Jimmy Huber: And welcome to another episode of the InfoTech Podcast. As always, I'm your host, Jimmy Huber. And this podcast describes the intersection between technology and business. And today I've got a special guest on the line, Joe Perez. He is the co-founder of Leo Global Digital. Joe, welcome to the podcast. Joe Perez-Ribas: Thank you for having me. Pleasure to be here. Jimmy Huber: Yeah, you bet. Yeah, so let's get into it. you are more than a marketing team. we were talking a little bit earlier, and there's a lot of unique things that you guys do to help small businesses grow, right? but before we get into the weeds, I would love to know, explain a little bit about your background. it doesn't have to be, you know, super detailed, but how did you come to found not only Leo, but just like you know, you've got a lot of experience. We talked about that earlier. Tell us the background and how you arrived. Joe Perez-Ribas: Well what transpired over a year ago, actually my own business, which I owned here in Tampa for over twenty five years, is actually global computer services. And because of going to networking events and so forth last year, even the year before, since the corporate world no longer really I guess worked with me anymore, and I have been doing local work here in the Tampa Bay area, up to Florida. And one guy actually who also in the business out in India basically found some matching direction from my approach, my mentality, my background, and it seemed to really match well. I know the common terms align, but he actually has thirty years background in the business branding direction and because of my IT background, cybersecurity, doing technical support both in Spanish and English for over twenty-five years. And I came down from Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio. And my father retired coming down here, I just jumped into it. And it was initially gonna be working in the video industry, the former blockbuster video if you can imagine. Didn't work out. Jimmy Huber: wow. Joe Perez-Ribas: I got my actual degrees first electronic engineering technology, E. T. Then after that the transcript was at that time in the late nineties where University of Phoenix was promoting at a cable company that I had worked with, former Time Warner. It has evolved through three different companies. Third one now is known as Spectrum. And while I was working at Brighthouse before that transition, they saw my transcript as an you know associate's degree and offered me to do a bachelor's degree with the University of Phoenix, right here locally in Tampa. I was like rock on. Got my bachelor's in that And start working in the industry a lot more. Been a lot of fellow techs. Fast forwarding up to this point, I started seeing how technology start to evolve. A lot more knowledge to gain, got a certification in A, and now explored into the cybersecurity direction as well as seeing how technology has evolved a great deal. And now with AI involved more aggressively in this actual decade, it has accelerated a great deal. Automation, which is what we also deal with, driving businesses in order to become brands, as well as even, you know, identifying operational direction. identity and momentum. With those aspects, it drove us to actually connect. So when we connected, he actually saw potential. Over a year ago now that we've actually been doing this, there have been struggles, yes, mostly with the businesses to find the best match. The hardest match is like who really does need what we provide. And we've evolved our website, but we saw something that truly I don't know, it just matched well. Operational side is going to back into he works on I'm more on the technical end and as well as space and voice for the business. And it's been going on that we actually have that near six decades of background. So coming from a Cuban family, living down here for so long, 30 years, is giving me some leverage. I don't mind talking to people even in person, even here in town, but these virtual directions are big, big leverage. And I've made a new amount of connections. Through both postings, which is what we offer as well, on social media. The biggest leverage has been LinkedIn. I've been on that over 20 years, by the way. Started in 2002. I got into it in 2005. Shows a bit of tenure, yes. So what we what we do, Jimmy Huber: nice. Yeah. You're an OG. Yeah, sure. Joe Perez-Ribas: yeah, no d no doubt. And that's why we're here existing, because too many businesses sometimes get apprehensive with technology and sometimes even money strain. So we help them. you guys to actually be able not to be worried so much about the money part where we give the leverage for you. Hence the actual program leverage. But we're not thieves. Jimmy Huber: Yeah. Yeah. No, I love that. So you you were able to find each other, that that's unique, right? I think. Joe Perez-Ribas: Yes. Jimmy Huber: you don't see that a lot. Usually people are local, you know, that sort of thing, but you guys were able to compliment each other, whereas he's more behind the scenes and you're, you know, the guy going on podcasts, I guess. And and being more of the the sales in the front end, right? So, yeah, I think that's really cool. Yeah. Yeah. Joe