Ike Wagh:
There is an issue that I think a lot of content creators can empathize with, and that you get yourself deep into the metrics and you start to associate the value of your metrics directly with the value of your work and it gets kind of dangerous because then you think, “Wow, I spent so much time making this thing and if it doesn’t do,” I’m doing air quotes, “if it doesn’t do well, then maybe this wasn’t valuable.”

And I think it’s a dangerous path because it can really deflate what you’re doing and how you feel. So it’s something I struggle with but I think a lot of the way that helps me is to try my best to always just work on the things that I truly have fun doing because in that way, even if it doesn’t do great, I can just remember that this was a fun project. Whereas your other option is work on something that you are not enjoying and if it doesn’t do well, it’s like it’s a double whammy. So just basically always choose and work on the projects that truly inspire or have fun with.

Mike Boyle:
We’re going to talk a little bit about metrics here in a moment, but before we get to that, now that you’ve been doing this for a while, is there anything that you wish you had known when you were first getting started?

Ike Wagh:
Yeah, no one cares. No one cares at all. So care less, that is my tip. And there’s actually, one, it’s psychological and it has to do with the algorithms, many of the algorithms in which we share content on. If it’s not doing well, you don’t need to worry that… I think it’s almost like you might think, “Oh, I just came into a big room and everyone is looking at me put myself out there, and it flops and how embarrassing.” But actually, your reach when you first post something is very small, and only if it gets engagement does a wider audience see it.

So, remember, if something doesn’t do well, there’s also a good chance that not a lot of people saw it in the first place. So take a deep breath. It’s okay and people care way less than you ever think. So that is something that I struggled with, but I wish I knew from the beginning.

Mike Boyle:
It’s funny, I was on LinkedIn yesterday and I saw the post that you did. I will have in the show’s notes, and I’ll remind everyone later, a link to your LinkedIn page and also your YouTube page. But yesterday you did the topic of AI on a LinkedIn post and you had a page of four blocks, and each of those blocks had a letter in them. The last couple were spinning because the two words were fake and fact, right about AI, and that’s the kind of funny, creative stuff that you come up with so I have just shared a favorite thing that I recently saw.

Tell me about some of the favorite content pieces that you’ve created and why you think they’ve resonated with you.

Ike Wagh:
So, one of my favorites, I made a murder documentary style sketch about what happens when you join the Salesforce Ohana and there’s a famous, the Salesforce hoodie, this black hoodie that every other person has. And I think the reason why it resonates, because it’s an absurd topic, but oh, by the way, shout out to my wife who’s also in it so that’s part of the reason why it’s one of my favorites.

But part of the reason is there is this kind of underlying joke within the community that once you get into Salesforce, we are such a tight group that some people call it a cult. So I made this as kind of a nod to that inside joke in a playful way and I think a lot of people can empathize and understand that there are little nuggets of truth behind it.

Because we’re a community, we’re so tight. We all like to wear the same things. We all like to talk about the same things. We go to events with each other. There’s so many of these analogies that could be made and I think no matter how absurd the topic or a sketch can be, it resonates because there’s fun truths behind everything. And so I think that’s why it’s resonating with people at least.

Mike Boyle:
Well, it’s resonating with me. That’s how I found you, my friend. So let’s talk a little bit about what we were talking about in a couple of questions before and that’s measuring the success of your content. How do you go about doing that? Or what makes you go, “Yeah, I got this.”

Ike Wagh:
So, clearly there are real metrics. Technically there’s a number of impressions, likes and shares. But the thing that I think motivates me and makes me happiest is when I get private messages from people and they say, “Hey, that was really funny. You made my day.” Or just a comment. Those are the things that really make me happy and that’s the type of feedback that keeps me going. Although the metrics is, certainly you need those. The comments and the feedback, the direct feedback is really what I love and that helps me.

Mike Boyle:
Do you collaborate with other Salesforce pros, developers, admins, to create the content? Maybe you pick their brains for topics?

