In this episode of the DevReady Podcast, host Anthony Sapountzis sits down with Derek Buntin, CEO and Founder of Adonis Media, to explore Derek’s journey from car detailing to running a successful digital growth agency. Derek shares how his initial need to build websites for his car detailing business sparked his passion for web design and digital marketing. Over the years, he developed a deep interest in technology and business growth, eventually helping clients scale through integrated strategies across marketing, sales, and tech. Derek’s passion lies in problem-solving, and he leverages emerging tools like AIArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a very large and broad spectrum of technologies which most people would be familiar with through... to drive efficiency and meaningful growth for his clients.
A key theme in their conversation is the importance of having a clear and targeted business strategy. Derek explains that many businesses struggle because they lack a well-defined strategy and attempt to serve a broad audience, which often leads to wasted resources and unproductive client relationships. Instead, he recommends focusing on ideal customer profiles (ICPs) to enhance efficiency and growth. Both Anthony and Derek agree on the pitfalls of providing unpaid services, as this can set unrealistic expectations and disrupt the balance in client relationships.
The episode also delves into the role of Revenue Operations (RevOps) in aligning sales, marketing, and customer success teams for a unified customer experience. Derek highlights how traditional business functions often operate in silos, resulting in misalignment and lost revenue. By implementing technology solutions like custom apps and CRMs, companies can streamline processes and avoid costly “subscription bloat.” Derek emphasises that custom-built solutions, tailored to specific business needs, are often more efficient and less resource-intensive than generic tools, helping reduce dependency on multiple plugins or redundant subscriptions.
In addition, Anthony and Derek discuss the challenges and benefits of custom versus off-the-shelf software for organisations. Derek shares a case where he helped a non-profit save $72,000 annually by negotiating software costs, underscoring the potential for significant savings with informed choices. Custom software, he explains, is especially valuable for businesses with unique needs, as it offers scalability and optimized workflows aligned with specific business processes. For companies aiming to expand, custom solutions can provide a robust foundation that off-the-shelf products often lack.
Derek also advises small businesses on recognising the value of strategic investments in digital growth. He shares a success story of a small business that he helped grow by $2 million within 15 months by optimising their online presence and employing data-driven strategies. Derek stresses the importance of patience, noting that digital growth requires time but can lead to exponential results if businesses “trust the process.” The conversation wraps up with Derek’s advice on conducting internal audits to refine target audiences, optimise websites for conversions, and make data-driven decisions—all essential steps for impactful and sustainable growth.
Topics Covered
- Derek’s journey in digital marketing
- Importance of a clear business strategy
- Revenue Operations (RevOps) and department alignment
- Custom vs. off-the-shelf software solutions
- Strategic investment in digital growth
- Website optimisation and data-driven decision-making
Important Time Stamps
- How a Car Detailer Became a Tech Growth Guru (0:07 – 4:55)
- The Secret to Business Growth: Understand Your Ideal Customer (4:56 – 12:56)
- Is Your Business Losing Revenue to Silos? Here’s the Fix! (12:57 – 18:41)
- Scaling Up? Why Tailored Software Might Be Your Secret Weapon (18:42 – 26:09)
- From $1.7M to Millions More: Growth Strategies that Work (26:10 – 29:43)
- Stop Wasting Ad Spend! How Internal Audits Can Save You Thousands (29:44 – 31:57)
