Forget the Flash. Substance Beats Appearances

Inside Marketing with MarketSurge Podcast. Reed Hansen has a telemarketing reinvented chat with Richard Blank. Welcome to Inside Marketing with MarketSurge — your front-row seat to the boldest business insights, marketing breakthroughs, and entrepreneurial real talk. Hosted by Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge and a digital marketing veteran who's helped scale everything from scrappy startups to Fortune 500 giants, this podcast dives deep into what’s really moving the needle in today’s marketing world. Find us at Marketsurge.io Each week, we’ll break down the latest marketing and business news (minus the fluff), explore tech trends you actually need to know, and feature unfiltered conversations with the most interesting minds in entrepreneurship and marketing. Welcome to MarketSurge! Are you a small business owner, marketing professional, or entrepreneur looking to elevate your marketing game? You're in the right place. At MarketSurge, we simplify and demonstrate the value of marketing automation, making it accessible and actionable for businesses of all sizes. Stay Ahead in Marketing: Get the latest automation strategies tailored for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Step-by-Step Tutorials: Our practical, easy-to-follow guides and real use-cases help you implement automation strategies effortlessly. Community Insights: Join a thriving community of like-minded professionals sharing insights, tips, and success stories. Latest Tech Updates: Stay up-to-date with the newest advancements in marketing technology. Join us at MarketSurge and revolutionize the way you approach marketing. Subscribe now to never miss an upda In this episode, we sit down with Richard Blank, founder and CEO of Costa Rica’s Call Center. From Northeast Philly to San José, Richard shares his journey of betting on himself, moving abroad, and building a thriving nearshore BPO from a one-seat operation to a company that now powers: Inbound customer support Lead generation Appointment setting Sales training & coaching He’s trained over 10,000 bilingual telemarketers, launched a telemarketing school, and even infused gamification into company culture with retro arcade pinball, jukeboxes, and air hockey. His story is one of grit, creativity, and a relentless belief in the art of communication. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to scale a business without outside investment, how to build culture in unexpected industries, or how traditional call centers adapt in the era of AI — this episode is for you. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why Richard left Philadelphia at age 27 to pursue a short-term gig that turned into a 19-year business journey. How he grew Costa Rica’s Call Center without outside investors, staying lean and resourceful. The unique coaching and training methods he’s developed after analyzing 10,000+ calls. Why empathy, soft skills, and gamification are still critical in the call center industry. How human connection outperforms AI when it comes to building trust and saving clients. https://youtu.be/8H_yWh1hHFg https://youtu.be/A9pe8y4lEf8 https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/episodes/telemarketing-reinvented-richard-blank-s-journey-to-building-costa-rica-s-call-center https://youtu.be/J7t9cZT4HSk https://youtu.be/bJ8Rw9J-2xs https://youtu.be/1YDxouI-PkY https://youtu.be/1HonTCNW41o https://youtu.be/7cXkjRXISeE https://youtu.be/zHOh2yaMfLQ Richard Blank hired bassist Garry Gary Beers of INXS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieGjN5H4xPQ Richard Blank produced a Rap Breakdancing video commercial https://youtu.be/GQvGZYcX71s?si=3I6N3p-LVxwTvnh2 #InsideMarketingwithMarketSurge #marketsurge #ReedHansen #RichardBlank #CostaRica #CallCenter #Outsourcing #Telemarketing #BPO #Sales #Entrepreneur #B2B #Business #Podcast #Leadgeneration #education Reed Hansen I am a seasoned digital marketing executive with extensive experience driving business growth through innovative strategies. As the Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, I focus on leveraging digital marketing tools to help businesses scale efficiently, especially in highly competitive markets. Prior to this role, I was the owner of Million Dollar Studio, where I honed my expertise in marketing and operations. My previous roles include leadership positions at Northwestern University, Punchkick Interactive, and Solstice, where I built a reputation for developing digital products that engage audiences and boost revenue. My unique ability to combine data-driven insights with creative marketing solutions makes me a recognized authority in the digital marketing space. My career has been defined by helping businesses of all sizes—from startups to Fortune 500 companies—achieve remarkable sales growth through digital innovation. CRM (Client Relationship Management) MarketSurge CRM helps you streamline customer interactions, automate follow-ups, and close more deals effortlessly. With powerfulAI-driven tools, you can track conversations, manage leads, and boost sales—all in one easy-to-use platform. Blog Posts and Articles Track All Client Conversations Easily SEO-Optimized Web Copy Integrate With Existing Business Apps Blog Posts and Articles Engage Instantly With Personalized Automation SEO-Optimized Web Copy Generate, Manage And Track Reviews SEO-Optimized Web Copy Streamline Sales And Convert Leads Surge Audiences Surge Audiences is an advanced audience-building solution that empowers businesses to create hyper-targeted lead lists for marketing campaigns. LEARN MORE! Blog Posts and Articles Build Custom Audiences SEO-Optimized Web Copy Increase Campaign ROI Blog Posts and Articles Enhance Retargeting SEO-Optimized Web Copy Stay Ahead of Competitors Surge Pixel Surge Pixel is a powerful tracking tool designed to help businesses gain deeper insights into their website visitors and marketing campaigns. By placing this pixel on your website, you can boost your marketing performance and gain a competitive edge in the digital space. Blog Posts and Articles Track Visitor Behavior SEO-Optimized Web Copy Optimize Ad Campaigns Blog Posts and Articles Retarget Your Audience SEO-Optimized Web Copy Seamless