Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Pope.
Daniel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story began when I was a freshman in high school – 2009. I went up to my parents and excitedly said, “I want to build my own computer.” Why? Well, growing up I was tired of using the old, dusty Dell desktop in the family room. So I figured, “if I build my own, then I control my destiny”…AKA I get to choose what goes in it.
The only problem…I didn’t have the money to buy $750 worth of parts. And at the time, I was younger than most of my friends in school, so I couldn’t get an actual “job” at Kroger or Sonic. Then a lightbulb moment hit me. “What if I created my own job!” Crazy, right?! After a few days of brainstorming, I came up with a plan to go around and help people with their computer. Since Facebook was budding at the time, I knew a lot of my parents’ & grandparents’ friends needed help getting on “the facebook”.
I still remember when my first client, a family friend, asked “sounds great, how much do you charge?”. I sat there thinking of a number, and with a sheepish reply I said, “$20 an hour…is that okay?” They excitedly said yes and the rest is history.
I quickly became known as “the computer guy” in my parent’s circle. I then spent 12 months buying parts and finally built that computer. After high school, I moved into a 30 hr. / week I.T. job while I was getting my IT Mgmt. degree from The University of Memphis. I was on top of the world…but I still felt that “call of the wild”. So in May of 2017, I told my boss that I was starting my own business in June, and it was time for me to move on to something else.
Did I have any idea what I was getting myself into…not really. But I had spent the past 6 years learning about client interactions, invoicing/accounting, and very light business operations. So I had some “street smarts” about me…but boy, oh boy…was I in for a whirlwind.
In 2017, I started my first company doing social media posting & management for a completely mixed bag of clients. From a large paint company to a bike shop to an online store and everything in between – we had zero focus. In 2018, circumstances changed as I parted ways with my business partner in that LLC. Now, I was officially on my own at the ripe age of 23.
Over the next years, I cut my teeth on all aspects of digital marketing – from copywriting to advertising to marketing tech…and all the business mgmt. tasks in between.
Now, at this point in the story, most people ask, “Daniel, you grew up doing computer work…why switch to marketing?!”
And the reason for “digital marketing” is because I.T. (or computer work) is commoditized and seen as a cost center. But “digital marketing” is seen as a profit booster, an enhancement…and truthfully its’ seen as the elusive, beautiful woman (or man) at the ball. Everyone wants it.
And, as I learned the different areas of marketing …I realized that I sat squarely in the middle of technology + marketing.
Fast forward to today, I still think back fondly on those formative years as they gave me a foothold into “how” and “why” I run my digital marketing firm, Be Known, LLC.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Is there ever a smooth road?!
In all seriousness, the road has been bumpy. I would say that some of my memorable struggles have been:
a) No real training in the beginning. I didn’t spend time in the agency world before starting my own. If I could go back in time, I would have spent 3-5 years at another agency to learn the ropes before diving into starting my own.
b) It’s my own believe that a “digital marketing agency” is one of the most difficult business models out there. On one side you have sales prospects trying to get you to save their business, on the other side you have paying clients not truly understanding that sometimes a mktg. campaign just doesn’t work. And then you have to ensure your creative-minded staff can execute on technical digital projects. It’s a fun rollercoaster though!
c) Business partners that weren’t “bought in” and left. I have had a few business partners & key management team members that decided to go start their own business or just go do something else. Those have been huge learning lessons and truthfully, an emotional shock. I think of these as “mini divorces”, and nobody prepared me for those.
We’ve been impressed with Be Known, ::C, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Why “Be Known”?
The name came to me in the shower one day, after I had parted ways with my first LLC. I was trying to think up a name for my new business. I kept toying with the idea that “the best known always beats THE best”. And it hit me like a ton of bricks: “every business wants to be known (for something great). So why not “Be Known”.
At Be Known, LLC, we specialize in building lead generation & sales enablement systems like webinars, lead magnets, and sales call booking systems. Then we “turn on the tap” and run ads to them so they are filled with high quality traffic. We effectively create new leads sources & sales call streams for our clients. I think of it like “bolting a supercharger on top of an engine”.
A few things set us apart:
– Our decade of experience in the online world…which is like 100 years in internet years. We have seen, tested, worked with and/or consulted on every type of campaign imaginable. We know what works and what doesn’t have a good chance of success.
– Our hyper-specialization on our niche + the systems we create. We do not work with many different industries/verticals. We also don’t do the whole gamut of marketing. We work solely with coaches (business, parenting, dog training, sales, etc.) and we specialize in online-based, one-to-many lead generation systems & campaigns. More leads & pre-sold sales calls for their coaching practice.
– Our understanding that marketing (generating interest & leads) is just one piece of the puzzle. Yes, we are a “marketing firm” but when we work with clients, we love to consult with them on all kinds of business improvements, not just “an ad” or “an email”.
Truthfully, I am most proud of the company name. It immediately sets us apart in our field & within the niche we work in.
The one thing I want readers to know is that “marketing is a flywheel – yes, it will take some time & resources to find out what works well for your business. But once you do, keep doubling down on the thing(s) that work and ride it till the wheels fall off”.
How do you define success?
I define success in 2 ways:
– Quantitative: This is mainly for the work we do with clients. Are we hitting our pre-defined #’s, costs, KPIs, metrics, etc. If so, great! Let’s scale it up till we see a break in the system. If not, what is not working and where is it not working? We let the data drive the decision-making.
– Qualitative: This is what I’ve been focused on in 2025. I may not have the best answer to this but I think of this type of success like, “Am I waking up each day feeling like I am making a difference in someone’s life + are all of my bills paid + do I have people that care about me + do I see a bright future ahead?” If I can answer yes to those 4 questions, then I know that I am “the richest man in the world”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beknownonline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniel_a_pope/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D.ThePope/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielapope/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMwxon7iSEPyo-O5DaeL-BA