Ike Wagh:
I have a small series called Best Practices where I invite some true Salesforce experts on, and I like to ask them, “Hey, just give just a couple tips to the audience.” And so I think that is my most collaborative of content that I make. I like to, rather than trying to regurgitate what they say, I like to bring them on and have them take the mic and do it themselves and yeah, that’s a fun piece that I like to do.

Mike Boyle:
Talk about the reaction that you get from the folks inside Salesforce. I mean, you don’t take it too far, but you do have fun. Have you heard from the hierarchy there about some of the content that you’ve put out?

Ike Wagh:
I haven’t. It’s funny you ask that because I think that is one of the things I’m most scared about is making someone mad over at the mothership. But I see it as we’re all one big family, and if you’re in… Like a normal family. Family members can tease each other but the moment someone outside of the family teases, then that’s different. So I kind of consider myself within the circle, so I think I’m okay.

But yes, so far what I’ve heard has been positive. In fact, Marc Benioff has shared and retweeted a few of my sketches, probably about four or five times. So I like to think that they enjoy it, but I’m not too sure. I don’t get too much feedback.

Mike Boyle:
I’d say you’re off to a good start there, my friend.

Ike Wagh:
Appreciate it.

Mike Boyle:
So, what do you think are the biggest changes that you’ve seen in Salesforce since you started creating your content?

Ike Wagh:
I think I’m seeing a trend in Salesforce, especially just Salesforce marketing. I think they’re starting to humanize their content a bit more, which I think is a really smart, great move. So over the past few years, at least what I’ve noticed, a lot of their marketing is a little bit less corporate and more personal.

So, they have many YouTube channels, but some of them now almost look like a vlog style. It’s very one-to-one person. There’s a lot of jokes. Sometimes even the Salesforce hoodie and swag, they’re not even wearing it and I think this is a really good move. I think this is because Salesforce is so big, and I think this really brings it back down to earth and that’s a trend that I’m seeing right now, and I think it’s a good one.

Mike Boyle:
Last question I have for you, Ike, is can you give us a little peek behind the curtain about some of the upcoming content projects you’re working on?

Ike Wagh:
Yes, yes, yes, yes, and this will be an official announcement. So first, I am working on a digital guide that I’m going to provide to the entire Ohana for those that are interested in becoming content creators or sharing content for whatever reason. It doesn’t have to be full-time, just getting started. Just maybe build your brand a little bit or put yourself out there.

And the second is, I don’t know if you’re familiar with, there’s a series called Bad Lip Readings. So, I’m working on my own Bad Lip Reading of Dreamforce, which is a ton of work because I have to overdub a lot of keynote speeches, including Matthew McConaughey. So I’m very excited for it but it is a lot.

Mike Boyle:
That’s going to be great. Well, we got two exclusives on the “Salesforce Simplified” podcast. Thank you.

Ike Wagh:
Yes, you did.

Mike Boyle:
That’s great.

Ike Wagh:
My pleasure.

Mike Boyle:
Ike Wagh, thank you for joining us today to talk about the work you do as an independent Salesforce concept creator.

Ike Wagh:
Thank you.

Mike Boyle:
You have an open invitation to come back here anytime, and I highly encourage everyone to go check out Ike Wagh’s LinkedIn page and his YouTube channel. I will have links to both in this episode’s notes. Again Ike, thanks. Come back soon, will you?

Ike Wagh:
Thank you. Will do.

Mike Boyle:
And to the audience, if this is your first time listening to our podcast, I would really be grateful if you just take a moment to give us a five star review on either Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It really does help the show and help get the word out and expand our Ohana, if you will, and also subscribe anywhere that you get a podcast.

I’m Mike Boyle from Ad Victoriam Solutions. Thanks for listening to the Salesforce Simplified podcast. Our next episode is just around the corner.

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You’ve been listening to Salesforce simplified, the podcast from Ad Victoriam Solutions.