Integration with Existing Marketing Tools Surge SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Ensure your business ranks higher on search engines with our comprehensive SEO services. From keyword research to on-page optimization and backlink strategies, we’ll improve your website’s visibility and drive organic traffic that converts. LEARN MORE! Blog Posts and Articles In-Depth Keyword Research SEO-Optimized Web Copy Blacklink Strategy and Management Blog Posts and Articles Comprehensive Site Audit SEO-Optimized Web Copy Content Optimization and Creation Blog Posts and Articles Competitor Insights Blog Posts and Articles Local SEO Boost Google & Facebook Ads Reach your ideal customers where they are most active. Our data-driven approach to Google and Facebook advertising ensures that your ads are seen by the right people, at the right time, delivering a high return on investment. We handle everything from ad creation to optimization, so you can focus on what matters most—growing your business. Blog Posts and Articles Google Ads (Search, Display, and Shopping) SEO-Optimized Web Copy A/B Testing and Performance Tracking Blog Posts and Articles Facebook and Instagram Ads SEO-Optimized Web Copy Audience Targeting SurgeLinks Search rankings don’t rise by chance — they rise with authority. SurgeLinks delivers exactly that, providing 2 guaranteed, high-quality backlinks every month from trusted, high-authority websites with real audiences. These aren’t spammy guest posts or low-value links — they’re earned, editorial placements that search engines trust and users respect. Each link strengthens your site’s credibility, accelerates your organic growth, and positions your brand as the leader in your space — all through a fully managed, hands-free process designed for lasting results. Blog Posts and Articles High Domain Authority (DA/DR) SEO-Optimized Web Copy Niche-relevant to Your Industry Blog Posts and Articles Real Traffic & Editorial Content SEO-Optimized Web Copy Earned through Outreach - Not Bought Content Marketing At MarketSurge, we help you capture attention and drive conversions with a combination of AI-powered video ads, automated email marketing campaigns, features on engaging podcasts with SurgeCast, and high-quality, targeted content. Our custom video ads are designed to resonate with your audience, using AI technology to analyze data and audience behavior, ensuring your message reaches the right people at the right time. We will help craft personalized email sequences that nurture leads, increase customer retention, and generate repeat business. Additionally, our team of expert writers and creators can help you develop engaging blog posts, social media content, and more to boost SEO, position your brand as an industry leader, and keep your audience engaged across all channels. Blog Posts and Articles AI-Driven Video Ad Creation SEO-Optimized Web Copy High-Conversion Video Scripts Blog Posts and Articles Personalized, Audience-Specific Content SEO-Optimized Web Copy Multi-Platform Compatibility (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram) Blog Posts and Articles A/B Testing and Performance Optimization Blog Posts and Articles Automated Email Sequences and Campaigns Blog Posts and Articles SEO-Optimized Web Copy and Blog Posts Blog Posts and Articles Visual Content Creation (graphics, infographics, social media content) Web Development Design Your website is more than just a digital storefront—it's a powerful tool to attract, engage, and convert visitors into loyal customers. At MarketSurge, we specialize in building high-performing, visually stunning websites that are tailored to your brand and business goals. LEARN MORE! Blog Posts and Articles Custom Website Design SEO-Optimized Web Copy E-Commmerce Solutions Blog Posts and Articles Landing Page Design SEO-Optimized Web Copy Website Redesign Why Choose MarketSurge? We take a results-oriented approach to digital marketing, ensuring every service is tailored to meet your unique business goals. Our team combines creative expertise with data-driven strategies to help you increase traffic, generate leads, and convert prospects into loyal customers. Let us help you build a stronger digital presence and drive sustainable growth with our full suite of marketing services. Ready to get started? We offer a comprehensive suite of digital marketing services designed to accelerate your business growth. From strategic advertising to SEO, we’ve got everything you need to maximize your online presence and drive conversions. Richards vision quest journey is filled with twists and turns. When he was 27 years old, he relocated to Costa Rica to train employees for one of the larger call centers in San Jose. With a mix of motivational public speaking style backed by tactful and appropriate rhetoric, Richard shared his knowledge and trained over 10 000 bilingual telemarketers. Richard Blank has the largest collection of restored American Pinball machines and antique Rockola Jukeboxes in Central America making gamification a strong part of CCC culture.Richard Blank is the Chief Executive Officer for Costa Rica s Call Center since 2008. Mr. Richard Blank holds a bachelors degree in Communication and Spanish from the University of Arizona and a certificate of language proficiency from the University of Sevilla, Spain. A Keynote speaker for Philadelphia's Abington High School 68th National Honors Society induction ceremony. In addition, inducted into the 2023 Hall of Fame for Business. Giving back to Abington Senior High School is very important to Mr. Blank. As such, he endows a scholarship each year for students that plan on majoring in a world language at the university level. Costa Ricas Call Center (CCC) is a state of the art BPO telemarketing outsource company located in the capital city of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our main focus has been, and will always be to personally train each and every Central America call center representative so that we may offer the highest quality of outbound and inbound telemarketing solutions and bilingual customer service to small and medium sized international companies, entrepreneurs as well as fortune 500 companies. https://costaricascallcenter.com/en/outbound-bpo-campaigns/