{"id":2160,"date":"2021-01-26T17:14:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T17:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.revcontent.com\/?p=2160"},"modified":"2024-05-01T15:46:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T15:46:30","slug":"work-hard-play-harder-the-story-of-revcontent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/blog\/work-hard-play-harder-the-story-of-revcontent\/","title":{"rendered":"Work Hard Play Harder: The Story of RevContent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Would you like to use content recommendation but aren’t sure where to start? Or have you used a content recommendation platform but aren’t happy with the results?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RevContent is a leading content marketing and discovery platform that will drive the results you want. CEO of RevContent Richard Marques continues to build on the company’s foundational principles of trust, quality, and people-focused technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Find out what sets RevContent apart and how they can help you engage and grow your audience, develop loyal customers, and increase your revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founding RevContent<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When content recommendation networks were first gaining traction, the early players tried to get as many publisher sites as possible. RevContent founder John Lemp decided to focus on quality instead of quantity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trust and Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

RevContent partnered with premium publisher brands. Lemp believed that better recommendations and user experience would help publishers grow audience engagement and loyalty. This would drive higher long-term revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was right. Publishers, brand marketers, and advertisers saw success through RevContent’s model<\/a>. Trust, personal relationships, and a commitment to ad quality drove growth for RevContent and its clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expansion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, the company acquired ContentClick, the largest European content recommendation network. RevContent expanded again in 2017 by acquiring Rover and its machine learning technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The focus on trust and quality led RevContent to revise its content policy to exclude all sexually explicit or objectifying content. The company used standards from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RevContent also revised its policy on fake news with a Truth in Media Initiative. They partner with the Poynter Institute’s International Fact-Checking Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As RevContent continues to grow, they remain focused on the original goals of trust, quality, and people-driven technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Path to CEO for Richard Marques<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

John Lemp founded RevContent in 2013. Lemp served as CEO until 2018. Current CEO of RevContent Richard Marques started at the company in marketing and operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He moved up to Vice President of marketing and then to CMO. After a little more than a year and a half, he moved into the COO position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several months later, Marques became CEO. He credits Lemp with helping him grow into roles with increasing responsibility. He wants to continue that legacy of mentorship and opportunity at RevContent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Structuring Success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When CEO of RevContent Richard Marques first came into his role, the company was seven years old and had 60 employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They had experienced rapid growth but were still operating more like a startup. For example, the company had never had a formal budget. They didn’t have standardized procedures for things like HR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marques first took on structuring company processes. He saw his role as helping Revconent transition from a high-growth startup to a mature company with long-term goals and strategies. He created departmental budgets and implemented standard business processes for areas like staffing and product development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marques emphasizes the importance of understanding how each department functions and why. He believes in asking as many questions as necessary to understand what you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, while understanding the inner workings of each department is important, it doesn’t cross the line into micromanaging. Marques encourages his employees to lead and take accountability. Creating a space that allows others to take increased responsibility fosters a healthier, more vibrant environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting Goals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Richard Marques, RevContent CEO, has worked to create goals and strategies for the short-, middle-, and long-term. He hopes to create and sustain steady, sustainable success over the long term. This sustainability will be better for the business and its employees than dramatic, immediate growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A CEO needs to be able to explain where they want the business to be in one three, or five years or longer. Then you can establish business processes to help the organization achieve those goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding the Balance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Work-life balance is a critical piece of the RevContent philosophy. Richard Marques, RevContent CEO, emphasizes that it’s not a contest for who works the most hours. Productivity and effectiveness suffer when people are burned out from working all day and night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the current context of remote work, finding a disciplined schedule is even more important. The Zoom calls don’t end, so you have to know when to stop. Marques believes in setting realistic goals and expectations for himself and his employees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People work harder for someone who they know cares about their total well being. If the CEO sets an example of hard work, self-care, and care for others, it influences the whole organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RevContent team started an Events and Culture initiative after going fully remote in early 2020. These events help maintain a tight-knit community despite not being able to meet face-to-face. Some of the activities include a book club, recipe club, and a Zoom coffee chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RevContent Model<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

RevContent defines itself as a content marketing platform. However, they focus on the idea of content discovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Publishers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For publishers, RevContent provides four types of content discovery formats:<\/p>\n\n\n\n