Matt Bertram: Leading Oil and Gas Industry Storytelling Through OGGN

Meet Matthew Bertram, a marketing expert and the Chief Marketing Officer of Oil and Gas Global Network (OGGN), the biggest podcast media network in the energy sector!

Bertram’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in making OGGN the go-to source for all things related to the oil and gas industry, and his passion for digital marketing has helped the company thrive in an increasingly competitive market. With Bertram at the helm, OGGN has expanded its reach and impact, delivering high-quality content that educates, informs, and inspires its audience.

Alongside his role as CMO at OGGN, Matt is the lead strategist at EWR Digital, a full-service digital marketing agency in Houston, TX. At EWR Digital, he helps small and medium-sized brands establish themselves within their respective industries. Throughout his career, he has launched several successful marketing strategies that have significantly increased customer income and helped businesses develop a robust online presence, setting them apart from their competitors.

Bertram’s journey to success began when he earned a marketing degree from Texas A&M University and won a national sales competition for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). After he graduated, he was immediately hired by GSK as a pharmaceutical sales representative, where he worked for years before eventually transitioning to marketing.

The Tale of Inception: How Did It All Get Started?

Back in 2014, Mark LaCour, the mastermind behind OGGN, was also the owner of Modal Point, a market research company specializing in the oil and gas industry. When LaCour’s marketing manager proposed creating a podcast to promote Modal Point’s products, LaCour dismissed the idea as absurd.

However, he eventually relented, and together they launched the first oil and gas podcast featuring Modal Point. In three short months, LaCour was contacted by Red Wing Boots to sponsor his podcast, and he quickly realized the enormous potential of podcasting as a thriving industry. This realization inspired him to establish OGGN.

The Key Highlights: What Led Matthew to Emerge as an Influential CMO?

While this podcast network was still in the early stages of its inception, Bertram was busy at EWR Digital, dedicating himself to developing digital marketing projects and providing real results for his clients.

His tireless efforts, industry knowledge, and extensive network of connections eventually positioned him as a thought leader in the field. In addition, he has made a concerted effort to cultivate a workplace culture at EWR Digital that values collaboration, innovation, and diversity, all while demonstrating his own leadership and resilience in overcoming challenges.

“Some people don’t like change, but you need to embrace it if the alternative is a disaster.”

Combating the Most Common Challenges

“The oil and gas industry has a lot of negative public perception associated with it. That’s a challenge we deal with daily, and we have huge Fortune 500 firms that want to collaborate with us – but only if we take oil and gas out of our name. We reject that out of a sense of honesty,” Bertram remarked.

For those working on OGGN before 2020, one of the biggest hurdles they faced was trying to explain the concept of a podcast to a sector of the business that was woefully slow to move. However, one silver lining of the pandemic was that the widespread adoption of podcasts made it much easier for the OGGN team to grow and build sponsorship for their niche storytelling.

Achievements Along the Way

Bertram and the OGGN team have achieved many significant milestones in their journey toward success. Some of the most noteworthy accomplishments include:

OGGN obtained listeners from Burkina Faso, enabling them to claim that their audience spans all countries of the globe.
They have grown tremendously since 2019, reaching 25 to 30 percent growth annually.
The goal of OGGN is to continue to lead the podcast business and define success. Their main program, “Oil and Gas This Week,” is the most influential and popular podcast in the energy sector, and it consistently ranks first.

Technological Innovations in the Sales and Marketing Industry

Technological advancements have transformed the sales and marketing sectors incredibly, revolutionizing the interaction between companies and their clients. The rise of data analytics and AI has led to improved targeting and personalization in marketing campaigns and sales tactics.

With technological solutions like CRM platforms and marketing automation, lead generation and management have become more effective, allowing sales and marketing teams to focus on strategic tasks.

Digital marketing tools such as social networking, email marketing, and SEO have also enhanced customer-company interactions. Also, virtual and augmented reality are slowly being integrated into popular businesses and used to create immersive customer experiences.

To remain competitive and innovative in the changing marketing landscape, OGGN is committed to exploring and integrating the latest tools in data analytics, marketing automation, and possibly virtual reality. By prioritizing the listener’s experience and leveraging these new technologies, OGGN hopes to continue to build a community and bring people together around shared interests in the oil and gas sector.

Marketing Industry at a Glance

“I’ve been in this industry for a long time, and the future of digital marketing is changing rapidly,” says Bertram. “You must be able to compete in the digital space, and with OGGN, I’m hoping to give oil and gas companies the tools to show up and compete.”

While the marketing industry has been a roller coaster ride, more changes are expected in the future. In the next decade, the industry is expecting to witness the following:

More AI for automation and optimization
Personalized and interactive content, including AR and VR
Greater focus on privacy and data security
Continued growth in mobile and social media marketing
The increasing importance of sustainability and social responsibility

New technologies, consumer tastes, and societal developments will all impact how marketing develops and changes over time.

The Future of OGGN

In 2023 and beyond, OGGN plans to explore the possibility of expanding its live event offerings beyond Houston and into other regions of the country. Additionally, they are enthusiastic about launching their inaugural insider group dedicated to the “Oil and Gas Sales and Marketing” podcast to engage their audience further.

“We are proud to announce our first conference,” says Bertram. “It is scheduled for September, and we are excited to grow and evolve these content offerings for our audience.”

A Piece of Advice for Aspiring Marketing Leaders

A key piece of advice for aspiring marketing leaders is to remain flexible, knowledgeable, and customer-focused. Bertram’s journey to leadership was not quick but required years of experience, dedication, and relationship-building.

His growth involved establishing client trust, staying informed on industry trends, and maintaining a competitive edge. So, for those who are looking to follow in this exceptional CMO’s and digital strategist’s footsteps, let’s ask him for some advice on how to get there:

“Keep learning, approach tasks strategically, offer value, display creativity, and be ready to pivot swiftly in response to changes,” says Bertram. “Marketing is a constantly evolving field, and any success requires adaptability. So don’t give up and keep pushing forward.”