Perez-Ribas: I caught more of the connector. I'm the connector. Jimmy Huber: I love that. So There's marketing companies all over the place, right? And so people are listening, I I'm sure they want to know what makes you unique. And you mentioned that earlier when we were talking. So, you know, for the people that are watching the video, the background says it all, right? You got the triad. So let's go through it, you know, at a high level. What makes you unique and different from maybe, you know, any of the other, you know, run of the mill agencies that that you can find all over? Joe Perez-Ribas: Very good question to ask because the overview that we actually offer is the strategy of our business to brand integrated design. Because we do not just brand strategy, identity designing, website development, but also the SEO and the social media promotions with CRM workflow automations onto one main framework. So you see behind me, I have Leo Escape, Leo Biz, and Leo Drive. Escape is identity. Biz is the operational side. Drive is the momentum. So bas simplistic direction is identity plus efficiency plus momentum gains authority at that point. That's remaining focus still. Jimmy Huber: Got it. Okay. So you can go into a business that maybe has 10, 15, 20 employees, right? And you can give them it sounds like a CRM. You can describe their probably their ICP and help them target their audience and then actually do the social and the the behind the scenes work to drive traffic and to get them leads and ultimately, you know, feed their sales team. Is that kind of a a synopsis or what am I missing? Joe Perez-Ribas: More direct more or less that direction itself because the technology leadership that we provide with that infrastructure and cybersecurity, because security these days is really the biggest challenge. In addition to the momentum, we can't guarantee as far as the clientele attraction, but the strategy is when we work with for one, the website, biggest part most people do use what, or mobility. their phone device. And when that website is seen and actually matches what their search direction is for their business, then they'll be get more traction that way. It's it's really more organic than anything else because we make it that bottom line. And then if they see their competitors, fine. But they become number one better on the SEO side for the website, which is the whole point, as well as a social media end because it's also been mentioned on that is consistency of posting ev nearly everywhere. We are gonna be exploring the TikTok side eventually. But it's been LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Meta, Pinterest, YouTube posts or videos. Those directions are actually we also work with advertisements of course and promoting like mad. Because the more promotions, the more attraction, hence conversions, that then those who have interest in their pro in your product Your service, your information, the phone call, email, or whatever approach they they take is the plus. And that's the whole focus we have. Jimmy Huber: Got it. So what is your target market then? 'cause you're you're I believe probably a pretty high ticket offer, right? So Joe Perez-Ribas: Yes. Jimmy Huber: it may not be like a mom and pop shop, but you probably don't want to go all the way to enterprise. I mean, Joe Perez-Ribas: Potentially can be, yes. Jimmy Huber: yeah. What what's your ideal? I mean, prospect, if people are resonating, you know, with with this podcast and are like, Man, yeah, I really need to figure some of this stuff out. what what would be ideal for you? Joe Perez-Ribas: A deal for us actually is like, you know, a a two to fifty staff. And that the revenue can be, your revenue can be a hundred thousand to two million. That's really kind of our window, but we can exceed the two million. So if you're earning over five to even ten million, but still need an answer, because maybe you're stuck. If you're stuck, yet you've been in business for over five decades or probably a decade or five years and you're trying to find an answer. At least you're identifying the problem. And that's the area then we work with itself. Jimmy Huber: Yeah, no, I love that. So what are you seeing, I guess, these days? It seems like with AI especially, like the rate of change is just accelerating, right? So what used to work maybe with what they call SEO, right? Now Joe Perez-Ribas: Yes. Jimmy Huber: it's what, GEO, there's all these new terms 'cause it you're not even almost hitting Google. Yeah. Joe Perez-Ribas: The SO is still primary, correct. the keywording still involved, but the AI is getting more involved, you're not wrong. So the Gemini, Chat GPT, Deep Seek, Groc, all of those, but depending on the search engine being used, that's the other discovery. Google will have Gemini in there anyway. But if you use DuckDuckGo, AI may get partially involved. And that's actually once you get out of DuckDuckGo, your history of your search is gone. Jimmy Huber: Yeah, the privacy browser, Joe Perez-Ribas: It's only in moment. Jimmy Huber: sure. Joe Perez-Ribas: So the approach is the back end coding. For those of you who may not understand technology because we've been working it for too long, it has evolved because