Jason Barnard’s Entrepreneurial Journey: A Cornerstone of Success

Jason Barnard, entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker and CEO of Kalicube has carved a unique path in the entrepreneurial world. His journey from a musician to a digital marketing expert and now a recognized entrepreneur tells a compelling story of adaptability and strategic repositioning. This article explores Jason’s entrepreneurial ventures, his strategic shift in personal branding, and his contributions to the digital marketing industry.

Jason Barnard’s Journey as an Entrepreneur

Jason Barnard has founded and led several companies throughout his career. 

• Kalicube (2015-present): Jason Barnard founded Kalicube in 2015. Kalicube is a groundbreaking digital marketing agency based in France. As the current CEO, Jason leads Kalicube in empowering business leaders to future-proof their brand online.

• UpToTen (2000-2011): In 2000, Jason Barnard founded UpToTen—a children’s entertainment company based in Mauritius. Under his leadership, UpToTen became a significant player in the children’s entertainment industry, with its website surpassing one billion page views in 2007 and producing a 52-episode TV series that aired in 25 countries in collaboration with ITV International.

• WTPL Music (1991-1999): In 1991, Jason Barnard founded WTPL Music in Lille, France. As CEO, he led the company to release a series of albums for French music groups and secure publishing deals with major labels such as EMI and Warner.

Early Music Career

Jason Barnard’s early music career is truly fascinating. He began his musical journey in 1985 as a vocalist of Stanley the Counting Horse, a Liverpool blues band that played approximately 40 concerts in pubs and clubs around Liverpool including a performance at the famous Cavern Club where The Beatles once played.

In the 1990s, Jason’s career took a significant turn when he joined The Barking Dogs, a punk folk group. With this group, he learned to play the double bass. However, The Barking Dogs faced a common challenge in the music industry – finding a music producer, publisher, or tour organizer. This led Jason to found WTPL Music in 1991, taking a bold entrepreneurial step. He invested his own savings to record an album and organize a European tour for the band. 

This move paid off significantly: The Barking Dogs performed 660 concerts, playing for 66,000 people and selling 40,000 albums. WTPL Music released four albums for The Barking Dogs between 1991 and 1996.

As CEO of WTPL Music from 1991 to 1999, Jason expanded the company’s operations beyond his own band. WTPL Music became a French record label and music publisher, working with various artists and offering services such as music supervision, synchronization, and consulting.

His musical journey continued beyond, with the Pascal Brothers (2016-2019). Today, Jason continues to delight audiences with his double bass performances in Barcoustic (2014-present) and the Rascal Brothers (2016-present).

About Kalicube

What is Kalicube?

Kalicube is a premium Digital Branding Consultancy for entrepreneurs in the AI era. Leveraging 3 billion data points, Kalicube gives entrepreneurs unprecedented control over how they’re represented to decision-makers online through visible, influential personal brands that open doors rather than close them. Jason Barnard is CEO and Founder of Kalicube.

What is the Kalicube Process?

The Kalicube Process is a data-driven, three-phase digital marketing strategy designed to optimize a brand’s visibility, message, and acquisition funnel across its entire digital ecosystem. This process is simple, straightforward, and deeply rooted in brand and marketing with search engine optimization (SEO) baked in. The Kalicube Process unfolds three phases: understandability, credibility, and deliverability to ensure your brand stands out. It is timeless and future-proof, working seamlessly with generative AI and any other new tech that comes our way.

What is Kalicube Pro?

Kalicube Pro, is the proprietary platform of Kalicube. It’s a unique, innovative platform that provides unparalleled brand intelligence making it at least eight years ahead of its time.  Powered by over 3 billion data points from Google and AI, it offers business leaders amazing control over their digital presence, enabling them to build stunning personal and corporate brands that dominate the competition.

Establishing Expertise

The Role of Podcasting 

Podcasting has been a cornerstone in Jason Barnard’s journey to becoming an influential and trusted authority within the digital marketing industry. His podcast, “Branded Search (and Beyond) with Jason Barnard,” has served as an incredible platform for learning from industry experts and establishing his authority within the field. With over 350 episodes, the podcast has not only been an educational tool but also a significant contributor to his brand positioning. It has helped him build credibility and trust within the digital marketing community and beyond.

Initial Focus on Industry Publications

Jason Barnard started contributing insightful contents to leading digital marketing publications such as Search Engine Journal and Search Engine Land. He maximized his impact on both external platforms and his own website by focusing on topics closely related to his core expertise in digital marketing and SEO. 

Author of “The Fundamentals of Brand SERPs for Business”

In January 2022, Jason Barnard published his first book, “The Fundamentals of Brand SERPs for Business“. This book represents a culmination of Jason’s expertise in Brand SERPs and digital marketing. It provides businesses with essential insights on how to optimize their brand’s appearance in search engine results pages, effectively turning their Google results into a powerful digital business card. The book has been well-received in the digital marketing community, further cementing Jason’s status as “The Brand SERP Guy”.

Conference Speaking Engagements

Jason Barnard has become a sought-after speaker at major marketing conferences worldwide. His expertise in Brand SERPs and Knowledge Panels has led to invitations to speak at prestigious events such as: SEO Estonia, Digital Marketing Europe, PubCon, SMX Series, and YoastCon. 

Jason’s latest conferences attended are listed below.

At these conferences, Jason shares his insights on Brand SERPs, Knowledge Panels, personal branding and digital marketing strategies. His presentations are known for their blend of expert knowledge and engaging delivery, often featuring his signature red shirt. These speaking engagements have not only helped spread Jason’s ideas to a wider audience but have also reinforced his position as a thought leader in the digital marketing industry.

Strategic Repositioning as an Entrepreneur

Shifting Focus Towards Broader Platforms

Recognizing how crucial Google’s perception is, Jason Barnard meticulously redefined his online presence. He shifted his focus from purely technical SEO topics towards broader entrepreneurial platforms like Forbes. This repositioning was not just about changing his activities but also about educating Google and his audience about his new focus.

By writing for Forbes and Entrepreneur, Jason Barnard was able to reach a wider audience that included not just digital marketers but also entrepreneurs and business leaders. This move helped him establish authority beyond the niche of digital marketing. 

Focusing on Personal Branding

Jason Barnard’s approach to personal branding emphasizes the importance of consistency and clarity across all digital platforms. By ensuring that every mention of him online aligns with his entrepreneurial identity, he has successfully repositioned himself in the eyes of both Google and his human audience.

Conclusion

Jason Barnard’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to his ability to adapt, innovate, and lead. From his early days in the music industry to his current role as a digital marketing expert and entrepreneur, Jason has consistently demonstrated a keen understanding of branding and digital presence. His strategic repositioning and the success of Kalicube highlight the importance of controlling one’s online narrative in today’s digital age. As “The Brand SERP Guy,” Jason continues to influence and shape the digital marketing landscape, helping businesses and individuals alike to optimize their online presence and achieve their branding goals effectively.

Read Jason Barnard’s entrepreneurial journey on GHA Marketing by Guillaume Jouvencel to get insightful tips and inspiration from Jason himself!