From an early age, James Dyble knew he wanted to get into music. He grew up surrounded by musicians, and his passion developed very early in life.
Fast forward to today and his passion for music is as strong as it was the day he first bought his first record. His passion led him to incorporate Global Sound Group in 2016; before this, he worked at various companies and ran his own sound business under another umbrella. Over the last 4-5 years, Global Sound Group has become an award-winning music and PR company working with labels and musicians worldwide. They also provide a music business membership for those looking for success and a booking agency using virtual methods.
We recently caught up with James to discuss his journey to entrepreneurship and here’s what went down:
What are you currently doing to maintain/grow your business?
Our mindset for growth has always been value-driven. Provide excellent quality value, and the puzzle starts to fit together. Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool and usually the most influential given that consumers trust their friends more than most other forms of marketing.
What social media platforms do you usually use to increase your brand’s awareness?
For our industry, Instagram works very well. It is an excellent tool for musicians, and it is a perfect way for us to interact with the music world.
What is your experience with paid advertising, like PPC or sponsored content campaigns? Does it work?
Paid advertising can work very well if you have an obvious target and have a definite end goal. Never do it without first carrying out adequate research or, even worse, without knowing what you truly require from the ad placements.
What is your main tactic when it comes to making more people aware of your brand and engaging your customers? How did your business stand out?
Having a clear brand image is vital. Stick to a colour palette and also use the same font. Little things in the design can make a big difference. Also, match your content with your audience. e.g., if you appeal to modern, trendy folk, make your designs cool and edgy. All of our content is written and put together with the end-user in mind.
What form of marketing has worked well for your business throughout the years?
Social media is a marketing tool that has worked well for us over the years. It is an excellent tool because the more hours and effort you put into it, the more results you can get. Plus, it is handy to work on it on the go: Additionally, SEO and word of mouth.
What is the toughest decision you had to make in the last few months?
Whether we should still dedicate as many hours to our booking agency platform due to concerts not going ahead (COVID-19). I decided to stick with the same structure, and it has benefited the project by enabling us to add new features and make it even more valuable to musicians during gigs downtime.
What money mistakes have you made along the way that others can learn from (or something you’d do differently)?
Set expense budgets regardless of how much you have in your pot; otherwise, purchases can get out of hand.
What new business would you love to start?
It would be great to delve into the world of batteries. It sounds unusual, but batteries will be even more important for us all going forward. Think electric cars, they are the future, and they will naturally make battery technology grow also; how great would it be if an iPhone battery charged itself on its own without ever needing to charge it? Mind you, I am too passionate about music and the business I am in to ever think about setting up a company like that. Therefore, I will leave that for the battery professionals.
If you could go back in a time machine to the time when you were just getting started, what would you do differently?
I would work smarter and not just harder. I was working many hours, often on tasks that were not pushing me forward. I would go back and prioritise more and concentrate on the most vital activities.
What is the best advice you have ever been given?
Never give up because you will only look back with regret.
What advice would you give to a newbie Entrepreneur setting up their first business?
Be consistent and harmonious. Do the right things every day and also stick by your word.