AI is now more incorporated. So because of that integration is why the coding in the back end has to be very particular. We utilize Python, CSS, and JavaScript because that's more of now the norm. It's not what the old fashioned for anybody who's familiar with. producing website for mobility as well as on the computers, laptops mostly if people use, the coding is going to be matching for the attraction and w what what's being looked for. And that's where we come in because we're familiar with it. Jimmy Huber: Got it. So you're making websites specifically for for your clients, which that's been around for a while, but you're able to keep up with the the trends and how browsers and the big search engines are working, basically, to optimize those sites for your clients. So Joe Perez-Ribas: Yes. Jimmy Huber: what's the next step then? Because it seems like, like if I'm honest with myself, like five years ago, Google was still a verb, right? Now everyone's using ChatGPT, everything else. If I try to find something. Even Chrome and Google won't even give me the list. Above that is the AI answer, right? Like I'm not even hardly looking at the Google profile. That's over on on the right. So like there's definitely, I think, a shift, whether people want it or not, of how you're being found. So what's Joe Perez-Ribas: Yes. Yes. Jimmy Huber: your advice or or to to those small businesses? Like what's you guys' approach to deal with all those changes? Joe Perez-Ribas: Well the thing is that's part of the automation end. So even though we're now primarily just website developers, that's just part of the that's just one slice of the pie. Because of the other parts that are automated within the actual website backend for the client that we deal with is gonna have the CRM, DRP, the help desk, the contacts that get produced when they go to the contact page to fill out that form on their website. It will produce an automatic contact information to then follow up by email, phone call, texting, social media direction if needed. That way then makes it easier. Less hassle. Then what whoever is on that team that works with those contacts, mainly whoever's in sales, can still work on the exposure side. It eliminates a lot of hassle and l even eliminates headaches. But the other thing we also reinforce is The teamwork. The owner, founder, or founders or owners have constant communication. And if they want to go out to do, you know, physical actual interactions on networking that way or do more online because they want to know, hey, this is who I am, this is what we do. This name of my business, XYZ. That's fine. That way then they have less stress on them to be able to be able to provide their mission, what they're looking for. And not have no worries in the end, which is the whole point. That way then their own team can do all the other work. Jimmy Huber: Yeah. Yeah, you want focusing on their their customers and their employees, right? And you guys handle it in the background. Yeah. Joe Perez-Ribas: Hence the point. You gotta get the revenue in, man. The revenue's the the heart of it, isn't it? Jimmy Huber: Yeah, I love that. So let's switch here to the the business side then, because you've got a big challenge, I think, in that you're remote probably most of the time. So you're not I mean I guess you could go and meet people, but I would say your your scope mostly is is getting on, you know, Zoom, hopping on you know, web calls like this. You've got to have a lot of trust, you know, with with your your customers because that you are building their brand, right? The people that are gonna find them online, like that's a they're depending on you to make sure that is that is right. So Joe Perez-Ribas: Correct. Jimmy Huber: what kind of responses are are you getting, you know, when you're in these customer meetings? Cause it's it's kinda like what we do at InfoTech, right? Like talking about IT, you don't really talk IT, you talk more business because they don't really care about the the technical details, right? That's why even on this show I I try to shy away from getting really in the weeds because most people just They want to know the, you know, real words that they can understand, right? So how do you approach that and what are you seeing, you know, in in today's climate in those kinds of situations? Joe Perez-Ribas: We sort of mentioned a little bit about it earlier that what I've been exposed to and we've seen there are some firms we spoke to one actually earlier this week who he's like me based off Omaha. He's an associate with this firm and he already has two clients that are stuck. They have a business, they've been around for a while. We like hearing that. Jimmy Huber: Yeah. Yeah. So they only have they have two clients total? Joe Perez-Ribas: So far, they have two clients out of many others there I have worked with, but they got two of them that are actually now struggling. And the main part is truly regarding what they can do. And he reached out to me on LinkedIn because I've been doing momentive actual consistent postings. And and our followers have increased now on our page. And we do we do have a Leo Global LinkedIn page, and now we've crossed into 152 followers. By the way, Jimmy Huber: Nice. Joe Perez-Ribas: hint hint for you business owners. When you cross over one fifty to get to one fifty, one fifty two, then if you're actually having the the ambition, you can do LinkedIn Live. I have to learn about it. Jimmy Huber: Okay. Joe Perez-Ribas: If you're not doing it and you're ready for it, and maybe you've got over two hundred or even five hundred or even a thousand, it why even bother talking to me about it? 