New opportunities thanks to a changing market

‘One of the last things my father said to me when corona had just reared its head: ‘Oh, don't worry so much. You'll adapt.’ Easier said than done, I thought at the time. But he was right. Our company is set up in such a way that it can move with the economy.’

Noud Baijens (33) is the youngest of three brothers from an entrepreneurial family in Waalwijk. His brother Sjors owns Dresz International, Tim runs a GP practice in Dongen. Noud: ‘I started Pro Contact in 2012 and had never been through a crisis in business before. My father, an experienced entrepreneur himself, advised me from the very start. I miss him in that role now too. At the same time, I know he had faith in my ability to adapt. The current situation proves it: we have tailored our services to changing market demand and developed an online training platform in a short space of time.’

Specialism

When Noud was 25, he started an online sales and marketing agency in Amsterdam. ‘Pro Contact has grown fast in recent years. We now have 40 people working here, and last year we opened an office in Kontich in Belgium, just south of Antwerp. Together with Martijn van Steenbeek (32), Willem Bos (37) and Victor Metiary (28), I form a relatively young management team. We work hard and have a really great dynamic. Our specialism is that we know exactly how to sell a product, service or vacancy online by combining creativity with commerce. By now, plenty of fellow entrepreneurs know where to find us for that.’

Worldwide

‘We develop sales and recruitment campaigns that are precisely tailored to the desired audience. Our copywriters and designers take care of the client's branding by designing professional ads that run on social media and Google. Our advertising specialists make sure, based on demographics, interests and online behaviour, that they reach the right target groups. For both types of campaign we usually add an interim recruiter or account manager who works on site at the client. For sales campaigns we make a lot of use of LinkedIn Sales Navigator. For both, we can take most of the work off the client's hands. We operate nationally and in a number of other European countries. Wherever Facebook, LinkedIn and Google are used, we can reach people that way and get them to convert. That is how we can roll out campaigns worldwide from our office in Amsterdam.’

Adapting

‘In recent boom years, many of our clients struggled to serve an ever larger customer base. Above all, there was a call for staff. That is why, until recently, we were especially active in recruitment marketing. Because of the crisis, we notice the scales tipping the other way in a short time. This is where Pro Contact's adaptability comes in handy: we can meet the changing needs in the market. At the moment we are running sales campaigns for many clients again too.’

Club Soda

‘We jokingly call our new platform ‘the Netflix for entrepreneurs’, and it is called ‘Club Soda’. It is an accessible online training programme in which we reveal all our sales and marketing secrets. We explain exactly how to build campaigns in Google Ads, generate leads via LinkedIn, boost webshops using Facebook and build a large following on Instagram. We also offer live coaching from people in our experienced team.’

Source of inspiration

‘My work helps me through this difficult time. It offers distraction, because I can throw myself into our company with my colleagues. At home, my brothers and I were encouraged to make the most of life, both personally and in business. Dad liked to give us a nudge when we were fretting about something. ‘Just get started,’ he would say. That took away hurdles and motivated us to take the next steps we needed to take. He remains my biggest source of inspiration.’

Noud on his father Noël Baijens

‘To be honest, I don't think this is the most suitable place for my personal story. On the other hand, many readers will have known him, because he was born in Waalwijk, lived there for a long time and was an entrepreneur himself. Besides, I definitely owe part of my business success to my father, and I am proud to talk about him. From an early age he sparked the entrepreneurial spirit in us.’ At the beginning of March this year, Noud's parents went on holiday to Curaçao, where his father soon developed health problems. Noud: ‘On 12 March, Dad tested positive for the coronavirus. After that, everything happened very fast. Although my father was only 68 and always in perfect health, he died on 18 March as a result of the virus. Within our family, he was the rock we could all lean on. His sudden death is very hard on us.’

Noud on the reach of social media

‘We can recruit customers and staff. The idea is the same. Both times you are looking for a person.’

Source: Regio Business