opening and developing a dialogue that brings people in and that is what ensures they are there to buy when the time is right.
What is one thing that you do daily to grow as an entrepreneur?
Meditation is a daily practice for me. It’s a crucial starting point to my day and allows me to embrace what I already have, operate from a place of gratitude and create mental and physical space that allows me to feel more focused and free as I go through my tasks for the day.
What are three books or courses you recommend for new entrepreneurs?
Read A Happy Pocket Full of Money and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur and take Pat Flynn’s Smart from Scratch course.
What is the one thing you wish you knew before starting your business?
That it is always an evolution. You’ll feel on top of the world and like you don’t know what you’re doing all in the same day. But guess what, so does everyone else. So embrace the journey and commit to something you truly love.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Tapping into established audiences. There are so many content producers out there that need content, so offering value to those having a conversation with an audience that is aligned with what we do best is very effective.
If you only had $1000 dollars to start a new business, knowing everything you know now, how would you spend it?
I love this question. I would probably spend it on a good mobile phone. Or a good phone and simple LED light. Because once you have that mobile device, you have a TV station, radio and newspaper in the palm of your hand, and then you can turn from consumer of content to creator of content. That is insanely powerful. Now you can broadcast your mission and message worldwide from anywhere with practically no gatekeepers or financial hurdles keeping you out. Combine that with a smart strategy you implement for 3 then 6 then 12 months, and you’re golden. Everything else just amplifies those core fundamentals.
What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
There is space for everyone. Be specific and you will find the people who love what you do. Also, in this fast paced world, patience is an investment that will pay many dividends.
What is your favorite quote?
“People overestimate what they can accomplish in a day and underestimate what they can accomplish in a year.”
How can we get in touch with you?
I can be reached on LinkedIn, you can visit my website www.MuchMore.Media and email: Mike@MuchMore.Media
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