'Cause it's already going. But those Jimmy Huber: Sure. So to be clear, those are followers, not connections, right? That's different. Okay. Okay. Joe Perez-Ribas: A combination, both. So the followers who I connect with are following our page of LGDS that I actually produced last year literally. It took effort because momentum and consistency speak volumes. So Jimmy Huber: Nice. Joe Perez-Ribas: if we don't post, connect, reach out, I mean people are not gonna know. You can have everything beautiful, but if you don't do anything about it, it it's like having an address, but nobody knows where you live. Jimmy Huber: Yeah, and I gotta believe most business owners like they're probably not excited to do the content creation, right? Like they yeah, they they don't Right. Yeah. So I would Joe Perez-Ribas: agree. That's what we can help. Exactly. Jimmy Huber: think that that would be a huge relief for them because they probably know they should be doing it, but they don't understand it and they don't want to spend the time like to to become a marketing person. They just wanna go do their service or make their widgets or whatever their their business is. So is that something that Joe Perez-Ribas: That that's why it depends on their staffing, what they have, you're not wrong on this. If it's a solo person, that's gonna be more of a challenge. But if they have to outsource to find those answers, we're here. You know, we can do it for Jimmy Huber: Yeah. Joe Perez-Ribas: you if you really have too much on your plate. And it can be too many hats. I've been down that road too much. That's why working now, the way that we do it, is more effective. Jimmy Huber: Yeah, I love that. so give us a an example or two maybe of a of a client win or, you know, a struggle that maybe you've seen in the business in the last, you know, three to six months that you overcame. Because I gotta believe you you're thrown into a lot of different situations and you're hit from all angles, right? So Joe Perez-Ribas: Ha ha ha. Jimmy Huber: share share something from the trenches. Joe Perez-Ribas: So one example we have is actually where one client was selling, you know, pet food and they liked what we do. Problem was though, the expectation was higher than the turnaround, and we were just about to cross that road already to provide the end result. That's the other thing. Patience pays off because we're not gonna build a house in a week. It takes effort. The foundation And then get that building rising up. Plus, we have to get all the services included. Well, that's just not much of a difference from you know, if you're selling products, we gotta build the e-commerce part of the actual site. And then discuss it with you of what you want listed on there, match the pricings. Maybe it'll look will probably be a bit different or comparable, but it's not gonna be what was used. Because it could be a third-party actual. know, page from outside, we're just gonna match it but not have the exact same appearance because it's gonna be on our end different. Other parts are usually also what I've experienced is usually the lacking tech knowledge. So I will dummify it, not to insult, it's just knowing where you are. What knowledge do you have of technology? What's your apprehension? What is your embracing part that you're solid on? That way then I know what to speak on and not to actually go over someone's head. 'Cause I don't want to insult anybody. Far from Jimmy Huber: Sure. Joe Perez-Ribas: that actually. That way then I f I mean to focus more on the business than the technology. The business part is really the the the main bottom line. And if we don't understand your business and then qualify you, because we're gonna give a questionnaire in time to actually break down if it's a good match. If we don't see it, and maybe you don't see it, no harm, no foul. It's business. We can still communicate and if you know somebody you could take advantage of us, bring them on. Refer. Jimmy Huber: Sure. Yeah. No, I love that. I think if it's not a win-win, it it's just a waste of time for for all parties. I think that goes not just in our industry, but in business in general, right? The culture fit Joe Perez-Ribas: Yes. Jimmy Huber: and the you have to be able to work well together, especially in small business when there's you know tight teams, where one, you know, rotten apple can spoil the h the cart. so what advice would you give then to maybe younger entrepreneur that's it's in the marketing space, in the support industry, like what you guys are doing. I mean, you've had so much experience over the decades. I mean, you've Joe Perez-Ribas: Yeah. Jimmy Huber: you've gotta have some tidbits of wisdom to to lay on us here for for those that are kinda up and coming. Joe Perez-Ribas: Main idea of yeah, the the main idea is for those