Episode Description
Creating a digital strategy to drive growth strategy can feel daunting. How do you know you are on the right track?
Daniel Gilmartin sits down with Michelle Winkles, Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, to delve into the art of organic growth. With a background in tech marketing and a passion for purpose-driven leadership, Michelle dives into the cutting-edge strategies she employs to fuel growth at Mission Wealth. From leveraging a robust digital lead-gen program to fine-tuning the mergers and acquisition process, Michelle shares insights that financial advisors can use to enhance their practice, emphasizing the importance of niche specialization as a critical strategy for differentiation in a crowded market.
Michelle discusses:
- (04:00) How Mission Wealth fosters integration over acquisition in mergers
- (06:45) Tips for setting up a successful digital lead generation program
- (10:45) Optimizing SEO and online presence for top-of-funnel growth
- (13:30) The role of niche specialization in differentiating from the competition
- (18:00) Deciding when a top-funnel lead is ready to transition to mid-funnel outreach
- (24:00) Top KPIs to keep an eye on for organic growth through digital marketing
- And more
About our Guest:
Michelle Winkles is an energetic, innovative, and results-focused marketing professional with over 20 years of distinguished business leadership experience. As a Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, Michelle spearheads the firm's strategic marketing initiatives, guiding overall vision, leadership, and the execution of marketing and business development programs.
A key part of her role is driving the firm’s digital growth strategy, where she has successfully developed and implemented a robust digital marketing funnel and growth engine. This includes building a comprehensive marketing technology stack designed to automate processes, enhance lead generation, and convert prospects into clients. Through her efforts, Michelle has streamlined marketing operations, expanded the firm's digital footprint, and increased business opportunities.
She is responsible for creating end-to-end marketing strategies that integrate messaging, branding, digital presence, demand generation, content creation, research, and thought leadership. Michelle collaborates closely with department leaders across Mission Wealth to ensure marketing efforts align with the firm’s growth objectives in the B2B, B2C, and M&I sectors.
Recognized for her contributions to the business community, Michelle was named one of the "Top 40 Under 40" business professionals by the Pacific Coast Business Times in 2018, highlighting her role in reshaping leadership and the economy in the Tri-Counties.
Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2005. Driven by a passion for continuous learning, she obtained a Marketing Professional Certification from UCSB Extension in 2012 and completed her MBA with a Certificate of Excellence in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, and Nonprofit Social Business from Antioch University, Santa Barbara, in 2017.
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