startups, which we will we can't work with startups, okay. However, it has to also be with some establishment. Because if the funding is not available, we can outsource that for you and provide you the c the communication with a handful we actually have of those who can't work with for say loans, maybe grants or some other approach for funding. That's why when we started earlier, one hundred thousand to the two million area. So a startup that actually has that established, Jimmy Huber: Yeah. You gotta have some revenue, sure. Joe Perez-Ribas: cool. But with the startups who don't even have the funding, no harm, no foul, we may have to, you know, let you grow yours and let it go, let it go that direction, or refer to someone who can help you with the financing side. Main idea is for newbies who actually are coming in, have the ambition, but haven't gotten anywhere to go with it, keep working at it. Once you do earn to that six figure level, And you're ready, contact us. We'll be willing. And the website, which you already got, Jimmy, is the Leo Global Digital dot com. explore it. You know you learn about who we are, what we do, whom we serve, how we do it. Jimmy Huber: Yeah, I love that. We'll definitely put that in the show notes too so people can easily, you know, find you. so say they've listened to the entire episode, right? They're still here and they want to know more. What is the best way to get a hold of you? Did you have like an onboarding process? I I think I noticed there's a link to grab, you know, a c a quick meeting with you even on your website. Is that the best way or or what would you suggest? Joe Perez-Ribas: Yes. That way, an email to our new global digital at gmail dot com. My phone number is actually all over the place, so you can call me up. If I don't answer right away, don't take offense, leave a message. Jimmy Huber: That takes guts. Yeah, sure. Joe Perez-Ribas: Email's best, honestly. You can use a link on the website to actually schedule a free half hour consult, no cost, free time. That way then there'll be there'll be a questionnaire in the link. That way then you can provide your name, your business name, website, how you found us or learned about me. Check out definitely our LinkedIn page when available. That way then if you want to connect, feel free to. We we welcome it. And the postings are shown too, because they're scheduled, which is even better. Jimmy Huber: Nice. Yeah, no, I think this is great. I mean, I remember, you know, earlier in my career we had to figure all this stuff out kind of on our own and it was a slow process. And that was back when things weren't changing near as fast as they are now. So, you know, had I known you back in twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, I think it would have really accelerated, you know, even our growth. So, Joe Perez-Ribas: Ha ha ha. Jimmy Huber: yeah, I would encourage our listeners, you know, if if you're in that boat and you're you're trying to figure stuff out, like There are people out there that specialize in this and that could really offload. If you're like you said, if you're in that sweet spot of of growth where maybe they've hit a limit, you know, we all plateau in our own, you know, business journeys. And I think that's a a huge place to be able to pull somebody else alongside and say, Hey, you know, I've already figured some of this stuff out. Let me show you a thing or two and you know, throw kerosene on the fire. So yeah, I really appreciate Joe Perez-Ribas: Absolutely. I would say more like jet fuel, because jet fuel burns hotter. I used to work at the airport by the way as a fueler. It's hotter. In the can. Jimmy Huber: there you go. Yeah. Throw jet fuel on the the jet. what is it? I I forget the analogy. but yeah, no, that's great. I really appreciate your time, Joe. And like I Joe Perez-Ribas: Absolutely. Jimmy Huber: said, we'll we'll put your contact info. I mean, there's LinkedIn, there's your email, there's the website. I think it's great. And hopefully people will, you know, understand the value of kind of what you're doing here. and it'll start some conversations and yeah. Joe Perez-Ribas: No, and on the website to interject does have our social media links on there. That'll be be that will Jimmy Huber: Okay, great. Joe Perez-Ribas: be seen so that way just click on any of those. I'm trying to get better into reposting onto those so that way you'll see our channels and so forth. So there's nothing's being held back here. And if you do have the interest, feel free to give us a shout because I'd be glad to speak to you and see what we can do and if we're a match together. If we are, rock on. If we're not, no worries. So feel free, anyone who actually has interest in this clicks with you. that actually you see something you can leverage, leverage it. Don't hold back. Because honestly you'll get your roar in your business. Jimmy Huber: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I love that. Yeah, there's really no downside to having a conversation. I totally agree. So cool. Well, that was the InfoTech podcast for today. We will see you guys next time. Joe, thanks again. Appreciate it, Joe Perez-Ribas: My pleasure. Be glad to be of service. You have a great day.